• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Storybook or information book?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. A robot named Bolt wanted a friend. One day, he met a lost puppy. Is this from a storybook or an information book? (a storybook / an information book) → a storybookPrompt: Is it telling true facts, or is it a made-up story with characters?
2. Read the question and choose the best sentence. Which sentence would you find in an information book? (Ollie Owl wore a tiny crown. / Owls can turn their heads a long way round. / The owl told a joke to the moon.) → Owls can turn their heads a long way round.Prompt: Information books tell true facts. Storybooks can have made-up events.
3. Your heart pumps blood all around your body. Is this from a storybook or an information book? (a storybook / an information book) → an information bookPrompt: Is it telling true facts, or is it a made-up story with characters?

• Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
• Share the objective: Fiction or non-fiction? Spot the clues. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Is this book fiction or non-fiction? A book with headings like "What do sharks eat?"
• Step 1: Non-fiction books often have photos, diagrams, headings, a contents page and a glossary.
• Step 2: So the answer is: non-fiction
• Answer: non-fiction
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Is this book fiction or non-fiction? A book that explains how to look after a pet hamster (fiction / non-fiction) → non-fictionPrompt: Fiction = made-up stories. Non-fiction = true facts.
2. Read the question. Which is a sign that a book is FICTION? (the animals talk and wear clothes / it has a contents page / it explains how things work / it has real photos) → the animals talk and wear clothesPrompt: Fiction tells a made-up story; non-fiction gives real information.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Is this book fiction or non-fiction? A book with headings like "What do sharks eat?" (fiction / non-fiction) → non-fictionPrompt: Fiction = made-up stories. Non-fiction = true facts.
2. Read the question. Which would you most likely find in a NON-FICTION book? (a talking teapot / a magic spell / a glossary of hard words / a dragon called Spark) → a glossary of hard wordsPrompt: Fiction tells a made-up story; non-fiction gives real information.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-1.