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English lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes

Storybook or information book?

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RL.K.5CCSS RI.K.5England: Reception LiteracyEngland: Y1 Reading (fiction and non-fiction)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Storybook or information book?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Who, where and what happened?

Leads to: Fiction or non-fiction? Spot the clues

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Who, where and what happened?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Kai planted a seed. He gave it water every day. Soon a flower grew. What grew from the seed? (a flower / a carrot / an apple / a tree) → a flowerPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  2. Mia got a new kite for her birthday. She smiled and hugged Grandma. How did Mia feel? (angry / sad / happy / scared) → happyPrompt: What does the character say and do?
  3. In the night, the owl sat in the tall tree and hooted. When does this story happen? (at lunch / after school / in the morning / at night) → at nightPrompt: What does the character say and do?

Hook · 5 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Storybook or information book?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Penguins live where it is very cold. They cannot fly, but they swim well. Is this from a storybook or an information book?
  • Step 1: Storybooks tell made-up stories. Information books teach true facts.
  • Step 2: These are true facts about penguins.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: an information book
  • Answer: an information book
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Bees make honey. They collect nectar from flowers. 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?
  2. Read the question and choose the best sentence. Which sentence would you find in an information book? (Owls can turn their heads a long way round. / The owl told a joke to the moon. / Ollie Owl wore a tiny crown.) → Owls can turn their heads a long way round.Prompt: Information books tell true facts. Storybooks can have made-up events.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Read the question and choose the best sentence. Which sentence would you find in a storybook? (Clouds are made of tiny drops of water. / The cloud cried because it had no friends. / Rain falls from clouds.) → The cloud cried because it had no friends.Prompt: Information books tell true facts. Storybooks can have made-up events.
  2. Once upon a time, a little dragon could not breathe fire. He felt very sad. 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?

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Who, where and what happened?.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Fiction or non-fiction? Spot the clues.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Storybook or information book?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Read the question and choose the best sentence. Which sentence would you find in a storybook?

    • A. Rain falls from clouds.
    • B. Clouds are made of tiny drops of water.
    • C. The cloud cried because it had no friends.

  2. Question 2

    The talking teapot said, "Who wants some tea?" Is this from a storybook or an information book?

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  3. Question 3

    Read the question and choose the best sentence. Which sentence would you find in an information book?

    • A. Owls can turn their heads a long way round.
    • B. The owl told a joke to the moon.
    • C. Ollie Owl wore a tiny crown.

  4. Question 4

    Once upon a time, a little dragon could not breathe fire. He felt very sad. Is this from a storybook or an information book?

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  5. Question 5

    The three bears came home and found their porridge was gone! Is this from a storybook or an information book?

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  6. Question 6

    Your heart pumps blood all around your body. Is this from a storybook or an information book?

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  7. Question 7

    Penguins live where it is very cold. They cannot fly, but they swim well. Is this from a storybook or an information book?

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  8. Question 8

    The moon goes around the Earth. It takes about a month. Is this from a storybook or an information book?

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

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Answer key: Storybook or information book?

  1. 1. C. The cloud cried because it had no friends.

  2. 2. A. a storybook

  3. 3. A. Owls can turn their heads a long way round.

  4. 4. A. a storybook

  5. 5. A. a storybook

  6. 6. B. an information book

  7. 7. B. an information book

  8. 8. B. an information book