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English lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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. Lia went to the beach. She dug in the sand and found a shell. Where did Lia go? (the beach / the park / the shop / school) → the beachPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  2. At the farm, Jo fed the goats and the hens. Where is Jo? (at school / at the farm / at the beach / at the zoo) → at the farmPrompt: What does the character say and do?
  3. Ben has a red ball. He kicks it to his dog, Spot. What color is the ball? (green / blue / red / yellow) → redPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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. Trucks can carry heavy things. Some trucks have a crane on the back. 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 a storybook? (Robots follow instructions. / Once upon a time, a robot baked a magic pie. / Some robots help build cars.) → Once upon a time, a robot baked a magic pie.Prompt: Information books tell true facts. Storybooks can have made-up events.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 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? (Once upon a time, a robot baked a magic pie. / Some robots help build cars. / Robots follow instructions.) → Once upon a time, a robot baked a magic pie.Prompt: Information books tell true facts. Storybooks can have made-up events.
  2. Trucks can carry heavy things. Some trucks have a crane on the back. 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?

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

    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

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    Rosie Rabbit put on her best hat and went to the party. Is this from a storybook or an information book?

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  4. Question 4

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

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  5. Question 5

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

    • A. The shark wanted to be a ballet dancer.
    • B. Once upon a time, a shark lost his hat.
    • C. Sharks have many rows of teeth.

  6. Question 6

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

    • A. a storybook
    • B. an information book

  7. Question 7

    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

  8. Question 8

    Trucks can carry heavy things. Some trucks have a crane on the back. 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. B. an information book

  2. 2. B. The cloud cried because it had no friends.

  3. 3. A. a storybook

  4. 4. B. an information book

  5. 5. C. Sharks have many rows of teeth.

  6. 6. A. a storybook

  7. 7. A. a storybook

  8. 8. B. an information book