Check Your Facts!
Promoting Critical Analysis of Non-Fiction Books
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 1: Beginning LiteracyStage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Stage 3: Literacy for Growth
Ages:
4-10
Grade Range:
K 1st 2nd 3rd 4thFood Groups:
Primary: Knowledge Building, Oral Language & ELL
Activity Description
Preparation:
-
Prepare Know, Wonder, Learn (KWL) charts
-
Write the following headings at the top of 3 separate pieces of chart paper
- What We Think We Know
- Questions We Have
- What We Have Learned
-
Write the following headings at the top of 3 separate pieces of chart paper
-
Select a non-fiction text about the topic of study
- For example: Select a non-fiction text about animal habitats. Life in a Pond, by Allan Fowler
Implementation:
- Share the name of the new topic or unit of study
-
Introduce the acronym RAN and refer to the charts posted on the wall
- RAN stands for Reading and Analyzing Non-Fiction Books
-
Emphasize the importance of non-fiction books as containing true facts
- You may also wish to use the term informational texts
- Ask students what they think they already know about the new topic
- Have students share their ideas and record ideas on the first piece of chart paper
- Ask students if there is something that they wonder about the topic or if they have a question about the topic
- Have students share their ideas and record their ideas on the second piece of chart paper
-
Read aloud the non-fiction book
-
As facts from the book are read aloud place a check mark beside the sentence on the first chart paper indicating that this fact is true
- Emphasize the process of finding evidence in books to support ideas
- Place an X beside the sentence if it is not true
-
As facts from the book are read aloud place a check mark beside the sentence on the first chart paper indicating that this fact is true
- Continue to read the text looking for evidence to support the sentences listed on the first chart
- After reading the entire text refer to the third chart. Have the students share any new facts that they have learned about and record their ideas
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- Provide a visual cue for each chart
- Use body gestures
- Emphasize facts by rereading the text and pausing at important parts
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Provide a visual cue for each chart
- Ask students to retell the facts in their own words
Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:
- Choose a text that is culturally inclusive
Differentiated Instruction:
- List a variety of ideas on each chart
- Encourage varied responses and questions during the discussions
Related References
Evidence: Richgels, D. J. (2002). Informational texts in kindergarten. The Reading Teacher, 55, 586-595.
Activity Objective
The goal of Check Your Facts!: Promoting Critical Analysis of Non-Fiction Books is to use a fact checking procedure embedded in a KWL Chart to build students' inquiry skills and their ability to share ideas orally.
What You Need
Prep Time:
10-20 minutes - Prepare 3 charts
- Select a non-fiction text that relates to a topic of study
Task Time:
20 minutes - Teacher introduces name of new topic of study
- Teacher reviews each chart
- Students brainstorm and discuss what they know about the topic and questions they have about the topic
- Teacher reads aloud non-fiction text
- Students and teacher discuss what they have learned
Materials Required:
Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers
- Non-fiction text
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Facilitator:
- while teacher and students discuss topic and what they have learned
Modeling:
- while teacher reads aloud non-fiction text
Student Grouping:
Whole class:
- during introduction, discussions and read aloud
Assessment Ideas:
- Use a checklist during the whole class discussion as a way to track participation, speaking and listening skills and cooperation skills
- Check for understanding during the group activity by using a checklist to determine appropriateness of students' questions and responses
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- As a whole class or in small groups choose a question for further investigation
- Have each student choose a fact from the third chart and show their understanding of their chosen fact in a picture
- Create a class book by having each student draw a picture and write a sentence about each fact listed in the third chart
Additional Comments:
- Record students' names beside the information that they share. This encourages others to share ideas and provides students with an opportunity to feel proud about their contribution.
- Keep the charts posted throughout the unit of study and refer to them on a regular basis. Emphasize the information learned throughout the unit as well as the questions students may still have for further inquiry.
- Continue to add questions to the second chart as they arise. This will verify the fact that each students' questions are important and it will encourage participation.
Other Adaptations/Modifications:
- Provide the story on tape for additional listening
Other Recipes by this Teacher
Who Lives Here?: Building Background Knowledge
K - 1st
Picture Writing: Using Student Art to Motivate Early Writing
PreK - 1st
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Pre-Kindergarten
PreK - 6th
Mind Pictures: Promoting Comprehension through Visualization
PreK - 3rd
Community Circle: Fostering Oral Language Development
K - 2nd
