The best way to learn and understand is to first experience. Before getting your student to create non-fiction they need to first become familiar with non-fiction media (writing and other ways of representing) and how it looks in the world around us.
Stations or centers are a great way to have your students be able to explore a lot of content or different material in a short amount of time. You don't want the student to become overwhelmed with one station, or in this case one particular way non-fiction can be presented. Stations are like a tasting platter, where you get to sample a little bit of everything and see what you like best.
For this activity you will need different representations of non-fiction media. You can do as many or as few as you want or have access to. If you have an electronic device at home there are many resources you can use online
Some Materials You May Need:
- Newspapers
- Magazine
- Documentaries
- Podcasts
- Books
Some Links to Relevant Sources:
Netflix Disney Documentary:
But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids:
List of Children's Documentaries:
Biographies for Kids:
When setting up the stations it helps to create stations with not only different types of non-fiction but also different ways they are presented. For example: Use a newspaper at one station this will be a visual media, then at the next station use a section of a documentary which will also be visual media while having the addition of the audio component. Another station could be the kids podcast which would be another audio representation.
If you have the access and the ability to create stations aim to create at least three that provide the following opportunities for students.
1. Viewing non-fiction media
2. Hearing non-fiction media
3. Reading non-fiction text
Making sure that you are giving students different ways to experience non-fiction. Every child learns differently and giving them a variety of ways to experience and learn ensures that every child's needs will be met.
Once you have your materials set up in stations around the living room, kitchen or other area in the home give your student a piece of paper and a pencil. As students explore the various stations have them take note of things they notice.
Some questions you can use to prompt your students:
- When you are reading, watching or listening to the non-fiction media what is it that lets you know it is non-fiction?
- Who is the audience? Who is this piece trying to talk to?
- What is the purpose of the piece? Why was it created?
- Is there anything that is present in more than one of the pieces of non-fiction?
Once students have cycled through all of the stations and have created some notes or some observations about what they have viewed, heard and read sit with your student and talk about their observations.
On a separate piece of paper sit down with your student and create a list of things that must be included in a piece of non-fiction media. Take your students lead based on their exploration of the stations you set up and prompt them with some of the "Rules of Non-Fiction" below.
"Rules" of Non-Fiction:
- Is descriptive.
- Is factual or true.
- Answers a question.
- Talks about a particular topic.
- Is based in research.
- Think about your audience.
- Think about the purpose of the writing.
- Text Features
Table of Contents / Index
Headings
Glossary ( mini Dictionary for unknown words at the end of the work)
Photographs
Captions (for photographs)
Labels
Maps
Diagrams
**Note - Not all of these will be or need to be present in a text for it to be considered non-fiction. These are just some common features. **
