Mini-Lesson

Nonfiction Conventions

Mini-Lesson: Grades 2-3

Objective: Students will use nonfiction features when they read.

1. Start a discussion about nonfiction. Remind students that nonfiction texts provide information about real people, places objects and events. Ask: What kinds of things do you expect to find when you are reading nonfiction? (Answers may include: titles, subtitles, illustrations, photographs, captions, diagrams, graphs, charts, tables and maps.)

2. Tell students that nonfiction features are meant to help them understand what they are reading. Readers who skip over titles, pictures and other nonfiction features risk missing out on important information and becoming confused. To familiarize students with the functions of different text features, have them write an article on a topic of their choice. Challenge them to incorporate at least three text features into their work. For examples, have them look at articles from timeforkids.com.

3. Have students share their work with a partner. Then, ask: Which nonfiction features did you use? Which do you think are most helpful to readers?