Genres Lesson Plans

Second graders analyze differences between fiction and nonfiction texts. In this compare and contrast lesson, 2nd graders review texts, discuss similarities and differences, and complete a Venn Diagram.

Take a trip down Pearblossom Highway with this lesson about comparing and contrasting. Using David Hockney's Pearblossom Hwy and another image of the same highway (photograph or other image), young scholars compare and contrast the two artworks showing the same image. They write a descriptive composition based on the images, recognize one-point perspective in artwork, then apply this perspective in a drawing they create. This lesson includes additional extension activities.

Students discover facts about the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. In this compare and contrast lesson, students explore Halloween and the Day of the Dead. Students create an alter to memorialize a family member or friend that has passed away. Students do Internet research in groups about the holidays.

Students classify folk life traditions into folk genres. They create folk genre museums by laying down their images or postcards wherever they see a relationship. They give each an image to examine in depth and decide which folk genre it represents.

Students recognize the different types of data on the weather page of USA Today. In this weather lesson, students compare weather data comparative and superlative forms of adjectives. Students locate 10 pieces of information in the data and record.

In this curriculum unit, I want to discuss the importance of the Harry Potter books and movies with students. I want to solicit their opinions about why the Potter books and movies are so popular. How and why did this happen so quickly? I want to compare and contrast the Harry Potter book series with similar books and movies.

Students explore world literature through completing several varied exercises.  In this compare and contrast lesson students compare and contrast stories and how time and culture impacts the stories.

Fifth graders select a fiction and nonfiction book and identify what type of fiction and nonfiction books they are. Using a Genre checklist, they identify the types of books they have selected, and then compare and contrast the books using a worksheet chart.

Fifth graders select, read, and compare and contrast a fiction and nonfiction book. They identify the genre of fiction or nonfiction book on a genre list form, then read the two books. Next, they complete a compare/contrast chart, and write the keywords that describe the plot, characters, and settings from the two books.

Students differentiate the various genres in the visual arts, particularly in Western painting. They view and discuss, in small groups, paintings published on the National Galleries website. Then each student individually identifies genres of paintings in an online exercise.