The Cards
Downloadable copies of the cards can be obtained by clicking the links below.
The Instructions
True, False and Prove it
This is a retrieval activity. Children are given statements relating to the text and then they have to closely read the text and sort them under the headings of either true or false. This is then extended to include ‘prove it’ by asking children to give evidence to support their choice.
Put it Together
This is a text structure and organisation activity. Children are given text and graphics from a non-fiction text and they have to group them together in a logical way. Once they have been grouped they can be invited to write down a subheading for the material they have organised. Websites are a very good resource for the materials to sort.
Take it Apart
Another text structure and organisation activity. Children are given a copy of a non-fiction text and then asked to cut that up and organise the materials according to key features on a grid. For example cut out the heading and match that to the word heading on the grid. Similarly, the same can be done with subheadings illustrations, maps etc.
Tell Me Grid for Non-Fiction
Similar to the Tell Me grids for fiction but this time the sections on the Tell Me grid represent the typical sort of information that might be found in a non-fiction text. This activity encourages comprehension through close reading and the sorting of information. It gives a purpose for retrieval.
Labelling
Essentially a grammar activity based around expanded noun phrases. Typically one coloured Post- it might be used to identify nouns and another coloured Post-it to identify adjectives that tell us more about the noun. This can be used for fiction but in a non-Fiction context we are often looking at factual adjectives rather than creative ones.
Information Gap
A reading and research task. One child researches one aspect of a topic and another child researches another aspect of the topic. They then have to teach each other what they have read and ultimately both children will write up all of that information. This gives a purpose for reading because each child has to explain to the other what they have found out. Some examples where this might be used are to compare the start of the First World War and the end of the First World War. In the geographical context it might be research about hot deserts and cold deserts and so on