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This lesson is designed to help students review the various genres they’ve learned about and to create some excitement about reading outside their comfort zone.
Prior to this lesson students have learned about a variety of fiction genres. In our 3rd grade classrooms teachers have assigned students a reading grid or quilt which lists the genres they study. Each student must read at least one book from each genre by the end of term.
In addition to creating the genre plate for the spinner wheel, corresponding genre bins of books are created to help students with their selection. If your library or classroom is genrefied this will be unnecessary.
To begin the lesson the teacher spins the wheel and has children define the various genres. Once the review is complete students take turns at the wheel. I set it up for one spin per student. Whatever the marker lands on is the category they must choose from. If they wish to check out more than one book they can spin another time. Our wheel has a free space which made the spinning extra fun. In successive weeks students asked to spin the wheel for “fun,” “to help decide what book to get,” “for the dare of it!”
It would be very simple to adopt this idea for any subject by changing the names of the sections.
Students will learn about different literary genres and will be able to identify particular characteristics for that genre.
Student will discover browse books in a variety of genres to find a books to read
Standards:
3-4 By the end of fourth grade, students will continue to work on previous standards as necessary and will also be able to: 8.10 Recognize various genres of literature. 8.11 Demonstrate awareness of literature from various cultures and genres. e.g. fairy tales, folklore, myths and legends, poetry.
he scopesdf reflection is meant to focus more directly on the learning activity. For example, how learners reacted, what you think worked well, what could be improved, etc.
In the past I have had stacks of books that students are asked to sort into the various genres. The hope was that as they were sorting they would find a book they might be interested in. Rarely did that work. The addition of the spinner wheel has added some fun into the processes. Students are required to read from a number of different genres the wheel add the chance and a degree of excitement (and takes the hit for genres the kids don’t wish to read). I have had students come and ask to spin the wheel because they don’t know what to look for. That is a nice amount of engagement.
For next steps I think having different wheel templates could expand how this is used. The addition of a game board in the library and giving the whole unit a ‘Mission to be accomplished’ could increase engagement. When students finish a book from a category they landed on, pieces on the game board advance. When all pieces reach the finish line there can be a reading celebration.
Students will gather around the Wheel of Genre and both define and discuss all the genres listed on the wheel.
Either spin the wheel and discuss genres randomly or intentionally select each genre to review.
After the review call children up individually to spin the wheel and then have them select a book of that genre from prepared bins.
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