This fiction and nonfiction features worksheet has 3rd graders sort twelve text features into Fiction and Nonfiction columns. An answer key is included, making it a quick, no-prep way to build genre awareness.
This Myths Legends Worksheet helps 4th graders tell the two genres apart, then apply what they learn to an original legend passage. Answer key included — a no-prep way to build genre knowledge and text evidence skills.
A word-box Identifying the Genre of a Story Worksheet where 2nd graders read six book clues and name each genre, from poems to non-fiction. Answer key included—great for quick, no-prep reading practice.
This Informational Text Graphic Organizer Worksheet gives 4th graders one landscape page to record genre, author's purpose, key vocabulary, and important facts from any nonfiction text — a reusable, no-prep way to build stronger reading comprehension.
A Florida FAST 3rd grade reading practice test workbook for teachers, with a pretest, skill practice for all 13 benchmarks, mixed review and 2 full-length practice tests. Answer key included, so test prep is ready to go.
A Florida FAST 4th grade reading practice test workbook for teachers, with a pretest, skill practice for all 13 benchmarks, mixed review and 2 full-length practice tests. Answer key included, so test prep is ready to go.
The Fairy Tales Elements Worksheet gives 3rd Grade readers an original fairy tale, a six-row elements chart, and two written responses, with an answer key included, so a genre lesson is ready to hand out.
This lesson learned worksheet helps 2nd graders plan a true story about a time they learned a lesson, with boxes for the beginning, middle, end, and the lesson itself.
This Comparing Topics Alike and Different Graphic Organizer Worksheet gives 4th graders a two-circle Venn to sort details for any two topics, then a prompt to explain the biggest difference in writing.
A Smarter Balanced (CAASPP / SBAC) 3rd grade ELA practice test workbook for teachers, with a pretest, skill practice for all 24 standards, mixed review and 2 full-length practice tests. Answer key included, so test prep is ready to go.
This Types of Text Worksheet gives 2nd graders a matching activity plus three pictures to label, covering poems, newspapers, recipes, dictionaries, and comics. An answer key is included, so genre practice is ready to print in seconds.
This Fables Tall Tales Worksheet helps 3rd graders sort genre clues and read an original fable about a greedy crow. An answer key is included, so folklore practice takes no prep at all.
A Smarter Balanced (CAASPP / SBAC) 5th grade ELA practice test workbook for teachers, with a pretest, skill practice for all 24 standards, mixed review and 2 full-length practice tests. Answer key included, so test prep is ready to go.
This types of text activity lets Kindergarten and 1st Grade students match clue cards to picture cards of everyday texts. Answer key included, so kids learn why we read each text.
A NJSLA-A 3rd grade ELA practice test workbook for teachers, with a pretest, skill practice for all 19 standards, mixed review and 2 full-length practice tests. Answer key included, so test prep is ready to go.
This don't wake the librarian sorting books by genre activity is a quiet board game where 1st to 3rd grade readers sort fiction, nonfiction and poetry books. Answer key included.
This informational texts worksheet is a 3rd grade reading log where students record each title they read, name the kind of text, and rate it with stars to build lasting nonfiction reading habits.
The Identifying Fantasy and Realism Worksheet has 3rd graders sort eleven sentences into real and not real, then write the word that could not happen. An answer key is included for quick checking.
This what kind of story worksheet gives 2nd grade readers four short book descriptions to sort into fable, fairy tale, mystery, or poem. An answer key is included, so genre practice takes no prep at all.
A picture-based different types of text worksheet where 1st graders name a map, letter, menu, book, sign, and list. Answer key included, so genre practice takes no prep at all.
Every book has a type
A genre is a type of writing, and knowing the genre helps readers know what to expect. Young readers start with the big split: fiction is made up and nonfiction gives real information. Then they meet genres like fairy tales, fables, tall tales, myths, poetry, realistic fiction, fantasy, biography and informational text. Each genre has clues, like once upon a time in fairy tales or a lesson at the end of a fable. Older kids compare genres and explain how the type of text changes the way they read it.
Genres make the most sense when kids sort real books. These moves bring the classroom library into the lesson.
Pull a stack of books from the class library and let small groups sort them into genres. They have to name a clue that proves each choice, like "it has a table of contents" or "animals talk." It is a lesson and a library cleanup in one!
Why it works: going from real objects to pictures to symbols is a core recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.
Try it withIdentifying the Genre of a Story WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Make a T-chart with features of fiction and nonfiction and add to it after every read-aloud. Kids quickly learn that headings, photos and glossaries usually mean nonfiction.
Why it works: pairing a picture with each word gives kids two ways to remember it, a well-tested principle of how people learn (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withFiction and Nonfiction Features WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Read the first page of a book aloud and think through the clues: "A talking fox and a lesson coming? I think this is a fable." Then let kids try it with a new book.
Why it works: handing over the work step by step, from teacher to student, is one of the most widely used teaching frameworks (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withFables Tall Tales WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Guessing the genre is a great game. These keep it lively.
ActivitiesFish for book cards and decide whether each catch is fiction or nonfiction.
Open Nonfiction Fishin' Activity →
WorksheetsRead short sentences and decide if they could really happen. Pigs that fly? Fantasy!
Open Identifying Fantasy and Realism Worksheet →
WorksheetsRead a short excerpt and guess the genre from the clues.
Open What Kind of Story Worksheet →Teacher favorites right now: Fiction and Nonfiction Features Worksheet, Myths Legends Worksheet and Identifying the Genre of a Story Worksheet.
Common genres include fairy tales, fables, folktales, myths, tall tales, realistic fiction, fantasy, poetry, biography and informational text.
Fiction is made up by the author, even if it seems realistic. Nonfiction gives true information about real people, places or things.
Kids start learning fiction and nonfiction in kindergarten and 1st grade. They learn more specific genres like fables, myths and biographies through 2nd to 5th grade.
At the library, ask "Is this real or made up?" and talk about the clues. Try reading a different genre each week to keep it fun.
Loved by 2 million teachers & families
Printables, songs and games for every subject, Preschool through 6th. Ready to teach today, and kids beg for more.
