Free Fifth Grade Library Lesson – Science Fiction Genre
This free fifth grade library lesson on the science fiction genre is included in my Full Year Library Curriculum. The easiest way to teach genres is to have students explore books within that genre and then do a fun activity with it!
Library Skill: Library Orientation
Learning Target: I can write a science fiction story.
Materials
Three science fiction chapter books:
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
- Among the Hidden by Margaret Haddix
- City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau
- Picture book – There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems
- Printable activity – two options or blank Google Slides or PowerPoint
Anticipatory Set
Show the covers of the books and ask students to guess the genre and why.
Mini Lesson and Read Aloud
1.Review genre – the type of fiction book.
2.Introduce science fiction genre using the following slide.
3.Show the chapter books. Read the blurb and fan through the pages of each science fiction book you chose. You can also read the first chapter of each.
4.Activity:
1.Option 1:
1.Read There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems.
2.Have students write a science fiction story with characters from the picture book. They can add elements like robots, time travel, and aliens.
2.Option 2:
1.Have students write their own science fiction story with elements like robots, time travel, and aliens.
3.Share with a partner.
Assessment
Printable activity – circulate while they are working and ask about their stories
Closure
What genre did we learn about today? Call out elements of different genres and have students give a thumbs up/thumbs down if it is part of science fiction. Examples: magic, time travel, real historical events, humor, made-up characters, real settings, talking animals, speech bubbles, meant to scare you, clues and suspects, robots, aliens