Genre
Genre = Category
- Subgenre
- Subgenre = Category within a category
- Example
- A BANANA → is a FOOD → is a FRUIT.
- Harry Potter → is FICTION → is FANTASY.
Lesson Preview · Grades 3-5
Genre and Subgenre Lesson
Skill: Genre and Subgenre
This lesson explains the five major literary genres — fiction, nonfiction, folklore, drama, and poetry — and then dives into some of the subgenres. Students learn to identify and distinguish subgenres like science fiction, mystery, historical fiction, biography, autobiography, informational text, fable, fairy tale, myth, legend, and tall tale. After the lesson, students practice classifying a variety of texts by genre and subgenre. Available at three reading levels for grades 3–12.
Review
Shown after slides, one question at a time
Review
The Science of Stink: Why Things Smell and Other Gross Mysteries by Dr. Barnaby P. Sniff
Have you ever wondered why feet smell like old cheese after a long day? This silly science book explains exactly why! You will learn facts about tiny bugs called bacteria. They live on your skin and eat your sweat. It also teaches you how your nose works to smell things like garbage, burps, and gym socks.
Have you ever wondered why feet smell like old cheese after a long day? This silly science book explains exactly why! You will learn facts about tiny bugs called bacteria. They live on your skin and eat your sweat. It also teaches you how your nose works to smell things like garbage, burps, and gym socks.
- Science Fiction
- Biography
- Informational Writing
- Realistic Fiction
- Tragedy
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This text provides factual information to readers.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
The Backyard Rule by Deshawn Carter
Owen's grandfather has a rule: every answer is in the backyard. Stuck on homework? Go outside and think. Bored? Build something with sticks. But Owen notices something strange. Grandpa never reads the mail. He asks Owen to read the menu at restaurants. He laughs and changes the subject when Owen shows him a text message. One night, Owen finds a pile of unopened letters in a drawer. That's when it hits him. Grandpa can't read. Should Owen say something, or would that embarrass the toughest person he knows?
Owen's grandfather has a rule: every answer is in the backyard. Stuck on homework? Go outside and think. Bored? Build something with sticks. But Owen notices something strange. Grandpa never reads the mail. He asks Owen to read the menu at restaurants. He laughs and changes the subject when Owen shows him a text message. One night, Owen finds a pile of unopened letters in a drawer. That's when it hits him. Grandpa can't read. Should Owen say something, or would that embarrass the toughest person he knows?
- Historical Fiction
- Realistic Fiction
- Persuasive Writing
- Science Fiction
- Informational Writing
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This is a made-up story but it could happen in real life.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
The Lion and the Donkey retold by Brant Miller
The Lion walked proudly through the forest. All the other animals moved out of his way to show respect. But a Donkey stood near the path and yelled a rude insult at the king of the beasts. The Lion felt a sudden flash of anger and turned around to see who had spoken. When he saw it was only a foolish Donkey, the Lion just kept walking. He decided not to waste his time or his claws on someone so silly. The moral of the story is to ignore the rude words of a fool.
The Lion walked proudly through the forest. All the other animals moved out of his way to show respect. But a Donkey stood near the path and yelled a rude insult at the king of the beasts. The Lion felt a sudden flash of anger and turned around to see who had spoken. When he saw it was only a foolish Donkey, the Lion just kept walking. He decided not to waste his time or his claws on someone so silly. The moral of the story is to ignore the rude words of a fool.
- Tall Tale
- Myth
- Legend
- Fable
- Fairy Tale
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This is a very short story that is part of the folkloric tradition and has a clearly stated moral.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
Beyond the Cafeteria Doors by Kylie Barnes
In this essay, Kylie Barnes argues that students should be allowed to leave school for lunch. She gives three reasons why. First, the cafeteria is too crowded. Second, kids need fresh air to wake up their brains. Third, buying food teaches kids how to be responsible with money. Kylie asks all the students to sign her petition. She believes off-campus lunch will be better for all.
In this essay, Kylie Barnes argues that students should be allowed to leave school for lunch. She gives three reasons why. First, the cafeteria is too crowded. Second, kids need fresh air to wake up their brains. Third, buying food teaches kids how to be responsible with money. Kylie asks all the students to sign her petition. She believes off-campus lunch will be better for all.
- Informational Writing
- Autobiography
- Persuasive Writing
- Biography
- Science Fiction
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This text attempts to convince the reader to support off-campus lunch.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
Calamity Jake and the River That Wouldn't Stop retold by Wanda Pike
Calamity Jake lived on the frontier. He was the biggest, strongest cowboy anyone ever saw. One day a river flooded his town. It just kept rising! Jake bent down and slurped up the river until the ground was dry again. Folks say he burped so loud it scared away the rainclouds!
Calamity Jake lived on the frontier. He was the biggest, strongest cowboy anyone ever saw. One day a river flooded his town. It just kept rising! Jake bent down and slurped up the river until the ground was dry again. Folks say he burped so loud it scared away the rainclouds!
- Tall Tale
- Myth
- Legend
- Fable
- Fairy Tale
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This story has been retold many times, it features humorous exaggeration, and it is set in the American frontier.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
The Library of Locked Doors by James R. Allen
Jada finds a strange key tucked inside an old library book. When she turns the key, the library shakes. Then a hidden door appears between the shelves. Behind the door is a glowing hallway. A whispery shadow calls her name. She wanders into a strange realm filled with doors. Each door she unlocks reveals a new secret. She finds a room of storms, a cage of tiny dragons, and a magic mirror. Can Jada learn to control the key before she gets locked away?
Jada finds a strange key tucked inside an old library book. When she turns the key, the library shakes. Then a hidden door appears between the shelves. Behind the door is a glowing hallway. A whispery shadow calls her name. She wanders into a strange realm filled with doors. Each door she unlocks reveals a new secret. She finds a room of storms, a cage of tiny dragons, and a magic mirror. Can Jada learn to control the key before she gets locked away?
- Historical Fiction
- Realistic Fiction
- Fairy Tale
- Science Fiction
- Fantasy
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This is a story with magic and monsters and it is NOT part of the oral tradition.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
Mic Check: My Year in the Sound Booth by Jalen Rivers
My name is Jalen Rivers, and this book is a true story about me. I joined my school's podcast team even though I was shy. The first time I recorded, I sounded nervous and messy. I practiced, learned how to edit sound, and got braver each week. Could I really become a host?
My name is Jalen Rivers, and this book is a true story about me. I joined my school's podcast team even though I was shy. The first time I recorded, I sounded nervous and messy. I practiced, learned how to edit sound, and got braver each week. Could I really become a host?
- Biography
- Comedy
- Tragedy
- Autobiography
- Persuasive Writing
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The author tells their own true life story from first-person perspective ("I," "my").
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
In this play, two friends both pretend to be someone called "Ernest" to impress the women they love. This drama is full of silly mix-ups and jokes. But after a lot of laughs, every thing works out. The characters forgive each other and celebrate.
In this play, two friends both pretend to be someone called "Ernest" to impress the women they love. This drama is full of silly mix-ups and jokes. But after a lot of laughs, every thing works out. The characters forgive each other and celebrate.
- Comedy
- Tragedy
- Fairy Tale
- Realistic Fiction
- Fable
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This is a play with a happy ending.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
The Sign My Father Carried by Angela Ford
It is 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Marcus’s dad is a garbage collector who works very hard but gets treated unfairly. The workers go on strike to demand better pay and safety. Marcus wants to help. He drafts the famous "I AM A MAN" sign for the peaceful march. This novel shows how a young boy finds his courage during a real, important time in history.
It is 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Marcus’s dad is a garbage collector who works very hard but gets treated unfairly. The workers go on strike to demand better pay and safety. Marcus wants to help. He drafts the famous "I AM A MAN" sign for the peaceful march. This novel shows how a young boy finds his courage during a real, important time in history.
- Informational Writing
- Realistic Fiction
- Persuasive Writing
- Historical Fiction
- Science Fiction
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This is a made-up story based around a major historical event.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.
Review
Why the Sea Tastes of Salt adapted by Rena Malu
Long ago, the ocean was made of fresh water, just like rivers and lakes. The Sea Goddess, Talua, guarded the water and kept it clean. But her brother, Mako, the God of Storms, kept sending wild waves to wreck fishing boats. Talua begged him to stop, but he only laughed. Talua cried so hard that her tears filled the entire ocean. Her tears were salty, and the water has been salty ever since. And that is why the sea tastes of salt.
Long ago, the ocean was made of fresh water, just like rivers and lakes. The Sea Goddess, Talua, guarded the water and kept it clean. But her brother, Mako, the God of Storms, kept sending wild waves to wreck fishing boats. Talua begged him to stop, but he only laughed. Talua cried so hard that her tears filled the entire ocean. Her tears were salty, and the water has been salty ever since. And that is why the sea tastes of salt.
- Tall Tale
- Myth
- Legend
- Fable
- Fairy Tale
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
This is a story that is part of the folkloric tradition, has gods and goddesses, and accounts for the creation of something.
Optional Follow-up
How do you know? Explain your answer.