Fiction and  Nonfiction Activities for the Elementary Library

Why Teaching Fiction and Nonfiction Matters in the Elementary Library

Teaching the difference between fiction and nonfiction is such an important skill for young readers, and it’s one of my favorite lessons to share in the elementary library. Recently, I used these fiction and nonfiction activities for the elementary library with my kindergarten through second grade students, and they absolutely loved it!

To introduce the concept, I chose two bear-themed books—The Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson (fiction) and All About Bears from the Animal Reads series (nonfiction). We compared the covers, illustrations, photographs, and text features to see how each book teaches us in different ways. The students were quick to point out that fiction tells a story, while nonfiction gives us facts.

Engaging Activities for Kindergarten Through Second Grade

The best part of the lesson was the interactive Google Slides game, which gave students a chance to practice sorting books into fiction or nonfiction. They were completely engaged, and it was such a fun way to reinforce the skill.

If you’re looking for ready-to-use fiction vs nonfiction lesson plans for elementary students, I’ve put together a complete resource that includes the lesson plan, student printables, and the interactive Google Slides game. It’s perfect for K–2 classrooms or the elementary library, and it makes teaching fiction vs nonfiction easy and fun!

🎉Free Fiction vs. Nonfiction Game! 🎉

Want to see how fun learning about fiction and nonfiction can be? Try our interactive Google Slides game for free! Students click through slides featuring different books and decide if each one is fiction or nonfiction. Correct answers lead to a “Good Job!” screen, while mistakes go to a “Try Again” screen.

This free game is just a sneak peek of our full Fiction vs. Nonfiction lesson, which includes a complete lesson plan, printables, and additional interactive activities — everything you need to make teaching K–2 students engaging and easy. Try the game today, and see why teachers love the full lesson!

https://youtu.be/GVKYCGj0Rs0

More Library Lessons You’ll Love

If you enjoyed this fiction and nonfiction activity, you might also like my lesson on teaching students how to take care of library books. It’s a fun, engaging way to help young readers learn the importance of respecting and protecting the books they borrow.

Click Here For Our Free Fiction Vs. Nonfiction interactive Google Slides game!