Multigenre Lesson Plans  for Teachers

SECONDARY LESSONS

 Weaving the Multigenre Web  (grades 9-12) A multigenre paper is a collection of different types of writing. Collaborating in small groups, students will read novels either as a whole class, in literature circles, with a partner, or individually. Students will complete reading journals and, if working in literature circles, literature circle discussion roles for each day of discussion. Groups will self evaluate each day's discussion. Using journals and discussion notes and interactive analysis activities, students will divide their story into sections, and utilizing the multigenre approach, analyze the literary elements in their novel. Finally, utilizing Web technology, students will link their genres together in a hypertext presentation or multigenre Web. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=279

Exploring Genres: A Curriculum Web for Students Writing Multigenre Papers
This site is designed to introduce 9th and 10th graders to multigenre writing. Students investigate different genres using a research guide provided at the site.

Description of Learners: The activities in this Curriculum Web were designed for 9th and 10th grade (ages 14-16) students. It can be adapted for any school subject with students working on multigenre papers. It is suitable for a wide range of social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. The varying levels can accommodate students with differing technological skills. (For example, students who are unprepared to use search engines can stay with Level 1 activities.) There is also an extra credit level which gives more advanced students an opportunity to do extra research. The web site has included a variety of genres to incorporate students' learning styles. http://www.msu.edu/~leboeufb/eng313/index.htm

Holocaust Project
Students research conditions leading to the rise of the Third Reich, life in the ghettoes, the prison camps, and life after liberation. This project is designed to accompany the study of Elie Wiesel's Night. http://ps044.k12.sd.us/Nonfiction/holocaust.htm

Living Histories
Students explore local history and construct Web pages. http://www.sheboyganfalls.k12.wi.us/cyberenglish9/Oral_history/oh_main.htm

My Fairy Tale, My Self
Students select a fairy tale and connect to it with elements of their own lives. This is designed for high school autobiography writing. http://ps044.k12.sd.us/subweb/cybercomp_10/my_fairy_tale.htm

 Your Multigenre Web: Everything you need to know to succeed.
Clear, careful explanations, examples, models, annotated bibliography, possible topics, project checklist, and a self-assessment tool. This is an excellent place to start. http://www.sheboyganfalls.k12.wi.us/cyberenglish9/multi_genre/multigenre.htm

 Beowulf Multigenre Student Projects. Mrs. Lee's Literary Compendium. http://www.gretchenle.com/student_work/multigenretitle.html

 Multigenre Report Writing. Dr. Nancy Mack Associate Professor of English Wright State University. http://www.wright.edu/~nancy.mack/multigen.htm

A Multigenre Memoir

This site provides instruction on how to create personal stories in a multigenre format. http://urbachc.org/urb_multigenre.htm

Multigenre Text List

List of picture books and longer texts which serve as framing text and examples of multigenre texts
http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson293/multigenre-books.pdf

ELEMENTARY LESSONS

Multigenre Mapper Visit this interactive tool at: http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/multigenre-mapper/.

ReadWrite Think lessons that use multigenre mapper:

Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing  (Grades 3-5)  Snowflake Bentley, a Caldecott Medal-winning book about Wilson Bentley, is an example of a multigenre picture book. Along with the biographical text are large, colorful woodcuts and sidebars describing Bentley’s experiments with microphotography and other biographical data. In this lesson, students will create a working definition of multigenre. Then, using that knowledge, they will work together to create their own multigenre piece about winter, using Snowflake Bentley as a model. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=774

Engaging Students in a Collaborative Exploration of the Gettysburg Address (Grades 3-5)
Working collaboratively, students learn more about the Civil War through the Gettysburg Address. Teams of students explore multiple resources and actively engage in learning more about this historical document, using words from the Gettysburg Address as their inspiration. http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=888

Literature as a Jumping Off Point for Nonfiction Inquiry  (3-5)
Text sets focus on one topic or subject area, yet include texts of many genres. In this lesson, after reading a novel, here Tuck Everlasting, students choose a topic related to a theme in the novel and work cooperatively to learn more about that topic using a text set. Students will have an opportunity to read and explore many genres, while learning through the content areas. http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=845

Opening the Door for Reading: Sharing Favorite Texts to Build Community (3-5)
Students focus on reading and creating classroom displays focused on favorite texts in this lesson plan. The class explores environmental print in the classroom then focuses specifically on a teacher-created display that focuses on a favorite book. After exploring the teacher’s display, students create their own presentations on their favorites. By sharing favorite books in this way, teachers and students build community by getting to know one another.  http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=852

Our Classroom: Writing an Owner’s Manual (3-5)
The first few weeks of school are all about creating rules, establishing routines, and becoming familiar with the classroom. Engaging students in activities that help them get to know their classroom can make the transition easier while at the same time providing students with a sense of ownership. In this lesson, students write an owner’s manual to help them become more familiar with their classroom as well as to let others know about their classroom. http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=862

Exploring Sets through Math-Related Book Pairs (K-2)
After reading and discussing a book pair of two math-related books, students investigate their home and school environments to find examples of objects that come in sets of twos, threes, fours, fives and sixes. Working either collaboratively or individually, students then create their own books on sets, highlighting their inquiry study. http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=817

Ferocious Fighting Fish: An Ocean Unit Exploring Beginning Word Sounds (K-2)
Focus students’ attention on alliteration, or repeated beginning word sounds, in this unit which explores an ocean theme. Students explore alliteration in framing texts then compose their own class book to explore figurative language in their own writing. The lesson includes a revision worksheet to apply the technique to another piece of writing. http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=828