How to Use Picture Books to Teach Elements of Fiction
Picture books are an effective tool in teaching children elements of fiction. Since children learn better with visual aids at an early age, using picture books allows them grasp a concept or an idea more easily. Picture books also help simplify the process by presenting each element separately to teach children what each element means. Plot, setting, character, symbolism, point of view and theme are all elements of fiction that can be taught using picture books. Plus, they are the best place to start since they're also the main elements of fiction.
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Instructions
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Make sure the children you'll be teaching children are of a reasonable age to understand the elements of fiction. If they're barely learning how to read, it may be difficult for them to grasp the concept of each element. The children should be of an age where they can already read.
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Pick a designated area where you will teach and make sure the area accommodates the amount of children you're going to teach. It doesn't matter how large the group is or whether it is one child, but the area should be quiet, allowing you enough time to teach and interact with the children.
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Set up a large board, preferably poster board, so that you can write down examples, questions or a quick note that you can use to engage the children in the book.
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Pick a picture book that you'll use to teach an element of fiction. Teach only one element at a time so that your children do not become confused. If the group you're teaching is older, try to teach two elements and increase the amount according to group's age.
For example, choose a book you can use to teach about plot. Before you read the book, explain what the definition of plot is and write it on the poster board so that the children can refer to it while you're reading the story. Do this with the other elements of fiction as well.
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Read the picture book and use the pictures to refer to examples of plot or other elements in relation to their definition. Point out to the children what each character is doing in each picture and the character's surroundings. Explain that their actions are part of the plot and how they affect it. Continue to do this with other aspects of the pictures that are related to each of the elements you're teaching.
Write down examples of each element you find in the pictures on the poster board. Give each element its own column and write the example underneath. Encourage the students to find the examples of the element you're teaching. Ask them questions that will lead them to identify an example of the element. Some children won't able to identify examples on their own because of their age, but leading them through questioning and encouragement will help them understand each element.
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Encourage your children to ask you questions if they don't understand something. Go back through the book, and just focus on the things they have questions on. Explain anything in further detail if needed.
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Relate back to your list of examples or notes on the poster board. Ask them if they can remember or find the examples in the book that you were reading. Use this technique to see how much of the lesson the children understand and then modify your approach to make it more effective.
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References
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- Photo Credit Stack of books image by jc from Fotolia.com
