Happy Monday from Home

Good morning everyone! Today I sent an email with links for books and activities for you to explore. One link is to a non fiction book to read called Ponies. You will notice that non fiction books differ from fiction books in many ways. You may see fact boxes, Table of Contents, labels, diagrams, charts, and photos, and headings and captions that name what you are about to read. Here is a book I have at home. Let's see if we find some of these features.

Lots of non fiction features of text!

I see a fact box with a heading about monarchs heading to Mexico, and I love the color photo with a caption telling that they are resting on a fir tree. The map is very helpful so I can see where they start their migration (Canada) and where Mexico is- a very long flight! That must be why the cartoon illustration shows the monarch looking exhausted!

Stages in the life cycle

 Here I see colorful, bold, and larger letters in the heading and in the caption about size. That can make non fiction books fun to read and draw our attention to what they are saying. I like the close up circle at the top too. I always find it helpful when non fiction books do a size comparison. See the drawing of a hand and of a ruler? This shows us what the size of the smallest butterfly is compared to our hand (It's a Pygmy Blue which lives in the USA!). The biggest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra, has a wingspan the length of a ruler!

Labels everywhere!

Wow! Look at all the labels this non fiction has! It also has facts included about many of the parts that are labeled. (Who knew antennas can be used for touch and smell?). The fact box tells us moths are active at night and rest their wings by opening them.

So when you read Ponies today be sure and hunt for non fiction features like these. Try drawing a picture of any animal you want and include a fact box, labels, captions and closeups!

When you read Brainpop jr features of non fiction text, you will be an expert on what to look for!

Have fun today!
Mrs. Dagley