Raise your hand if you’ve ever asked a student what genre they’re reading and gotten a confident: “Umm… chapter book?” 
Yep. Been there. That’s why I like to start the year by teaching genres. It gives students the vocabulary and framework to actually talk about books.
Genres are more than just labels. They help kids make predictions, build connections, and even guide their own writing. Once students understand the “rules” of a genre, they start noticing patterns like how a mystery always has a problem that needs solving, or how poetry isn’t just “short paragraphs with weird line breaks.”
Why Teach Genres?
- Schema is powerful. When students know they’re about to read a folktale, they expect a lesson or moral. That expectation helps them make meaning more quickly.
- Themes connect. Many genres circle around the same themes—friendship, courage, problem-solving. Recognizing genres helps kids identify those big ideas.
- Writers need models. A fantasy story without a little magic? A drama without conflict? Students write stronger pieces when they understand the genre guidelines.
Okay, so genres are important. But how do we actually teach them without boring everyone to tears? (Because nothing says thrilling genre study like filling out a worksheet.) Teaching genres in upper elementary doesn’t have to be dry or worksheet-heavy. Let’s look at some engaging ways to build genre awareness.
Here are some ideas that work in upper elementary classrooms:
Lesson Handout
Before we dive in, go ahead and grab the free printables. You’ll get everything you need to complete the activities mentioned in the post, including the link to the Boom Learning deck.
Ideas for Teaching Genres
Activity #1 – Flashcards
Use genre flashcards for games like Memory, Slap Jack, or even simple response card activities. (Yes, I still love a good old-fashioned matching game. Don’t underestimate the power of friendly competition.)
Ways to Use the Flashcards
- Response Cards: Read a definition or book title aloud; students hold up the correct genre card
- Matching Games: Use in small groups for Memory or Slap Jack
- Partner Practice: One student holds a card, the other gives the definition
- Learning Center: Students match cards and record answers on the included chart
- Library Organization: Use picture cards to label book bins by genre
Activity #2 – Library Detectives
Hand students a stack of genre cards and let them go on a “genre hunt” in your classroom library. They’ll place the right card on a book that matches. Bonus: the cards make great visual labels to keep your shelves organized.
Activity #3 – Digital Twist with Boom Cards
Paperless classrooms (and teachers who are tired of picking up 53 flashcards off the floor) can try the free Boom Learning deck. It’s interactive, self-checking, and feels more like a game than an assignment.
These cards are perfect for:
- independent digital centers
- early finishers
- genre review before writing assignments
- skill-based practice with immediate feedback
Activity #4 – Genre Sort Anchor Chart
Create a class anchor chart where you sort familiar books into genres. Over time, students can add their own book choices. This chart becomes a reference all year long.
Activity #5 – Quick-Writes with a Twist
Give students a simple prompt, but assign them a genre.
- Write a poem about recess.
- Write a mystery about the missing hall pass.
- Write a fantasy about your pencil turning into a dragon.
- Trust me—hilarity will follow, and students quickly learn how genre affects style.
Activity #6 – Genre Gallery Walk
Post short excerpts from different genres around the room. Students walk, read, and jot down which genre they think it is and why. It’s like speed-dating for books.
Activity #7 – Teaching Genres with Printables
To make teaching genres a little easier (and a lot more fun), I’ve put together two free printables. The first is a Genre Sort Chart where students read short descriptions and place them into the correct genre column. It’s a quick way to check understanding, and it can easily be reused with book covers from your classroom library or examples students create themselves. Think of it as an anchor activity that keeps genre practice fresh all year long.
The second activity, Which Genre Am I?, comes in the form of task cards with riddles. Each card gives students clues about a genre, and they have to figure out which one is being described. These make a great game for centers, early finishers, or even a quick whole-class warm-up. For an extra challenge, students can write their own riddles to stump their classmates. Both of these activities are low-prep and high-engagement, exactly the kind of practice that sticks.
Teaching genres can be creative, interactive, and even hilarious. With a mix of flashcards, digital tools, and writing prompts, students start to see how genres shape stories, and they have fun along the way.
And don’t forget, you can snag the free printable flashcards and the free Boom deck to get started.
