{"id":3976,"date":"2020-01-27T01:41:07","date_gmt":"2020-01-27T06:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=3976"},"modified":"2025-08-24T21:00:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T01:00:18","slug":"genre-flash-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=3976","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Genres in Upper Elementary"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3976\" class=\"elementor elementor-3976\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c4ad067 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c4ad067\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d53487a\" data-id=\"d53487a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1eedb76 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1eedb76\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-88192e4\" data-id=\"88192e4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-713aacd\" data-id=\"713aacd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e36f8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5e36f8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.11.2 - 22-02-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"480\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Recognizing-Genres.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-14067\" alt=\"Recognizing Genres\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Recognizing-Genres.jpg 480w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Recognizing-Genres-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Recognizing-Genres-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Recognizing-Genres-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Recognizing-Genres-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Recognizing-Genres-48x48.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b322231\" data-id=\"b322231\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32e9059 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32e9059\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.11.2 - 22-02-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Raise your hand if you\u2019ve ever asked a student what genre they\u2019re reading and gotten a confident: <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cUmm\u2026 chapter book?\u201d<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <img class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/1f64b-200d-2640-fe0f.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\ude4b\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\" \/> Yep. Been there. That\u2019s why I like to start the year by teaching genres. It gives students the vocabulary and framework <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">to actually talk about books<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Genres are more than just labels. They help kids make predictions, build connections, and even guide their own writing. Once students understand the \u201crules\u201d of a genre, they start noticing patterns like how a mystery always has a problem that needs solving, or how poetry isn\u2019t just \u201cshort paragraphs with weird line breaks.\u201d<\/span><\/p><h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why Teach Genres?<\/span><\/h2><ul><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Schema is powerful.<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> When students know they\u2019re about to read a folktale, they expect a lesson or moral. That expectation helps them make <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">meaning<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> more quickly.<\/span><\/li><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Themes connect.<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Many genres circle <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">around<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the same themes\u2014friendship, courage, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">problem-solving<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Recognizing genres helps kids identify those big ideas.<\/span><\/li><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Writers need models.<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> A fantasy story without a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">little<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> magic? A drama without conflict? Students write stronger pieces when they understand the genre guidelines.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Okay, so genres are <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">important<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. But how do we actually teach them without boring everyone to tears? (Because nothing says <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">thrilling genre study<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> like filling out a worksheet.) Teaching genres in upper elementary doesn\u2019t have to be dry or worksheet-heavy. Let\u2019s look at some engaging ways to build genre awareness.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here are some ideas that work in upper elementary classrooms:<\/span><\/p><h3>Lesson Handout<\/h3><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><img class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/1f4e5.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udce5\" \/>\u00a0Before we dive in,\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">go ahead and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0grab the free printables.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> You\u2019ll get everything you need to complete the activities mentioned in the post, including the link to the Boom Learning deck.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03285c3 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"03285c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/literacy\/genres\/genres-activities-for-upper-elementary.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-md\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-download\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get the handout.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d20f3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d20f3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"post-title entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Ideas for Teaching Genres<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a854c34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a854c34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Activity #1 &#8211; Flashcards<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-abf1e9a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"abf1e9a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5159b21\" data-id=\"5159b21\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb69fc3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fb69fc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/literacy\/genres\/teaching-genres-3.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Genres Activities\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-af512ae\" data-id=\"af512ae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e67e2b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e67e2b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Use<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> 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\u2019t underestimate the power of friendly competition.)<\/span><\/p><h4>Ways to Use the Flashcards<\/h4><ul><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Response Cards:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Read a definition or book title aloud; students hold up the correct genre card<\/span><\/li><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Matching Games:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Use in small groups for Memory or Slap Jack<\/span><\/li><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Pa<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">rtner Practice:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> One student holds a card, the other gives the definition<\/span><\/li><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Learning Center:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Students match cards and record answers on the included chart<\/span><\/li><li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Library Organization:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Use picture cards to label book bins by genre<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c72ab82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c72ab82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Activity #2 &#8211; Library Detectives<\/h3><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hand students a stack of genre cards and let them go on a \u201cgenre hunt\u201d in your classroom library. They\u2019ll place the right card on a book that matches. Bonus: the cards make great visual labels to keep your shelves organized.<\/span><\/p><h3>Activity #3 &#8211;\u00a0 Digital Twist with Boom Cards<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f3986e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f3986e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-defdd4d\" data-id=\"defdd4d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-657cb12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"657cb12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/literacy\/genres\/teaching-genres-1.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Genres Activities\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-74370f9\" data-id=\"74370f9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08a1b83 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"08a1b83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Paperless classrooms (and teachers who are tired of picking up 53 flashcards off the floor) can try the free Boom Learning deck. It\u2019s interactive, self-checking, and feels more like a game than an assignment.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These cards are perfect for:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">independent digital centers<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">early finishers<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">genre review before writing assignments<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">skill-based practice with immediate feedback<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wow.boomlearning.com\/deck\/genres-GtWWu6oNsvgAEyGF2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Try my free Genre Boom Deck.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af9cdf8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af9cdf8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Activity #4 &#8211; Genre Sort Anchor Chart<\/h3><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Create a class anchor chart where you sort familiar books into genres. Over time, students can add their own book choices. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This chart <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">becomes<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a reference <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">all<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> year <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">long<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p><h3>Activity #5 &#8211; Quick-Writes with a Twist<\/h3><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Give students a simple prompt, but assign them a genre.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Write a <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">poem<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> about recess.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Write a <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">mystery<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> about the missing hall pass.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Write a <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fantasy<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> about your pencil turning into a dragon.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Trust me\u2014hilarity will follow, and students quickly learn how genre affects style.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3>Activity #6 &#8211; Genre Gallery Walk<\/h3><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Post short excerpts from different genres around the room. Students walk, read, and jot down which genre they think it is and why. It\u2019s like speed-dating for books.<\/span><\/p><h3>Activity #7 &#8211; Teaching Genres with Printables<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-27eab08 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"27eab08\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c5dd6ab\" data-id=\"c5dd6ab\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3769e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e3769e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/literacy\/genres\/teaching-genres-4.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Genres Activities\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6eb1c69\" data-id=\"6eb1c69\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abad684 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abad684\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"141\" data-end=\"599\">To make teaching genres a little easier (and a lot more fun), I\u2019ve put together two free printables. The first is a <strong data-start=\"257\" data-end=\"277\">Genre Sort Chart<\/strong> where students read short descriptions and place them into the correct genre column. It\u2019s 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.<\/p><p data-start=\"601\" data-end=\"1075\">The second activity, <strong data-start=\"622\" data-end=\"643\">Which Genre Am I?<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5943f8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5943f8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">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.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And don\u2019t forget, you can snag the <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">free printable flashcards<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and the <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">free Boom deck<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to get started. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a700f56 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a700f56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/literacy\/genres\/genres-activities-for-upper-elementary.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-md\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-download\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get the handout.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ba7ccbe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ba7ccbe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f32f95c\" data-id=\"f32f95c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82306d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"82306d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"644\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/nametransparent.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2320\" alt=\"Gay Miller\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/nametransparent.png 644w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/nametransparent-282x300.png 282w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/nametransparent-600x637.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f19ba70\" data-id=\"f19ba70\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Raise your hand if you\u2019ve ever asked a student what genre they\u2019re reading and gotten a confident: \u201cUmm\u2026 chapter book?\u201d Yep. Been there. That\u2019s 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 &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=3976\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[738],"tags":[802],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Teaching Genres in Upper Elementary - Book Units Teacher<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Two great free learning activities are provided to help students learn about genres. 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