**Lesson Plan: Reading Comprehension for Grade 6**
**Lesson Topic: Reading Comprehension (Novels and Non-Fiction)**
**Grade: 6th**
**Duration: 60 minutes**
**Objective**:
Students will develop and improve their reading comprehension skills by identifying key elements of novels and non-fiction texts, making inferences, and summarizing information.
**Materials Needed**:
- Copies of selected novel excerpt (e.g., "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White)
- Copies of selected non-fiction article (e.g., an article about climate change)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Notebooks and pens
- Reading Comprehension Worksheets
- Highlighters
**Standards**:
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3: Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text.
**Introduction (10 minutes)**:
1. **Hook**: Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever read a story that made them feel like they were really there or a non-fiction article that taught them something new. Share a personal story or example.
2. **Objective Explanation**: Explain the importance of improving reading comprehension, mentioning how it helps in school and everyday life.
3. **Overview**: Introduce the two types of texts they’ll be working on today: a novel excerpt and a non-fiction article.
**Activity 1: Reading a Novel Excerpt (20 minutes)**:
1. **Pre-Reading Discussion (5 minutes)**:
- Briefly introduce the novel “Charlotte's Web” and its author.
- Discuss what students already know about the story (building background knowledge).
2. **Reading (10 minutes)**:
- Distribute the excerpt and instruct students to read silently.
- Encourage students to highlight main ideas and any words or phrases they find interesting or confusing.
3. **Post-Reading Discussion (5 minutes)**:
- Ask students to share their highlighted sections.
- Discuss main characters, setting, and plot points.
- Guide students in identifying the theme of the excerpt and its key details.
**Activity 2: Reading a Non-Fiction Article (20 minutes)**:
1. **Pre-Reading Discussion (5 minutes)**:
- Introduce the non-fiction article about climate change.
- Discuss what students know about climate change and its impact on the environment.
2. **Reading (10 minutes)**:
- Distribute the article and ask students to read silently.
- Tell students to highlight main ideas, key points, and any new vocabulary.
3. **Post-Reading Discussion (5 minutes)**:
- Have students share the main ideas they identified.
- Discuss the central idea of the article and how the author supports it.
- Talk about any new vocabulary and ensure understanding.
**Activity 3: Comparative Analysis and Summarization (15 minutes)**:
1. **Comparison Chart (10 minutes)**:
- On the whiteboard, draw a Venn diagram.
- Work together as a class to compare and contrast the novel excerpt and the non-fiction article.
- Discuss differences in purpose, structure, and language.
2. **Summarization (5 minutes)**:
- Have students write a brief summary for both the novel excerpt and the non-fiction article, emphasizing the importance of including key details and avoiding personal opinions.
**Closure (5 minutes)**:
1. **Review Objectives**: Quickly review the comprehension strategies used today (highlighting, identifying main ideas, comparing texts).
2. **Student Reflection**: Ask students to reflect on how these strategies can help them in different subjects and everyday reading.
3. **Homework Assignment**: Ask students to read a short passage from a different book at home and practice the strategies discussed in class (highlighting, summarizing).
**Assessment**:
- Participation in class discussions and activities.
- Completion and accuracy of reading comprehension worksheets.
- Quality of written summaries.
**Extension Activities**:
- Encourage students to read another chapter from "Charlotte's Web" or another non-fiction article and discuss it in class the following week.
- Provide additional reading comprehension worksheets for extra practice.
This lesson plan aims to engage students in both literary and informational texts, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for different types of reading materials.