An Author's Purpose PIE

Happy Weekend!!

I THINK I've finally gotten my family and myself into our school routine.  It's been rough,

but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's only taken me FOUR weeks!

How's everyone else been feeling?  

I do have to say that  having one of the best classes I've ever had helps.  I think I 

have the sweetest group of 3rd graders. 

I wanted to share a lesson I did with my students this week on

Author's Purpose.  I can not take any credit at all for coming up with this

fabulous lesson.  One of my teaching friends/coworker shared this lesson with me.   ( That's one of the many things I LOVE about teaching at a school with 6 other 3rd grade teachers ( idea sharing), besides the fact that I work with some amazing ladies!) This lesson is Pinterest inspired, of course!

I begin the year by introducing my student's to Author's Purpose.  I expose my students

to many different types of stories so that they can identify the author's purpose for writing the story. In this lesson, each student received two paper plates. On the first paper plate, each student had to divide the plate into 4 equal pieces.  ( They used a pencil to draw their lines).  Then students had to label each section with a P for persuade, I for inform, E for entertain, and Author's Purpose.  Finally, students had to color their pie and decorate with crayon.  We discussed decorating this to look like their favorite type of pie.  Students cut out the four pieces of pie.  

Then students had to staple the pieces onto another paper plate.  We simply put one staple at the top of each piece so that the flap could be lifted up.  Students were given slips of paper with a definition about each to glue underneath each flap.
Here's a picture of the slips of paper:

 If you click on the picture above, you can download this from Google docs.

I shared with my students some stories in which they had to decide the author's purpose for writing the story.  I was able to use Tumblebooks and share the stories on our Promethean board.

Here are the stories I used with my class:

I used this story to show how the author wrote to inform.  This book I found on Tumble Books.

I used this book to show how the author wrote to entertain.  I chose this because it goes with our A.R. theme this quarter.  I found this book on Tumble Books also.

This book was used to show how the author wrote to persuade.  I found this video off of YouTube.

Here are some finished products:

Here is one of my favorite resources to use that goes over many different reading skills and vocabulary. Does anyone else use these?  I LOVE them!  They are quick 5 minute exercises.  It is part of our morning work routine while I am taking attendance and checking planners.  These are on each student's desk in the morning.

 If you would like more information, click on the picture to be taken to the Amazon.com link.

Have a fabulous weekend!  Our weekend is filled with our kids' soccer games. The weather is supposed to be cooler and more Fall like.  I can't wait!!