Our class is beginning a Reader’s Workshop Unit on: Historical Fiction. Historical Fiction is an excellent genre to explore author’s purpose/intent, what is real and fiction and how to tell the difference, and really just work on comprehension skills in a genre that makes you THINK about what you are reading. Ms. Boyer, our librarian has some great information on her Blog about Historical Fiction. I have also set up some links under “Literacy Links” to some good lists of Historical Fiction novels for kids.
In class, we are reading: Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog’s Tale. It is the fictional account of Lewis and Clark’s dog, Seaman. Seaman actually did travel with Lewis and Clark on their journey through the Louisiana Territory in the early 1800’s. Much of this book is factual and draws upon the entry’s of their journals. The author is very purposeful about staying as true as possible to actual events and even puts excerpts from their journals into her book to show her source for events in the story.
We read a factual, non-fiction book about their journey before reading the historical fiction book to help us really distinguish FACT FROM FICTION in this story. In my Reading Response Journal, the class and I are noting instances that are Historically accurate, those that are obviously fictional, and questions that we have about parts that may be either.
Students are keeping their own charts to record these same observations about their own reading in their Reading Response Journals. They have all chosen a historical fiction book to read and enjoy. Please ask your child to tell you about their book, the genre, our class book, and what they are finding out as they record their thoughts in their journals each day.
LOVE the book