Real or Make-Believe

Purpose/Skills

• To comprehend and respond to books read aloud
• To understand the difference between real facts and make-believe
• To use expressive language
• To recall and retell parts of a selection
• To build vocabulary

Materials
See literature suggestion.

Literature Suggestion
Read I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric A. Kimmel and then a nonfiction book about frogs; or read two other books that contrast real and make-believe animals.

Vocabulary
real
make-believe

Warm-Up
Explain the differences between real and make-believe. Then play "What Do You Think?" Examples: Do you think that a rock can swim? Do you think that a fox can run? Do you think that a bunny can hop? Do you think that a banana can talk? Do you think that a frog can write a letter? Encourage children to call out: "Yes, that's real!" or "No, that's make-believe!"

Procedure

• Display both books, talk about the covers, and leaf through the pages. Ask children to guess which book tells a make-believe story and which tells and shows real facts.
• Read the make-believe story. Help children tell you how they know it is make-believe. Ask them to point out things in the story that could not really happen.

• Read the nonfiction book to children.
• Help children tell how they know it tells about real facts.
• Discuss ways to tell the difference between books that tell make-believe stories and books that tell real facts.

Observation Assessment

• Proficient - Child listens to the story attentively and makes observations that demonstrate an understanding that some books have stories that are make-believe and some books tell real facts.
• In Process - Child listens and makes comments that show that the child knows that the story is make-believe, but is unable to describe differences without help.
• Not Yet Ready - Child is not yet able to tell the difference between types of books.