NONFICTION MINUTE
  • The Nonfiction Minute
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  • The Nonfiction Minute
    • Minutes to Browse July 1
    • Minutes to Browse
      • by Subject
        • English/Language Arts
        • Social Studies
        • STEM
        • Art
        • FCS/ Nutrition
        • Health & Wellness
        • Music
        • Research Skills
  • For Teachers
    • T2T Tutorial
  • AOC/Authors on Call
    • Class ACTS-Authors Collaborating with Teachers and Students
  • Print Collection
  • Contact Us
  • Help Us Out
  • Vicki Cobb's Blog
  • iNK Home
  • iNK Thinkers
  • Links for Nonfiction Minutes for the iNK Think Tank presentation
    • About
  • iNK Fall Launch books
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Dr. Myra Zarnowski is a Professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at Queens College, City University of New York.  

​She has been a cheerleader and supporter of the Nonfiction Minute from the beginning.

​Here is her introduction to the fourth year of the Nonfiction Minute:

Enjoy the Appetizer, Savor the Entrée.
Think of the Nonfiction Minute as an appetizer, a yummy beginning to a larger meal of nonfiction. The authors of each Nonfiction Minute (NM) show you and your students how dramatic, surprising, intriguing, and—yes, informative—nonfiction can be. That’s why a daily dose of nonfiction promotes curiosity, interest, and a need to know about the world. 

Take a Taste of Nonfiction.
Read or listen to a Nonfiction Minute each day and then try these simple ideas for an enjoyable taste of nonfiction:

  • What’s Old? What’s New?
Have students fold a piece of paper in half and label one column Old and the other column New. Ask them to write down what they already knew about the topic of the NM before reading it in the Old column and what they learned from the NM in the New Column. That way they can clearly see what they are learning. 
  • Even Shorter/Even Longer
See if students can summarize the NM in twenty words or less. Then see if they can extend the NM by adding additional information, thoughts, and opinions. 
  • Illustration and Caption 
Have students draw an illustration that captures the idea of the NM and a caption to further explain their drawing. 
  • Words & Labels 
Ask students to make a list of approximately 20 interesting and important words in a NM. Then decide which words go together and put them in a group. Give each group a title. Then talk about the kinds of words the author used.
  • Add a comment to the NM website
Encourage students to write a comment on the website after reading a NM.     

Dig In. 
Each of the authors of the NM has written books that students can read for pleasure or as part of your curriculum studies. Here are a few suggestions for incorporating nonfiction books in your classroom or library:
  • Gather Books & Give a Brief Book Talk
Gather books by NM authors and briefly introduce them to your students. One way to do this is to read a brief selection that will arouse interest. Then make the books available for reading. It’s that simple. 
  • Author Study
Have students read several books by a NM author. You can find lists of their books on the iNK Think Tank Website at http://inkthinktank.org/ink-thinkers/ or you can search for books with the free database on the iNK Think Tank site.  Then have students discuss what they have learned about how the author presents information. They can also discuss the new information they learned.
  • Connect with Curriculum in Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics
Authors of the NM have written books that can become part of your curriculum. Are you studying history? Science? Math? There’s a book you can include. 

Above all, encourage students to read quality nonfiction because it’s food for the mind.
The NONFICTION MINUTE, Authors on Call, and. the iNK Books & Media Store are  divisions of iNK THINK TANK INC.
​a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation. 
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To return to the iNK Think Tank landing page click the icon or the link below. :
http://inkthinktank.org/

For more information or support, contact thoughts@inkthinktank.org

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© COPYRIGHT the Nonfiction Minute 2020.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • The Nonfiction Minute
    • Minutes to Browse July 1
    • Minutes to Browse
      • by Subject
        • English/Language Arts
        • Social Studies
        • STEM
        • Art
        • FCS/ Nutrition
        • Health & Wellness
        • Music
        • Research Skills
  • For Teachers
    • T2T Tutorial
  • AOC/Authors on Call
    • Class ACTS-Authors Collaborating with Teachers and Students
  • Print Collection
  • Contact Us
  • Help Us Out
  • Vicki Cobb's Blog
  • iNK Home
  • iNK Thinkers
  • Links for Nonfiction Minutes for the iNK Think Tank presentation
    • About
  • iNK Fall Launch books