Boost Your Students’ Nonfiction Reading Response Skills

From determining fact vs. opinion in articles to compiling data for research essays, your students must practice thinking critically about works of nonfiction they read and write. 

These nonfiction task cards build the foundation your students need for understanding the concepts and skills needed to respond to factual texts. 

After students have read a nonfiction text, organize them into small groups. Each student will take a turn drawing a task card from a central pile, then all the students complete the stated task.

In addition to individual student work time, use these nonfiction task cards to enhance learning through guided reading groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your nonfiction reading and writing lessons. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, or ELL/ESL students, check out these suggestions for keeping readers on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

Help students who need help understanding the concepts by working in pairs and teams. Additionally, provide access to previous assignments and posters and anchor charts for students to recall past lessons. 

➕ Extension Challenge 

After completing all the tasks, have students write or verbally explain tasks they’ve created for another small group to complete. 

Additionally, have students research their preferred topics and write nonfiction texts that apply their emerging knowledge.

🧑‍🏫 Group Lesson

Complete the tasks and answer the questions as an entire class, writing answers on the board.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the black and white or colour PDF and Google Slides options of this resource. 

Print task cards on cardboard for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

To keep the task cards out of pockets or under desks, punch a hole in the corner of each to place them on a binder ring. 

This resource was created by Emily Pate, a teacher in California and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Make nonfiction reading a regular fixture of your English lessons with these activities too! 

teaching resource I Have, Who Has? Fact and Opinion Game A whole class game to help students understand the difference between a fact and an opinion. teaching resource Earth Watch: Protecting Native Plants and Animals – Comprehension Worksheet Build comprehension skills and learn about human impact on ecosystems with a reading passage and worksheets.