Sorting Through Our Nonfiction Library

As we begin studying nonfiction in our classroom, I challenged our students to organize the nonfiction books in our library.

First we created random piles of books all over the floor. Then we discussed the possibilities for sorting them.

I referred to Lucy Calkins and learned that students will make meaning of their world by sorting objects into categories. Second graders can do this with nonfiction books. It will help readers find materials and inspire them to explore new topics!

Students were given index cards and markers and then set out to create categories of books. They came up with animals, people, places, solar system, weather, patriotic, math, and we even discussed the need for a miscellaneous pile.

If you visit our classroom, you will see that our nonfiction books are neatly labeled in baskets all around the classroom - organized and ready for students to read!