Sorting Stories: 3 Easy Steps To Teach Book Genres in Your Elementary Classroom
- rderouen8
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
One of the best parts of teaching is watching students grow into confident readers. But have you ever noticed how many kids say, “I don’t know what kind of books I like”? Teaching book genres is a powerful way to help them understand their preferences, talk about stories, and make better reading choices.
Instead of giving them a worksheet right away, why not make it hands-on first? Here’s a classroom-tested activity I used a lot where students sort real books from your shelves into genre categories. It’s active, collaborative, and guaranteed to spark excitement about reading!
Step 1: Introduce the Genres
Start with a short mini-lesson introducing or reviewing the genres you’d like students to know. Keep it simple and visual with an anchor chart, posters, or a digital slide deck (see my FREE printable Genre Poster link for download at the end of this blog.
Some beginner-friendly categories are:
Traditional Tales – stories that have been told over time by various cultures
Historical Fiction – made-up stories with real-life settings and events from the past
Realistic Fiction – stories that could happen in real life
Fantasy – magical or make-believe stories
Mystery – books with puzzles, secrets, or crimes to solve
Science Fiction – fictional stories invloving scientific technology and special settings such as outer space or alien worlds
Poetry – writing with rhythm, rhyme, or imagery
Biography/Autobiography – true stories about people’s lives
Informational – factual texts about real people, places, or topics
Self-help books – books about solving one's own problems, stopping bad habits, or learning new skills
Pro tip: Use quick read-alouds or book talks to give students concrete examples.
Step 2: The Sorting Challenge
Now it’s time for teamwork!
Gather a pile of mixed-genre books from your classroom library (10–15 per team works well).
Divide your class into small groups.
Challenge each group to sort their books by genre.
Encourage students to discuss, debate, and defend their decisions.
This is where the magic happens! Students love handling real books and often dive into passionate debates: “Is Magic Tree House fantasy or historical fiction?” These conversations deepen their understanding and critical thinking.
Step 3: Share & Reflect
Bring the class back together and have groups share their sorted piles. Let them explain why they placed certain books in specific genres.
End with a reflection discussion:
What was easy about sorting?
Which books were tricky?
How can knowing about genres help us as readers?
This step helps solidify their learning and connects it back to reading strategies and student choice.
Why This Works
This activity checks so many teacher boxes:✔ Hands-on learning✔ Collaborative teamwork✔ Critical thinking and discussion✔ Exposure to a wide range of books
Students walk away not only knowing the difference between fiction and nonfiction—but also feeling empowered to explore new genres on their own.
Extension Ideas
Genre Scavenger Hunt: Send students to the school library to find one book in each genre.
Genre Book Clubs: Assign small groups to read and discuss books from the same genre.
Write Your Own: Have students write a short story in their favorite genre.
Label the Library: Work together to organize classroom shelves by genre.
Final Thoughts
Teaching genres doesn’t have to be dry or abstract. When students actively sort and discuss real books, they build deeper comprehension and excitement for reading. Plus, you’ll see their preferences shine through—whether they’re mystery lovers, fantasy dreamers, or nonfiction explorers.
Give this activity a try, and watch your students become genre experts who can talk confidently about the books they love.
🧰 Teacher Toolbox Bonus
Interested in FREE Book Genre Posters (see picture below) to download for your classroom to use with the activity mentioned?👉 Visit my Teacher Toolbox here: https://www.rgderouen.com/toolbox
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