Parts of a Book: Book Detective

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Study Skills and Advisory · Library / Research
SP-LIB-001 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 2
Parts of a Book: Book Detective
Study Skills and Advisory · Library / Research · Grades 6-8 · 50 minutes
Time needed
50 minutes (one class period)
Prep
Copy the 2-page worksheet (one per student). No other prep.
Technology
None. No library visit is needed.
Student
independence
High. Students work alone, then compare with a partner.
Copies to make
One 2-page worksheet per student
Materials
Pencils, Worksheet
Goal for today: Students will identify the parts of a nonfiction book and use a table of contents, glossary and index to
find information.
Before the bell
☐ Copy the worksheet, one per student (2 pages).
☐ Optional: if any nonfiction books are in the room, set a few on a desk for students to look at when they finish.
☐ Keep the answer key on your desk. The book on the worksheet is made up for practice.
Say this to start
Good morning! Today you are book detectives. The worksheet shows pages from a made-up book called The Secret
Life of Backyard Birds. You will use those pages to find answers, just like you would with a real nonfiction book. Read
each part carefully, because the clues are all on the page.
Run of show
Minutes
What you do
What students do
0–5
Take attendance the way the school requires. Hand out the
worksheet face down.
Settle in and take out a pencil.
5–12
Ask: “Has anyone ever used the index of a book to find
something?” Take two or three answers. Say: “Today we
practice using the parts of a book as tools.”
Share a quick answer if they want to.
12–22
Tell students to read all four book parts on the worksheet
silently and then complete the matching in questions 1
through 5.
Read the pages and match each part to
what it does.
22–36
Tell students to answer questions 6 through 9, which ask
them to use the table of contents and index.
Find information in the table of contents
and index. Do any math in the margin.
36–46
Tell students to finish questions 10 through 14.
Answer the questions and write short
explanations.
46–50
Read the answers to the matching and fill-in questions
aloud from the key. Collect all worksheets.
Check answers and hand in the worksheet.

SubstitutePlans.com
Study Skills and Advisory · Library / Research
SP-LIB-001 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 3
If things go wrong
• If students say they have never used an index, tell them to look at the example on the worksheet. It lists
topics in alphabetical order with page numbers.
• If students are unsure about page ranges, explain that “31–34” means pages 31, 32, 33 and 34.
• If a student asks whether the book is real, say it is made up for practice. The names are invented.
• If students finish early, use the early finisher tasks.
Early finishers
• Design a title page for a book you would like to write. Include the title, your name and a made-up publisher.
• Write five glossary entries for words from a subject you know well.
Support and challenge
• Support: Tell students to answer questions 1 through 6 first, using one part of the book at a time.
• Challenge: Ask students to write two new questions that can be answered only by using the index, and trade
them with a partner.
Notes for the teacher (you fill this in)
Jot a few lines before you leave. A full Daily Sub Report is in the free Sub Survival Kit at SubstitutePlans.com.
How far the class got / what to pick up next:
Students who were especially helpful:
Anything the teacher should know: