Author's Purpose | Small Group
Students will learn that authors write to tell, teach, and entertain by looking at familiar picture books and sorting examples with teacher support. The lesson uses oral language, picture clues, and simple response frames to connect author’s purpose to early spelling and word study in an advanced small group.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| author | the person who writes a book |
| purpose | the reason the author wrote the book |
| tell | to share a story or information |
| teach | to help the reader learn something |
| entertain | to make the reader laugh, enjoy, or have fun |
Show three picture cards: tell, teach, entertain. Say each word clearly and have students repeat it. Ask, 'Why do people write books?' Record a few ideas and connect them to the three purposes.
Repeat vocabulary, point to matching cards, and share quick ideas about why books are written.
Explain that the author has a reason for writing. Model with one picture book: preview the cover, title, and a page or two. Think aloud: 'This book helps me learn, so the author’s purpose is teach.' Trace the word on the board and spell it aloud with the group.
Listen, respond to questions, and repeat the purpose sentence frame: 'The author wrote to ___.'
Read short sections or show pages from 2–3 books. After each, ask students to decide the purpose. Support their thinking with choices: 'Does this book tell a story, teach us something, or entertain us?' Place the book or page card under the correct heading.
Discuss with support, choose a purpose, and place or point to the correct sort. Say the sentence frame aloud.
Write the words tell, teach, entertain on the board. Clap syllables and stretch the sounds in each word. Have students identify beginning sounds and spell the first few letters aloud.
Tap syllables, identify beginning sounds, and orally spell key parts of the words with teacher support.
Give each student one picture card or page image. Students independently decide the author’s purpose and complete a simple response on paper or orally to the teacher. Circulate and prompt as needed.
Sort or respond independently by naming the purpose and giving one clue from the picture or text.
Use a quick checklist or exit ticket. Ask each student to name one purpose and explain why with one clue. Praise accurate use of vocabulary and clear thinking.
Share one answer using the frame: 'The author wrote to ____. I know because ____.'
Review the three purpose cards one last time and have students tell a partner one thing they learned. End by repeating: 'Authors write to tell, teach, and entertain.'
Teacher observation checklist during sorting, oral response to a purpose question, and one simple exit ticket or conference note identifying the correct author’s purpose with one supporting clue.
Take home a picture book or classroom book list. With a parent or caregiver, tell whether the author wrote to tell, teach, or entertain and draw one picture that matches the purpose.