Author's Purpose | Project Based Learning
Students will explore author’s purpose by sorting books and pictures, then work together to create a class book page that shows how authors write to inform, teach, or entertain. The lesson is hands-on, collaborative, and appropriate for Pre-K learners with teacher support throughout.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| author | A person who writes a book or story. |
| purpose | The reason an author writes. |
| inform | To give facts or information. |
| teach | To help someone learn something. |
| entertain | To make someone happy, laugh, or enjoy a story. |
Show two short book covers or picture cards. Ask, 'Why do you think the author wrote this?' Accept simple answers and model: 'This author may want to inform us.'
Look closely, respond with words, gestures, or pointing, and listen to the purpose words.
Explain in child-friendly language that authors write for different reasons: to inform, teach, or entertain. Act out each word with a simple motion or voice change.
Repeat the key words, copy motions, and answer simple yes/no or either/or questions.
Place picture cards or simple book examples on the floor/table. Model sorting one card with a think-aloud. Then guide students to help place each card under inform, teach, or entertain.
Work together to sort cards, choose a category, and explain their thinking using a word, phrase, or gesture.
Give each child a role in making one class page or poster: draw a picture, add a sticker, choose a label, or help dictate a sentence. Prompt them to show one purpose clearly, such as a page that teaches about washing hands or entertains with a silly animal story.
Contribute to the project by drawing, coloring, gluing, or dictating ideas. Share ideas about what the page is for.
Invite students to present the class page and name the purpose together. Ask, 'Is our page informing, teaching, or entertaining?'
Share the finished work, point to pictures, and answer with support.
Review the three purposes with quick call-and-response. End with: 'Authors write to inform, teach, and entertain.'
Repeat the phrase and show a thumbs-up or hand signal for each purpose.
Students review the three author’s purposes and celebrate the class-created project page.
Teacher assesses student understanding through observation during sorting, discussion, and project participation, noting whether students can identify inform, teach, or entertain with support.