Genres Flash Cards

Created by Gay Miller

Created

by

Gay

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Miller

Introduction
Thank you for downloading this product. You may use these genre cards
to practice identifying genres in a number of ways including:
Response Cards - The picture cards may be used as response cards.
The teacher reads the definition or names a book title and the
students hold up the correct card.
Matching Games Games such as Slap Jack or Memory may be
played by small groups.
Flash Cards Students work in pairs or small groups holding up a
genre card while the other student(s) tells the definition.
Learning Center Activity Students match definitions to genres
then record their answers on the chart provided on page 9.
Organization Place picture cards on the front of binds to help
organize your class library.

I recommend printing these cards using white cardstock. These cards

look best when printed in color; however grayscale looks fine as well.
Laminate for repeated use.
I hope your students enjoy using these genre cards.
Gay Miller
teachwithgaymiller@gmail.com
Created

by

Gay

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Miller

fairy tale

tall tale

stories with imaginary characters

such as witches, giants and elves,
dragons, ogres, or fairies

usually begin with "Once upon a time"

and end with "And they lived happily
ever after."
have good and evil characters
have heroes which are often
princesses or princes
generally contain magic
have a problem and a solution
have events happening in
"threes" or "sevens"

a fictional story, presented as a true

account usually told in the first
person

begins by describing a common

situation
gradually adds more and more
unusual features until it pushes up
to and beyond the limits of belief
have main characters with
extraordinary abilities such as
great strength.

folktale

a story passed on by word of mouth

rather than by writing

often begins with "Long, long ago"

or something similar
tale spread by word of mouth
among the common folk
includes fairytales, legends of all
types, fables, and tall tales

Created

by

Gay

2|Page
Miller

fable

a very short story that makes an

educational or cautioning point

often ends with, "And the moral

of the story is . . ."
uses animals as characters that
speak and act like humans
has a conflict and a resolution
(a problem and a solution)

myth

science fiction

a very old story that explains features

of the natural world such as why the
sun rises each morning, where thunder
comes from, or why the ocean has
waves

often includes gods and goddesses

and other supernatural characters
who have the power to make
unexpected things happen
tries to answer serious questions
about how things began or occurred

a story that imagines a futuristic or

alien world

includes inventions that could

exist in the future

Created

by

Gay

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historical fiction

drama

poetry

tells a story or expresses feelings

tells a story that is meant to be
performed by actors
a story that blends historical facts in a
fictional story

often educates and entertains

stage directions
dialogue

Includes
skits
plays

written in stanzas
has rhythm
sometimes has a rhyme scheme

Includes
proverbs
riddles
limericks
simple poems
nursery rhymes

Created

by

Gay

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Miller

fiction

written from the authors imagination

Includes
short stories
novels
fantasies
fairy tales
fables
legends
myths
folktales
comics

nonfiction

biography

a writing that is factual

Includes
biographies
letters
articles
procedures and instructions
charts
maps
dictionary
journal
textbook
information

tells the true story of a real

persons life, using firsthand
accounts

Created

by

Gay

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Miller

autobiography

reference sources

essay

materials which are usually consulted

for specific information rather than read
from cover to cover

tells the true story of a real persons life;

written by the subject himself or herself

Includes
dictionaries
encyclopedias
thesauri
directories
almanacs
handbooks
atlases
statistical sources

factual
account
of
happening
in
the
can include headlines

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Gay

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Miller

events
world;

realistic fiction

fantasy

Information

knowledge acquired through study,

experience, or instruction

fictional stories from the writer's

imagination, but is true to life

takes place in modern time,

right here and now
characters are involved in
events that could really happen

fiction with a large amount of

imagination in it

Includes
manuals
how-to books
books which give facts
resource materials

Created

by

Gay

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Miller

mystery

western

a novel or short story usually set

in the late 1800s in the American
Old West
a novel or short story in which
a detective investigates and
solves a crime

Includes
life of frontier families
often contains conflict between
natives and settlers
conflicts may also be between cattle
ranchers, farmers, or U.S. Cavalry
and natives

action/adventure

a novel or short story in which

characters must survive danger
Includes:
danger and thrills
courage
exciting action sequences
usually one trusted group
helps achieve a quest while
another betrays their trust
hero wins in the end

Created

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Gay

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Student Name ______________________________________________

Use this chart to record your answers. Read each definition and decide which genre is being described. Write the
genre name next to the symbol that matches the symbol on the definition card.

1.

___________________

8.

___________________

15.

___________________

2.

___________________

9.

___________________

16.

___________________

3.

___________________

10.

___________________

17.

___________________

4.

___________________

11.

___________________

18.

___________________

5.

___________________

12.

___________________

19.

___________________

6.

___________________

13.

___________________

20.

___________________

7.

___________________

14.

___________________

21.

___________________

Created

by

Gay

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Miller

Answer Key
1.

fairy tale

8.

western

15.

2.

mystery

9.

fantasy

16.

essay

3.

action/adventure

10.

information

17.

fiction

4.

fable

11.

autobiography

18.

nonfiction

5.

tall tale

12.

historical fiction

19.

science fiction

6.

folk tale

13.

drama

20.

poetry

7.

realistic fiction

14.

reference sources

21.

myth

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Gay Miller

Cover Frames Graphic from:

www.mycutegraphics.com
Other Graphics
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/

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