Genre Lab Investigation

This worksheet engages students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 as they step into the role of a “Literary Scientist,” carefully examining unidentified text samples to determine their correct genres. Learners read each passage closely, identify defining genre traits, and write short justifications that explain how textual evidence supports their conclusions, strengthening both comprehension and analytical writing skills.

Learning Goals

• Genre Identification (Grades 4-6) – Students accurately classify texts as science fiction, horror, biography, realistic fiction, sports narratives, and more.
• Recognizing Genre Traits – Learners analyze tone, setting, character roles, and themes to identify genre-specific clues.
• Using Text Evidence – Students support genre decisions with clear, text-based justifications.
• Analytical Reading Skills – Encourages deeper engagement with literary structure rather than surface-level guessing.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper-elementary ELA standards.
• Justification-Focused Format – Moves beyond multiple-choice by requiring explanation and evidence.
• Exposure to Diverse Genres – Helps students compare and contrast genre characteristics across text types.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Ideal for assessments, guided reading, literature circles, literacy centers, or test prep.

This genre lab investigation worksheet helps students develop confidence and precision in genre analysis by combining close reading with evidence-based justification. By identifying genre traits and explaining their reasoning, learners strengthen reading comprehension, critical thinking, and written communication-essential skills for analyzing increasingly complex texts across subjects.

This worksheet is part of our Genres of Literature Worksheets collection.