The Gardener's Time Capsule - Fiction vs. Nonfiction (Grade 7)

The passage states, 'Instead, they found a tiny, withered sapling, its roots dry and brittle.' This is a direct recall of information from the text.

The note explicitly states, 'Purpose: To measure time.' This question requires the student to locate a specific fact within the nonfictional part of the text.

Boston's immediate jump to 'pirate gold' shows his imaginative and adventurous nature, not greed. He is excited by the idea of a treasure hunt, which is a common trope in adventure stories.

This question asks students to compare the two writing styles. The story uses emotional and descriptive language ('wild jungle,' 'heart thumped'), which is characteristic of fiction. The note uses objective labels ('Date:', 'Item:', 'Height:'), which is characteristic of nonfiction.

This is a direct recall question. The note in the passage clearly states, 'Height: 12 inches.'

This task requires students to differentiate between the narrative techniques of fiction (emotional language, metaphor, imaginative dialogue) and the objective presentation of facts found in nonfiction. The phrases in 'Fictional Storytelling' describe feelings and use figurative language, while those in 'Factual Information' are taken directly from the log entry format.

Each excerpt serves a specific function. Boston's dialogue reveals his imaginative character. The description of the garden uses a metaphor to set the scene. The line from the note states its objective purpose. Anika's final line shows her understanding of the story's theme.