- Definition
A genre is a type or style of dance, like ballet or hip hop, each with its own unique steps and movements.
A story with a princess, a castle, and magic is in the fairy tale genre.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Genre is like the different sections in a toy store — one for dolls, one for cars, and one for building blocks.
Ask your child: Is this a story about real things or make-believe things?
Common mix-up: Kids may think all books are just 'stories.' Genre helps us sort books into types, like fairy tales or fact books, based on what they're about.
Examples
- A book that teaches you facts about dinosaurs is in the non-fiction genre.
- A story where animals talk and wear clothes is in the fantasy genre.
genre is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+42 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
