LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

About this resource

Appropriate grades
3–4
Subjects
English language arts (general, alphabet, reading, writing)
Provider
IRA/NCTE

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In this lesson, students explore adjectives and expand their vocabulary. This lesson requires that the teacher completes several preliminary steps before beginning the class assignment. While reading Apples by Gail Gibbons aloud, the teacher guides students to focus on the appearance of apples, both inside and out, as the author has done throughout the book. Then students share their words with the class, and the teacher explains the definition of an adjective. During a read-aloud of The Supermarket by Kathleen Krull or The Supermarket by Harlow Rockwell, students focus on all the items found in a supermarket and the adjectives the authors use to describe these items. Using an alphabet organizer, students write down adjectives in each box that describe items they find while at the supermarket. Once the teacher demonstrates how to use a descriptive word web and explains synonyms, students create their own webs by adding adjectives that are synonyms for common words they have used to describe an example subject. Students then share their work with the class and discuss how using alternative descriptors can improve writing. Using the article, ldquo;Form Poems for Tired Words” by Terry Henkelman, the teacher reviews synonyms and guides the class in writing an original poem that uses synonyms. Students share their alphabet organizer from the supermarket assignment in teams of three. When they have merged all of their ideas, choosing the best examples for each letter, students complete an online alphabet organizer. Students then compose form poems describing five of the items from their organizer. Finally, students work in pairs to select picture books and rewrite pages from the book by selecting several adjectives to be changed. Upon completion of this activity, they share their work with the class and participate in a discussion about how they made their choices. Readwritethink suggests several extension activities and provides opportunities for student reflection.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
    • Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
      • wide reading.
      • word study.
      • listening.
      • discussion.
      • book talks.
      • book clubs.
      • seminars.
      • viewing.
      • role play.
      • studying author's craft.
    • Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., dictionary, glossary) to confirm decoding skills, verify spelling, and extend meanings of words.
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
      • considering the differences among genres.
      • relating plot, setting, and characters to own experiences and ideas.
      • considering main character's point of view.
      • participating in creative interpretations.
      • making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters and events.
      • reflecting on learning, gaining new insights, and identifying areas for further study.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
      • present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
      • discuss.
      • sustain conversation on a topic.
      • share information and ideas.
      • recount or narrate.
      • answer open-ended questions.
      • report information on a topic.
      • explain own learning.
    • Objective 4.04: Use planning strategies (with assistance) to generate topics and to organize ideas (e.g., drawing, mapping, discussing, listing).
    • Objective 4.07: Compose a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama selections using self-selected topics and forms (e.g., poems, simple narratives, short reports, learning logs, letters, notes, directions, instructions).
    • Objective 4.08: Focus reflection and revision (with assistance) on target elements by:
      • clarifying ideas.
      • adding descriptive words and phrases.
      • sequencing events and ideas.
      • combining short, related sentences.
      • strengthening word choice.
    • Objective 4.10: Explore technology as a tool to create a written product.

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
    • Objective 1.03: Identify key words and discover their meanings and relationships through a variety of strategies.
    • Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
      • wide reading.
      • word study.
      • knowledge of homophones, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms.
      • knowledge of multiple meanings of words.
      • writing process elements.
      • writing as a tool for learning.
      • seminars.
      • book clubs.
      • discussions.
      • examining the author's craft.
    • Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus) to identify and comprehend unknown words.
  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
      • fiction (legends, novels, folklore, science fiction).
      • nonfiction (autobiographies, informational books, diaries, journals).
      • poetry (concrete, haiku).
      • drama (skits, plays).
    • Objective 2.09: Listen actively by:
      • asking questions.
      • paraphrasing what was said.
      • interpreting speaker's verbal and non-verbal messages.
      • interpreting speaker's purposes and/or intent.
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
      • analyzing the impact of authors' word choice and context.
      • examining the reasons for characters' actions.
      • identifying and examining characters' motives.
      • considering a situation or problem from different characters' points of view.
      • analyzing differences among genres.
      • making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters, events and themes.
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.05: Use planning strategies to generate topics and organize ideas (e.g., brainstorming, mapping, webbing, reading, discussion).
    • Objective 4.07: Compose fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using self-selected and assigned topics and forms (e.g., personal and imaginative narratives, research reports, diaries, journals, logs, rules, instructions).
    • Objective 4.08: Focus revision on a specific element such as:
      • word choice.
      • sequence of events and ideas.
      • transitional words.
      • sentence patterns.
    • Objective 4.10: Use technology as a tool to gather, organize, and present information.