English Language Arts — Grade 4

Resources on the web

Questioning: A comprehension strategy for small-group guided reading

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, the teacher explains the difference between thin (factual) and thick (inferential) questions, and then models how to compose question webs by thinking aloud while reading. Students observe how to gather information about the... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Poetry: A feast to form fluent readers

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students examine elements of fluent reading through oral poetry performance. They use the Internet to identify a poem to prepare and perform for the class. The main objective of this lesson concerns improving fluency. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Peace poems and Picasso doves: Literature, art, technology, and poetry

Students learn think-aloud strategies in this lesson that challenges them to think about peace in their communities. After the teacher reads Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace, Peace Begins with You,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

One if by land, and two if by sea!

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore Lexington and Concord, the Old North Church, or the historical poem “Paul Revere's Ride?” Students use historical and current maps of the Boston area to trace Paul Revere's route and learn about the... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Oh Say Can You See What the Star Spangled Banner Means?

This is a set of 8 lesson plans designed to explore the symbolic, historical and literary background of the American flag, beginning with Francis Scott Key's poetic account of the bombardment of Fort McHenry. Using archival documents and images, students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: EDSITEment

Nature reflections: Interactive language practice for English-language learners

Students reflect on nature through readings, a visit to a green area, and bookmaking using the writing process and peer feedback. English-language learner (ELL) strategies in this lesson include previewing before reading, read-alouds, choral reading, total... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Native Americans today

Students are engaged in a critical thinking activity in this lesson that facilitates the development of knowledge about present-day Native Americans. The teacher engages students in a brainstorming activity where they provide information they think is accurate... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

My family traditions: A class book and a potluck lunch

In this lesson, after a read aloud and analysis of Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia, by Carmen Lomas Garza, students describe the book's pictures and discuss family traditions. Students will: appreciate... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Looking for the history in historical fiction: An epidemic for reading

This lesson from ReadWriteThink helps students better understand the genre of historical fiction and its uses in understanding history. Students read historical fiction on a particular topic, and then research nonfiction information on the same topic. They... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Literature Circles: Getting started

This lesson serves as an introduction to the use of literature circles in the elementary classroom. Readwritethink offers a workshop-style lesson and a tool-kit for teachers who are using this collaborative reading strategy for the first time. Students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Literature as a jumping off point for nonfiction inquiry

Students explore the topic of water in this lesson that is conducted after reading Tuck Everlasting. After reading the book, students discuss examples of the themes that are present in the book. Then, the teacher challenges... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Learning about research and writing using the American Revolution

This lesson combines historical research and acrostic poetry. After listing all they know about the American Revolution, students work in groups to answer the questions they have about this historical period. Then, after reading If... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

How big are "Martin's Big Words"? Thinking big about the future

After conducting online research about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the teacher uses Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport, to introduce the idea of connotations and denotations in vocabulary. Then students identify... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Historical fiction: Using literature to learn about the Civil War

In this lesson, the teacher reads aloud a section of Connie Porter's Meet Addy, a book from The American Girls Collection® that tells the story of a young girl who escapes from slavery during... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Guided comprehension: Self-questioning using question-answer relationships

Based on the Guided Comprehension Model developed by Maureen McLaughlin and Mary Beth Allen, this lesson from ReadWriteThink introduces students to the comprehension strategy of self-questioning. Students learn the types of question-answer relationships... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Guided comprehension: Previewing using an anticipation guide

Based on the Guided Comprehension Model developed by Maureen McLaughlin and Mary Beth Allen, this lesson from ReadWriteThink introduces students to the comprehension strategy of previewing. Students use an anticipation guide to preview and make predictions... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Guided comprehension: Making connections using a double-entry journal

Based on the Guided Comprehension Model developed by Maureen McLaughlin and Mary Beth Allen, this lesson from ReadWriteThink introduces students to the comprehension strategy of making connections. Students learn the three types of connections (text-to-text,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Great American inventors: Using nonfiction to learn about technology inventions

Students read, gather, and present information about famous American inventors including Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington Carver, and Stephanie Kwolek in this lesson. After the teacher introduces three famous inventors, students work in groups to... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Graphing plot and character in a novel

Students graphically illustrate events in the plot of the story, The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis in this lesson that analyzes sequences of events. The teacher introduces this lesson with... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Fairy tales from life

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will read fairy tales and identify common elements. Choosing common situations and working in small groups, students will draw storyboards of their fairy tale and then write the fairy tale. Project will conclude... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink