English Language Arts — Grade 4

Artifact ethics

In their study of archaeological issues students will use ethical dilemmas to examine their own values and beliefs about archaeological site protection. They will also evaluate possible actions they might take regarding site and artifact protection.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–5 English Language Arts, Guidance, and Social Studies)

Bubba: A Cinderella story

This lesson focuses on the whimsical interpretation of the Cinderella story. Students explore the story Bubba, the Cowboy Prince, through rich text and interpretations of the story.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and English Language Development)

By Jennifer Fessler and Karen Wright.

Cloudy with a chance of...what?

Students will enjoy reading about a town where no one ever goes hungry because the sky provides food while learning about weather, healthy and unhealthy foods, and creating a database.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–4 Healthful Living Education, English Language Arts, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By BJ Larson and Paula Sharpe.

Dictionary Guide Words: How do they guide us?

Students have difficulty locating words in a dictionary. This lesson will allow students to learn how to use guide words in a dictionary to locate words.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and English Language Development)

By Anne Campbell and Carol Troutman.

The Five Themes of Me

Students will demonstrate their understanding of the Five Themes of Geography through literature-based integrated activities to spotlight how they are represented in each. They will also work on language/writing skills and computer competencies while enjoying a little art along the way!

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Catherine Hazelton.

"Kid-Created" Biographies

In this lesson plan, the students will create biographies on the people they know best-- their teachers! The students will use various skills to collect information, organize details, publish the biographies and present the information.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Computer Technology Skills)

By Gregg Farr, Lynn Beatty, and Tricia Freeze.

North Carolina Cherokee Indians: The Trail of Tears

In this two week unit, students will study the Cherokee by participating in literature circles, learning about Native American story telling, writing a letter to Andrew Jackson to protest against the Creek War, and more.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Social Studies and English Language Arts)

By Gina Golden.

Storytelling with Cherokee Folktales

This is a two day lesson pertaining to telling Cherokee Folktales. This lesson can be modified and used with any folktale.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts)

By Ricky Hamilton.

Visualizations: Black poet, Langston Hughes

Third grade or fourth grade students will have an opportunity to read and appreciate selected poetry of the African-American poet, Langston Hughes.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

By Floanna Long.

Lesson plans on the web

Beanie Baby prices soar

Students learn about supply and demand through the sale of Beanie Babies. (Learn more)

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

Provider: National Council on Economic Education

Book clubs: Reading for fun

In this lesson, small groups of students create, organize, and run book clubs in order to promote reading for fun. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Buzz! Whiz! Bang! Using comic books to teach onomatopoeia

This lesson uses comic strips to introduce students to onomatopoeia, words that imitate the natural sound associated with an action or an object. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Characters in Because of Winn–Dixie: Making lists of ten

Using the children's book,Because of Winn–Dixie, students learn about characterization techniques by creating lists of ten features that identify a character. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Choosing clear and varied dialogue tags: A mini-lesson

Students explore the use of dialogue tags such as “he said” or “she answered” in picture books and novels, discussing their purpose, form, and style. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Daily book boost

Each day at the end of their independent reading time, students give “book boosts,” one-minute raves about books they’ve read. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Dancing minds and shouting smiles: Teaching personification through poetry

In this lesson, students learn about personification by reading and discussing poems by Emily Dickinson, William Blake, and Langston Hughes. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Dear Librarian: Writing a persuasive letter

Inspired by the actions in Beverly Cleary’s book Emily’s Runaway Imagination, in this lesson plan, students write to their school librarian, requesting that a specific text be added to the library collection. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Delicious, tasty, yummy: Enriching writing with adjectives and synonyms

This lesson for third- and fourth-grade students teaches them what adjectives are and then uses a webbing strategy to help them develop lists of adjectives and their synonyms. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Developing inferential comprehension through DL-TA and discussion webs

Uses the narrative text Granddaddy's Gift by Margaree King Mitchell to help students improve their inferential comprehension, prediction, and discussion skills. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Developing students' critical thinking skills through whole-class dialogue

After reading a story, students answer an open-ended question about an issue that could have multiple perspectives. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE