English Language Arts — Grade 4

Resources on the web

Flying to Freedom: "Tar Beach and the People Could Fly"

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students explore themes of liberation and racism as they examine the connections, as well as the disjunctions, between two award-winning multicultural children's books. By examining the relationship between two different... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Fables and trickster tales around the world

This lesson plan from EDSITEment introduces students to folktales, such as fables and trickster tales, from around the world. Students become familiar with different folklore traditions and genres, as well as the process of the oral transmission of culture... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

Comparing Tales through Performance

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students identify the similarities and differences between a traditional and a contemporary version of The Three Little Pigs. Students act out scenes from each of the stories and are assessed based on how well they... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Cinderella folk tales: Variations in plot and setting

In this lesson from EDSITEment, students compare and contrast several versions of Cinderella stories told around the world to find differences and similarities in plot and setting. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

Cinderella folk tales: Variations in character

In this lesson from EDSITEment, students compare and contrast several versions of Cinderella stories told around the world to find differences and similarities in character traits. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

Bright Morning: Exploring character development in fiction

This lesson uses Scott O'Dell's Sing Down the Moon to explore character traits and identify textual support. After students have read the book, the teacher challenges them to describe the character Bright Morning to someone... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Book report alternative: Writing resumes for characters in historical fiction

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students select a character from a work of historical fiction then help the character choose and apply for a job. Students explore what it would be like to search for a job in the past and the qualifications that would... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Biographies: Creating timelines of a life

Studying biographies is of interest and value to young learners. This lesson from ReadWriteThink supports students' exploration of sources to create a timeline about the life of a person. The experience requires students work together and research and resolve... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Behind the scenes with Cinderella

This lesson from ReadWriteThink begins by having students compare a version of the Cinderella folk tale from France with a version from the United States to help students make connections between the characters, setting, and plot. The lesson then focuses... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Author study: Improving reading comprehension using inference and comparison

In groups, students read books by Paul Goble and discuss their impressions of the author. Then, as a class, students present their impressions of the author based on the content of his books. After explaining that authors tell stories that interest them... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink