English Language Arts — Grade 4

Animal adaptation

This lesson focuses on the adaptations, body structures, and behavior of animals. The students will explore animal growth and adaptations of animals. This lesson is designed to be taught during the reading of Stone Fox.

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

By Jennifer Fessler and Karen Wright.

Animal report

After studying the various animal groups, students write a report about an animal of their choosing using well-formed paragraphs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Science)

By Kay Sims.

Avast Ye Mateys - Learning about BlackBeard the Pirate

Using both print and Internet sources, students will explore a collection of information associated with Pirates and Blackbeard, in conjunction with their studies of North Carolina History. Students will explore and read a variety of books from the library and will access a controlled collection of websites regarding Blackbeard the Pirate within to complete a Scavenger Hunt. Scavenger Hunt can be completed as a group in the computer lab, or independently on classroom computers.

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

By Kathy Beck.

Blackbeard: The Most Feared Pirate of the Atlantic

Students will acquire information about Blackbeard through primary resources and apply their knowledge to create a newspaper article concerning his life.

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

By Carol Holden and Tanya Klanert.

Blue Ridge Parkway Travelogue

Students plan and develop a week-long trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway, from beginning to end. The virtual tour culminates in the creation of a travelogue that will outline the trip.

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

By Rachel Elliott.

Connecting Folktales and Culture in North Carolina and Beyond

Students will explore connections to North Carolina culture as they engage in reading and analyzing three folktales of North Carolina Literary Festival author, William Hooks. After comparing these stories to other versions of the traditional tales, students will become authors and storytellers themselves as they rewrite a tale from a new cultural point of view. Opportunities are also included to extend this study to world cultures and folktales.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 8 English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Computer Technology Skills)

By Jeanne Munoz.

Magnetic magic

Students will explore and experiment with a magnet's mysterious invisible strength by rotating through five hands-on centers.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science)

By Thelma Pike.

Mystery- Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective

This is a three part lesson on mysteries using the novel Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald Sobol.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts)

By Christine Weaver.

North Carolina American Indian Stories

In this lesson students will select and read stories from some of the North Carolina American Indian tribes. They will compare and contrast two stories of their choice and complete a Venn diagram. Students will use the information on the Venn diagram to write three paragraphs. After reading several American Indian tales or legends, students will then create their own legend using the narrative writing process.

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

By Janice Gardner.

North Carolina Regional Travel Brochure

The students will cooperatively design travel brochures that describe major physical and cultural characteristics of the regions in North Carolina.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, Social Studies, and Computer Technology Skills)

By Deborah Harrell.

Operation Beach Teach

This lesson is the introduction to an integrated marine science unit which culminates in an early fall trip to Hammocks Beach State Park. (See attachment: Pre-Activity). The unit is designed to hook students into science and provide joyful learning experiences across the curriculum.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, Social Studies, and Science)

By Math Science Education Network.

Quilts

This lesson plan in designed to be one part of a fourth grade social studies unit on the Appalachian Mountains. It is based on the mountain custom of quilt making. This plan uses the book The Quiltmakers Gift by Jeff Brumbeau. It also uses the book internet site and other related sites. Enrichments of this lesson would be to display quilts, have a real quilt maker visit, have the class create their own paper quilt, etc.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Computer Technology Skills)

By Barbara Waters.

Research Frenzy

Students will use a variety of reference materials to complete a trivia-question scavenger hunt assignment. Within the context of this assignment, students will be exposed to questions in many curriculum areas.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Information Skills and English Language Arts)

By Jan King.

Researching the North Carolina coastal plain

This lesson plan will provide students with a more in-depth knowledge of the animals, industry, and land geography of the coastal plain. Students will conduct research on the internet and in other resources to find information on the vital parts of the coastal plain. The lesson culminates with group presentations of their research and a Venn diagram developed individually comparing the outer and inner parts of the coastal plain.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts, Social Studies, English Language Development, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By Ana Sanders and Heather Ennis.

Storytellers in the Mountains of North Carolina

Students will study five famous North Carolina storytellers: Jackie Torrence, Ray Hicks, Donald Davis, David Holt and Sheila Kay Adams. They will research how their stories were collected and how they developed their storytelling styles that distinguish them from other tellers.

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

By Martha Hayes.

Truth or Care? Saving Shiloh

The students will be able to explain the importance of responsible citizenship and identify ways they can participate in civic affairs after reading the novel Shiloh and completing research of their own on animal abuse. Through this research, they will be responsible for gathering facts to support their stances on the dilemma Marty faces when deciding whether to return Shiloh to his owner, or secretly keep him in order for him to be safe. Students will have real-world experience when they create and are reponsible for caring for their own pet.

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

By Leah Shomaker and Mary Shomaker.

Lesson plans on the web

All about our town: Using brochures to teach informational writing

In this lesson, students create brochures that explore their towns and the landmarks, symbols, and people that make them unique places to live. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

An American scene painter

Students capture information and sketches in a personal journal, then use these ideas to create an original watercolor. (Learn more)

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

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Animal adaptations

Students participate in classroom discussions about animals. (Learn more)

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

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Artifacts in Context

Students will explore an archaeological mystery that demonstrates the importance of context in learning from artifacts. (Learn more)

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

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science