English Language Arts — Grade 4

Week 4: Name invention

In Invention convention, page 9

In this Invention Convention lesson, students will choose a creative and descriptive name for their inventions.

By Briana Corke Pelton.

What is nutrition?

In I’m on a diet and proud of it: Nutrition through math and science, page 10

Students use all they’ve learned and experienced throughout the I'm On a Diet and Proud of It unit to choose and complete an assessment option that will immerse them in food chemistry and nutrition careers.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, Guidance, Healthful Living, and Science)

By Karina Colón.

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 3–5 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

By Floanna Long.

Site robbers

In Intrigue of the Past, page 5.6

Students will use an interview with a Native American to write a newspaper article or letter that expresses concern about robbing archaeological sites.

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

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 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Gina Golden.

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.

Lumbee learning

In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 2.4

Introduction Education for the Lumbee Tribe has always been important. After Reconstruction ended and the state of North Carolina began its journey to educate its people, no provisions were made for American Indians. Segregated schools provided education...

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 8 English Language Arts and Second Languages)

By Gazelia Carter.

How can I make sure I'm getting what I need?

In I’m on a diet and proud of it: Nutrition through math and science, page 9

Through mathematics and technology integration, students will further understand what it means to have a balanced diet, as well as explore the causes and effects of healthy and unhealthy eating habits, and eating in moderation.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Computer/Technology Skills, Healthful Living, Mathematics, and Science)

By Karina Colón.

A guided journey into the past

In Intrigue of the Past, page 5.7

In their study of archaeological resource conservation, students will use guided imagery to discover and judge an alternative way to enjoy artifacts without removing them from archaeological sites.

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

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.

Blackbeard: The most feared pirate of the Atlantic

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

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

By Carol Holden and Tanya Klanert.

Are you on a diet?

In I’m on a diet and proud of it: Nutrition through math and science, page 2

In this lesson, students will examine their knowledge, beliefs, and misconceptions about diets. Using word study and discussion, they will understand diet as a multi-faceted concept.

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

By Karina Colón.

Resources on the web

Webcams in the classroom: Animal inquiry and observation

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world. Based on the observation of webcams, this lesson plan engages students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–4 English Language Arts and Science)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Voting! What's it all about?

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students both listen to information read aloud from a variety of sources and read from fiction and nonfiction books. Students explore information from current sources including child-oriented websites, newspapers, and... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using word storms to explore vocabulary and encourage critical thinking

Students are introduced to the concept of working dogs in this lesson that focuses on reading multiple texts, developing reading strategies, and learning the writing process. After introducing the concept of working dogs to students, the teacher challenges... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Technical reading and writing using board games

This lesson is designed as a review activity for the conclusion of a novel unit. Students work together to design a board game and to determine what the game will look like, how it will be played, and the number of questions and answers the game will include.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Talking, writing, and reasoning: Making thinking visible with math journals

Students are encouraged to talk about and record their attempts at math problems as they work and record solutions, strategies, and other observations. As an opening activity, students explore their thoughts about math in journals and share them with classmates.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Talking about books to improve comprehension

In this lesson, students will learn how to determine which ideas work best to inspire a conversation, how to stay focused on a particular idea, and how to talk with other students in a way that leads to deeper thinking. During a read-aloud of Stephanie's... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Searching for gold: A collaborative inquiry project

After the teacher demonstrates to students how to navigate online resources and gives a brief lesson on research skills, students study the Gold Rush using a collaborative inquiry strategy. In several self–selected small groups, students research... (Learn more)

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

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

More amazing Americans: A webquest

In this EDSITEment lesson plan, students use the “Meet Amazing Americans” website created by the Library of Congress to explore the lives of some celebrated Americans. Working in small groups, they complete a WebQuest, identifying facts and... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment