English Language Arts — Grade 4

What does it mean?

In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 3.5

Introduction Visual symbols can be important ways of communicating ideas. Individuals, corporations, communities, and organizations use logos, seals, flags, icons, and other visual symbols to represent their values, share their histories, and send...

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Gazelia Carter.

Saving the environment through picture books

This lesson looks at environmental issues and man's relationship to the environment over time using main ideas and supporting details. The content comes from two picture books: Brother Eagle, Sister Sky and A River Ran Wild.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts)

By Libba Sager.

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 and Social Studies)

By Deborah Harrell.

Lumbee learning

In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 3.2

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.

Legends: Dramatic story telling

In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 5.1

Introduction The act of storytelling makes learning exciting. Participating in a dramatic presentation of American Indian Legends allows class members to create, learn, and teach. Learning Outcomes Students will select an American...

Format: lesson plan (grade 4, 6, and 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Linda Tabor.

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 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, and Information Skills)

By Gregg Farr, Lynn Beatty, and Tricia Freeze.

Haiku and photography: A natural connection

This lesson will allow students to combine photographing nature with creating a Haiku poem to express what they see in the photograph.

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

By steven sather.

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 4 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

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.

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 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Jeanne Munoz.

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.

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 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Carol Holden and Tanya Klanert.

Resources on the web

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

Opening the door for reading: Sharing favorite texts to build community

This lesson focuses on building classroom community by sharing favorite texts with one another. Prior to the first day of school, the teacher decorates the classroom door with symbols related to books or genres that will be studied over the course of the... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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

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

How-to writing: Motivating students to write for a real purpose

In this activity, third grade students participate in a “how-to” writing assignment and focus on the importance of audience. The teacher introduces the genre of writing by engaging students in an activity where they scan instruction manuals... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Did you say spiders?

This lesson supports students' natural curiosity about spiders and builds upon their prior knowledge. Students work cooperatively using response journals and online resources to inquire into the world of spiders, gather information about various types of... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink