English Language Arts — Grade 4

American black bear

The students will examine the structural characteristics, behavior, and habitat of the American Black Bear necessary for survival.

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

By Shanda Myers.

Animal slide shows!

This project is a culmination of a science unit on animals which integrates computer skills, language arts and art. After a study of animals which includes classification, basic needs of animals, animal adaptations, and animal behaviors, the students will use the computer to complete a slide show of one animal they have studied at length.

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

By Margie Bartolomucci.

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.

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.

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.

Finding Your Way In North Carolina

Students will become familiar with the regions and local features of North Carolina and be able to write directions for others to find these features on a map.

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

By Teachers Connect.

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.

A guided journey into the past

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

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 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, and Computer Technology Skills)

By steven sather.

"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 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.

Partners in Measurement

Students will apply their knowledge and demonstrate their ability to use standard and non-standard customary units in a cooperative measurement activity.

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

By Vanessa Thomas.

Rock art

Students will use art materials, drawings, and rock art examples to differentiate between symbol, petroglyph, pictograph, and rock art. They will also interpret rock art to illustrate its importance in the cultural heritage of a people and as a tool for learning about the past.

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

Salt trading in Asia

In this interdisciplinary lesson, students explore the mineral salt from a variety of perspectives — scientific, geographic, and cultural. The lesson incorporates images of salt production in Nepal and Vietnam, and may be used with grade 4 or grade 7.

Format: (grade 4 and 7 Science, Healthful Living Education, Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

By Edie McDowell.

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 and Computer Technology Skills)

By Libba Sager.

"Sell Me on Dewey!"

Students create short, snappy, written commercials about the main categories in the Dewey Decimal System. Commercials are viewed by the class to reinforce Dewey, and help students locate books in the Library Media Center. Dewey Commercials can be used in Library Media Center Orientation for grades 3-5.

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

By Sonja Beckham.

Time - Light and Shadow (Visit)

This lesson focuses on light and shadow. Students will examine several paintings at the Ackland Art Museum for light and shadow.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, and Science)

By Denise Young.

Why is the past important?

As an introduction to the study of North Carolina's archaeological heritage, students will use personally owned object to share the importance of their past and connect this importance with reasons why the human past is important.

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

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