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Lesson Overview


Objective

Elaborate on reasons by using explanation, context, or examples.

Readings and Materials

  • Book: The Wild Book by Margarita Engle 

  • Resource: Two Paragraph Outline 

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Lesson Map

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14
Lesson
Writing
Overview

Write a persuasive letter explaining whether or not early screening for dyslexia is important.

Materials
  • The Wild Book
  • “Capitol Journal: Newsom's struggles with dyslexia prompt a 'very personal' quest to fund early screening”
  • “After setbacks, dyslexia screening for young students moves forward in California schools”
  • Opinion Writing Rubric (G4)
  • Single Point Opinion Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U4)
  • Opinion Writing Note Taker (G4, U4, L14)
  • Opinion Writing Note Taker Sample Response (G4, U4, L14)
  • Two Paragraph Outline
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 1 (G4, U4, L14)
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 2 (G4, U4, L14)
Day 1 - Brainstorming

Research a topic to establish an opinion.

Materials
  • The Wild Book
  • “Capitol Journal: Newsom's struggles with dyslexia prompt a 'very personal' quest to fund early screening”
  • “After setbacks, dyslexia screening for young students moves forward in California schools”
  • Opinion Writing Note Taker (G4, U4, L14)
  • Opinion Writing Note Taker Sample Response (G4, U4, L14)

Standards

RI.4.9SL.4.1.aW.4.5W.4.8

Day 2 - Planning

Craft an opinion statement based on facts and details, and sequence reasons strategically.

Materials
  • The Wild Book
  • “Capitol Journal: Newsom's struggles with dyslexia prompt a 'very personal' quest to fund early screening”
  • “After setbacks, dyslexia screening for young students moves forward in California schools”
  • Two Paragraph Outline
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 1 (G4, U4, L14)
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 2 (G4, U4, L14)
  • Opinion Writing Note Taker (G4, U4, L14) — Completed on Day 1

Standards

RI.4.1RI.4.9SL.4.1.aW.4.1W.4.1.aW.4.5

Day 3 - Drafting

Elaborate on reasons by using explanation, context, or examples.

Materials
  • The Wild Book
  • “Capitol Journal: Newsom's struggles with dyslexia prompt a 'very personal' quest to fund early screening”
  • “After setbacks, dyslexia screening for young students moves forward in California schools”
  • Two Paragraph Outline
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 1 (G4, U4, L14)
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 2 (G4, U4, L14)

Standards

RI.4.1W.4.1W.4.5W.4.8

Day 4 - Drafting

Include introduction and conclusion sections that appropriately engage the reader and reveal the topic and main ideas.

Materials
  • Opinion Letter Draft — Started or completed on Day 3
  • Single Point Opinion Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Two Paragraph Outline — Completed on Day 2
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 1 (G4, U4, L14)
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 2 (G4, U4, L14)

Standards

SL.4.1.aSL.4.1.dW.4.1W.4.1.aW.4.1.dW.4.5

Day 5 - Revision & Editing

Change descriptive words to be more precise.

Materials
  • Opinion Letter Draft — Completed from Day 4
  • Dictionary — Physical or online
  • Thesaurus — Physical or online
  • Single Point Opinion Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U4)

Standards

L.4.1.aW.4.5

21
Lesson
Writing
Overview

Analyze unit themes and concepts by writing a narrative story that continues one of the unit texts where it left off.

Materials
  • “Excerpts from Fish in a Tree” — Ch. 1–3
  • “Excerpts from Out of My Mind” — Ch. 1–4
  • “Excerpts from Rules” — Ch. 1–2
  • Narrative Writing Rubric (G4)
  • Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Editing Checklist 2 (G4, U4)
  • Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer
  • Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer Sample Response (G4, U4, L20)
Day 1 - Brainstorming

Plan a story that includes a problem, climax, and solution.

Materials
  • “Excerpts from Fish in a Tree” — Chapters 1–3
  • “Excerpts from Out of My Mind” — Chapters 1–4
  • “Excerpts from Rules” — Chapters 1–2
  • Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer
  • Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer Sample Response (G4, U4, L20)

Standards

W.4.3W.4.3.a

Day 2 - Drafting

Include a resolution that solves the problem, teaches the reader a lesson, or shows how a character changed.

Materials
  • Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer — Completed on Day 1

Standards

W.4.3W.4.3.aW.4.3.bW.4.3.dW.4.3.e

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Revise writing by rearranging words or phrases within a sentence.

Materials
  • Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Editing Checklist 2 (G4, U4)
  • Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer — Completed on Day 1
  • Completed Story Drafts — from Day 2

Standards

L.4.1.aL.4.1.dW.4.5

22
Lesson
Writing
Overview

Create a poster to teach other students about a topic related to the unit.

Materials
  • The Wild Book
  • “Excerpts from Fish in a Tree” — Chapters 1–3
  • “Excerpts from Out of My Mind” — Chapters 1–4
  • “Excerpts from Rules” — Chapters 1–2
  • “'Learning Disabilities: An Overview' by Reading Rockets — Research Resource”
  • “'Nothing about Us without Us: Promoting Disability History and Awareness in Classrooms' by Facing History & Ourselves — Research Resource”
  • “'Ability & Disability' by Learning For Justice — Possible Research Resource”
  • https://www.understood.org
  • Informational Writing Rubric (G4)
  • Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Two Paragraph Outline
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 3 (G4, U4, L21)
  • Research Note Taking Page (G4, U4, L21)
  • Poster materials: poster, tri-fold, chart paper, etc.
Day 1 - Brainstorming

Brainstorm subtopics for an informational writing project. Gather facts and details about each subtopic.

Materials
  • The Wild Book — Chapters 1–3
  • “Excerpts from Fish in a Tree
  • “Excerpts from Out of My Mind” — Chapters 1–4
  • “Excerpts from Rules” — Chapters 1–2
  • “'Learning Disabilities: An Overview' by Reading Rockets — Research Resource”
  • “'Nothing about Us without Us: Promoting Disability History and Awareness in Classrooms' by Facing History & Ourselves — Research Resource”
  • “'Ability & Disability' by Learning For Justice — Possible Research Resource”
  • https://www.understood.org
  • Two Paragraph Outline
  • Two Paragraph Outline Sample Response 3 (G4, U4, L21)
  • Research Note Taking Page (G4, U4, L21)

Standards

W.4.2.aW.4.2.b

Day 2 - Drafting

Determine the paragraph structure that matches the purpose and information included in writing.

Materials
  • Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Two Paragraph Outline — Completed on Day 1

Standards

W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.c

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Revise by adding text features that teach the reader more about the subtopic.

Materials
  • Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G4, U4)
  • Editing Checklist 2 (G4, U4)
  • Two Paragraph Outline — Completed on Day 1
  • Poster materials: poster, tri-fold, chart paper, etc.
  • Completed Student Drafts from Day 2

Standards

L.4.1.aL.4.1.dW.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.c

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