Curriculum / ELA / 4th Grade / Unit 1: Finding Fortune: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon / Lesson 26
ELA
Unit 1
4th Grade
Lesson 26 of 28
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Write a persuasive letter from the perspective of one of the characters, asking the reader to agree with your point of view.
Book: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Rubric: Grade 4 Literary Analysis and Opinion Writing Rubric
Template: Single Paragraph Outline
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Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved
Throughout the story there are differing viewpoints. In the beginning of the story, Ma thinks stories are a waste of time, but Ba thinks they are not. Jade Dragon thought the people should be punished for not appreciating her, but her children wanted to save the people. These are just a few of the examples in the book that show one point of view contrasted against another.
Choose two characters with differing viewpoints and write a persuasive letter from each character’s perspective, asking the reader to agree with their view.
An example response to the Target Task at the level of detail expected of the students.
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SL.4.1 — Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
W.4.1 — Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information
W.4.1.a — Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.
W.4.1.b — Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
W.4.1.c — Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition).
W.4.4 — Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1—3 above.)
W.4.5 — With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.
W.4.9 — Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit
L.4.1.f — Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.
L.4.2.c — Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
L.4.3 — Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
L.4.4 — Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.4.6 — Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal precise actions, emotions, or states of being (e.g., quizzed, whined, stammered) and that are basic to a particular topic (e.g., wildlife, conservation, and endangered when discussing animal preservation).
SL.4.2 — Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
SL.4.3 — Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points.
W.4.10 — Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Lesson 25
Lesson 27
Describe Fruitless Mountain and Minli’s family.
RL.4.3
Describe why Minli and her family act in certain ways.
Describe why Minli acts in certain ways.
RL.4.3 RL.4.4
Writing – 2 days
Write a paragraph that describes Minli.
L.4.1.a L.4.1.f L.4.2.c W.4.1.a W.4.1.b
Describe how Ma and Ba are feeling and why.
Describe how Dragon was born and why the author includes this story.
RL.4.3 SL.4.1 SL.4.1.c
Analyze the Goldfish Man’s perspective on fortune and if it is similar to Ma and Ba’s.
Analyze the significance of "The Story of the Paper of Happiness."
RL.4.2 RL.4.3
Explain what the quote "I'll find a way" shows about Minli.
Describe how Minli is beginning to change.
Analyze how Minli’s parents and Minli are starting to transform through their relationships with others.
Describe the king.
L.4.1.a L.4.1.f L.4.2.c W.4.1 W.4.1.a W.4.1.b
Summarize how Dragon ended up with the borrowed line.
Explain why Minli feels ashamed and how she is changing.
Summarize how the girl outsmarted the tiger.
Explain what Minli might learn from the twins and grandfather.
Describe the gift the people of Moon Rain give Minli and why it is an example of true generosity.
Describe what idea Minli puts into action to get the message to the Old Man of the Moon and where the idea came from.
Explain what lesson the Old Man of the Moon is trying to teach Wu Kang and how it connects to Minli’s quest for fortune.
Explain how Ma changes.
Explain how Minli came to realize that she already had the best fortune.
Analyze how Minli knew that all of her questions had been answered.
Writing
L.4.1.a L.4.1.f L.4.2.c RL.4.3 W.4.1.a W.4.1.b
Discussion
Debate two essential questions using evidence and arguments from the entire unit and personal experience.
SL.4.1 SL.4.1.c SL.4.2
Opinion Writing – 4 days
SL.4.1 W.4.1 W.4.1.a W.4.1.b W.4.1.c W.4.4 W.4.5 W.4.9
Assessment
Narrative Writing – 4 days
Write a narrative story that recounts a moment on Minli’s journey where things go wrong.
L.4.1.g L.4.2.b L.4.3 W.4.3.a W.4.3.b W.4.3.d
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