### Lesson Plan: Reading Comprehension for Grade 4
#### Objective:
Students will improve their reading comprehension skills by engaging with both novels and informational texts, identifying key details, main ideas, and understanding the text's purpose.
#### Materials:
- Selected novel excerpt (e.g., a chapter from "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White)
- Selected informational text (e.g., an article about spiders)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Chart paper
- Sticky notes
- Reading comprehension worksheets
- Highlighters
#### Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
---
**Introduction (10 minutes)**
1. **Warm-up Activity**:
- Begin with a brief discussion about the types of texts we read (stories, articles, instructions, etc.).
- Ask students: "What is the difference between a story and an informational text? Can you give examples?"
2. **Objective Overview**:
- Explain that today, we will practice reading comprehension by looking at both a novel and an informational text.
- Discuss the importance of understanding what we read and being able to talk about it using details from the text.
---
**Instruction (25 minutes)**
1. **Reading the Novel Excerpt (15 minutes)**:
- Distribute the selected excerpt from "Charlotte's Web."
- Conduct a read-aloud session where the teacher reads the text aloud while students follow along.
- Pause occasionally to ask predictive and clarifying questions, such as "What do you think will happen next?" and "Why do you think the character did that?"
2. **Discussing the Novel Excerpt**:
- On the whiteboard, create a chart with two columns: "Key Details" and "Main Idea."
- As a class, identify important details from the text and write them in the "Key Details" column.
- Work together to determine the main idea of the excerpt and write it in the "Main Idea" column.
- Encourage students to use evidence from the text to support their answers.
3. **Reading the Informational Text (10 minutes)**:
- Distribute copies of the informational article about spiders.
- Have the students read the text independently.
- While students read, encourage them to highlight or underline key details.
---
**Guided Practice (20 minutes)**
1. **Analyzing the Informational Text**:
- Come together as a class to discuss the informational text.
- Create another chart on the whiteboard with the columns "Key Details" and "Main Idea."
- Ask students to share some of the details they highlighted. Write these on the board.
- Together, find the main idea of the informational text and discuss how the key details support it.
2. **Comparative Analysis**:
- Discuss how the approach to finding key details and main ideas might differ between a novel and an informational text.
- Use a Venn diagram on chart paper to compare and contrast the two types of texts.
---
**Independent Practice (20 minutes)**
1. **Reading Comprehension Worksheet**:
- Hand out reading comprehension worksheets with questions based on both texts.
- Questions should focus on:
- Recalling key details
- Identifying the main idea
- Drawing inferences
- Comparing characters or topics
2. **Independent Reading**:
- Allow students time to complete the worksheets independently.
- Circulate and offer assistance as needed.
---
**Closure (10 minutes)**
1. **Review and Reflect**:
- Bring the class back together to review some of the worksheet questions and answers.
- Discuss any difficulties they encountered and strategies they used to understand the texts.
2. **Exit Ticket**:
- Ask students to write down one new thing they learned about reading comprehension today and how they can use that knowledge in the future.
- Collect exit tickets as students leave.
#### Assessment:
- Monitor student engagement during discussions.
- Evaluate comprehension worksheets for understanding and accuracy.
- Assess exit tickets for reflection and insight.
#### Differentiation:
- Provide audio versions of the texts for students who benefit from listening.
- Offer different levels of reading materials based on student reading levels.
- Pair students for peer-assisted learning if necessary.