Lesson Plan for Grade 4 - English - Reading Comprehension (novels, information texts)

### 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.