4th Grade
ELA
2014-2015
Kelly Edwards Elementary
FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit One – Getting Started
Monday, August 18 to
Friday, August 29
(10 days)
Focus Standards: preparation
Skills/Strategies:
 Classroom procedures
 ELA procedures (independent, cooperative, and whole group)
 Individualized Data collection
- Student profiles (interests, influences, learning styles)
- Reading (comprehension, fluency, strategies)
- Writing (content, organization, voice, conventions)
- Vocabulary
 Test-taking strategies to be used throughout the year
 Introduction to Literary and Informational Genres
 Collaboration (Speaking and Listening, standard 1)
Text:
Cold reads, multiple choice questions; writing prompts, student materials, whole-class
passages from a variety of genres
Read Alouds:
 Back to school, character ed./team building, think-aloud models
OR
 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Assessment: Participation grades, “quizzes” on procedures and routines, etc.
Notes:
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Two – Informational Text and Biography
Theme: Inventions/Inventors
Tuesday, September 2 to
Monday, September 22
(15 days)
Focus Standards:
 RI1-3: Key Ideas and Details
 RI5: Author’s Use of Structure
Skills/Strategies:
 Genre Characteristics of Informational Text
 Genre Characteristics of Biography
 Close Reading of Informational Text
 Compare/contrast structure
Text:
 Biographies of inventors
 Articles about inventions
 Brochures, pamphlets
 Advertisements
Read Alouds:
 Picture books on inventors
 Articles about inventions
Writing Objectives: W1, W2, W3
 Genre/Author’s Purpose
 Summary
 Main idea/detail
Language Skill Focus:
 Review of 3rd grade standards for parts of speech (L.3.1a-i)
 Capitalization
Assessment:
 Reading: Unit test, Info Text and Bio
 Writing: Baseline assessments for data notebooks
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can refer to details and examples in a text to explain exactly what a text is
saying
- I can refer to details and examples in a text to draw inferences
- I can determine the main idea of a text
- I can explain how the main idea of a text is supported by key details
- I can summarize a text
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
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I can explain what happened and why in a historical text, based on specific
information
(What is the main idea of this text? How do you know? What are the important ideas in
this text? Show where you found them in the text. Summarize the text from beginning
to end in a few sentences. Which step comes first? Next? What happened first? After
that? Can you tell me how these ideas are the same? Can you tell me how they are
different? Think about these historical events. Tell how they are connected.)
- I can describe the overall structure in a piece of informational text.
(How is the information presented/organized in this text?)
Writing Learning Targets:
Unit Two Lesson Outline
Reading
1. Refer to details and
examples to explain what
a text is saying
2. “”
3. Refer to details and
examples to draw
inferences
4. “”
5. Determine the main
idea
6. “”
7. Explain how the main
idea is supported by key
details and examples
8. “”
9. I can summarize a text
10. “”
11. Explain what
happened and why based
on specific details in the
text
12. “”
13. Describe the overall
structure
14. “”
15. Unit Test
Writing
Recognize and identify the
three forms and purposes of
writing
Framework and annotation,
Expository
“”
Language
Framework and annotation,
Narrative
“”
Using book covers and titles;
writing summaries
Sorting details by main ideas
(expository)
Pick, List, and Choose
Main idea sentences
Elaboration/detail generating
Opinion writing (vocabularysubjective) distinguish
between fact and opinion
Subject/Predicate
Opinion writing – practice
day
E/R test prep intro
E/R baseline assessment
Writing baseline assessment
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Three: Hybrid Unit – Poetry and Mystery
Theme: Autumn/Halloween
Tuesday, September 23 to
Monday, October 13
(15 days)
Focus Standards:
 RL.1-2: Key Ideas and Details
 RL.5: Structure of poetry
Skills/Strategies:
 Review of story elements
 Genre Characteristics of Fantasy and Mystery
 Genre Characteristics of Poetry
 Close Reading of a Poem
 Figurative Language
Text:
 Mystery stories
 Nature poems, particularly autumn/seasons
Read Alouds:
 Bunnicula by James Howe
Writing Objectives:
 Narrowing focus
 Story elements
 Showing vs. Telling
 Sentence Variety
Language Skill Focus:
 Parts of speech standards for 4th Grade (L.4.1a-e; f and g in next month)
 Commas (simple, compound, complex sentence review)
 Figurative Language
Assessments:
 Reading: Unit test, poetry/mystery
 Writing: Demonstration writing for skills (sentence variety and show, not tell)
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can identify the characteristics of fantasy and mystery
- I can identify the characteristics of poetry
- I can refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says
explicitly
- I can draw inferences from a text
- I can determine the theme of a story
- I can determine the theme of a poem
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
- I can summarize a text
(Can you tell me the reasons why the character said…in the story? Show me where you
linked your thinking to the text. What are the most important events that happened in
the story? How do you know? What is the theme of this text? Summarize the story from
beginning to end in a few sentences.
- I can determine the meaning of words and phrases in text, particularly figurative
language
- I can explain the difference between poetry and prose
(What is the difference between poetry and prose? Can you identify different types of
figurative language in the texts?)
Writing Learning Targets:
Unit Three Lesson Outline
Reading
1. Characteristics of
mystery
2. Characteristics of poetry
3. Poetry structure terms –
review
4. Close reading strategies
for poetry
5. Drawing inferences
6. Drawing inferences
7. Determining theme
8. Summarizing
9. Summarizing
10. Figurative language
11. Figurative language
12. Characteristics of
fantasy
13. Close reading strategies
for fantasy and mystery
14. Theme in any genre
15. Unit test
Writing (VERY FULL!)
Language
Author’s purpose: Narrative
vs. Expository (summarizing
frameworks
Organizing details in
expository writing
Organizing details in
narrative writing
Shaping expository writing
by main ideas
Creating broad yet distinct
main ideas
Pick, List, and Choose
(Expository)
Revising boring, redundant
main idea sentences
“”
Powerful descriptions of
character, setting, and
objects
Showing, not telling –
character’s feelings
Elaborative detail segment
Elaborative detail segment
Detail generating questions
Sentence variety
Demonstration writing
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Four – Informational Text
Theme: Habitats
Tuesday, October 14 to
Wednesday, November 5
(15 days)
Focus Standards:
 RI.4: Academic vocabulary
 RI.7-9: Information from multiple sources
Skills/Strategies:
 Text Features (heading/subheading, captions, charts, graphs, etc.)
 Online search features
 Choosing the best source
 Determining important information
Text:
 Info text on habitats (will support 4th grade Science standards)
 Websites
Read Alouds:
 Picture books on environmentalism
Writing Objectives:
 Note-taking/research
 Beginning and endings
 Expressing opinion
 Specific details
Language Skill Focus:
 Fragments vs. run-ons
 Frequently confused words
 Reference materials/research process
Assessments:
 Performance task: Research writing on Habitats
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can determine the difference between general and subject-specific vocabulary
- I can find the meaning of unknown general and subject-specific vocabulary
(What do you do when you come to words you do not know? What features in the text
help you find important information about what you are reading? How is the
information presented/organized in this text?)
- I can interpret information in visual, oral, or quantitative forms (charts, graphs,
diagrams, time lines, animations, interactive elements)
- I can explain how information contributes to my understand of a text
- I can explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support a point
- I can integrate information from two texts on the same topic.
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
- I can use information to write and speak knowledgeably on a topic.
(How does the diagram/image help you understand what you are reading? Can you find
the reasons the author gives for his/her thinking? What is the same about the points
presented in these texts? What is different? Look at these two texts about the same
topic. Can you find the important information from both texts to add to your notes? Can
you tell me about the important ideas you found in each text?)
Writing Learning Targets:
Unit Four Lesson Outline
Reading
1. Unknown vocabulary
strategies
2. Informational text
features
3. Interpreting other forms
of information
4. Explaining the role of
features in all forms
5. Author’s
reasons/evidence
6. Author’s
reasons/evidence
7. Using two texts
8. Using two texts
9. Research work
10. Research work
11. Research work
12. Research work
13. Research work
14. Research work
15. Research work
Writing
Powerful specific details
and sentence variety
Language
Informational text read
aloud; workshop on notetaking (dashes and slashes;
pg. 165 EW)
Sorting details by main
ideas
Recognize features of
expository and narrative
features (frameworks) and
annotation
Narrative beginnings and
techniques - analyze
Narrative beginnings and
techniques – analyze
Revising story beginnings
Annotating practice
Use specific detail
generating questions to
write an elaborative
segment describing a story
critical character
Narrative endings and
techniques – analyze
Extend a narrative ending
Showing vs. telling the
feelings of story characters
Revising for good sentence
variety
Writing a book critique
Extended narrative writing
Extended narrative writing
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Five – Fables and Folktales
Theme: Multicultural Studies
Thursday, November 6 to
Tuesday, December 2
(16 days)
Focus Standards:
 RL9:Compare/contrast themes and patterns
 RL6: Point of view
Skills/Strategies:
 Genre Characteristics – Folklore
 Examining how themes/morals/lessons are conveyed
 Compare/contrast patterns
 Compare/contrast point of view
Text:
 Fables and folktales from various cultures
Read Alouds:
 Fractured fairy tales, etc.
 Informational text about celebrations around the world
Writing Objectives:
 Building suspense
 Broad, yet distinct main ideas
 Formulating and supporting opinions
Language Skill Focus:
 Context clues
 Idioms, adages, proverbs
 Antonyms/synonyms
Assessments:
 Reading: Unit test, folklore
 Writing: Genre Identification (Quiz)
 Writing: Mid-year assessments for data notebooks
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can differentiate between first and third person points of view
- I can compare/contrast points of view from different stories
- I can compare and contrast the way themes such as good and evil are presented
in different texts
(Think about what you read. Do you agree with the way the characters are thinking in
theis story? Do you agree with the way the narrator is thinking in this story? How is
your thinking the same or different?)
- I can compare and contrast the pattern of events in traditional literature
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
(What happened to the characters that is the same? What happened that is different?
How did characters solve problems in different ways across texts? How are the plots the
same or different across texts?)
Writing Learning Targets:
Reading
Writing
1. First and third point of
Using basic research skills
view
2. Comparing points of view Relating story details to
personal experiences
3. Comparing points of view Formulating opinions with
specific details and reasons
4. Recognizing traditional
Opinion writing
themes
5. Comparing traditional
Letter writing
themes
6. Recognizing traditional
Letter writing
patterns
7. Comparing traditional
Finding suspense
patterns
8. Characteristics of folktale Building suspense
subgenres
9. Examining folktales from Building suspense
various cultures
10. Comparing/contrasting
Fully elaborated main
folktales from various
events (don’t summarize –
cultures
make a scene)
11. Culture studies
Fully elaborated main
events
12. Culture studies
Fully elaborated main
events
13. Culture studies
Pick, List, and Choose
14. Culture studies
Mid-year assessment
15. Culture studies
Mid-year assessment
16. Unit test
Mid-year assessment
Language
Word referents
Word referents
Word referents
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Six: Hybrid Unit – Informational Text and Adventure
Theme: Polar Regions
Wednesday, December 3 to
Friday, January 9
(16 days)
Focus Standards:
 RI.6: First and secondhand accounts
 RI.8: Author’s use of evidence
 RL.3: Character development
Skills/Strategies:
 Compare/contrast first and secondhand accounts of a topic
 Evaluate evidence/reasons in text
 Plot the path of a character’s change
 Author’s craft in developing character
Text:
 Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
 Informational text articles about the North and South poles
Read Alouds:
 Christmas picture books
 Text on North and South Poles
Writing Objectives:
 Introductions
 Conclusions
 Detail generating questions
Language Skills Focus:
 Roots and affixes
 Punctuation in dialogue
Assessments:
 Reading: Unit test, cumulative
 Writing: “Partner Pieces” (side-by-side narrative and expository)
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can compare and contrast first and secondhand accounts of the same topic
- I can describe the differences in focus in informational texts on the same topic
- I can explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support a particular
point in a text
- I can describe the story elements in a narrative text
Writing Learning Targets:
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
Reading
1. Firsthand vs. secondhand
accounts
2. Firsthand vs. secondhand
accounts
3. Firsthand vs. secondhand
accounts
4. Determining the focus in
infotext
5. Reasons and evidence
6. Reasons and evidence
7. Reasons and evidence
8. Reasons and evidence
9. Genre characteristics of
adventure
10. Review of story
elements
11. Description of events
12. Description of setting
13. Description of
characters
14. Description of
characters
15. Description of
characters
16. Unit test
Writing
Recognizing different types
of leads
Strong topic sentences
(stated clearly or implied)
Analyzing conclusions
2014-2015
Language
Revising conclusions
Annotating/analyzing
“Partner Pieces”
“”
Simple facts vs. elaborated
details
General words and phrases
vs. specific examples
Breaking up the grocery list
Elaborating for facts
Comparing summaries and
fully elaborated main
events (narrative)
Forming and writing
opinions (yes, but
sentences)
Partner pieces
Bandwagon adjectives
Partner pieces
Partner pieces
Partner pieces
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Seven – Mythology AND Drama
Monday, January 12 to
Tuesday, February 3
(15 days)
Focus Standards:
 RL.7 and 9: Craft and Structure
 RL.4: Vocabulary from Mythology
Skills/Strategies:
 Vocabulary specific to mythology
 Genre characteristics of drama
 Point of view
Text:
 Mythology from various cultures
 Reader’s theater scripts/plays based on myths
Read Alouds:
 Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunders by Mike Townsend
Writing Objectives:
 Prompt analysis
 Effective frameworks
 Rubric writing
Language Skills Focus:
 Possessives
 Irregulars in parts of speech
 Roots and affixes, continued…
Assessments:
 Reading: Unit test, mythology and drama
 Writing: Revision based on prompt-based, rubric-driven samples
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can identify the quest pattern in mythology
- I can make connections between the text of a story and a visual or oral
presentation of the text
- I can identify where and how a description is reflected differently in the text or
presentation of text
(What is the same about how the story is presented visually (illustrations) and in
writing? What is different? What happened to the characters that is the same? What
happened that is different? How did characters solve problems in different ways across
texts? How are the plots the same or different across texts?)
- I can explain the characteristics of drama
- I can explain the difference between drama and other genres
(What is different about these kinds of texts? What is the same?)
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
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2014-2015
I can determine the meaning of words and phrases that allude to significant
characters in mythology
Writing Learning Targets:
Reading
1. Characteristics of myths
2. The quest and other
patterns
3. Text vs. multimedia
4. Text vs. multimedia
5. Text vs. multimedia
6. Text vs. multimedia
7. Text vs. multimedia
8. Mythology from other
cultures
9. Allusions from mythology
10. Allusions from
mythology
11. Characteristics of drama
12. Drama structure
13. Drama structure
14. Drama in multimedia
15. Unit Test
Writing
Prompt-based writing for
standardized rubric
Rubric study
Language
Sample papers, peer review
based on rubric
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Prompt analysis, narrative
Prompt analysis, expository
Prompt analysis, opinion
Effective prewriting
strategies
Effective prewriting
strategies
Revision strategies (Golden
Bricks)
Revision strategies (Golden
Bricks)
Revision strategies (Golden
Bricks)
Revision of work in a
previous unit for
assessment
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Eight – Realistic Fiction Book Clubs
Theme: Sports/Author Study
Wednesday, February 4 to
Friday, February 27
(16 days)
Focus Standards:
 RL1-3: Key Ideas and Details
 RL9: Compare/Contrast
 SL.1: Collaboration
Skills/Strategies:
 Genre Characteristics – Realistic Fiction
 Close reading in literature
 Story Elements (character, setting, plot, lesson/moral/theme)
 Compare/contrast story elements
Text:
 Short stories (sports and childhood)
 Author Study: One of the following: Matt Christopher, Mike Lupica, Gordon
Korman, John Ritter, Dan Gutman
Read Alouds:
 Support for author study
Writing Objectives:
 Point of view
 Powerful elaboration
Language Skills Focus:
 Context clues
 Frequently confused words/phrases
Assessments:
 Reading: Presentation/Author Study
 Writing: Point of view
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can recognize elements of everyday life reflected in realistic fiction
- I can identify story elements, including theme
- I can compare and contrast multiple texts by the same author
(Think about what you read. Do you agree with the way the characters are thinking in
this story? Do you agree with the way the narrator is thinking in this story? How is your
thinking the same or different?)
- I can participate effectively in collaborative discussions
- I can express my ideas clearly
- I can build on others’ ideas
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Writing Learning Targets:
Reading
Writing
1. Characteristics of realistic Hooking the reader –
fiction
narrative (The Magic of
Three)
2. Expectations for book
Elaboration on main ideas;
clubs
extending the plot (What if,
Why not?)
3. Expectations for author
Opposing points of view –
study
opinion
4. Book club
Elaboration in expository
5. Book club
Researching and taking
notes
6. Book club
Expressing your point of
view
7. Book club
Opinion projects
8. Book club
Opinion projects
9. Book club
Opinion projects
10. Book club
Opinion projects
11. Book club
Opinion projects
12. Book club
Opinion projects
13. Book club
Opinion projects
14. Book club
Opinion projects
15. Book club
Opinion projects
16. Presentations
Presentations
Language
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Nine – Informational Text
Theme: Exploration
Monday, March 2 to
Thursday, March 26
(15 days)
Focus Standards:
 RI.1-2: Key Ideas and Details
 RI.6: Compare/Contrast points of view (multiple accounts)
 RI.7-9 (Review)
Skills/Strategies:
 Details to support main idea
 Compare/contrast multiple accounts
 Integration of ideas
Text:
 Articles on exploration throughout history
 Articles on current exploration initiatives
Read Alouds:
 Encounter by Jane Yolen
Writing Objectives:
 Revision
 Response to Literature
Language Skills Focus:
 Reference materials/research process
Assessments:
 Reading: Unit test, informational text (structure emphasis)
 Writing: SCPASS Writing Test (Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18)
Notes:
Reading Learning Targets:
- I can read informational text closely to gain knowledge on a topic
- I can compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account of the same
event/time period
- I can describe the differences in focus and information provided from multiple
accounts
- I can integrate ideas from multiple sources in order to speak knowledgably about
a subject.
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
Unit Ten – Historical Fiction Book Club
Theme: American Wars (Student Choice)
Monday, April 6 to
Friday, April 24
(15 days)
Focus Standards:
 RL.4: Vocabulary in text
 RL.6: Point of view
Skills/Strategies:
 Context clues
 Author’s use of language
 Impact of language
 Author’s choice of point of view
Text:
 Historical fiction to support 4th grade SS standards
Read Alouds:
 Historical Fiction picture books
Writing Objectives:
 Compare/contrast
 Writing poetry
Language Skills Focus:
 Poetry study
Assessments:
 Reading: Cumulative test
 Writing: Response to literature, how-to’s (survival)
Notes:
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FOURTH GRADE ELA PACING GUIDE
2014-2015
End of Year
Monday, April 27 to
Monday, May 4
PASS Review
Tuesday, May 5
Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 7
PASS ELA
PASS Math
PASS SCI/SS
Friday, May 8 to
Wednesday, June 3



End of year writing assessment for
data notebook
Cursive writing instruction
Literature Circles (student choice)
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