Lesson 16

Riding Freedom

by Pam Munoz Ryan

Essential Question: "What traits do successful people have?"

1 Chronicles 22:13 (NIV)

1 Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

This week we'll ask "What traits do successful people have?" In the historical fiction selection Riding Freedom, a young woman faces great obstacles as she pursues her dream of driving a stagecoach. We'll also read about the obstacles faced by a man who drills for oil in the informational text Spindletop.

Spelling
words with /k/, /ng/, and /kw/
risky
track
topic
blank
question
pocket
monkey
junk
equal
ache
public
attack
struck
earthquake
picnic
banker
electric
blanket
mistake
stomach

 Vocabulary
escorted 
swelled
relied
reputation
worthy
churning
situation
deserve
defended
satisfied

Target Skill and Strategy
Compare and Contrast
Monitor and clarify

Grammar
Adjectives

Lesson 12

by Laurence Yep

Essential Question: How do natural disasters affect people?

When natural forces are at work, the result can be awesome! This week we'll explore the question "How do natural disasters affect people?" The first reading selection will be The Earth Dragon Awakes, a piece of historical fiction set during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. We'll also read an informational text, Twisters, which provides interesting facts about tornadoes.

Spelling Words

rising

traced

stripped

slammed

dancing

striped

sinning

snapping

bragging

handled

dripped

begged

dared

skipped

hitting

spotted

raced

dimmed

spinning

escaped

Vocabulary Words

trembles

wreckage

slab

possessions

tenement

crushing

rubble

debries

timbers

constructed

Target Skill and Strategies

Sequence of Events 

Conclusions and Generalizations

Visualize

Lesson 11

Hurricanes: Earth's mightiest Storms 

                         by Patrica Lauber


Big Idea: What are the benefits of studying weather?

2 Timothy 2:15Amplified Bible (AMP)

15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

This week we'll be asking "What are the benefits of studying weather?"Children's author Patricia Lauber tells about one of nature's most powerful events in the informational text Hurricanes: Earth's Mightiest Storms. We'll also read about the damage caused by hurricanes in the newspaper article Recovering from Katrina.

Target Vocabulary

whirling

rapidly

condense

source

rotating

rage

experience

ancient

predict 

registered

Spelling

somebody

fireplace

nearby

toothbrush

homesick

make-believe

anything

all right

goodbye

forehead

classmate

flashlight

haircut

twenty-two

driveway

alarm clock

baby-sit

airport

forever

mailbox

Target skill

Text and Graphic Features

Text Structure

Target Strategy

Infer/Predict

Grammar
Frequently Confused Words

The Invasion from Mars

The Invasion from Mars,
based on the novel The War of the Worlds

Big Question:

How are performances similar to and different from written stories?

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

This week we'll talk about classic stories and ask the question "How are performances similar to and different from written stories?" We'll read the scene from the play Invasion from Mars, based on the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G Wells, We'll also read the informational text The History of Radio, about the development of radio since the late 1800's.

Spelling

bunch

fruit

argue

crumb

crew

tune

juice

refuse

truth

young

clue

trunk

amuse

suit

rude

truset

dew

stuck

rescue

brush

Vocabulary

alarmed

reacted

convey

daring

awe

luminous

indescribable

extraordinary

fade

conferring

Comprehension Skills

Story Structure
Infer/Predict

Stormalong

 

 

 

Big Question: Why do people pass down stories over the years?





"Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Exodus 24:7 


 

This week we will ask the question “Why do people pass down stories over the years?” In the tall tale Stormalong, students will read about how the sailors in Cape Cod help a very unusual sailor.

 

 

 

Connect to the Text:

 

 

Map It Out

In Stormalong, stormy travels from Cape Cod to Kansas. Using a map, discuss with your child the route Stormy might have taken. Help your child estimate how many miles the journey may have been.

Spelling:

wait

weight

heard

herd

days

daze

heel

heal

peak

peek

sent

cent

scent

feet

feat

vain

vane

vein

miner

minor

Vocabulary:

seafaring

tidal

foaming

outcast

yearning

memorable

betrayed

condition

shortage

horrified

Grammar:

Proper Nouns

Comprehension Strategy:

Understanding Characters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



                                     My Brother Martin

 

 

We had a wonderful week of learning and getting to know more about God and each other. Fourth grade has so many terrific stories to read about and this will be another exciting week in our Journey as we explore and read about families and the importance of working together. Students will explore the question  "What might lead a person to try to change the world?" In the biographical selection My Brother Martin, students will see the civil rights leader through his big sister's eyes. Students will also read the poem Langton Hughes: A Poet and a Dreamer, about one of America's most beloved poets.

Big Question: How can an author show what it takes to be a leader?

Matt 20:26" But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,...."

 

 Our Target Vocabulary:

injustice

numerous

dream

encounters

preferred

recall

example

 

Spelling Words

west
steep
member
gleam
freah
freedom
speed
steam
beast
believe
speck
kept
cheap
pretend
greed
shelf
least
eager
reason
chief

 

Comprehension
Target Skill: Author's Purpose
Target Strategy: Monitor/Clarify

Grammar

 Kinds of Sentences

 

 

 



 Welcome to 4th grade!

This year we will be going on a language arts journey. Our first stop will be at the story of Because of Winn Dixie by Katie DiCamillo. We will be reading a short passage of the realistic fiction story. We will have quizzes after reading the stories in the Journeys book to see how well we understood what we read, leaned new vocabulary words and how well we learned our new spelling words. I will be posting each story as we read it. So please check back to see what we will be learning about each story.

Vocabulary  

comfort             consisted

mention            positive                                      

mood                 advanced

properly            peculiar                                 

intends              talent                                  

Target Skill

Story Structure

Target Strategy   

Summarize

Genre

Realistic Fiction is a present day 

story that could take place in real life.

Spelling Words:

blade        gray       past        afraid

magic       delay     amaze    drain

maybe      break     sale        hang

stain         glass     raft          jail

crayon     fact        stale       steak