Ohio Standards Connections:

ELA Standards Gr. 4:

Reading Applications:  Literary Text: 

Benchmark A:  Describe and analyze the elements of character development.

Indicator 1:  Describe the thoughts, words and interactions of characters.

Benchmark B:  Analyze the importance of setting.

Indicator 2:  Identify the influence of setting on the selection.

Benchmark C: Identify the elements of plot and establish a connection between an element and a future event.   Indicator 3: Identify the main incidents of the plot sequence, identifying the major conflict and its resolution.

Benchmark E:  Demonstrate comprehension by inferring themes patterns and symbols

Indicator 5:  Determine the theme and whether it is implied or stated directly.

 

Library Guidelines:

Information Literacy Guideline:  Benchmark E:  Students explore various forms of literature for schoolwork and personal enjoyment.

Indicator 1:  Listen to stories, books, and other informational items read by library media center staff.  (Gr. 4)

Indicator 2:  Read for pleasure and information.  (Gr. 4)

Indicator 3:  Identify characters, plot, setting, themes in reading material.  (Gr. 4)

Lesson Summary:

Characters, setting, plot and theme will be the focus of each of 4 weekly lessons.  These lessons will follow similar formats with one book from a variety of 4 picture book authors being read by the media specialist accompanied by discussion of the literary element.  This will be followed by independent reading of other books by the author throughout the week.  Students will respond in writing to questions about the weekly literary element.

Estimated Duration:

Each weekly lesson will include a 45 min. library instruction period and daily 45 min. classroom independent reading times.  The 4 lessons will be covered in 4 weeks.

 

Commentary:

Week 1:  Focus on Characters – Patricia Polacco

Week 2:  Focus on Setting – Chris Van Allsburg

Week 3:  Focus on Plot – Robert D. San Souci

Week 4:  Focus on Theme – Bill Peet


Pre-Assessment:

Focus questions will be used:

Week 1:  Are your favorite book characters people or animals?

Week 2:  Do you like stories that take place outdoors, in school, or at home?

Week 3:  Do you think you are too old to read picture books?

Week 4:  Is your favorite theme of a book realistic or make-believe?

Scoring Guidelines:

Scoring will simply involve informal data collection and discussion based on observations of teacher and students.

Post-Assessment:

During independent classroom reading, students should attempt to read a different book each day by the featured author and complete a graphic organizer:

Week 1:  Character Chart

Week 2:  Story Board

Week 3:  Points of Decision

Week 4:  What’s The Main Idea?

Scoring Guidelines:

Completed written work and teacher led class discussion will reflect student understanding.


Instructional Procedures:

Introduction in the library:

1.  As students enter the library, the focus question will be answered individually and then discussed as a class.

Week 1:  Are your favorite book characters people or animals?  (Use tiny stuffed bears and place in appropriate container on a balance.)

Week 2:  Do you like stories that take place outdoors, in school, or at home?  (Place a sticker dot on a 3-way Venn Diagram indicating preference.)

Week 3:  Do you think you’re too old to read picture books?  (Place a sticker dot on a T-chart.)

Week 4:  Do you like realistic stories or make-believe stories best?  (Place a sticker dot on a Venn Diagram indicating preference.)

2.  Media specialist introduces the featured author.

Week 1:  Patricia Polacco

Week 2: Chris Van Allsburg

Week 3:  Robert D. San Souci

Week 4:  Bill Peet

3.  Media specialist reads featured book, discussing featured literary element.

Week 1:  Thank You, Mr. Falker – discuss primary and secondary characters, changes in characters, goals characters had, results of actions

Week 2:  Bad Day at Riverbend – discuss setting (time and place), influence setting has on characters, “real” setting of this story revealed at end

Week 3:  The Hired Hand – discuss order of events, conflict between son and hired hand, climax and resolution

Week 4:  Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent – main idea, lesson you can learn from the story, statement about human nature, different people find different themes

4.  Media specialist introduces other books by author available in classroom for independent reading during the week.

5.  Teacher explains requirements:  a minimum of 5 additional books to be read during the week and the written response for each week.

All weeks:  My Reading Record

Week 1:  Character Chart

Week 2:  Story Board

Week 3:  Points of Decision

Week 4:  What’s The Main Idea?

Classroom Work:

1.  45 min. independent reading period will be provided daily for reading and completion of written response.

2.  At the end of each week, the teacher will lead a class discussion to examine the books read and the featured literary element in those books.

Differentiated Instructional Support

Lower ability readers will have a 3 – 4 book minimum for independent reading.  More capable students may read more than 5 books.  Some lower ability students may be paired with a more capable student who will help in the reading of the books.

Extension

More capable students will read more stories.

Materials and Resources:

For teachers

4 books mentioned in lessons above:  Thank You, Mr. Falker, Bad Day at Riverbend, The Hired Hand, Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent

Balance beam and tiny stuffed bears

Venn Diagram chart and stickers

T-chart and stickers

For students

Copies of many of each author’s picture books, using copies borrowed from the public library – at least 30 books/author

Copies of weekly written evaluation tools for each student


Key Vocabulary

Character, primary character, secondary character, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, climax, theme

Technology Connections

See lesson 2 in this unit.

Research Connections

See lesson 2 in this unit.

General Tips

Borrow plenty of books from the public library for each author – at least 5 more books than you have children in the room.

Other favorite authors may be substituted.

Attachments  (adaptations made to fit lesson needs)

1.  My Reading Record from Beyond Book Reports – Scholastic

2.  Character Chart from The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers – Scholastic

3.  Story Board from The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers – Scholastic

4.  Points of Decision from Better Than Book Reports - Scholastic

5.  What’s The Main Idea? from The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers – Scholastic