4th Grade ELA Updates

Units Overview - ELA 4th

Amplify CKLA:

Unit 1: In My Own Words: Personal Narratives

In this unit, students will examine the genre of personal narratives. Students read five personal narratives and identify the elements of the genre, which include a logical sequence of events, dialogue, vivid descriptive language, sensory details, figurative language, and images that accompany a written text. Students are given frequent writing opportunities to employ these elements. Finally, students complete Student Performance Assessment 1 to evaluate their preparation for Grade 5 work.

What’s the Story? Students will read a variety of personal narratives and they will focus on identifying the unique elements of this genre.

What will my student learn? 

• Identify and begin to correctly use personification in writing
• Identify and begin to correctly use point of view in writing
• Identify and begin to correctly use similes and metaphors in writing
• Use the “Think as You Read” strategy to deepen understanding of a text
• Write a personal narrative
• Unit Assessment
• Student Performance Assessment

Conversation starters 

Ask your student questions about the unit to promote discussion and continued learning: 

1. What has been your favorite personal narrative from this unit? Follow up: Why? Could you relate to the person in the story? Why? 
2. What is a personal narrative? Follow up: How is it different from other genres of writing that you have learned about? What are some of the elements of personal narratives that stand out to you? 
3. How can the use of strong verbs and adjectives impact your writing? Follow up: What are some strong verbs you could use instead of the word said to really make an impact? 
4. What is personification? Follow up: Consider this example: "The ice cream in the freezer was calling my name." What is the nonhuman thing? What human action does it have? Can you personify a vacuum? A car? Your pet? Give me an example.

Follow up: Vocabulary words that will be covered throughout the unit are:

Ecstatic, appease, incessantly, wafts, discernible, oversight, realization, overseer, intimidating, manhandled, momentum, charades, curvature,