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Utah Core State Standards (UCSS)
Elementary English Language Arts (Grs. 2-6)
Comprehending and Composing Template
Salt Lake City School District
Grade 4 Theme 1
What is the theme?What is the essential question I would like students to engage at the end of the theme?
Universal Theme: Self Discovery Grade Level Theme: Facing Challenges
Essential Question:
Essential Question Writing Task (Week 5):
BEFORE READING
What is the essential sub-question for each lesson, as it relates to the theme?
Background knowledge: build or activate students’ related knowledge to the theme or topic.
Week 1 Lesson 1
Title of Main Reading Selection:
“The Hot and Cold Summer”
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Essential Sub-Question: / Week 2 Lesson 2
Title of Main Reading Selection:
“Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen”
Genre: Biography
Essential Sub-Question: / Week 3 Lesson 3
Title of Main Reading Selection:
“Danitra Brown Leaves Town”
Genre: Narrative poetry
Essential Sub-Question: / Week 4 Lesson 4
Title of Main Reading Selection:
“Kai’s Journey to Gold Mountain”
Genre: Historical Fiction
Essential Sub-Question:
DURING READING
What reading instruction is needed? (skills, strategies, higher level questions)
Focus Comprehension Skill: Character’s traits and motivations
Focus Comprehension Strategy: Use story structure / Focus Comprehension Skill: Compare and contrast
Focus Comprehension Strategy: Answer questions
What is the intended comprehension objective of student learning?
Comprehension Objective: To recognize the distinguishing features of realistic fiction. / Comprehension Objective: To recognize the distinguishing features of biography. / Comprehension Objective: To provide a variety of literary texts.
To recognize the features of anarrative poem. / Comprehension Objective: To recognize the distinguishing features of historical fiction.
AFTER READING
Short Response (Weekly Writing Tasks)
Create the writing task by turning the sub-question into a prompt. Discuss the sub-question and answer it orally before students write.
Writing Task: / Writing Task: / Writing Task: / Writing Task:
THEME / POSSIBLE THEME ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS / POSSIBLE THEME ESSENTIAL WRITING TASKS
1. How does choosing to face a challenge make our lives better?
2. How does facing challenges help us find our hidden strengths and abilities? / 1. Explain how facing challenges help us learn about ourselves
POSSIBLE MAIN SELECTION SUB-QUESTIONS / POSSIBLE MAIN SELECTION SUB-QUESTION WRITING TASKS
Lesson 1 / 1. What are Rory’s feelings thoughts and actions when faced with Derek’s return? / 1. Describe Rory’s feelings thoughts and actions when faced with Derek’s return.
Lesson 2 / 1. How do Jackie’s feelings, thoughts, and actions change throughout the story?
2. What were Jackie’s motives for playing against the Yankees? / 1. Describe how Jackie’s feelings, thoughts, and actions change throughout the story?
2. Using examples from the text describe Jackie’s motives for playing against the Yankees.
Lesson 3 / 1. How do Zuri and Danitra face the challenge of spending the summer apart? / 1. Explain the challenges Zuri and Danitra faced while they spent the summer apart. Use examples from the text.
Lesson 4 / 1. How are Kai’s feelings and actions different before and after his interrogations? / 1. Compare and contrast Kai feelings and actions before and after his interrogation.