Closed and Open Syllables

Grade: 4

*This is a syllabication lesson I taught to fourth grade students during my student teaching internship.

1. Write each letter of a word on a colored counter.

2. Divide the word into syllables and split the chips to mark the syllables.

3. Discuss open syllables – the vowel sound in the beginning syllable is not completely surrounded by consonants, therefore it’s considered open. It has a long walk to the next consonant, and therefore the vowel makes the long sound. Long vowels say their own name.

4. Discuss closed syllables – the vowel sound in the beginning syllable is completely surrounded by consonants (it’s closed in), therefore it’s considered closed. It has a short walk to the next consonant, and therefore the vowel makes the short sound.

Homophones

Grade: 4

*This is a Language Arts lesson I taught during my student teaching internship.

Start by teaching what homophones are – two words that sound the same but have different meanings and are often spelt differently.

Encourage students to think of homophones that they know, discuss their responses.

Guide the students through completing the first few problems on the ‘Homophoning’ worksheet. Then have the students complete the rest of the worksheet independently.

To review different homophones (as well as practice spelling words, since their spelling words this week were homophones), give each student a white board and dry erase marker. Give the students a set of homophones, and a short definition of each. Have them write each homophone on their white board. Have the students hold their white boards in the air, and check their responses.

Contraction Attraction

Grade: 4

*This is a lesson I taught to fourth grade students during my student teaching internship.

Start by reviewing and teaching about contractions – how they are formed between two words.

Next, give each student a heart or arrow. Have the students circulate the room looking for their ‘Contraction Attraction.’ When each students has found their attraction, they sit by that person. Then, each couple will share with the class their contraction and two words that make that contraction.

Pourquoi Tales

Grade: 4

*This is a lesson I taught to fourth grade students during my student teaching internship.

Discuss what a Pourquoi Tale is. Then read and discuss several Pourquoi Tales. I found that my students particularly enjoyed animal ones, such as “How the Tiger Got His Stripes.”

Have the students write their own Pourquoi Tale. Start by having them make an outline of the details of their story. Then have them write a rough draft. Assist the students in revising their tales, writing a final copy, then illustrating their tale (integrating art).

Adaptation: Allow below-level learners the chance to write at their ability; encouraging them to build their writing and vocabulary skills.

Pronouns

Grade: 4

*This is a lesson I taught to fourth grade students during my student teaching internship.

Use the provided language book, or other worksheets to teach about the uses of pronouns.

Display this story on the overhead, or give each student a copy. Tell the students that you wrote this fabulous story that you want to read to them. Read it to them, having them correct the story as you go.

Name Poetry

Grade: 4

*This is a lesson I taught during my student teaching internship.

Have the student write the letters of their name down the left side of a sheet of paper. Then have them write a phrase or group of adjectives about themselves that starts with each letter of their name.

Have student proofread and revise, then make the final copy on a colored sheet of paper, using somewhat fancy lettering of the students’ choice for their name.

Adaptation: allow below-level writers to write shorter description of themselves and/or assist them in identifying adjectives that describe themselves.