Standard 3: Reading Across Genres

General Information
Number: ELA.4.R.3
Title: Reading Across Genres
Type: Standard
Subject: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.)
Grade: 4
Strand: Reading

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

ELA.4.R.3.AP.1
Identify examples of when figurative language is used to contribute to meaning in text(s).
ELA.4.R.3.AP.2a
Identify the plot and theme for a literary text using the student’s mode of communication.
ELA.4.R.3.AP.2b
Identify the central idea and relevant details for an informational text using the student’s mode of communication.
ELA.4.R.3.AP.3
Compare a primary and secondary source on the same event.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Lesson Plans

Florida:: Florida's Representative Government:

In the final lesson of this text unit series for Florida, by Tamra Orr, students will identify and explain a claim made by the author about Florida’s representative government, using text features as support. Students will discuss the various characteristics of Florida's citizens and gain an understanding of the impact of voting on the preservation of our republic, using the author’s claim as support.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Tree that Saved the Day!:

In this lesson, students will read an informational picture book about a community in Africa that plants mangrove trees to help the community. Students will use a variety of strategies to determine the meaning of selected academic words in context. Students will also identify and describe the central idea and relevant details used throughout the book in order to write a summary paragraph.

Type: Lesson Plan

Writing a Claim with The Tale of Despereaux:

In this partial reading of Kate DiCamillo's story The Tale of Despereaux students will meet a variety of charming, and not so charming, characters. Students will identify figurative language within the text and explain how it contributes to understanding the characters. At the end of the lesson, students will make a claim about one of the characters and support their claim using text evidence.

Type: Lesson Plan

Finding the Central Idea and Relevant Details in Informational Texts:

Students will read an informational text, will identify the central idea and relevant details, and record their findings on a graphic organizer. They will use the informational text and their graphic organizer to create a summary based on the text. The students will also answer questions based on the text. As a summative assessment for the lesson, the students will repeat this activity using a different informational text and will conduct the work alone, rather than in a group.



Type: Lesson Plan

Owl Moon: Similies and Metaphors:

In this lesson, students will be able to identify similes and metaphors within a piece of literature. Students will be able to determine the meaning of the simile or metaphor and explain how it contributes to the text. The students will be able to then use their understanding of similes and metaphors to apply them to their own narrative writing.

Type: Lesson Plan

Incredible Idioms:

In this lesson, students will listen to and read literature where figurative language (specifically idioms) are used to convey meaning and enhance the writing. Students will have opportunities to explore and discuss idioms, in addition to applying their understanding of idioms by incorporating idioms in their own writing. Students will work in groups, individually, and with direct instruction from the teacher to gain a better understanding of idioms and how they are used in literature.

Type: Lesson Plan

Discovering Florida's Past with A Land Remembered (Lesson 2 of 2):

Students will go on adventures with the MacIvey family as they work cooperatively to summarize a text.

Type: Lesson Plan

Figurative Language: Interpretation of Similes and Metaphors:

In this resource, students will interpret the meanings of poems using similes and metaphors. The featured resource in the teacher modeling and guided practice sections utilize the text Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes edited by David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad. The poem (not a Langston Hughes poem) for the independent practice is provided with the lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

Idioms...Let's "Figure" Them Out!:

In this lesson students will be introduced to commonly used idioms and their meanings. Students will have the opportunity to listen to idioms used in short stories and recognize how they add meaning to the text. Students will be given time to work in small groups and discuss idioms found in stories they will read with one another. Students will also have the opportunity to work individually to create illustrations that depict both the literal meaning and the figurative meaning of the idiom of their choice.

Type: Lesson Plan

Summarizing and Defending the Theme of Aesop’s Fable "The North Wind and the Sun":

This lesson will engage students in discussions that involve conceptual understanding of vocabulary, theme, and summarizing. After reading a short fable, "The North Wind and the Sun" by Aesop, students will complete activities that require them to think deeply, make inferences based on textual evidence, and defend their interpretation during discussions. Students will use context clues, word relationships, and/or figurative language to determine word meaning and unfamiliar phrasing. Students will participate in a class discussion evaluating conceptual understandings, examining themes, and making inferences. Students will engage in student-to-student discourse and partner work throughout the lesson. For the summative assessment, students will write a summary to convey understandings presented in the text and the discussions with their peers.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Idioms: Revealing Hidden Meanings:

Learn how to recognize idioms and explain their meanings as you complete this interactive, magic-themed tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Student Center Activities

Comprehension: Strategies Game:

In this activity, students will use multiple reading strategies to answer questions and comprehend text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Sum-thing Special:

In this activity, students will summarize text using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Question Cards:

In this activity, students will answer questions to comprehend text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: In My Own Words:

In this activity, students will paraphrase text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Retell Recap:

In this activity, students will retell or summarize a story.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Retell Review:

In this activity, students will retell or summarize a story.

Type: Student Center Activity

Comprehension: Summary Step-Up:

In this activity, students will summarize narrative text using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Student Resources

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Original Student Tutorial

Idioms: Revealing Hidden Meanings:

Learn how to recognize idioms and explain their meanings as you complete this interactive, magic-themed tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

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