Unit 4 Week 2

VCCCV Pattern

Word Study

Words with the VCCCV pattern have a vowel, three consonants, then
another vowel. Two of the consonants form a blend or a digraph.
Syllables of these words divide between the blend or digraph and the
other consonant. Say the sound of each syllable to hear which
consonant stay together. Dividing the words in this way can help
readers decode unfamiliar words.

Let’s Practice

complex

Let’s Practice

although

Let’s Practice

contract

Let’s Practice

instead

Spelling Words

surprise
pilgrim
subtract
control
sample
inspect
contrast
employ
exclaim
athlete

Challenge Words

contraction

embrace

completion

High-Frequency Words

common
through

Let’s read the sentences.

Possessive Pronouns

Language and Conventions

Let’s identify the possessive pronouns.

My father is also her uncle and

the head of our family.

Unit 4

Week 2 - Lesson 2

Vocabulary

Frederick Douglass

slavery

A system in which people are owned

by others

Slavery has been in
existence somewhere in the
world for thousands of
years.

Have you ever heard of
slavery before?

abolitionist

A person who believes slavery should

be stopped

Harriet Tubman was a
famous abolitionist before
the U.S. Civil War.

What traits do you think an
abolitionist would have?

violence

Actions that cause great harm,

damage, or injury

Suits of armor protected
medieval soldiers from the
violence of war.

What emotions do you
think of when you hear the
word ‘violence’?

equality

The right of all people to be treated

the same

Men and women should be
treated with equality at
their jobs.

How would you feel if you
there wasn’t equality in
your classroom?

influential

Having a great effect on someone or

something

Many leaders have been
influential and made
positive changes for their
country.

Who is an influential
person in your life?

Let’s Read

Frederick Douglass

Turn to
page 262
and let’s
get ready
to read!

What did you think about this text?

Which of Frederick Douglass’s
accomplishments did you find most
interesting and why?

Respond and Analyze

Vocabulary

Respond and Analyze

Authors of biographies choose specific words to help readers
understand the events in a person’s life. The vocabulary words
relate to the life and work of Frederick Douglass.

• Remind yourself of the word’s meaning (remember the picture

card to help you).

• Ask yourself how each word relates to the topic.

Turn to page 276
and let’s practice!

Check for Understanding

Respond and Analyze

Turn to page 277
and let’s check for
understanding.

VCCCV Pattern

Word Study

Turn to page 282
and practice the
VCCCV syllable
pattern.

Small Groups

Reading Workshop

Develop an Opinion

Writing Workshop

An opinion is the writer’s point of view on a topic. Opinion
statements should be clearly written.

•

The writer’s opinion states what he or she believes.

•

Statements should be substantial enough to build an argument or
essay around.

Once you have chosen a topic for your essay, you need to
write a sentence that clearly states your opinion. The more
focused the opinion statement is, the easier it will be to write
the essay.

Let’s read a book review. While reading, think about:

• What is the writer’s opinion about this book?
• Which sentence states the writer’s opinion? Is this sentence

at the beginning or end of the essay?

• Do you think it is better to write your opinion at the

beginning of the essay or at the end? Why?

Let’s practice on

page 288.

Independent Writing

VCCCV Pattern

Spelling

To spell words with the VCCCV pattern, you should
divide the word into syllables before or after any
consonant blend or digraph.

Let’s practice

surprise
contrast
inspect
employ
athlete

Let’s practice on

page 285.

Contractions

Language and Conventions

Contractions are words that are created by putting two
words together. When making contractions, some letters
are left out and an apostrophe takes their place. Pronouns
with linking or helping verbs can form contractions.
Examples include:

I am = I’m
he is = he’s

we are = we’re
they will = they’ll

She is coming over, and we will go to the
party.

Identify the subject pronouns and the helping or linking verbs that

could be rewritten as contractions.

Unit 4

Week 2 - Lesson 3

Identify Main Idea and Key
Details

Reading Workshop

Readers identify the main idea of a text, such as a biography,
and are able to explain how the key details support the main
idea. The main idea is the most important idea about the
topic.

• Ask yourself what the text’s main topic is and what the author

wants to say about the topic.

• As you read, notice the details that support the main idea.
• Be able to explain how the details help you identify the main idea.

Let’s practice on

page 278.

Analyze Graphic Features

Read Like a Writer

Authors use graphic features to bring their writing to
life and provide another view of the events or people
they have written about.

• Readers can better understand a text when they can view

graphic features that expand on the information.

• Good graphic features can offer new information to help

readers better understand what they have read.

• Readers can combine graphic features with the text for a

better understanding of the author’s ideas.

Let’s

practice on
page 283.

VCCCV Pattern

Word Study

Let’s Practice

laughter
simply

Small Groups

Reading Workshop

Distinguish Between Fact and
Opinion

Writing Workshop

A fact is information that can be proved true. An opinion is
someone’s personal belief. Opinions cannot be proved true
or false.

• Facts can be verified by using reliable sources.
• Opinions state beliefs. They often contain judgment

words.

Let’s practice
on page 289.

Independent Writing

VCCCV Pattern

Spelling

Divide words with the VCCCV pattern between the
two consonants that form a blend or digraph and
the other consonant. This will help you spell words.

sample
contrast

Let’s practice

Contractions

Language and Conventions

Contractions can be formed by joining a pronoun
with a helping or linking verb and eliminating a letter
or letters that have been eliminated.

We are going now. They will come soon.

You are leaving later.

Let’s replace the pronouns and helping or linking verbs with
contractions.

Unit 4

Week 2 - Lesson 4

Make Inferences

Reading Workshop

Readers use background knowledge combined with
clues in the text to understand information that is not
directly stated in a biography.

• Think about what you already know about the person or

topic you are reading about.

• Pause in your reading to identify clues that help you

understand an idea in the text.

• Use the text evidence you found to make inferences about

the topic.

Let’s

practice on
page 279.

Use Graphic Features

Write for a Reader

Writers use graphic features, such as photographs and
illustrations, to add more details to their writing.

•

Graphic features help readers visualize the people, places,
events, and things discussed in a text in new and interesting
ways.

•

Illustrations can show details from the past and help readers
compare the past with the present.

Let’s
practice on
page 284.

Review: r-Controlled Vowels ir,
er, ur, ear

Word Study

Let’s practice

first
clerk
furnish
heard

Small Groups

Reading Workshop

Develop Reasons

Writing Workshop

Reasons tell why a writer holds a certain position on a topic.
Many opinion essays include at least two or three reasons
that support an opinion.

• Reasons must be supported with facts.
• Reasons should be listed in order of importance.

Let read a book review. As you listen, think about:

• What is one reason the writer provides that supports

this opinion?

• What other reasons are there?

Let’s find facts that support each reason.

Let’s practice
on page 290.

Independent Writing

Review: r-Controlled Vowels ir,
er, ur, ear

Spelling

stir
other
purple
heard

Let’s practice.

Spelling Words

certainty

earn
return
search
swerve
termite

third
thirsty
thirteen

thirty

Challenge Words

determine

virtual

personable

High-Frequency Words

system
brought

Let’s review
last week’s
spelling
words. Create
flashcards.
Quiz a partner
on how to
spell each
word.

Contractions

Language and Conventions

Let’s
practice on
page 286.

Unit 4

Week 2 - Lesson 5

Write to Sources

Reflect and Share

Writers should use text evidence to analyze the qualities
of people in biographies. A description is more
convincing if there is evidence to support it.

• Make a list of the subjects’ qualities. Narrow the list down to

those qualities that helped them achieve. Find evidence in
the text.

• Highlight evidence that shows how their personal qualities are

linked to achievements.

Let’s discuss
together on
page 280.

VCCCV Pattern

Word Study

Let’s Practice

transform

extra

complain
pumpkin

Small Groups

Reading Workshop

Develop Supporting Facts

Writing Workshop

Opinion essays need more than reasons. They also need
supporting facts. Writers explain and develop their facts
with:

• Supporting details
• Specific examples

Writers use facts in opinion essays to support reasons, but
a list of facts is not very persuasive. Writers need details
and examples to explain the facts. Supporting details help
readers better understand the writer’s position.

Let’s read a book review. While listening, think about:

•What kinds of details does the writer use to develop
the fact?
•How do these details help you understand the
writer’s opinion?

Let’s practice on
page 291.

Use these prompts to help you begin sharing the current draft of your

opinion essay.

VCCCV Pattern

Spelling

Spelling Test

Contractions

Language and Conventions

They’re going, I’am coming too, and she’ll join us
later after she’s back from school.

Which revision makes the contractions in the
sentence correctly formed?

A Change They’re to Their
B Change I’am to I’m
C Change she’ll to she’l
D Change she’s to shes