ELAR 10.11.24

Grade 4 Read/Write

Unit 2: Contemporary Fiction

October 11, 2024

Read the following paragraphs. Then answer the questions.

DO NOW

66

“If you say, ‘Mill, please grind,’ it will make whatever
you want,” the storyteller said. “To stop it, say ‘Mill,
please halt your grinding.’”

Excerpt from “Why the Sea is Salty” used with permission from HMH © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

The young husband and wife next door, though, were
greedy people who were never satisfied. When they saw
the old couple wearing fine clothes and buying good food,
they burned with jealousy, so the young husband
sneaked over to the old couple’s window, where he heard
the old man say, “Mill, please grind hot chocolate!” The
young husband stood amazed as he watched the mill
begin pouring hot chocolate into the cup the old man
held.

Excerpt from “Why the Sea is Salty” used with permission from HMH © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

1. Which words from the paragraph help the

reader understand the meaning of the word halt?

A. grind
B. make
C. please
D. stop

2. What does the word fine mean in the

paragraph?

A. high quality
B. bright
C. royal
D. ragged

12

What is the first step of the

writing process?

A. Revising
B. Planning
C. Drafting
D. Editing

19

To View at

the Zoo

I know that the central idea of a text is…

22

Why is it important for
writers to clearly state
the central idea in their

writing?

What is Central Idea?

What do you know
about the central

idea of a text?

23

Why is it important for
writers to clearly state
the central idea in their

writing?

What is Central Idea?

How can writers write a

clear central idea

statement?

Writers can write a clear
central idea statement

by…

24

Why is it important for
writers to clearly state
the central idea in their

writing?

When writing a Central Idea statement

writers ask themselves…

What is the

topic of the ECR?

What are key
words in the

prompt that give
clues about the

focus?

How can you answer

the prompt in one

sentence?

How can I use

clear and simple

words to
answer?

28

Why is it important for
writers to clearly state
the central idea in their

writing?

B

M

E

At the beginning of
the zoo trip,
Sebastian was ……..

In the middle of the
visit, Sebastian ……..

By the end of the
visit, Sebastian ……..

Prompt: Explain how Sebastian's attitude towards
Carlos changes throughout their zoo visit.

29

Why is it important for
writers to clearly state
the central idea in their

writing?

B

M

E

At the beginning of
the zoo trip,
Sebastian was
annoyed with
Carlos. He couldn't
understand why
Carlos kept writing
in his notebook.

In the middle of the
visit, Sebastian got
even more
frustrated. He
wanted to yell at
Carlos to put down
the notebook and
pay attention to the
animals.

By the end of the
visit, Sebastian was
understanding of
Carlo’s behavior.
Sebastian realized
that Carlos was
enjoying the zoo in
his own special way.

Prompt: Explain how Sebastian's attitude towards
Carlos changes throughout their zoo visit.

32

Let’s Write!

Sebastian’s attitude changes
towards Carlos to inform

Development and Organization of Ideas

The central idea:

❏

is clearly identifiable

❏

is unified and easy to follow

❏

has a consistent focus

Sebastian's feelings about his brother
Carlos change throughout the zoo
trip……………

Sebastian’s attitude changes
towards Carlos

33

Sebastian's feelings about his brother
Carlos change throughout the zoo trip
from frustration to understanding as
he realizes Carlos is enjoying the zoo in
his own unique way.

Let’s Write!

to inform

35

Why is it important for
writers to clearly state
the central idea in their

writing?

By the end of the story, Sebastian’s
attitude towards Carlos, has gone
from ________________________.

frustrated to understanding

supportive to understanding

understanding to frustrated

angry to supportive

Based on the checklist, does this
introduction meet the criteria?

Yes

No

37

Anthony read the story “To View at the Zoo” and developed a
draft of an introduction to his essay. Read the following
introduction. Then answer the question that follows.

Sebastian and Carlos learn about different animals during their
exciting trip to the zoo.

Development and

Organization of Ideas

The central idea:

❏

is clearly identifiable

❏

is unified and easy to follow

❏

has a consistent focus

x

x
x

40

Read the following introduction and look for revisions and changes
that need to be made. Then answer the question that follows.

(1) Sebastian is frustrated with Carlos for not paying attention to the animals at
the zoo. (2) Sebastian grows increasingly frustrated with Carlos for constantly
writing in his notebook instead of looking at the zoo animals.

Which sentence should replace sentence 1 to better state the central idea of
this paper?

A. Sebastian enjoys watching all the different animals behave in their zoo

habitats.

B. Sebastian's feelings about Carlos change from being upset to accepting

during their zoo trip.

C. Carlos spends the entire zoo visit drawing pictures of animals in his

notebook.

D. Sebastian and Carlos experience their trip to the zoo in different ways.

Jada’s introduction is–

A. incorrect because she didn’t include relevant evidence
B. correct because she answered the beginning of prompt
C. incorrect because she only answered part of the prompt
D. correct because she has a strong central idea statement

42

Jada read the story “To View at the Zoo” and developed a draft of an
introduction to her essay. Read the following introduction. Then answer
the question that follows.
Throughout their zoo visit, Sebastian's attitude toward Carlos shifts
from annoyance to understanding as he learns to value his brother's
artistic approach.

44

When writing a central idea statement
writers focus on writing

_________________________________.

their thoughts and opinions

as much as they can about the prompt

direct quotes from the text

concise words to answer the prompt

46

How do you write a clear

introduction?

Closing