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Grade 4: Writing
Grade 4: Writing
Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience; draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience; use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively; reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.
Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience; draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience; use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively; reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.
Nature Journaler: @billiejooutdoors
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
A major part of nature journaling is using words to document what is being observed and experienced. This can be done using multiple types of text. simple sentences, point form, lists, etc. Nature journaling is also a great place to introduce poetry as well as short stories or even interview skills. How do they think a rock will answer interview questions?
A major part of nature journaling is using words to document what is being observed and experienced. This can be done using multiple types of text. simple sentences, point form, lists, etc. Nature journaling is also a great place to introduce poetry as well as short stories or even interview skills. How do they think a rock will answer interview questions?
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the last statement becomes very important for connection making. Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs etc.. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the last statement becomes very important for connection making. Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs etc.. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
Here are some more ideas to get you started.
Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)
Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Count the birds/squirrels/insects etc.
Measure as much of the phenomena as the students can using non standard and standard units of measurement.
Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission. "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."
GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie
NOTE: You are encourage to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling. However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.
Picture by: @baxterperson
Angle Search - Writing
Angle Search - Writing
Complete the activities found in Geometry & Spatial Sense and Data Management. Look at the results of your exploration and answer these questions in writing:
Complete the activities found in Geometry & Spatial Sense and Data Management. Look at the results of your exploration and answer these questions in writing:
Describe the conclusions of your study
Write an explanation for these findings. Why do you think the bar graph looks the way it does?
Is there another view or perspective of objects with differing angles that you could possibly take to change the results of your study? What could be changed to adjust your results if you were to do this again?
Curriculum Links:
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Photo by: @baxterperson
Crayon Etching - Story
Crayon Etching - Story
Complete the activity found in Visual Arts. Continue to sit outside or beside a window and use a pencil and paper to write a paragraph about your etching.
Complete the activity found in Visual Arts. Continue to sit outside or beside a window and use a pencil and paper to write a paragraph about your etching.
Describe the location of your picture. Example: backyard, sidewalk, rooftop, park, etc.
Include information about all the details that are included
If you prefer, you are welcome to turn this into a story about the etching. With so many colours found in your picture there is likely to be magic in your story
Curriculum Links:
see Visual Arts
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Nature Journaling: Event Comic
Nature Journaling: Event Comic
In the activity Event Comic from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students use words and pictures to create a true-life “nature comic” and tell the story of an event they have witnessed in the outdoors."
In the activity Event Comic from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students use words and pictures to create a true-life “nature comic” and tell the story of an event they have witnessed in the outdoors."
All resources shared with permission.
Nature Journaling: Poetry of Place and Moment
Nature Journaling: Poetry of Place and Moment
In the activity Poetry of Place and Moment from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students have the opportunity to write poems that record the details of their surrounding and their personal experiences and reflections."
In the activity Poetry of Place and Moment from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students have the opportunity to write poems that record the details of their surrounding and their personal experiences and reflections."
All resources shared with permission.
Nature Journaler: @billiejooutdoors
Nature Journaling: Sit Spot
Nature Journaling: Sit Spot
In the activity Sit Spot from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Find your sit spot and see what comes.” This activity offers students the opportunity to engage with the outdoors on their own terms."
In the activity Sit Spot from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Find your sit spot and see what comes.” This activity offers students the opportunity to engage with the outdoors on their own terms."
All resources shared with permission.
Nature Journaler: @billiejooutdoors
Nature Journaling: Writing to observe, Writing to think
Nature Journaling: Writing to observe, Writing to think
In the activity Writing to observe, writing to think from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students focus on a subject in nature and practice using different writing approaches to capture their observations and thinking."
In the activity Writing to observe, writing to think from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students focus on a subject in nature and practice using different writing approaches to capture their observations and thinking."
All resources shared with permission.
Planting - Research
Planting - Research
Research the seeds you are planting with the following questions in mind:
Research the seeds you are planting with the following questions in mind:
Why are you growing the plants? Example: food for your family, food for animals, aesthetics, etc.
What habitat do the plants require. Example: full sun, shade, etc.
What type of soil does it require?
How much space does it require to grow?
How large will it grow?
If it is a flowering plant, when will it flower? Will it only flower once or continue to flower?
If it is a vegetable or fruit what is the estimated time it will be ready to pick?
Does the plant have any medicinal properties?
Can you find out if this plant is used by Indigenous People in Ontario or other folks and what it is used for?
Is it an annual or perennial?
Curriculum Links:
See Life Systems
See Measurement
See Planting - Journal or Planting- Procedural Writing
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Photo by: @billiejooutdoors
Planting - Procedural Writing
Planting - Procedural Writing
Write a step by step instruction on how to plant a seed. Remember to use proper sentence structure, grammar and spelling. Your writing piece should include the following:
Write a step by step instruction on how to plant a seed. Remember to use proper sentence structure, grammar and spelling. Your writing piece should include the following:
A title
Materials list
Series of steps
Conclusion
Curriculum Link:
See Measurement
See Planting - Journal or Planting- Research
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Photo by: @billiejooutdoors
Planting - Journal
Planting - Journal
Plant a garden or use containers indoors and start a journal to document how the plant grows and changes over time. Write a letter with proper sentence structure, punctuation and spelling to describe the following:
Plant a garden or use containers indoors and start a journal to document how the plant grows and changes over time. Write a letter with proper sentence structure, punctuation and spelling to describe the following:
Example: Dear journal
What did the seed look like?
What time of year did you plant and why?
What was the weather like on the day you planted and each day after? Example: it was sunny and twenty degrees Celsius with some cloud cover. Use a thermometer to take the temperature
What changes do you notice daily about the plants growth?
Draw a picture of the plant and name the parts
Keep track of the days you watered the plants or when it rained
Why did you choose this plant? Is it good for you and your family , the animals or both?
Curriculum Links:
See Measurement
See Planting - Procedural Writing or Planting- Research
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
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