Grade 4 Unit 5
- 1. Isaac School District No.5 ELAS Thematic Unit Overview Grade 4 – Unit 5 2012-2013 Unit 5: Stories of the Earth and Sky DURATION: Four Weeks This unit couples Native American stories with informational text about the earth and sky. Students discuss stories that explain nature’s mysteries, and how these stories are often passed down orally from generation to generation. Students are asked to share any personal stories about the earth and sky that they have been told. After a brief introduction to Native Americans’ reverence and respect for the earth and sky, students read Native American stories and compare and contrast them as a genre. Students alternate reading stories, such as The Earth Under Sky Bear’s Feet by Joseph Bruchac, and related informational texts, such as Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations by Jacqueline Mitton. Class discussions focus on how the informational text helps us to appreciate literature and how authors use artistic license to make a good story. Students also conduct and present research on constellations. After discussing Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night and El Greco’s View of Toledo, students write their own story. This unit ends with a class discussion and informative/explanatory essay in response to the essential question. Essential Questions: Vocabulary: How are the earth and sky portrayed in fiction and artistic license myth nonfiction? details narrative writing facts research How do Native American stories show respect for nature? legend theme lore word choice Essential Learning: Cultures and traditions shape our way of thinking and writing. Often times we create stories to explain things we don’t understand. Distributed Resources Aligned to Unit 5: Legend of Indian Pain Brush (DePaloa) Legend of the Blue Bonnet (DePaloa) Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations (Mitton & Balit) Underlined vocabulary indicates a Tier II word. 1
- 2. Underlined vocabulary indicates a Tier II word. 2