Scope & Sequence
Grade 4
Unit 1: Understanding Topic Sentences and Main Ideas
Analyze ideas in a paragraph by
• relating topic sentences to details
• locating the topic sentence at the beginning, middle, or end of a paragraph
• analyzing ideas using diagrams of paragraph structure
• locating topic sentences in a paragraph, story, or article
• rewriting topic sentences
Unit 2: Making Inferences
Understand the process of making inferences in fiction by
• combining clues and personal knowledge of word meaning and events
• revising inferences during reading to accommodate new information
• confirming inferences by reading further
• combining information in the text with the inferences made to draw conclusions
• distinguishing between making inferences during reading and drawing conclusions
Unit 3: Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion
Differentiate fact from opinion by
• determining if statements are true for everyone or true only for some people
• locating clues that distinguish facts from opinion statements
• changing facts to opinions
• understanding exaggeration
• understanding persuasion
• identifying statements in paragraphs as facts or opinions
Unit 4: Comparing and Contrasting
Make comparisons and understand their purpose by
• listing similarities and differences between physical traits, character traits, and actions
• charting similarities and differences
• paraphrasing the information in the chart
• using the chart to compare and contrast important ideas
• making inferences using the comparisons
Unit 5: Using Context Clues
Use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words by
• understanding the function of context clues
• identifying signal words
• using definitions and examples as context clues
• using comparisons and reversals as context clues
• analyzing similes for context clues
Unit 6: Understanding the Elements of a Story
Understand how the elements of a story work together by
• defining character, setting, and plot of a story
• analyzing the parts of a plot: goal, obstacle, attempt, outcome, and final result
• understanding plot lines: goal-achievement and conflict-resolution involving person against nature, person against person, and person against himself or herself (inner conflict)
• analyzing multiple attempts by a main character to reach a goal
• creating a plot summary
Unit 7: Analyzing Character Traits
Infer character traits by
• analyzing behavior in relation to character traits
• analyzing direct statement and dialogue as author techniques for expressing or implying character traits
• identifying and determining the reasons for a character’s actions
• using context clues to identify character traits
• combining clues with personal knowledge of people’s actions and feelings to infer specific character traits
Unit 8: Interpreting Sensory Images, Similes, and Metaphors
Analyze the role of sensory images in figurative language by
• defining sensory images
• locating sensory images in descriptive prose
• analyzing how sensory images create mental pictures and facilitate understanding
• identifying words and phrases related to the five senses in a paragraph
• understanding sensory images in similes and metaphors
• comparing sensory images in similes and metaphors
• interpreting sensory images in poetry
