Lesson Plans

Animal adaptation

A lesson plan for Grade 4 English Language Arts, English Language Development and Science

by Jennifer Fessler and Karen Wright

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 4

  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).

English Language Development (2005)

Grade 4

  • Goal 1. Listening: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 1.02: Understand and follow two-step and three-step directions on a variety of topics when spoken at a normal speed with occasional difficulty.
    • Objective AD 1.04: Demonstrate comprehension of oral presentations on a variety of topics using a variety of strategies with little assistance (e.g., sequencing, pictograph, story mapping).
  • Goal 3. Reading: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 3.01: Read many irregularly spelled words accurately in grade-level text with occasional instructional support.
    • Objective AD 3.02: Recognize most high frequency words at grade-level with occasional instructional support.
    • Objective AD 3.05: Interact with grade-level text with occasional instructional support before, during and after reading, listening and viewing.
    • Objective AD 3.08: Use a variety of grade-level text and reference materials for a variety of purposes with occasional instructional support (e.g., literary, expository, informational, real life applications).
  • Goal 2. Speaking: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 2.01: Participate effectively in social and academic conversations with few errors.
  • Goal 4. Writing: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 4.03: Spell correctly previously studied words and use reference materials to identify and correct grade-level spelling words in own writing.

Science (2005)

Grade 4

  • Goal 1. Writing: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
    • Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
      • Other animals.
      • Plants.
      • Weather.
      • Climate.
    • Objective 1.02: Observe and record how animals of the same kind differ in some of their characteristics and discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of this variation.
    • Objective 1.03: Observe and discuss how behaviors and body structures help animals survive in a particular habitat.
    • Objective 1.04: Explain and discuss how humans and other animals can adapt their behavior to live in changing habitats.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 4

  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).

English Language Development (2005)

Grade 4

  • Goal 1. Listening: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 1.02: Understand and follow two-step and three-step directions on a variety of topics when spoken at a normal speed with occasional difficulty.
    • Objective AD 1.04: Demonstrate comprehension of oral presentations on a variety of topics using a variety of strategies with little assistance (e.g., sequencing, pictograph, story mapping).
  • Goal 3. Reading: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 3.01: Read many irregularly spelled words accurately in grade-level text with occasional instructional support.
    • Objective AD 3.02: Recognize most high frequency words at grade-level with occasional instructional support.
    • Objective AD 3.05: Interact with grade-level text with occasional instructional support before, during and after reading, listening and viewing.
    • Objective AD 3.08: Use a variety of grade-level text and reference materials for a variety of purposes with occasional instructional support (e.g., literary, expository, informational, real life applications).
  • Goal 2. Speaking: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 2.01: Participate effectively in social and academic conversations with few errors.
  • Goal 4. Writing: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective AD 4.03: Spell correctly previously studied words and use reference materials to identify and correct grade-level spelling words in own writing.

Science (2005)

Grade 4

  • Goal 1. Writing: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
    • Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
      • Other animals.
      • Plants.
      • Weather.
      • Climate.
    • Objective 1.02: Observe and record how animals of the same kind differ in some of their characteristics and discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of this variation.
    • Objective 1.03: Observe and discuss how behaviors and body structures help animals survive in a particular habitat.
    • Objective 1.04: Explain and discuss how humans and other animals can adapt their behavior to live in changing habitats.