Reading and writing are taught as one subject in the fourth grade curriculum. Although an emphasis is placed upon writing in this module, the students will practice skills and concepts by reading informational articles about the topic of recycling then combine that knowledge into writing opinion pieces. Content reading and writing standards are from Alabama standards but mirror national reading and writing standards.
The focus writing standard for this module is: W.4.1, Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. Focus reading standards are: RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text and RI.4. Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Students will read articles on the advantages and disadvantages of recycling in a community and then write a letter to the mayor explaining why we should or should not recycle. The students will use a t-chart to take notes and review the letter writing process during this module.
