Today I challenged my students to a level of learning that wasn't previously reached in our previous curriculum. It was hinted at ... It is a standard for fourth graders ... but having the materials and really developing the information and details were a challenge.
We've been studying the features of historical fiction. We read about real-life Amelia Boynton and her "March to Freedom" to register African-Americans to vote in the 1960s. We read about real-life Richard Oakes and his "Bury My Heart at Alcatraz" and his swim to Alcatraz to bring awareness to the history of lies about Native American Treaties. This week, we are reading about two fictional characters, Jimmy and Doreen, and their experience at Pearl Harbor.
Today, fourth graders were invited to write an opinion / argument paragraph. Students selected one of the stories that best "approached" historical fiction to him/or her. They wrote a main idea (topic sentence). The picked three features and used EVIDENCE from the story to support their option (three detail sentences). Then students wrote a strong conclusion (closing sentence).
Some students benefited from a step-by-step directions. Some students benefited from racing to start, stuck at the first line, and individual support. It was an active and challenging reading response assignment. One that I am excited to see students work at, knowing we are preparing for the state standards and life skills.
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