Unit Title: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Teachers: Vanessa Chua & Ressa Guevara

Lesson Title Content Area Grade Duration

Memory Lane Reading 4th 20 - 30 minutes

GDOE Content Standards/Performance Indicators

anguage Arts/ Reading

L
4.1.1
Read aloud grade level fiction and nonfiction texts with fluency and accuracy and with
appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression.
4.6.5
Make narrative presentations that:
Relate ideas, observations, or memories about an event or experience.
Provide a context that allows the listener to imagine the circumstance of the event or
experience.
Provide insight as to why the event or experience should be of interest to the audience.
4.8.1
Work with a partner or small group as authors and readers of a text to explore how their
personal experiences and knowledge influence their understandings.

Lesson Objectives and CCSS

I Can write a story based on a real experience that I had.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique,
descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.4
Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using
appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak
clearly at an understandable pace.

Learning Targets

2.0 3.0 4.0

 se dialogue and
U Write narratives to develop xplain how using effective
E
description to develop real or imagined experiences technique, descriptive
experiences and events or or events using effective details, and clear event
show the responses of technique, descriptive details, sequences can help develop
characters to situations. and clear event sequences. writing narratives about real
or imagined experiences or
events.

Vocabulary Lesson Overview

Contemporary In this lesson, students will learn about how authors of

Realistic contemporary realistic fiction obtain ideas for writing
Newbery stories. Students will write, highlight, and share their
personal memories. They will also listen to a
contemporary realistic fiction story, and think about
how the author might have gotten the idea to write it.

Textbook/Materials/Resources

Paper/ index cards:

Pencils/markers/highlighters
Projector
Contemporary Realistic Fiction PPT
Miss Nelson is Missing book

Procedure/Content

1. Anticipatory Set
Read I Can statement
Write about one great memory - could be a childhood memory, recent one,
favorite memory, etc. In one paragraph include how the memory made you feel,
what you thought, and why it was a great memory.
Once most of the class is done writing, the teacher will ask if students would
like to volunteer and share their great memory with the class.
2. Teachers Instructions
Teacher will briefly talk about 2016 Newbery Acceptance speech from Matt De
La Pena.
As an example of a contemporary realistic fiction book, the teacher will read
Miss Nelson is Missing. Afterwards the teacher will ask the class, how do you
think the author for this story got his ideas?
 3. Guided Practice
Teacher will share a memory of his/her own - written on the board. As a class
they will work to underline parts of the passage, that they think can be used to
create a story.
4. Independent Practice
Students will pair up, pick one memory, and work together to highlight words
in that memory paragraph that they think can be used to create a story.
After, students will be given time to write at least the beginning of a story using
the points they highlighted from their memory paragraph.
The teacher will ask if any volunteers would like to read out loud what they
wrote.

Assessment/Evaluation Wrap-up/Closing Activity Accommodations

Students will be evaluated Recap question: Allow extra time to

through oral questioning and Describe what makes a complete work.
participation. story a contemporary Provide further
realistic fiction. explanation if needed.