EL Education Resources - 4th Grade

Module 2: Animal Defense Mechanisms 

Dear Family, 

During Module 2, Students will focus on the big ideas:  

• In order to protect themselves from predators, animals use different defense mechanisms. 

• Writers must become researchers to effectively inform and entertain. 

Learning Activities: 

• Unit 1: Students read complex texts about animal defenses, answer questions, determine main ideas, identify supporting details, and analyze diagrams. They write summaries based on their understanding. 

• Unit 2: Students research a specific animal’s defense mechanisms in groups, becoming experts. They categorize their findings to write an informative piece for the end-of-unit assessment. 

• Unit 3: Students write a choose-your-own-adventure narrative based on their research. They read “Can You Survive the Wilderness?” and write and revise their narratives through mini-lessons and peer critiques. 

Language Skills: 

• Determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary using context, affixes and roots, and reference materials  

• Ex. Unbelievable; “Un-” (prefix meaning not) + “believe” (root) + “-able” (suffix meaning capable of); Meaning of Unbelievable: Not capable of being believed. 

• Using a comma before a coordinating conjunction in compound sentences (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) 

• Ex. I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining., She can come with us, or she can stay home., He was tired, so he went to bed early. 

• Ordering adjectives (NOSASCOMP: number, opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose)  

• Ex. She wore a beautiful, long, red, silk dress. 

Supporting Learning at Home: 

• Discuss animal defense mechanisms and their expert group animal. 

• Encourage further research and watching documentaries. 

• Talk about the choose-your-own-adventure narrative and its elements. 

• Discuss determining the meaning of unfamiliar words using roots and affixes. 

• Play online games to practice affixes, coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS), ordering adjectives (NOSASCOMP), and punctuating dialogue. 

Sincerely, 

Fourth Grade Teachers