Unit Plan 16 (Grade 4 ELA): Mini-Research – Reading Across Sources
Grade 4 research unit: craft focused questions, take paraphrased notes, compare sources, and publish concise tech-based reports with clear citations.
Focus: Focused questions, note-taking, source quality, tech tools
Grade Level: 4
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Writing, Reading Informational, Technology)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This week launches a fast, practical mini-research cycle. Students learn to ask a focused research question, read two or more sources on the same topic, take organized notes in their own words, evaluate basic source quality, and use technology to draft and share their findings. By Friday, each learner will write a concise synthesis that integrates information across sources and includes a simple source list.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Form a focused research question and plan steps to answer it.
- Gather relevant information from print/digital texts; take paraphrased notes with key words and page/URL cues; avoid copying.
- Integrate information from at least two sources by comparing, connecting, or combining ideas.
- Use technology tools (doc/slides or notes app) to organize notes and publish a short research product with a source list.
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 4
- W.4.7 (conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic)
- W.4.8 (recall relevant information; take notes; provide a list of sources)
- RI.4.9 (integrate information from two texts on the same topic)
- W.4.6 (use technology to produce and publish writing with guidance)
Success Criteria — student language
- My question is specific enough to answer in one week.
- My notes are in my own words and labeled by source.
- My writing uses at least two sources and shows how ideas connect or differ.
- I included a simple source list (author/title/site or page).