Unit Plan 27 (Grade 4 ELA): Synthesizing Across Sources

Focus: Integrating ideas; writing short, evidence-based responses

Grade Level: 4

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Informational, Speaking & Listening, Writing)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This week moves students beyond “collecting facts” to building new understanding. Readers will synthesize—combine ideas from two or more sources (texts, visuals, and short audio/video) to answer a question or explain a topic. They’ll paraphrase accurately, choose best-fit evidence, and write concise responses that credit sources. By Friday, each learner will integrate information from at least two informational sources, explain the connection, and produce a short evidence-based written response with source tags.

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

1. Integrate information from two or more texts on the same topic to speak or write about it (RI.4.9).
2. Paraphrase/summarize information presented in texts, audio, or visuals (SL.4.2).
3. Cite evidence from informational texts to support analysis and claims in a short response (W.4.9b).
4. Distinguish what is the same, what is different, and what new idea emerges when sources are combined.

Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 4

• RI.4.9 (integrate information from two texts on the same topic)
• W.4.9b (draw evidence from informational texts)
• SL.4.2 (paraphrase/summarize information presented orally or visually)

Success Criteria — student language

• I can summarize each source in my own words.
• I can state what both sources say, how they differ, and what new idea I learned by combining them.
• I can write a 5–7 sentence response that answers the question and includes evidence from at least two sources, labeled (Source A/B).
• I can explain how my evidence supports my idea.