Fourth Grade CNC PacketThank You for Becoming a Chat-N-Chew Leader!

This packet is full of suggestion of activities to use. Feel free to change, adapt or use your own lesson. You can pick and choose questions or activities. Please remember, even if a student did not read the book, encourage them to participate. They will probably still be able to listen and share their opinions of the discussion. Try to engage them with opinion questions or general questions such as “what are qualities a good book?” or “have you ever been in a similar situation?” type questions that a student could relate to the book even if they have not read the story. Our goal is to help promote a love of reading through a fun book discussion.

All lesson packets will have a copy of independent Starter Activities, General Discussion Questions, and Lesson Plans to accompany the book.

Starter Activity Choices are: Reading Spinner, Comprehension Cube, Retelling Coins or Story Elements Cootie Catcher. You can prepare these ahead of time making several copies or have the kids share. There ar allso, drawing pages entitled “Character Expert” or “Where is the Setting?”.

Use Starter Activities to get kids started and engaged while others are showing up and the group is getting organized. This will help them start thinking about the book and stay focused. These activities can be done independently or with a partner before the actual discussion starts. You can use a single activity as a group, taking turns to answer individually or answering as a group. Each week the group warms up together as a game with an activity. Another option would be for pairs of students to pick their own task to complete simultaneously. These activities can be used once or for all of the books or they can be used over and over- so mix it up! Note: all of these activities could also be used AS the lesson or be used after a lesson if there is a need for a time filler.

General Discussion Questions are included in the packet for you to lead a conversation before during or after the book discussion. They can be used as an ice breaker, as the lesson itself or to fill time before releasing students to return to class. If you like, you can use these (some, all or any combination) for the entire time. Remember you can always fall back on the old standby of headbandz, charades or bingo using ideas from the book.

Lesson Plans- some lessons are particular to the book, others consist of general questions or teach more general literary concepts such as Character Traits, Critical Thinking, Story Elements, Cause and Effect, etc. depending on skill level/novel. Most lessons can be done as a group in a discussion format; some may be completed as partners or individually. You pick what you feel fits your book, your students or your style! Whenever possible, try to have notebook or printing paper for students to use or answer orally so that there is no need to print. You can leave worksheets in plastic sleeve and use dry erase marker or make a copy for yourself or several for your students. You might consider writing on a large piece of paper on an easel or white board. Again, these lessons are only suggestions. Feel free to adapt them or use your own ideas. Have Fun!!

At the end of our Chat-N-Chew time, ask your families if they might consider donating their paperback to the program so that even more students can participate in the future. Thanks for all you do for the kids at LVE!

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4th Grade Packet

Starter Activities: 3-10READING SPINNER- place pencil point through a paperclip, then on the center of the circle. While holding the pencil in place, flick paperclip to spin. Students answer question written in the space where the paperclip lands.COMPREHENSION CUBE- cut out, fold and tape tabs to create cube. Roll it to reveal question to answer. Retelling Coins- cut out circles, pass out (or let students pick) coins with questions to answer.STORY ELEMENTS COOTIE CATCHER- cut out and fold cootie catcher. Let students open flaps to reveal discussion questions. DRAWING SHEETS- “Character Expert” or “Where is the Setting?”- draw how they imagined details Use these as a group, in pairs or as induvial. Use them once or over and over again. They can be used AS the lesson if you like. You can prepare these ahead of time making several copies or have the kids share.

General Discussion Questions: included in the packet

Lesson Plans:Double Fudge by Judy BlumeDiscuss” What are character traits?” Getting To Know Your Characters worksheet p11-12Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater Discuss literary concept of Problem and Solution. What are the problems and solutions? p13-14The Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds NaylorDiscuss Cause and Effect p15-16Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly ClearyCreate a Story Map and/or Comprehension questions p17-18I Survived the Joplin Tornado by Lauren TarshisComprehension questions p19-20

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Ralph S. Mouse Comprehension Questions

1. Who are the MAIN characters in the story? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the settings of the story? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Where does Ralph usually sleep at School? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How did Brad and Ryan’s relationship change from the beginning of the story to the end?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________How does Ms. K feel about Ralph? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What does the class do to learn more about Mice? ______________________________________________________________________________________________

6. How does Ralph feel about having to race in a Maze? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What does the News Reporter say about Ms. K’s Class Project? Is the information the Newspaper Reports about the School True? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Ralph is so upset to no longer have a motorcycle in this story. What allows him to forget his motorcycle and be happy about something else? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Ralph S. Mouse

I Survived The Joplin Tornado, 2011Comprehension Questions

Multiple Choice – Choose the best answer from the choices below.1. Where does the tornado end up hitting?

A. OklahomaB. TexasC. MissouriD. Colorado

2. Why are Dex’s parents not home during the tornado?A. They are at a wedding.B. They are at a funeral.C. They are fishing.D. They are at a graduation.

3. What did Dex pull out from under the front seat of the SUV?A. A hailstoneB. A stuffed animalC. A baseballD. A dog treat

4. What has Jeremy sent to Dex?A. Some yummy treatsB. SEAL pinC. $100D. Thank you note

5. When Dr. Gage is hurt badly, who comes to help Dex give medical care?A. Jimmy and SaraB. Mom and dadC. Zeke and dadD. Jeremy and Sara

Character Match-Up

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Word Bank:Dex

Dr. GageJeremySara

TuckersZeke

1. ___________________ I licked Dex when I saw him after the tornado had destroyed the town.

2. ___________________ I was the main character in the book.

3. __________________ I went around chasing tornadoes with my partner, Jimmy.

4. __________________ Our family lived in the same neighborhood as Dex.

5. ___________________I was a 20 year old US Navy SEAL.

6. ___________________I hosted my own tv show called Tornado Mysteries.

Living in Tornado Alley, what are your experiences with tornados or storms?

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