Grade 4

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Warm-Up for Process Essays

Warm-Up for Process Essays

A process essay leads readers through a series of steps for getting something done. This lesson will help you think about different processes and which ones you might explain in an essay.

What Is a Process?

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Writing a Process Essay
(c) Thoughtful Learning 2016

A process is a series of steps for getting something done. For a bird, building a nest is a process. For a bee or a squirrel, gathering food is a process. And for a student, writing a process essay is, itself, a process.

What processes do you know how to do? What processes could you explain to others?

When you write a process essay, you explain how to do something or how something works. Each paragraph in your essay focuses on a step in the process. The sentences follow time order, leading the reader from start to finish.

Process writing helps you get the job done!

Watch the video "What Is a Process?"

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Editing and Publishing Narrative Paragraphs

Editing Narrative Paragraphs

After making big changes to improve your paragraph, you need to make little changes (editing) to correct any remaining errors. You'll look for problems with sentences, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, and spelling. The following activities will help you edit your writing.

Editing for the Right Word

The words to, two, and too are easily confused because they sound exactly alike. However, each word means something different.

  • Two means the number 2.

    My family owns two dogs.

  • To indicates direction. It also is used with verbs.

    • I rode my bike to the zoo to see the polar bear.

  • Too means “also.”

    • Jason likes karate, too.

Choose the right word (two, to, too).

Select the correct word in parentheses.

  1. My ( two, to, too ) brothers are coming ( two, to, too ) the show. My ( two, to, too ) brothers are coming ( two, to, too ) the show.
  2. Are you going ( two, to, too ) see the movie, ( two, to, too )? Are you going ( two, to, too ) see the movie, ( two, to, too )?
  3. Quinn and I are like ( two, to, too ) peas in a pod. Quinn and I are like ( two, to, too ) peas in a pod.
  4. The ( two, to, too ) squirrels jumped from tree ( two, to, too ) tree. The ( two, to, too ) squirrels jumped from tree ( two, to, too ) tree.
  5. I’m ready ( two, to, too ) spend some time with my cousins. I’m ready ( two, to, too ) spend some time with my cousins.
  6. Vinny ran ( two, to, too ) his room ( two, to, too ) find his ( two, to, too ) video-game controllers. Vinny ran ( two, to, too ) his room ( two, to, too ) find his ( two, to, too ) video-game controllers.
  7. Horses like apples, and I do, ( two, to, too ). Horses like apples, and I do, ( two, to, too ).
  8. ( Two, To, Too ) of my best friends live in my neighborhood. ( Two, To, Too ) of my best friends live in my neighborhood.
  9. I used a search engine ( two, to, too ) find information about ( two, to, too ) art contests. I used a search engine ( two, to, too ) find information about ( two, to, too ) art contests.
  10. I, ( two, to, too ), enjoy reading books. I, ( two, to, too ), enjoy reading books.
By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Revising Narrative Paragraphs

Revising Narrative Paragraphs

Once you finish writing your narrative paragraph, you'll be ready to start revising. When you revise, you think about the "big picture": your topic and details and the way you build your paragraph using transitions. These activities will help you revise.

Revising for Time Order

Review the order of actions.

Use a time line to list the actions from your paragraph. Review the list to make sure the actions are in time order (in the order they happened). Rearrange any actions that are out of order.

  1. Action 1
  2. Action 2
  3. Action 3
  4. Action 4
  5. Action 5
By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Writing a Narrative Paragraph

Writing a Narrative Paragraph

Once you finish prewriting, you are ready to write your paragraph. These writing activities will help you create a topic sentence, body sentences, and an ending sentence. You'll also read another student's paragraph to see how all of the parts came together.

Writing the Topic Sentence

Your narrative paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. It names the topic and shares a specific thought or feeling about it.

Sample Topic Sentence 1:

Whitewater rafting with my family was a crazy adventure.

  • Topic: Whitewater rafting with my family
  • Special Thought: A crazy adventure

Sample Topic Sentence 2:

I’ll never forget the time I saw the playful polar bear.

  • Topic: The playful polar bear
  • Special Feeling: Never forget seeing it

Write your topic sentence.

Respond to the first two items below, and use your responses to help you write a topic sentence for your narrative paragraph.

  1. Name your topic.
  2. Share a specific thought or feeling about it.
  3. Write your topic sentence.
By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Prewriting for Narrative Paragraphs

Prewriting for Narrative Paragraphs

Prewriting is your first step in writing a narrative paragraph. These prewriting activities will help you select a memory to write about, create a focus statement, and gather and organize your details before you begin a first draft.

Prewriting to Choose Your Topic

Your narrative paragraph will share a special memory from your life. Here’s how you can get started.

Gather writing topics.

Finish the sentence starters below to collect writing ideas for your narrative. Draw a star next to the topic you like best.

  1. One of my favorite times with my best friend was . . .
  2. I’ll never forget the holiday when . . .
  3. I’ll never forget my family vacation to . . .
  4. One crazy thing my family did was . . .
  5. I’ll always remember the first time I . . .
  6. An exciting time in my neighborhood was when . . .

Teaching Tip

Students may also decide to use a writing topic from the “My Memory Wishes” activity.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Reading a Narrative Paragraph

Reading a Narrative Paragraph

Before you capture your own memory wish in a narrative paragraph, you should read a similar paragraph created by a different student. As you read and respond to the paragraph, think about how the writer made the memory come to life for the reader.

Reading a Narrative Paragraph

A narrative paragraph tells a true story from the writer’s life. It has three main parts. The topic sentence introduces the topic of the story. The body sentences tell what happened in the story. And the ending sentence wraps up the story. The sample paragraph tells about a special trip to the zoo.

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Sample Paragraph

Polar Bear Games

Topic SentenceI’ll never forget the time I saw the playful polar bear. My family and I were at the polar bear pen at the zoo. Inside the pen, a white polar bear named Amelia was wrestling with a log. Body SentencesThe bear rolled around and tossed the log into the air. Then she batted it into a giant swimming pool. But the polar bear wasn’t done with the log just yet. She leaped into the water and disappeared. “Let’s go down to the water-window!” I said, so my sister and I raced down to find her. Next, we pressed our faces against the glass, and the playful polar bear swam right in front us.Ending Sentences And guess what? She had the log tucked under her arm!

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Editing and Publishing Essays

Editing Essays

After making big changes to improve your essay, you need to make little changes (editing) to correct any remaining errors. You'll look for problems with sentences, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, and spelling. The following activities will help you edit and publish your writing.

Editing End Punctuation

Sentences end in a period, question mark, or exclamation point. These punctuation marks are like traffic signs because they signal that a sentence has come to a stop. Here are the rules for using these marks.

  • Use a period at the end of a statement.

    Thirty-five third graders in the school answered two questions.

  • Use a question mark at the end of a question.

    What is your favorite ocean mammal?

  • Use an exclamation point to show strong emotion.

    They crack oysters open on rocks on their bellies!

Watch the video "Using End Punctuation"

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Punctuate sentences.

Add the correct end punctuation to each one of these sentences.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Revising Essays

Revising Essays

Once you draft your essay, take a break and come back to it to see it freshly. When you revise, you make sure your big ideas are separated into different paragraphs and enough details explain each idea. These activities will help you revise.

Revising to Find Paragraphs

If your writing goes on and on without paragraphs, it can be hard to read. When this happens, you need to separate the writing into paragraphs. Use this three-step process:

  1. Label the first word with a paragraph sign (¶).
  2. Name the main idea in the first paragraph.
  3. Find the first sentence not about this idea and label it. Start a new paragraph.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 as you move through your essay.

Watch the video "Finding Paragraphs"

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Mark the paragraphs.

Carefully read this part of an essay. The first new paragraph is marked for you. Mark the next new paragraphs and repeat the three-step process.

We have had many great presidents. They have led our country when we were in wars or when people really needed help. Many third graders in Waller School picked Abraham Lincoln as the best president. ¶Twenty-four third graders in our school answered two questions. Who is the best president? Why? Mr. Hayes collected and posted the results. Fifteen students picked Abraham Lincoln as our best president. Twelve of these students picked him because he freed the slaves. Three students said he was a great leader during the Civil War. Six students picked George Washington as our best president. Five of these students picked Washington because he was our first president. One student thought he was great because he fought for our freedom. Three students picked President Obama. Two students said he is our first African-American president. One student said he helped our country get a better economy.

We have had many great presidents. They have led our country when we were in wars or when people really needed help. Many third graders in Waller School picked Abraham Lincoln as the best president. ¶Twenty-four third graders in our school answered two questions. Who is the best president? Why? Mr. Hayes collected and posted the results. ¶Fifteen students picked Abraham Lincoln as our best president. Twelve of these students picked him because he freed the slaves. Three students said he was a great leader during the Civil War. ¶Six students picked George Washington as our best president. Five of these students picked Washington because he was our first president. One student thought he was great because he fought for our freedom. ¶Three students picked President Obama. Two students said he is our first African-American president. One student said he helped our country get a better economy.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Writing Essays

Writing Essays

Once you finish prewriting, you are ready to present your poll results in writing. These activities will help you hook the reader's interest at the beginning, explain important information in the middle, and end with a strong final point. You'll also read another student's essay to see how all of the parts came together.

Writing the Beginning Paragraph

In the beginning paragraph, the first sentence is called the lead sentence. The lead should get the reader’s interest about the topic of the essay. The last sentence is the focus statement, which names the main idea of the essay. Any sentences in between give details about the topic.

Write a lead sentence.

Follow the directions below to write two different lead sentences. Then choose the one you like best for your essay.

  1. Say something interesting about the topic.

    Ocean mammals are big and small.

  2. Ask a question about the topic.

    What ocean mammal is your favorite?

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Prewriting for Essays

Prewriting for Essays

Prewriting is your first step in writing an essay. This prewriting activity will help you select a topic to write about and gather important details about the topic before you begin a first draft.

Prewriting to Plan Your Own Essay

Review the results.

Study the answers to another question. This will be the topic for your own essay.

Peer Response Sheet

Teaching Tip

You can also have students write an essay about the answers to another question from the "Thinking About Polls" warm-up activity.

Grade 4