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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Words from myths (a Herculean task, an Achilles' heel)

Vocabulary

CCSS RL.4.4CCSS L.4.5England: Y5/6 Vocabulary (etymology)England: Y3/4 Reading (myths and legends)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Words from myths (a Herculean task, an Achilles' heel).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say; What kind of text is it? Fable, myth, biography, instructions…

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say; What kind of text is it? Fable, myth, biography, instructions…). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this sentence literal or figurative? That spelling test was a piece of cake. (literal: it means exactly what it says / figurative: it means something different) → figurative: it means something differentPrompt: Picture exactly what the words say. Could it really happen?
  2. Which kind of text is this? The true story of a real person's life, written by someone else. (poem / biography / autobiography / fantasy) → biographyPrompt: Is it true (non-fiction) or made up (fiction)?
  3. Read the sentence. The new rule was a bitter pill to swallow. What does "a bitter pill to swallow" mean? (an easy rule / something tasty / some medicine / something hard to accept) → something hard to acceptPrompt: The words do not mean exactly what they say.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Words from myths (a Herculean task, an Achilles' heel). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Use the sentence to work out the meaning. Everything the new shop owner tries is a success; she has the Midas touch. What does "the Midas touch" mean?
  • Step 1: Words from myths keep a link to the story they came from.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: the ability to make things successful
  • Answer: the ability to make things successful
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Use the sentence to work out the meaning. The coach was a mentor to the young players. What is a "mentor"? (a fan / a new player / a wise and trusted adviser / a strict judge) → a wise and trusted adviserPrompt: Many English words and phrases come from Greek and Roman myths.
  2. Read the question. Which day of the week is named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder? (Friday / Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday) → ThursdayPrompt: Say the name and each word aloud. Which sounds alike?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Read the question. Which word comes from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalwork? (mentor / volcano / panic / cereal) → volcanoPrompt: Say the name and each word aloud. Which sounds alike?
  2. Use the sentence to work out the meaning. Everything the new shop owner tries is a success; she has the Midas touch. What does "the Midas touch" mean? (a gentle way of touching / the ability to make things successful / very cold hands / bad luck) → the ability to make things successfulPrompt: Many English words and phrases come from Greek and Roman myths.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Words from myths (a Herculean task, an Achilles' heel)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Use the sentence to work out the meaning. The new sports hall was titanic. What does "titanic" mean?

    • A. very old
    • B. enormous
    • C. tiny
    • D. made of glass

  2. Question 2

    Read the question. Which word comes from Arachne, a weaver who was turned into a spider in a Greek myth?

    • A. echo
    • B. arachnid
    • C. cereal
    • D. atlas

  3. Question 3

    Use the sentence to work out the meaning. Maths is Ana's strong point, but spelling is her Achilles' heel. What is an "Achilles' heel"?

    • A. a favourite subject
    • B. a fast runner
    • C. a weak spot
    • D. a sore foot

  4. Question 4

    Read the question. Which word comes from Odysseus, a Greek hero who took ten years to sail home?

    • A. echo
    • B. titanic
    • C. odyssey
    • D. mentor

  5. Question 5

    Read the question. Which word comes from Atlas, the giant in Greek myth who held up the sky?

    • A. cereal
    • B. echo
    • C. panic
    • D. atlas

  6. Question 6

    Use the sentence to work out the meaning. Their trip across the country by bike was a real odyssey. What does "odyssey" mean?

    • A. a short walk
    • B. a race
    • C. a holiday at home
    • D. a long journey full of adventures

  7. Question 7

    Use the sentence to work out the meaning. The coach was a mentor to the young players. What is a "mentor"?

    • A. a new player
    • B. a wise and trusted adviser
    • C. a strict judge
    • D. a fan

  8. Question 8

    Read the question. Which word comes from Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain and farming?

    • A. volcano
    • B. cereal
    • C. echo
    • D. atlas

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Answer key: Words from myths (a Herculean task, an Achilles' heel)

  1. 1. B. enormous

  2. 2. B. arachnid

  3. 3. C. a weak spot

  4. 4. C. odyssey

  5. 5. D. atlas

  6. 6. D. a long journey full of adventures

  7. 7. B. a wise and trusted adviser

  8. 8. B. cereal