English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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.
- Is this sentence literal or figurative? I ate a piece of cake at the party. (literal: it means exactly what it says / figurative: it means something different) → literal: it means exactly what it saysPrompt: Picture exactly what the words say. Could it really happen?
- Which kind of text is this? A made-up story set in the past, with real events from history. (instructions / science fiction / historical fiction / fantasy) → historical fictionPrompt: Is it true (non-fiction) or made up (fiction)?
- Read the sentence. "I'm all ears," said Dad. "Tell me about your day." What does "all ears" mean? (cannot hear / wants to sleep / has big ears / ready to listen carefully) → ready to listen carefullyPrompt: The words do not mean exactly what they say.
Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 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? (very cold hands / the ability to make things successful / bad luck / a gentle way of touching) → the ability to make things successfulPrompt: Many English words and phrases come from Greek and Roman myths.
- Read the question. Which word comes from Arachne, a weaver who was turned into a spider in a Greek myth? (cereal / atlas / echo / arachnid) → arachnidPrompt: Say the name and each word aloud. Which sounds alike?
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 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 favourite subject / a weak spot / a sore foot / a fast runner) → a weak spotPrompt: Many English words and phrases come from Greek and Roman myths.
- Read the question. Which word comes from Odysseus, a Greek hero who took ten years to sail home? (titanic / echo / mentor / odyssey) → odysseyPrompt: Say the name and each word aloud. Which sounds alike?
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