4th Grade Journeys

4.1: Reaching Out

• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo• My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with

the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Christine King Farris• How Tia Lola Came to Stay by Julia Alvarez• The Power of W.O.W!. by Crystal Hubbard• Stormalong by Mary Pope Osborne

BIG IDEA: Helping brings out the best in us.

4.2: Do You Know What I Mean?

• Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O’Malley• Coming Distractions: Questioning Movies By Frank W. Maker• Me and Uncle Romie by Claire Hartfield• Dear Mr. Winston by Ken Roberts• Jose! Born to Dance by Susanna Reich

BIG IDEA: We express ourselves in many ways.

4.3: Natural Encounters

• The Screech Owl Who Liked Television by Jean Craighead George

• The Earth Dragon Awakes By Laurence Yep• Antarctic Journal: Four Months at the Bottom of the

World by Jennifer Owings Dewey• The Life and Times of the Ant by Charles Micucci• Ecology for Kids by Federico Arana

BIG IDEA: Nature can amaze us.

4.4: Never Give Up!

• Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan• The Right Dog for the Job: Ira’s Path from Service Dog to

Guide Dog By Dorothy Hinshaw Patent• Moon Runner by Carolyn Marsden• Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull• Sacagawea by Lise Erdrich

BIG IDEA: There is more than one secret to success.

4.5: Change Is All Around

• The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney• I Could Do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote By

Linda Arms White• The Ever-Living Tree: The Life and Times of a Coast Redwood

by Linda Vieira• Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu• The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov

BIG IDEA: Change happens to us and because of us.

4.6: Paths to Discovery

• The Girl Who Loved Spiders– Web Wise

• Poetry – The Spider / Spider Ropes• Amphibian Alert!

– The Frog in the Milk Pail• Poetry – Toad by the Road / The Poison-Dart Frogs

• Museums: Worlds of Wonder– Making the Most from Trash

• Poetry – Dinosaur Bone / Museum Farewell• Save Timber Woods!

– Following Muir: A Persuasive Essay• Poetry – The Comb of Trees / Enjoy the Earth

• Mystery at Reed’s Pond– A Big Python Problem

• Poetry – Naming the Turtle / Greater Flamingo

BIG IDEA: Exploration leads people to discovery.