Grade 4 Sample Unit: So Why are You Laughing?

Context: Communicative/Imaginative
Type: Thematic

Grade 4 students love to laugh and make others laugh. In this sample unit, students will explore the topic of humour and identify techniques authors use to make readers laugh out loud as they read. In the unit, the techniques of creating humour form the basis for the unit organization: Students are introduced to each of these focus topics by listening to, viewing, and reading picture books and poetry. Some of the resources will be familiar to the students. The selections will be studied to determine how each author uses different techniques to create humour. Numerous writing activities (such as writing stories, poems, riddles, and jokes) provide opportunities for students to explore these techniques and to use language to create humour and entertain others.

The theme of this unit generates a variety of opportunities for developing students' abilities in the six language modes - listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and representing. It also provides opportunities for independent, partner, and collaborative language projects. For example, students could read individually, in pairs, and in small groups.

As the unit progresses, students could experience and respond to the texts in co-operative groups. They should be encouraged to share their feelings, ideas, and questions about the texts they choose to study with other members of their groups. Students should also be encouraged to examine the texts to determine how authors create humour.

Suggested Resources

Picture Books
Amelia Bedelia and the Baby. P. Parish
And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street. Dr. Seuss
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing. J. Barrett
Iktomi and the Boulder. P. Goble
It Could Always Be Worse. M. Zemach; or Too much Noise. A. McGovern
The Judge: An Untrue Tale. H. Zemach
Rosie's Walk. P. Hutchins; or The Biggest Bear. L. Ward

Poetry
Bubblegum Delicious. D. Lee
Dirty Dog Boogie. L. Lesynski
The New Kid on the Block. J. Prelutsky
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children. J. Prelutsky
Where the Sidewalk Ends. S. Silverstein

Tall Tales
Paul Bunyan. S. Kellogg
Pecos Bill. S. Kellogg
The Three Sillies. S. Kellogg

Novels

Novel study is a component of this unit. The teacher may choose to introduce and integrate novel study into the unit plan or may introduce novel study after the elements of humour have been explored. Four or five titles from this list of suggested novels can be used to facilitate a small group approach to novel or literature study. Six to eight copies of each title will be necessary, depending on class size.

Chocolate Fever. R. K. Smith
Could Dracula Live In Woodford? M. Howarth
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency. D. Manus Pinkwater
The Hullabaloo Bugaboo Day. S. Fitch
It's All Greek to Me. J. Scieszka
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang. M. Richler
The Mouse and the Motorcycle. B. Cleary
The Other Author Arthur. S. Fitch
Soup in the Saddle. R. Peck
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. J. Blume
The Whipping Boy. S. Fleischman

Note: Some major integrated language arts resources may also contain selections relevant to this theme.