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Grade 4 English Language Arts · Level 3, Understand Informational Text

Explain Events, Procedures, Ideas, and Why

Explain what happened and why in historical, scientific, or technical text, including steps, causes, and relationships.

How the lesson starts: Explain Events, Procedures, Ideas, and Why

1. The How-and-Why Express

   Beep boop! Meet Rosa, the robot conductor of the How-and-Why Express. Today Amaru the llama rides in the How car. The How car shows how things happen, step by step, in order.

2. Signal words

   Rosa reads a poster. A pearl starts when a tiny speck gets stuck inside an oyster. First, the oyster feels the speck. Next, it coats the speck with a shiny layer. Then it adds more layers. Finally, a round pearl forms. The signal words show the order.

3. Steps in the text's order

   Amaru puts the steps on a chart. Rosa says to follow the order the text gives. Don't guess! The signal words are your map. First it feels the speck, next it coats it, then it adds layers. Finally, a pearl!