Unit overview
This 4-lesson unit uses the supplied read-alongs in their fixed sequence. Every lesson keeps one objective, one shared question and one evidence requirement across solo, supported and listening routes. Learners build towards comparing evidence across the unit's fiction — historical stories texts.
Success criteria
- I can select accurate evidence from every read-along.
- I can explain how evidence supports an idea.
- I can compare what I learn across the unit's texts.
Coursebook connection
Learning objectives
- 4Ra.04Talk about how a story shows the time and place it is set in.
- 4Ri.08Explain how setting and characters are built up, picking out the words that do it.
- 4Ri.11Work out unstated things about a story's setting and characters.
- 4Wc.04Write descriptions of settings and characters that bring them to life for a reader.
Clues to the time and place
Castle on Hester Street · 4Ra.04
Evidence requiredOne precise word, phrase, sentence, text feature or event, plus an explanation.
Source check: verified TBL transcript · 5,743 characters
- 3 min
Connect to the text
Read-along: Show the cover and title before starting the audio.
Teacher: Introduce the shared question for Castle on Hester Street without revealing an answer.
Learners: Share an initial idea and name what evidence they will listen or look for.
- 8 min
Read or listen for the whole text
Read-along: Use the complete read-along with the text highlighted; pause only at a natural section boundary.
Teacher: Keep the objective visible and prompt learners to track the relevant words, features or events.
Learners: Follow the complete text and mark or remember evidence connected to the learning objective.
- 6 min
Locate the strongest evidence
Read-along: Replay or reread the section each learner selects as the strongest evidence.
Teacher: Model how to point to a precise word, phrase, sentence, feature or event without supplying the learner's choice.
Learners: Choose accurate evidence and explain how it connects to the shared question.
- 5 min
Discuss and compare
Read-along: Keep the chosen sections visible while pairs compare their evidence.
Teacher: Use the supplied supporting objective to structure partner talk and invite a respectful challenge or refinement.
Learners: Compare two pieces of evidence and improve the explanation after hearing a partner.
- 5 min
Make the response
Read-along: Learners reread independently or follow the audio while completing the response.
Teacher: Offer a spoken or written response frame while keeping the evidence requirement unchanged.
Learners: Create a response that states an idea and supports it with precise evidence from the text.
- 3 min
Reflect and check
Read-along: Return to the evidence section for one final accuracy check.
Teacher: Check the response against the objective and ask for one evidence-based revision.
Learners: Share the response, verify the evidence and revise one part if needed.
Solo
Read independently and mark the strongest evidence.
Supported
Read with the audio, pause at agreed evidence points and use the response frame.
Listening
Listen with highlighting, select evidence from displayed options and respond orally.
Assessment check: The learner gives an accurate response and links it to precise evidence from the read-along.
How the writer builds the setting
Belle of Batoche (Read-Along) · 4Ri.08
Evidence requiredOne precise word, phrase, sentence, text feature or event, plus an explanation.
Source check: verified TBL transcript · 115,416 characters
- 3 min
Connect to the text
Read-along: Show the cover and title before starting the audio.
Teacher: Introduce the shared question for Belle of Batoche (Read-Along) without revealing an answer.
Learners: Share an initial idea and name what evidence they will listen or look for.
- 8 min
Read or listen for the whole text
Read-along: Use the complete read-along with the text highlighted; pause only at a natural section boundary.
Teacher: Keep the objective visible and prompt learners to track the relevant words, features or events.
Learners: Follow the complete text and mark or remember evidence connected to the learning objective.
- 6 min
Locate the strongest evidence
Read-along: Replay or reread the section each learner selects as the strongest evidence.
Teacher: Model how to point to a precise word, phrase, sentence, feature or event without supplying the learner's choice.
Learners: Choose accurate evidence and explain how it connects to the shared question.
- 5 min
Discuss and compare
Read-along: Keep the chosen sections visible while pairs compare their evidence.
Teacher: Use the supplied supporting objective to structure partner talk and invite a respectful challenge or refinement.
Learners: Compare two pieces of evidence and improve the explanation after hearing a partner.
- 5 min
Make the response
Read-along: Learners reread independently or follow the audio while completing the response.
Teacher: Offer a spoken or written response frame while keeping the evidence requirement unchanged.
Learners: Create a response that states an idea and supports it with precise evidence from the text.
- 3 min
Reflect and check
Read-along: Return to the evidence section for one final accuracy check.
Teacher: Check the response against the objective and ask for one evidence-based revision.
Learners: Share the response, verify the evidence and revise one part if needed.
Solo
Read independently and mark the strongest evidence.
Supported
Read with the audio, pause at agreed evidence points and use the response frame.
Listening
Listen with highlighting, select evidence from displayed options and respond orally.
Assessment check: The learner gives an accurate response and links it to precise evidence from the read-along.
Reading between the lines
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom · 4Ri.11
Evidence requiredOne precise word, phrase, sentence, text feature or event, plus an explanation.
Source check: verified TBL transcript · 9,484 characters
- 3 min
Connect to the text
Read-along: Show the cover and title before starting the audio.
Teacher: Introduce the shared question for The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom without revealing an answer.
Learners: Share an initial idea and name what evidence they will listen or look for.
- 8 min
Read or listen for the whole text
Read-along: Use the complete read-along with the text highlighted; pause only at a natural section boundary.
Teacher: Keep the objective visible and prompt learners to track the relevant words, features or events.
Learners: Follow the complete text and mark or remember evidence connected to the learning objective.
- 6 min
Locate the strongest evidence
Read-along: Replay or reread the section each learner selects as the strongest evidence.
Teacher: Model how to point to a precise word, phrase, sentence, feature or event without supplying the learner's choice.
Learners: Choose accurate evidence and explain how it connects to the shared question.
- 5 min
Discuss and compare
Read-along: Keep the chosen sections visible while pairs compare their evidence.
Teacher: Use the supplied supporting objective to structure partner talk and invite a respectful challenge or refinement.
Learners: Compare two pieces of evidence and improve the explanation after hearing a partner.
- 5 min
Make the response
Read-along: Learners reread independently or follow the audio while completing the response.
Teacher: Offer a spoken or written response frame while keeping the evidence requirement unchanged.
Learners: Create a response that states an idea and supports it with precise evidence from the text.
- 3 min
Reflect and check
Read-along: Return to the evidence section for one final accuracy check.
Teacher: Check the response against the objective and ask for one evidence-based revision.
Learners: Share the response, verify the evidence and revise one part if needed.
Solo
Read independently and mark the strongest evidence.
Supported
Read with the audio, pause at agreed evidence points and use the response frame.
Listening
Listen with highlighting, select evidence from displayed options and respond orally.
Assessment check: The learner gives an accurate response and links it to precise evidence from the read-along.
Describe a setting from the past
Castle on Hester Street · Belle of Batoche (Read-Along) · The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom · 4Wc.04
Evidence requiredOne precise word, phrase, sentence, text feature or event, plus an explanation.
Source check: 3 verified TBL transcripts · 130,643 characters
- 3 min
Connect to the text
Read-along: Show the cover and title before starting the audio.
Teacher: Introduce the shared question for Castle on Hester Street and Belle of Batoche (Read-Along) and The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom without revealing an answer.
Learners: Share an initial idea and name what evidence they will listen or look for.
- 8 min
Read or listen for the whole text
Read-along: Use the complete read-along with the text highlighted; pause only at a natural section boundary.
Teacher: Keep the objective visible and prompt learners to track the relevant words, features or events.
Learners: Follow the complete text and mark or remember evidence connected to the learning objective.
- 6 min
Locate the strongest evidence
Read-along: Replay or reread the section each learner selects as the strongest evidence.
Teacher: Model how to point to a precise word, phrase, sentence, feature or event without supplying the learner's choice.
Learners: Choose accurate evidence and explain how it connects to the shared question.
- 5 min
Discuss and compare
Read-along: Keep the chosen sections visible while pairs compare their evidence.
Teacher: Use the supplied supporting objective to structure partner talk and invite a respectful challenge or refinement.
Learners: Compare two pieces of evidence and improve the explanation after hearing a partner.
- 5 min
Make the response
Read-along: Learners reread independently or follow the audio while completing the response.
Teacher: Offer a spoken or written response frame while keeping the evidence requirement unchanged.
Learners: Create a response that states an idea and supports it with precise evidence from the text.
- 3 min
Reflect and check
Read-along: Return to the evidence section for one final accuracy check.
Teacher: Check the response against the objective and ask for one evidence-based revision.
Learners: Share the response, verify the evidence and revise one part if needed.
Solo
Read independently and mark the strongest evidence.
Supported
Read with the audio, pause at agreed evidence points and use the response frame.
Listening
Listen with highlighting, select evidence from displayed options and respond orally.
Assessment check: The learner gives an accurate response and links it to precise evidence from the read-along.
End-of-unit task
Choose evidence from at least two unit read-alongs. Compare what each piece of evidence shows, then explain how both support the unit's guiding question.