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4th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 9 of 13

Paragraph Power

Topic sentences and transitions

What your child practices

Choosing topic and concluding sentences, finding the sentence that doesn't belong, using transition words, identifying cause and effect, and putting sentences in order.

Alaska content standards learning standard: W.4.2; W.4.4 · topic sentences, details and transitions

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The topic sentence tells what the whole paragraph is about.
  2. Every detail should fit the topic. Take out a sentence that doesn’t belong.
  3. Transitions link ideas: for example (adds one), however (shows a change), as a result (shows an effect).

Example: Maya studied every night, so she did well on the test. What is the effect? The cause is why it happened: she studied. The effect is what happened because of it. Answer: Maya did well on the test.

Paragraph Power in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 9 of 13 in 4th grade English Language Arts, after Sound-Alikes and before Grammar Gears.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which transition word best fills the blank?

    Jay practiced his song every day.

    ___, he still felt nervous before the concert.

    • However
    • For example
    • As a result
    • Next

  2. Question 2

    Which transition best fills the blank?

    Many animals sleep through most of the winter.

    ___, groundhogs hibernate in underground burrows.

    • For example
    • However
    • As a result
    • Finally

  3. Question 3

    Put the sentences in order to make a paragraph.

    • First, fold a square of paper in half to make a triangle.
    • Next, fold the triangle in half two more times.
    • Finally, unfold the paper to see your snowflake.
    • A paper snowflake is a fun winter craft.
    • Then, cut small shapes along the edges.

  4. Question 4

    What is the CAUSE in this sentence?

    The puppy chewed the shoe because it was teething.

    • The shoe was brand new.
    • The puppy chewed the shoe.
    • The puppy was hungry.
    • The puppy was teething.

  5. Question 5

    Which is the best concluding sentence for this paragraph?

    Bats are amazing animals.

    Many bats eat huge numbers of insects each night.

    Some bats help spread seeds and pollinate flowers.

    • Clearly, bats are important to the world around us.
    • Bats sleep hanging upside down.
    • Owls also fly at night.
    • First, bats eat insects.

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?

    Our community garden is a busy place in summer. Neighbors grow tomatoes, beans and squash. Winter is my favorite season because I love to skate. Children help water the plants each morning.

    • Children help water the plants each morning.
    • Winter is my favorite season because I love to skate.
    • Our community garden is a busy place in summer.
    • Neighbors grow tomatoes, beans and squash.

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