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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.

Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 4.W.2; 4.W.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 Arizona

In the Arizona Academic 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: Arizona Department of Education

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 is the best topic sentence for these details?

    You can recycle paper, cans and plastic bottles.

    You can reuse jars to store crayons or buttons.

    You can also bring a cloth bag when you shop.

    • You can recycle paper.
    • Shopping is fun on weekends.
    • There are many simple ways to reduce waste at home.
    • Jars are made of glass.

  2. Question 2

    What is the CAUSE in this sentence?

    The puppy chewed the shoe because it was teething.

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

  3. Question 3

    Which transition best fills the blank?

    We forgot to water our plant for two weeks.

    ___, its leaves turned brown and droopy.

    • However
    • First
    • For example
    • As a result

  4. Question 4

    Put the sentences in order to make a paragraph.

    • Then, cut small shapes along the edges.
    • 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.

  5. Question 5

    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.

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

  6. Question 6

    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.
    • First, bats eat insects.
    • Owls also fly at night.

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