Grade 4 English Home Language Lesson Plan: Comprehension Skills

Lesson Plan Title:
Grade 4 English Home Language Lesson Plan: Comprehension Skills

Materials Needed:
– Grade 4 English Home Language textbook
– Printed copies of the comprehension passage
– Whiteboard and markers
– Worksheets with comprehension questions
– Pencils and erasers
– Audio recorder (if needed for verbal responses)
– Chart paper and markers

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Read and understand a given passage.
2. Identify the main idea and supporting details.
3. Answer specific questions about the text.
4. Make inferences based on the information provided.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of vocabulary in context.

Vocabulary:
1. Comprehension – the ability to understand something.
2. Inference – a conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning.
3. Main Idea – the most important or central thought of a text.
4. Supporting Details – information that explains, proves, or enhances the main idea.
5. Context – the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect.

Previous Learning:
Students have learned about sentence structure, basic grammar, and how to identify simple facts from a text. They have practised reading aloud and discussed short stories in class.

Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:
1. Challenge: Some students may struggle with difficult vocabulary.
Solution: Pre-teach vocabulary using visual aids and simple definitions.


  1. Challenge: Students may have difficulty identifying the main idea.

    Solution: Use guided questioning techniques to help them focus on key points in the text.



  2. Challenge: Time management for completing the questions.

    Solution: Provide clear instructions and monitor time closely, offering reminders.


Beginning Activities (4 minutes):
1. Introduction (2 minutes): Briefly introduce the lesson objectives. “Today, we will read a story and practise our comprehension skills by answering questions about what we read.”

  1. Activate Prior Knowledge (2 minutes): Ask students to recall a story they recently read and discuss the main idea and details.

Middle Activities (32 minutes):
1. Reading the Passage (8 minutes):
– Distribute the comprehension passage.
– Read the passage aloud as a class, with each student taking turns to read a paragraph.
– Clarify any difficult words or phrases.

  1. Guided Discussion (5 minutes):
  2. Ask questions to help students identify the main idea of the passage.

  3. Discuss the characters, setting, and key events.


  4. Answering Questions (15 minutes):

    • Distribute worksheets with comprehension questions.
    • Have students work individually to answer the questions, providing assistance as needed.

  5. Review Answers (4 minutes):


  6. Go over the answers as a class. Encourage students to explain their reasoning.

End Activities (4 minutes):
1. Exit Ticket (4 minutes):
– Ask students to write one thing they learned from the passage and one question they still have.
– Collect the exit tickets as they leave.

Assessment and Checks for Understanding:
1. Guided discussion to check verbal comprehension.
2. Worksheets with comprehension questions.
3. Exit tickets for individual reflection and feedback.

Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners:
1. For struggling readers: Pair them with a stronger reader for support, and provide simplified versions of the text if necessary.
2. For advanced learners: Provide additional challenging questions or ask them to write a summary of the passage in their own words.
3. For ESL learners: Use visual aids and bilingual glossaries to support understanding, and allow verbal responses instead of written ones.

Teaching Notes:
– Ensure all students can clearly see the whiteboard and texts.
– Encourage a respectful and supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas.
– Use varied questioning techniques to engage different learning styles.
– Monitor students’ progress throughout the lesson and provide immediate feedback.

Accessibility Considerations:
– Ensure students with visual impairments have access to large-print texts or reading devices.
– Provide transcripts for audio materials for hearing-impaired students.
– Ensure passage and questions are accessible to students with learning disabilities using simplified language and clear formatting.