Fourth graders learn to ask WHY an author made something — the author’s purpose. Writers and creators aim to persuade, inform, entertain, describe, or instruct. Knowing the purpose helps you read and view more thoughtfully.
Students will be able to…
Every author makes something for a reason. What are the main purposes behind what we read and watch?
Project this and tap each. Have students learn the reasons authors create media.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Every author has a reason — what are the main purposes?
Students explore.
Students practice.
Students apply.
Students close.
Aligned to the Common Core ELA Standards (informational literacy) & NAMLE media-literacy competencies.
Explain author’s reasons.
Compare accounts & purpose.
Identify author’s purpose.
Write for a purpose.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students name the purpose of one thing they read or watched (persuade, inform, or entertain). A printable author’s-purpose sheet is in the ELA library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.