Lesson Plan - 2021 Year in Review

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• distinction
• remnants

Set a Purpose for Reading

Have students list news events they recall from 2021. Invite them to vote on which ones they would include in a summary of the year, and explain that they’re about to read a summary put together by the Scholastic News editors.

1. What’s another good heading for the section “Best at the Bee”? Explain. This section is about the first Black American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, so another good heading might be “Spelling Champion” or “Super Speller.”

^{(RI.4.2 MAIN IDEA)}

2. What does the expression “in the spotlight” mean? How was gymnast Suni Lee in the spotlight this year? Someone is in the spotlight when they are getting public attention. Suni Lee was in the spotlight at the Summer Olympics when she became first Asian American gymnast to win the all-around gold medal.

^{(RI.4.1 DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING)}

3. Compare and contrast the two storms discussed in the article. February’s winter storm left many homes and businesses without power, heat and water, especially in Texas. It killed more than 200 people in Texas. In the summer, Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana with strong winds. It brought record rains to several states. More than 90 people died.

^{(RI.4.5 COMPARISON)}

FEATURED SKILL: Reading Comprehension 

Use the skill builder “What a Year!” to assess comprehension.

^{(RI.4.1 CLOSE READING)}