$5 - $10 4th Grade Thanksgiving Unit Plans (by date, oldest first)

Engage your students with this fun and educational Dog Breed Research Project, perfect for ELA, research, and presentation skills. Designed for grades 4-6, this 4-day project ties into the National Dog Show, making it an ideal activity for Thanksgiving week, injury-based projects, or even independent practice. Whether you’re planning lessons for a substitute teacher, prepping for Thanksgiving break, or looking for an engaging way to boost student creativity, this resource has you covered!

What’s Included Slide Deck

• Objectives and instructions for each day to keep students on task and organized.
• Clear visuals and examples to guide students through each step of the project.

Informational Text and Questions

• “The National Dog Show: A Paw-sitively Amazing Event” (500 words, 4th-grade level)
• 5 text-dependent questions aligned to CCSS for grades 4-6, focusing on main idea, text structure, and author’s craft.

Dog Breed Research Guide

• Easy-to-use, scaffolded guide for students to research a dog breed of their choice.
• Covers key topics like breed basics, history, personality traits, care, and fun facts.

Project Ideas

• Options for every learner, including posters, Google Slides, one-pagers, or creative skits.
• Encourages differentiation and hands-on learning.

How It WorksDay 1: Build Background Knowledge

• Students read a fun, Thanksgiving-themed informational text about the National Dog Show.
• Answer text-dependent questions to develop comprehension and critical thinking.

Day 2: Research

• Students choose a dog breed and use books, websites, or articles to gather information using the provided Research Guide.

Day 3: Create the Project

• Students bring their research to life by creating posters, digital slideshows, one-pagers, or other creative formats.

Day 4: Presentations

• Students practice public speaking as they present their projects to the class.
• Celebrate learning with fun reflections or breed-themed superlatives!

Why You’ll Love It✔ Versatile and Low-Prep: Ideal for independent work, sub plans, or busy weeks like Thanksgiving!
✔ Student-Led Learning: Encourages creativity and ownership of learning while building critical research and presentation skills.
✔ Cross-Curricular: Combines ELA, research skills, and public speaking with real-world connections to the National Dog Show.
✔ Differentiation Options: Students can choose their own breed and project format, making it accessible and engaging for all learners.

Perfect For:

• Thanksgiving Week Activities
• ELA Research Units
• Independent Practice or Homework Assignments
• Sub Plans
• Injury-Based or Long-Term Projects

Standards Alignment

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1–4.5 (Reading Informational Texts)
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.7–4.8 (Research and Writing)
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.4 (Presentation Skills)

Bring learning to life and let your students explore the wonderful world of dog breeds! This 4-day project is not only a fun way to integrate ELA skills, but it’s also a great way to celebrate the unique bond between humans and dogs during the Thanksgiving season.

➡️ Add this resource to your lesson plans today and make your classroom a tail-wagging success!