Australian Curriculum · Year 4 English · Primary

Year 4 English Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year Year 4 English lesson plan aligned to the Australian Curriculum (v9.0) English content descriptions. 129 lessons across the school year from February to December, set out week by week for 1, 2, 3 or 4 lessons a week, covering narrative, characterisation and plot tension; publishing a narrative, and opinion versus factual language; film reviews, text stages and connectives; and information reports, complex sentences and tense.

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Year 4 English learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice
February · Narrative, characterisation and plot tension

Year 4 English — February Lesson Plan

Australian Curriculum v9.0 · English
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
February 1st week
(English)
Similar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Reading a short narrative text or picture book by a First Nations Australian or diverse Australian/world author (Year 4 texts are typically shorter chapter books or extended picture books — simpler in scope than the longer novels used from Year 5)Similar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Reading a short narrative text or picture book by a First Nations Australian or diverse Australian/world author (Year 4 texts are typically shorter chapter books or extended picture books — simpler in scope than the longer novels used from Year 5) 2. Identifying a storyline or idea that appears in more than one textSimilar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Reading a short narrative text or picture book by a First Nations Australian or diverse Australian/world author (Year 4 texts are typically shorter chapter books or extended picture books — simpler in scope than the longer novels used from Year 5) 2. Identifying a storyline or idea that appears in more than one text 3. Comparing how the same storyline is told in a different cultural or historical settingSimilar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Reading a short narrative text or picture book by a First Nations Australian or diverse Australian/world author (Year 4 texts are typically shorter chapter books or extended picture books — simpler in scope than the longer novels used from Year 5) 2. Identifying a storyline or idea that appears in more than one text 3. Comparing how the same storyline is told in a different cultural or historical setting 4. Discussing why authors from different backgrounds might tell similar stories
February 2nd week
(English)
Similar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Identifying a storyline or idea that appears in more than one textSimilar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Comparing how the same storyline is told in a different cultural or historical setting 2. Discussing why authors from different backgrounds might tell similar storiesSimilar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Discussing why authors from different backgrounds might tell similar stories Responding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Identifying the text structure of a narrative (orientation, complication, resolution) 2. Identifying a language feature the author uses (e.g. descriptive language, dialogue)Responding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Identifying the text structure of a narrative (orientation, complication, resolution) 2. Identifying a language feature the author uses (e.g. descriptive language, dialogue) 3. Sharing an opinion about how effective these choices are 4. Practice: writing a short response (2–3 sentences) sharing your opinion with a reason
February 3rd week
(English)
Similar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Comparing how the same storyline is told in a different cultural or historical settingResponding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Identifying the text structure of a narrative (orientation, complication, resolution) 2. Identifying a language feature the author uses (e.g. descriptive language, dialogue)Responding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Sharing an opinion about how effective these choices are 2. Practice: writing a short response (2–3 sentences) sharing your opinion with a reason How Authors Build Character (Characterisation) 1. Identifying how an author develops a character over the storyHow Authors Build Character (Characterisation) 1. Identifying how an author develops a character over the story 2. Identifying how an author describes a setting to create atmosphere 3. Discussing how illustrations add to character or setting How Authors Build Plot Tension 1. Identifying a moment of tension or suspense in the story
February 4th week
(English)
Similar Storylines Across Different Contexts 1. Discussing why authors from different backgrounds might tell similar storiesResponding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Sharing an opinion about how effective these choices are 2. Practice: writing a short response (2–3 sentences) sharing your opinion with a reasonHow Authors Build Character (Characterisation) 1. Identifying how an author describes a setting to create atmosphere 2. Discussing how illustrations add to character or setting How Authors Build Plot Tension 1. Identifying a moment of tension or suspense in the storyHow Authors Build Plot Tension 1. Identifying the techniques the author uses to build that tension 2. Discussing what makes a story exciting to read Literary Devices & Word Play in Poetry 1. Identifying literary devices in a poem (simile, metaphor, rhyme) 2. Identifying deliberate word play (puns, alliteration) and its effect
March · Narrative, characterisation and plot tension

Year 4 English — March Lesson Plan

Australian Curriculum v9.0 · English
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
March 1st week
(English)
Responding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Identifying the text structure of a narrative (orientation, complication, resolution)How Authors Build Character (Characterisation) 1. Identifying how an author develops a character over the story 2. Identifying how an author describes a setting to create atmosphereHow Authors Build Plot Tension 1. Identifying the techniques the author uses to build that tension 2. Discussing what makes a story exciting to read Literary Devices & Word Play in Poetry 1. Identifying literary devices in a poem (simile, metaphor, rhyme)Literary Devices & Word Play in Poetry 1. Practice: finding an example of word play in a poem and explaining what makes it effective Listening for Key Points & Contributing to Discussions 1. Listening for key points and information in a spoken retelling or read-aloud 2. Acknowledging another person's opinion in a discussion 3. Linking your response back to the topic
March 2nd week
(English)
Responding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Identifying a language feature the author uses (e.g. descriptive language, dialogue)How Authors Build Character (Characterisation) 1. Discussing how illustrations add to character or setting How Authors Build Plot Tension 1. Identifying a moment of tension or suspense in the storyLiterary Devices & Word Play in Poetry 1. Identifying deliberate word play (puns, alliteration) and its effect 2. Practice: finding an example of word play in a poem and explaining what makes it effective Listening for Key Points & Contributing to Discussions 1. Listening for key points and information in a spoken retelling or read-aloudListening for Key Points & Contributing to Discussions 1. Practice: sharing and extending an idea in a class discussion Comprehension Strategies While Reading 1. Using visualising and predicting while reading 2. Using connecting and summarising 3. Using monitoring and questioning
March 3rd week
(English)
Responding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Sharing an opinion about how effective these choices areHow Authors Build Plot Tension 1. Identifying the techniques the author uses to build that tension 2. Discussing what makes a story exciting to readListening for Key Points & Contributing to Discussions 1. Acknowledging another person's opinion in a discussion 2. Linking your response back to the topic 3. Practice: sharing and extending an idea in a class discussionComprehension Strategies While Reading 1. Practice: applying these strategies to build literal and inferred meaning Planning an Original Narrative Using a Story Mountain 1. Using a story mountain planning template (introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) to plan your own narrative 2. Developing your own characters, giving them clear traits 3. Developing your own setting
March 4th week
(English)
Responding to Text Structures & Language Features 1. Practice: writing a short response (2–3 sentences) sharing your opinion with a reasonLiterary Devices & Word Play in Poetry 1. Identifying literary devices in a poem (simile, metaphor, rhyme) 2. Identifying deliberate word play (puns, alliteration) and its effectComprehension Strategies While Reading 1. Using visualising and predicting while reading 2. Using connecting and summarising 3. Using monitoring and questioningDrafting, Editing & Publishing the Narrative 1. Drafting the narrative from your story mountain plan (aiming for 1–2 pages — a shorter, more guided piece than the longer independent narratives expected from Year 5) 2. Editing for clarity and correct punctuation 3. Publishing the final narrative Term 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — text structures, character/setting/tension and literary devices
April · Narrative, characterisation and plot tension

Year 4 English — April Lesson Plan

Australian Curriculum v9.0 · English
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
April 1st week
(English)
How Authors Build Character (Characterisation) 1. Identifying how an author develops a character over the storyLiterary Devices & Word Play in Poetry 1. Practice: finding an example of word play in a poem and explaining what makes it effective Listening for Key Points & Contributing to Discussions 1. Listening for key points and information in a spoken retelling or read-aloudComprehension Strategies While Reading 1. Practice: applying these strategies to build literal and inferred meaning Planning an Original Narrative Using a Story Mountain 1. Using a story mountain planning template (introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) to plan your own narrative 2. Developing your own characters, giving them clear traitsTerm 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — narrative writing techniques 2. Term 1 assessment: narrative writing piece (approx. 1 page, using the story mountain structure) 3. Feedback session Language for Formal & Informal Relationships 1. Identifying language used in a formal situation (e.g. talking to a principal)
April 2nd week
(English)
How Authors Build Character (Characterisation) 1. Identifying how an author describes a setting to create atmosphereListening for Key Points & Contributing to Discussions 1. Acknowledging another person's opinion in a discussion 2. Linking your response back to the topicPlanning an Original Narrative Using a Story Mountain 1. Developing your own setting Drafting, Editing & Publishing the Narrative 1. Drafting the narrative from your story mountain plan (aiming for 1–2 pages — a shorter, more guided piece than the longer independent narratives expected from Year 5) 2. Editing for clarity and correct punctuationLanguage for Formal & Informal Relationships 1. Identifying language used in an informal situation (e.g. talking to a friend) 2. Discussing what changes between the two Choosing Language for Your Audience 1. Practice: writing a formal sentence to persuade an adult in authority 2. Practice: writing an informal sentence to persuade a friend
The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Warm up

Start with a quick sounds, spelling or vocabulary game that links to the last lesson and gets your child talking.

25 minutes

Read, model and write

Read a short text together, model the skill of the week, then have your child practise it in their own reading or writing.

10 minutes

Share and check

Finish with a read-aloud, retell or short writing check that shows what is secure and what to come back to.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 4 English

Reading lessons

Guided lessons on the texts, genres and language features in each unit.

Writing practice

Planning frames, models and short tasks matched to each week’s focus.

Speaking and listening

Discussion, presentation and oral language activities built up through the year.

Progress notes

A clear record of what your child has mastered and what comes next.

Free first lesson

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