Speech and Language/Current Events lesson plan 4Th to 5Th graders?

You could choose an article then divide it into sections. Break your students into groups and give each group a section of the article. The groups will read their section, discuss it and its meaning and then prepare to share out to the rest of the class. Each group will teach the rest of the class about their part of the article. To promote speech by all the students, you can tell the group that one of them will share , but they won't know which one until you call on them ... so each student in the group has to practice summarizing their part of the article.

My first thought was that you should get a psuedo dear abby type article. Have students write down problems that they have in their lives and put it in a bowl. Then have them draw a problem out of the bowl and answer it. After they have been read in class.............hold small group discussions on other ways the problem could be solved.

If you have to have a current event: I would search all over on line or in newspapers for a story of someone ( a celebrity, etc.) doing something to give back to society. Then have the students get in small groups and discuss ways that they could make a difference in their communities, or people that they know who do make a difference. After they have discussed it, have them write a newspaper article about making a difference or an every day hero that they know. Have them present it to the class as a nes reporter.

I would pick an article surrounding President George W. Bush's speeches. The kids are probably exposed to jokes about his speeches and they might find it fun to discuss it. Perhaps have each of the kids get up and make a mock presidential speech (a current event of their choosing) and compare other presidents from the past.

I've always thought, for children, the example that Jesus taught about the child, that unless his disciples become like a little child, they will not even enter the kingdom of heaven, is a good example. I think children often think that adults don't hear what they say or give their ideas any merit. And here Jesus used a little child as an example to his disciples, who had been arguing among themselves who would be "greatest" in heaven. There is also, in Daniel, the lesson about the three young men who would not worship the false god, and got thrown into the furnace. And of course, God kept them from being hurt.

this website is great for kids at any age

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/