CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.4

ELA1st GradeCraft and Structure

The Standard

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literature

What This Standard Means

Students need to notice special words in a story or poem that show feelings or help readers see, hear, smell, taste, or feel something. They should point to the exact word or phrase and say what it makes them think or feel.

Mastery looks like a child saying, “The word gloomy shows the character feels sad,” or “buzzing helps me hear the bees.” Students often get stuck by naming the whole sentence, guessing a feeling without text evidence, or only noticing picture clues instead of words.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give pairs a short poem and sticky notes to mark words that show feelings or the five senses.
  • Ask students, “Which word helped you feel what the character felt, and how did it help?”
  • Read three sentences aloud and have students hold up a feeling card or sense card for each key word.
  • Bring in a snack bag and have students describe it using sight, smell, touch, and taste words before reading a sensory poem.

Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.4

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Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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