Kentucky Reading and Writing RI.4.8

ELA4th GradeReading Informational Text

The Standard

Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular claims the author makes in a text.

Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing (2025) · Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students find what an author wants readers to believe. They identify the reasons the author gives and the facts or examples used as evidence. Then they explain how the evidence supports the claim.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a short article, a student names the author's claim, points to a reason, and selects a fact that supports it. They explain the connection in their own words.
Common Misconceptions: Students may name the topic, such as 'recess,' instead of the claim, 'recess should be longer.' They may label an opinion as evidence or choose a fact that does not support the claim.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: 'Plant trees by the playground because shade cools recess; yesterday, the shaded bench was 78°F and the sunny bench was 88°F.' Students identify the claim, reason, and evidence, then explain how the temperatures back the claim.

Lesson moves

Cut a playground shade article into sentence strips; pairs sort claims, reasons, and evidence, then match each fact to its reason.
Read a short article arguing for longer recess; ask, 'Which detail best supports the author's reason that recess helps students focus?'
Put three claim cards and six fact cards on desks; partners race to match each fact to the claim it supports.
Post a sign reading 'Bring reusable bottles to cut trash; 100 plastic bottles filled Friday's bins' and ask how the count supports the request.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to RI.4.8, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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