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4th grade sub plans: writing

A 4th grade writing block for a substitute, 50 minutes: write the prompt on the board (today's is “Write about a person from history you admire. Explain what they did and why it mattered.”), give partners two minutes to talk, then students write a paragraph with a first sentence that says the idea, details and an ending. Volunteers read theirs aloud, and the papers go to the teacher.

Checked October 30, 2026. Made from Peabody Teach's own passages, worksheets and brain break cards.

Make the whole day at 4th grade ▸

The writing block

Writing

  1. Write this on the board: “Write about a person from history you admire. Explain what they did and why it mattered.”
  2. Give partners two minutes to tell each other their idea out loud before anyone writes.
  3. Students write for 35 minutes. Ask for a paragraph: a first sentence that says the idea, details, and an ending.
  4. Volunteers read theirs aloud at the end. Collect the papers for the teacher.

On the projector: Writing prompts by grade

Break: Lazy eight (45 sec, silent). Trace a sideways eight slowly with one finger and follow the path with your eyes. Go around five times, then switch hands.

Subbing 4th grade

Fourth graders can run a lot of their own routines if you let them, and partners and table groups work well. The math often reaches long division and fractions this year, so the plan keeps math to facts and practice they already know.

  • Give the class a job to run: handing out papers, the timer, the lunch count.
  • Let partners check answers against each other before you go over the key.
  • Collect every paper in one pile per block, labeled, for the teacher.

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