The Issue of Child Labor (Grades 4-5)

Students build content knowledge about the issue of child labor through an array of texts including student magazines, blogs, websites, and a network news video. Students learn about the features of informational and argumentative texts to help them compose their own opinion pieces.

• Six informational texts
• 5-6 weeks instruction
• Opinion writing

What is this unit about?

This unit asks students to consider the implications of child labor as a current issue, and in the process, develop a criteria-meeting opinion piece. Writing this opinion piece is key to the Grade 4 Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Over the course of this five to seven week unit, students are supported to read eight complex informational and argumentative texts and to view video clips to understand more about the topic of child labor and informational and argumentative texts. While it is essential for students to read nonfiction texts and write opinion pieces on meaningful topics, such as child labor, this unit is not intended to take the place of rigorous social studies content instruction. It is related to, but does not replace, the teaching of important concepts in social studies.

What content will students learn?

Students will expand their knowledge base about:

• what various authors have to say about child labor;
• features of an opinion piece such as stated opinions, textual support, introductions, and conclusions;
• how writers choose and use methods such as quotations, linking words and phrases, and sequencing of information in order to communicate an informed opinion about a topic; and
• the comparison and contrast of information about child labor and authors’ methods.