Swain Campus 4th Graders Bring Nonfiction to Life

Following a language arts unit on reading nonfiction, Swain Campus 4th grade students celebrated their learning with an exciting independent book project. After building skills such as identifying key ideas, analyzing details, and drawing lessons from real-life events, students put their knowledge into action by choosing and reading a Who Was book about a famous American of their choice.

As they read, students thoughtfully explored their subject’s life, answering questions that pushed them to think beyond basic facts. They analyzed important character traits, considered who and what shaped the person’s path, and reflected on the lessons we can learn from that individual’s life and experiences. This work helped students connect nonfiction reading to deeper thinking and real-world meaning.

To share their learning, students created a visual representation of their famous American. Some dressed as their chosen person, others designed colorful posters, and one student crafted a creative “bottle people” to showcase key details of the famous American's appearance. Each student then presented to classmates, explaining the most important information they learned from their research process and explaining the costume, poster, or bottle person. 

Students blended reading, writing, creativity, and speaking skills to showcase how nonfiction reading can inspire curiosity and help students learn from the lives of others.