Grade
4
Unit
Skill/Strategy:
3
Week
3
Generalize
Essential Question: What is a generalization and how can I tell if it is valid?
Review: A generalization is a broad statement or rule that applies to many examples. Clue words such as all,
most, always, usually, or generally signals that an author is making a generalization. Valid generalizations are
supported by facts, and faulty generalizations are not supported.
Reading Street, Grade 4, Unit 3, p. 314
Part A: Look at some common generalizations. Circle the clue words. Decide if each generalization is valid
or faulty by identifying facts that support valid opinions. (see attached sheet)
Girls can’t catch. faulty
Most children like pizza. valid
All boys play sports. faulty
It always snows in the winter. faulty
Library books are usually free. valid
Usually, kids wear helmets when they ride bicycles.
All animals migrate every year.
valid/faulty
faulty
In Pennsylvania, it is always dark at night.
valid
Kids in elementary schools are generally well-behaved.
valid
I always try my best. your choice
Part B: Read the Week 1 Paired Selection to students (one page at a time) while students follow
along. This exercise is designed so that students can practice finding a fact in the text as part of
the process. Ask students to find the related section in the text and then change the following
sentences from faulty to valid.
. Faulty Generalization
p. 288 – The Earth causes the
seasons.
Valid Generalization
The Earth’s movement around
the sun causes the seasons.
p. 289 – Being farther from the
sun makes the weather warmer.
Being closer to the sun makes
the weather warmer.
Supporting Fact(s)
The Earth moves around the
sun. The Earth is tilted on its
axis.
When the Northern Hemisphere
is closer to the sun, it is spring
and summer. These countries
have winter and fall when they
are pointed away from the sun.
p. 289 – The equinox is the day
with the most daylight.
The autumn equinox is the day
with the most daylight.
September 21, 2,, or 23 is the
days with 12 hours of daylight
and 12 hours of darkness.
p. 290 – Leaves are colorful.
In the fall, the leaves change
colors.
p. 290 – The United States is a
good place to see the colorful
leaves.
Eastern United States is one
good place to see the colors of
autumn.
p. 291 – When geese fly, the
one in the front is the generally
the loudest.
When geese fly, the one in the
front of the V formation is one of
the strongest.
Chlorophyll breaks down,
allowing colorful pigments to be
revealed.
Eastern US and southeastern
Canada have many forests.
The leaves changes colors in
the fall.
The strongest geese take turns
flying in the front of the V
formation.
p. 291 – Animals usually know
when it is time to get a bath.
Animals usually know when it is
time to migrate.
Geese fly south before ponds
freeze and snow falls.
How can you tell the difference between a faulty and valid generalization?
A faulty generalization is not completely true or cannot be supported by facts.
Part C: Inductive Reasoning
Making a generalization is also called inductive reasoning. Show students how to use the graphic
organizer to list details, notice patterns, and make a generalization. I believe students will need a lot
of support to complete this activity.
Part C – Inductive Reasoning
#1 Sam has done a lot of work in the field today. His eyes are burning, and feeling itchy. He is
rubbing his eyes, and keeps sneezing.
Details
Patterns
•Sam has done a lot of work in the field today.
•His eyes are burning and feeling itchy.
•He keeps sneezing.
•These are normal symptoms of allergies.
•Many people are allergic to outside plants and grasses.
•It would be a good idea to take allergy medicine before working outside for long periods.
Generalization
#2 When you eat your fish dinner, it goes from your mouth into a tube in your throat called your
esophagus. As you swallow, strong muscles move the food downward.
Details
•Your teeth chew food in your mouth.
•The food goes into a tube called your esophagus.
•Strong muscles move the food down into your stomach.
•The teeth, mouth, esophagus, muscles, and stomach all work together when you eat.
Patterns
•There are many steps in your digestive system.
Generalization
#3 Fructose (FROOK-TOSE) makes foods taste sweet and can be found in all different kinds of fruit.
It gives your body the energy it requires to keep moving and working.
Details
Patterns
•Fructose makes food taste sweet.
•It can be found in different kinds of fruit.
•It gives your body energy to keep moving and working.
•Fruit naturally has fructose in it.
•Fructose gives us energy.
•Fruit is a natural source of energy.
Generalization
#4 Your tongue has more than 10,000 taste buds on it. These taste buds allow you to taste the
various flavors of your food. The tongue is a strong muscle that pushed the good up and down
against the roof of your mouth.
Details
Patterns
•Your tongue has 10,000 taste buds on it.
•The taste buds allow you to taste different flavors.
•The tongue is actually a strong muscle that pushes food up and down.
•The tongue has taste buds and muscles.
•The tongue muscles help us eat.
•The tongue is very important in both tasting and eating.
Generalization
Name ________________________________________________ Date _____________________________
Part A – Valid and Faulty Generalizations
Generalization
Girls can’t catch.
Most children like pizza.
All boys play sports.
It always snows in the winter.
Library books are usually free.
Usually, kids wear helmets when they
ride bicycles.
All animals migrate every year.
In Pennsylvania, it is always dark at
night.
Kids in elementary schools are generally
well-behaved.
I always try my best.
Valid Faulty
How do you know?
Name ____________________________________________ Date __________________________________
Part B – Faulty and Valid Generalizations
. Faulty Generalization
p. 288 – The Earth causes the
seasons.
Valid Generalization
p. 289 – Being farther from the
sun makes the weather warmer.
p. 289 – The equinox is the day
with the most daylight.
p. 290 – Leaves are colorful.
p. 290 – The United States is a
good place to see the colorful
leaves.
p. 291 – When geese fly, the
one in the front is the generally
the loudest.
p. 291 – Animals usually know
when it is time to get a bath.
How can you tell the difference between a faulty and valid generalization?
Supporting Fact(s)
Name _________________________________________ Date _____________________________
Part C – Inductive Reasoning
#1 Sam has done a lot of work in the field today. His eyes are burning, and feeling itchy. He is
rubbing his eyes, and keeps sneezing.
Details
Patterns
• Sam has done a lot of work in the field today.
• His eyes are burning and feeling itchy.
• He keeps sneezing.
• These are normal symptoms of allergies.
• Many people are allergic to outside plants and grasses.
Generalization
#2 When you eat your fish dinner, it goes from your mouth into a tube in your throat called your
esophagus. As you swallow, strong muscles move the food downward.
Details
Patterns
Generalization
• Your teeth chew food in your mouth.
• The food goes into a tube called your esophagus.
•
#3 Fructose (FROOK-TOSE) makes foods taste sweet and can be found in all different kinds of fruit.
It gives your body the energy it requires to keep moving and working.
Details
• Fructose makes food taste sweet.
•
• It gives your body energy to keep moving and working.
Patterns
Generalization
#4 Your tongue has more than 10,000 taste buds on it. These taste buds allow you to taste the
various flavors of your food. The tongue is a strong muscle that pushed the good up and down
against the roof of your mouth.
Details
Patterns
Generalization
•
•
•