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4th Grade Paraphrase a Source worksheets

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Paraphrase a Source

Grade 4 Writing Worksheet

NameDate

Read each source. Circle the best paraphrase.

  1. Source: "Honey can be stored for years without spoiling because it contains very little water." Which is the best paraphrase?

    • Honey can be kept for years without spoiling because it holds very little water.
    • Since honey has hardly any water in it, it can stay good for many years.
    • Honey is the tastiest food because it never goes bad.
    • Honey spoils quickly unless it is kept in the refrigerator.
  2. Source: "The Great Wall of China was built over hundreds of years by many different rulers." Which is the best paraphrase?

    • One ruler built the Great Wall of China in just a few hundred days.
    • The Great Wall of China is the most impressive thing people ever built.
    • The Great Wall of China was built over many hundreds of years by lots of different rulers.
    • Many rulers added to the Great Wall of China across several centuries.
  3. Source: "Hummingbirds beat their wings so fast that they can hover in one spot like a helicopter." Which is the best paraphrase?

    • Hummingbirds beat their wings so quickly that they can hover in one place like a helicopter.
    • Hummingbirds have the most amazing wings of any bird.
    • Because their wings move very quickly, hummingbirds can stay still in the air.
    • Hummingbirds fly faster than helicopters because of their quick wings.
  4. Source: "Hot-air balloons rise because the air inside them is heated and becomes lighter than the air outside." Which is the best paraphrase?

    • Hot-air balloons rise because heating makes the air inside heavier than the air outside.
    • A hot-air balloon goes up because warming the air inside makes it weigh less than the air around it.
    • Hot-air balloons are the best way to see the sky because they float up so smoothly.
    • Hot-air balloons rise because the air inside them is heated and becomes lighter than the air around them.
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4th Grade Paraphrase a Source worksheet 1 – printable PDF
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About this worksheet

Paraphrasing means restating source information in new words while keeping the meaning accurate. It is not enough to swap one or two words, and it is not acceptable to add an opinion that the source did not support. Fourth graders are just beginning to use sources in research and explanatory writing, so they need practice seeing the difference among a true paraphrase, a copied sentence, an inaccurate statement, and a personal reaction.

This worksheet gives one source sentence at a time and asks children to choose the best paraphrase or useful note. Parents should watch for answers that keep the exact sentence structure of the source. A strong paraphrase changes the wording and structure while preserving the important facts clearly.

What your child will learn

  • Restate source information in new words
  • Keep the source meaning accurate
  • Avoid copying the source sentence
  • Use notes to support a paraphrase

Common Core standard: W.4.8

Worked example

If a source says rain gardens collect runoff so water soaks into soil, a paraphrase can say they catch runoff and let it sink slowly into the ground.

Common mistake

Changing only one word from the source and calling the copied sentence a paraphrase.

Helpful hint

Keep the facts, but change the wording and sentence structure.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with paraphrase a source?

Changing only one word from the source and calling the copied sentence a paraphrase.

How can I help my child with paraphrase a source?

Keep the facts, but change the wording and sentence structure.

Are these 4th grade writing worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

Similar: Short Research Projects · Write From Text Evidence

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