Unit Lesson Plans

UNIT 1: Generations

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What can one generation learn from another?

PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT: Nonfiction Narrative

Unit 1 Overview

In this unit, students will read many examples about how people of different generations interact and learn from one another.

Unit Goals

Students will be able to:

· Read and analyze how authors express point of view in nonfiction narrative.

· Expand your knowledge and use of academic and concept vocabulary.

· Write a nonfiction narrative in which you develop experiences or events using effective technique.

· Conduct research projects of various lengths to explore a topic and clarify meaning.

· Develop your voice, or style of writing, with word choice and sentence structure to convey meaning and add variety and interest to writing and presentations.

· Collaborate with team to build on the ideas of others, develop consensus, and communication.

· Integrate audio, visuals, and text in presentations.

Selections & Media

Launch Text

• Grounded (640L)

Whole-Class Learning

• Novel Excerpt: Two Kinds, from the Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan (870L)
• News Blog: A Simple Act, Tyler Jackson (930L)
• Memoir: from An Invisible Thread: Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (890L)

Small-Group Learning

· News Article: Tutors Teach Seniors New High-Teach Tricks, Jennifer Luden (1020L)

· Memoir: from Mom & Me & Mom, Mayo Angelou (610L)

· Media, Video: Learning to Love My Mother, Maya Angelou with Michael Maher

· Media, Image Gallery: Mother-Daughter Drawings, Mica and Myla Hendricks

· Poetry Collection 1: Mother to Son, Langston Hughes, (NP)

· Poetry Collection 1: To James, Frank Home, (NP)

Independent Learning

· Poetry Collection 2: Lineage, Margaret Walker (NP)

· Poetry Collection 2: Family, Grace Paley (NP)

· Opinion Piece: “Gotcha Day” Isn’t a Cause for Celebration, Sophie Johnson (1090L)

· Short Story: The Grandfather and His Little Grandson, Leo Tolstoy (870L)

· Blog Post: Bridging the Generational Divide Between a Football Father and a Soccer Son, John McCormick (1120L)

· Short Story: Water Names, Lan Samantha Chang (900L)

· Short Story: An Hour With Abuelo, Judith Ortiz Cofer (840L)

Performance-Based Assessment

Part 1 – Writing to Sources: Nonfiction Narrative

Students will write a nonfiction narrative answering:

In what situations can one generation learn from another?

Part 2 – Speaking & Listening: Multimedia Presentation

Students use their nonfiction narrative as a foundation for a presentation.

Unit Reflection

Students will reflect on the unit goals, learning strategies, the texts, and how one generation can learn from another.

UNIT 2: A Starry Home

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Should we make a home in space?

PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT: Argumentative Essay and Oral Presentation

Unit 2 Overview

In this unit, students will read and discuss space exploration and the future of human voyages to worlds beyond Earth.

Unit Goals

Students will be able to:

· Evaluate written arguments by analyzing how authors state and support their claims.

· Expand your knowledge and use of academic and concept vocabulary.

· Write an argumentative essay in which you effectively incorporate the key elements of an argument.

· Conduct research projects of various lengths to explore a topic and clarify meaning.

· Demonstrate command of the proper use of verb tenses.

· Collaborate with your team to build on the ideas of others, develop consensus, and communicate.

· Integrate audio, visuals, and text in presentations.

Selections & Media

Launch Text

• Leaving Main Street (1060L)

Whole-Class Learning

· Anchor Text, Short Story: Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed, Ray Bradbury (490L)

· Media, Radio Play: Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed, Ray Bradbury and Michael McDonough (producer)

· Anchor Text, News Article: Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death!, Maggie Koerth-Baker (1290L)

Small-Group Learning

· News Article: Future of Space Exploration Could See Humans on Mars, Alien Planets, Nola Taylor Redd (1250L)

· Short Story: The Last Dog, Katherine Paterson (820L)

· Medio, Video: Ellen Ochoa: Director, Johnson Space Center, Ellen Ochoa

· Interview: Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Future of U.W. Space Exploration After Curiosity, Keith Wagstaff (936L)

Independent Learning

· Poetry: Science-Fiction Cradlesong, C.S. Lewis (NP)

· Web Article: UFO Sightings and News, Benjamin Radford (1420L)

· Persuasive Essay: from Packing for Mars, Mary Roach (1020L)

· Science Article: Trip to Mars Could Damage Astronauts’ Brains, Laura Sanders (870L)

Performance-Based Assessment

Part 1 – Writing to Sources: Argument

Students will write an explanatory essay answering the following question:

Should we spend valuable resources on space exploration?

Part 2 – Speaking & Listening: Oral Presentation

Students will use their argumentative essay as the foundation for an oral presentation.

Unit Reflection

Students will reflect on the unit goals, learning strategies, the texts, and space exploration.

UNIT 3: Turning Points

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What can cause a sudden change in someone’s life?

PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT: Explanatory Essay and Oral Presentation

NOTES:

Unit 3 Overview

In this unit, students will read examples of turning points in people’s lives.

Unit Goals

Students will be able to:

· Read and analyze explanatory texts.

· Expand your knowledge and use of academic and concept vocabulary.

· Write an explanatory text to examine a topic and convey idea.

· Conduct research projects of various lengths to explore a topic and clarify meaning.

· Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy.

· Collaborate with your team to build on the ideas of others, develop consensus, and communicate.

· Integrate audio, visuals, and text in presentations.

Selections & Media

Launch Text

• At the Crossroads (930L)

Whole-Class Learning

· Anchor Text, Drama: A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley, Act I, Israel Horovitz (NP)

· Anchor Text, Drama: A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley, Act II, Israel Horovitz (NP)

· Media, Film: from Scrooge, directed by Henry Edwards

Small-Group Learning

· Short Story: Thank You, M’am, Langston Hughes (800L)

· Memoir: from An American Childhood, Annie Dillard (1050L)

· Media, Photo Gallery: Urban Farming is Growing a Greener Future, Hillary Schwei

Independent Learning

· Reflective Essay: Little Things are Big, Jesus Colon (1150L)

· News Article: Profile: Malala Yousafzai, BBC (1330L)

· Biography: Noor Inayat Khan from Women Heroes of WWII: Kathryn J. Atwood (1170L)

· Short Story: A Retrieved Reformation: O. Henry (850L)

Performance-Based Assessment

Part 1 – Writing to Sources: Explanatory Essay

Students will write an essay answering the following question:

What can cause a significant change in someone’s life?

Part 2 – Speaking & Listening: Oral Presentation

After writing their explanatory essay, students will use it as a

foundation for an oral presentation.

Unit Reflection

Students will reflect on the unit goals, learning strategies, the texts, and differing turning points and what can cause a significant change in someone’s life.

UNIT 4: People and the Planet

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What effects do people have on the environment?

PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT: Argumentative Essay and Oral Presentation

Unit 4 Overview

In this unit, students will read many examples of humans’ relationship with the natural world.

Unit Goals

Students will be able to:

· Evaluate written arguments by analyzing how authors state and support their claims.

· Expand your knowledge and use of academic and concept vocabulary.

· Write an argumentative essay in which you effectively incorporate the key elements of an argument.

· Conduct research projects of various lengths to explore a topic and clarify meaning.

· Demonstrate command of the use of participles and participial phrases.

· Collaborate with your team to build on the ideas of others, develop consensus, and communicate.

· Integrate audio, visuals, and text in presentations.

Selections & Media

Launch Text

· Rethinking the Wild, (980L)

Whole-Class Learning

· Anchor Text, Descriptive Nonfiction: from Silent Spring, Rachel Carson (1080L)

· Anchor Text, Speech: Nobel Speech, Al Gore (1190L)

· Media, Video: Nobel Speech, Al Gore

Small-Group Learning

· Poetry Collection: Turtle Watchers, Linda Hogan (NP)

· Poetry Collection: “Nature” is what We See--, Emily Dickinson (NP)

· Poetry Collection: The Sparrow, Paul Laurence Dunbar (NP)

· Media, Photo Gallery: Eagle Tracking at Follensby Pond, The Nature Conservancy

· Short Story: He-y, Come On Ou-t!, Shinichi Hoshi, translated by Stanleigh Jones (870L)

Independent Learning

· Novel Excerpt: from My Side of the Mountain, Jean Craighead George, (820L)

· Myth: How Grandmother spider Stole the Sun, Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac (850L)

· Expository Nonfiction: The Story of Victor d’Aveyron, the Wild Child, Eloise Montalban (980L)

· Essay: from Of Wolves and Men, Barry Lopez (1010)

Performance-Based Assessment

Part 1 – Writing to Sources: Argumentative Essay

Students will write an argumentative essay on the following topic:

Are the needs of people ever more important than the needs of animals and the planet?

Part 2 – Speaking & Listening: Oral Presentation

Students will use their argument to present a three- to five-minute oral presentation.

Unit Reflection

Students will reflect on the unit goals, learning strategies, the texts, and the environment.

UNIT 5: Facing Adversity

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How do we overcome obstacles?

PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT: Informative Essay and Oral Presentation

Unit 5 Overview

In this unit, students will read many examples of people who have faced adversity and overcome obstacles.

Unit Goals

Students will be able to:

· Read and analyze informative texts.

· Expand your knowledge and use of academic and concept vocabulary.

· Write an Informative essay to examine a topic and convey ideas.

· Conduct research projects of various lengths to explore a topic and clarify meaning.

· Demonstrate command of coordinate adjectives.

· Collaborate with your team to build on the ideas of others, develop consensus, and communicate.

· Integrate audio, visuals, and text in presentations.

Selections & Media

Launch Text

· Against the Odds (800L)

Whole-Class Learning

· Media, Video: The Dust Bowl, Critical Past

· Anchor Text, Novel Excerpt: from The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck (600L)

· Anchor Text, Short Story: The Circuit, Francisco Jimenez (730L)

Small-Group Learning

· Personal Narrative: A Work in Progress, Aimee Mullins (930L)

· Autobiography Excerpt: from The Story of My Life , Helen Keller (970L)

· Media, Interview: How Helen Keller Learned to Talk, Helen Keller, with Anne Sullivan

· New Article: A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill, Electrifying a Nation, Sarah Childress (1020L)

Independent Learning

· Personal Narrative: The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, Juliane Koepcke (790L)

· Novel Excerpt: Four Skinny Trees from The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (690L)

· Short Story: Rikki-tikki-tavi, Rudyard Kipling (1010L)

· Memoir: from Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna, Joseph Lemosolai Lekuton (800L)

Performance-Based Assessment

Part 1 – Writing to Sources: Informative Text

Students will write an informative essay addressing the following question:

How can people overcome adversity in the face of overwhelming obstacles?

Part 2 – Speaking & Listening: Oral Presentation

Students use their informative essay as the foundation for a multimedia presentation.

Unit Reflection

Students will reflect on the unit goals, learning strategies, the texts, and how we overcome obstacles.

A Fun Way to Practice

Seventh grade students can practice their language skills by clicking the IXL link below. Move the cursor over any skill name and click the link to begin. IXL will track your score and the questions will automatically increase in difficulty as you improve. Compete with your friends for added fun! Good luck!!!