7th Grade ELA
Skills to Know
READING LITERARY
Understand the difference between theme and central idea.
Understand plot structure, highlighting how conflict drives the action and influences characters in a story and how certain events and developments lead to other events.
Identify and know how authors use the major types of figurative language (for Sixth Grade: metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and personification)
Understand the difference between connotation and denotation and describe the difference between negative and positive connotations of words.
Understand that conflict is a driver of plot action; characters (along with events, settings, and other elements) experience conflicts that propel a story (for example, characters love or hate one another, experience an obstacle or hindrance, are torn apart by circumstance, etc.)
Understand characterization and character traits.
READING INFORMATION
Explain how individuals within an informational text are identified and what traits they possess, and analyze the significance of a key individual, event, or idea in a text.
Evaluate how an author’s use of words creates tone, mood, or focus in informational text.
Recognize and trace the development of an author’s argument, point of view, or perspective in a text.
Practice summarizing works without editorial bias and be alert for unintended bias in your own work.
WRITING
Practice constructing objective summaries that are completely free from editorial bias.
Employ knowledge of appropriate organizational structures for argument or informational writing that include a focus on audience and purpose.
Remember to discuss and respond to counterclaims to arguments.
Exclude personal opinions and biases from informative/explanatory writing
Exclude extraneous, irrelevant, or trivial information
Activities to Try
READING LITERARY
Read a wide variety of texts, including a variety of styles, genres, literary periods, authors, perspectives, and subjects, which are not limited to non-fiction and narratives.
READING INFORMATIONAL
Read a wide variety of non-fiction texts, including a variety of styles, genres, historical periods, authors, perspectives, and subjects.
READING COMPREHENSION GAMES
WRITING
Read the Article "Comic Craze" on pages 4 - 5 of TIME Magazine's March 27, 2020 issue. Then, choose two characters from a book you are currently reading. Create your own comic based on a book you are currently reading. Retell the story, ensuring that you include the events and dialogue that emphasize the plot, conflict, and resolution of the story.
Choose nonfiction from TIME Magazine that features an article on an individual. Create a profile page for the person featured in the article.
Using a nonfiction article from TIME Magazine, reflect on the article you read. Use this graphic organizer to help you record your thoughts.
Choose one chapter from the book you are reading. What are some key details the author does not say but infers? Think about the effect inferencing has on the story. Use the chart to help you organize your thoughts.
Practice summarizing a text using facts only, without expressing an opinion about the text. This may be after a short text, such as a TIME Magazine article or a chapter of a longer text from a nonfiction book.
Practice Activity One - Use the GIST template to create a summary. Choose your words wisely. You may only use 20 words!!
Practice Activity Two - Use the Sum It Up worksheet to help you create a summary of the text. Be word-wise. You have $2.00 to spend!
Summarize a book you read over the summer. Share your summary with a friend or family member. Ask them if your summary would encourage them to read the book.
Consider keeping a notebook of texts read with notes. Click here for a sample.
