LITERACY CHOICE ACTIVITIES (30 MINUTES DAILY)

Students may select from a variety of literacy activities; activities may carry over several days and may be a continuation from the previous week’s activities.

GRADES 7 — LITERACY CHOICE ACTIVITIES

Essential Question: How can my attention to detail create new ideas?

Learning Intentions: I know I’m on track with my literacy learning, when I can: Comprehend and communicate ideas through my reading, writing, listening and speaking skills with an increased awareness of descriptive language.

DAILY IMAGE JOURNAL (60 MINUTES)

Start a journal where you describe a single, daily visual observation using descriptive language. The description is not limited to visuals — think of smell, taste, sound, and touch. Think of this as a daily snapshot where you are using language to bring this single experience to life.

For example: The view out your window; Your favourite place to relax in your home; Your most recent meal; Wildlife in your yard.

In your description, consider the following: Is the description vivid and clear? What association can you make to feelings and experiences to create a mood with your audience? What sound is being emphasized? Which details are the most surprising or memorable? Which details are insignificant?

A DESIGN YOU CAN TRUST (60 MINUTES)

In our last activity package, you were asked to think about how we are informed about news and events in our community and the larger world. You were asked to watch, read, and listen to various sources around a particular news topic (for example, potential COVID-19 treatments) on television, in a newspaper, on the radio, a website, or social media — or any combination. You considered the points of view in the news story and whether each message provided a fair balance of perspectives. You also looked at the purpose of the message and how it was designed to influence your understanding.

So, now you have an appreciation of how the information around a single topic or event can be represented based on the perspective of the news story and the design of the presentation. Design an advertisement for a new invention that helps people detect trustworthiness when reading, watching, or listening to the news. This invention could be an ‘app’ or a device that the user wears — be creative!

Your advertisement can be a poster, an audio recording, or a video. No matter how you create your advertisement, make sure it has the following features: The ability to determine whether the news story has a balance of points-of-view. The ability to determine whether the story is designed to inform, persuade, or entertain. The ability to detect bias in word choice, visuals, sound, and tone in the message.

IT’S NOT AN ORDINARY DAY PART II (90 MINUTES)

In our last activity package, we outlined the plot of a short story that you could potentially develop from the perspective of a character that is swept up in a major world event. The focus was to create an engaging story outline when these routines are disrupted.

For example, what happens to a character that wakes up to no Internet or the world is suddenly without gasoline? Based on your idea, start writing a draft of your story. In your writing make sure you pay attention to the following: Point of view:

Are you telling the story from a character’s first person point of view or from a narrator’s perspective?

Setting: How does the place and surroundings support the mood of the story? How does your description support the feeling or emotion the story gives the reader?

Character: What makes your character unique and interesting for the reader? What motivates them in the story in terms of the conflict they face? Are they in conflict with another character, nature, or themselves? Theme: What is the main idea of the story? What do you hope the reader will learn from reading your story?

Once you have your draft completed, find someone to share it with. Get feedback in terms of the story plot, the characters, and how your descriptive language engages the reader.

GAME DESIGNER (60 MINUTES)

With everyone restricted to their home during this time, finding sources of entertainment is important. For example, the popularity of board games and puzzles has increased during this time of isolation. Design a game that you can play using everyday household items or experiences. Example: indoor mini-putt using items from the kitchen; a new card game; a guessing game designed around what you can see out the living room window; or a board game designed to promote awareness for younger kids around safe social distancing practice. Once you have the general idea of your game, be prepared to explain the rules of the game to someone else. Consider your audience and how to best engage them in conversation.

Be specific with details of the rules of the game. Is there a sequence that players have to follow? Are there boundaries or penalties? What is the overall goal or objective of the game? How many players can participate? After you explain the rules, get feedback. Are there changes that will make the rules easier to understand for the player? Are there new ideas to make it more engaging?

COMPLETE THE COMIC (30 MINUTES)

Finish the comic on this page. In the first three frames complete the dialogue between the characters and add any description of the action below the frame. In the blank frames, feel free to conclude the story with new visuals, dialogue, and action.

GRADES 8 - LITERACY CHOICE

ACTIVITIES

Essential Question: How can one person create positive impact?

Learning Intention: I know I’m on track with my literacy learning, when I can: identify and reflect on how to develop personal well-being and support the well-being of those around me through speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities.

TIMELINE (1 HOUR)

Think about some of your best personal memories or world events that interest you (e.g. historical events, achievements of a sports team or person).

1. Create a timeline using your memories or events. Aim to have 6-10 items on your timeline. You may write or illustrate them.

2. Choose one of the memories or events on the timeline. Use it to write a story, a poem, a short skit, or a news article. Share it with someone.

GRATITUDE JOURNAL (1 HOUR)

A gratitude journal is a diary of things that we are thankful for. Gratitude journals are used to focus on the positive things in our lives. 1. Start a daily gratitude journal.

2. Each entry should contain something you are grateful for. You may want to include illustrations, symbols, and doodles.

3. Create Hashtags for your entries (#getactive, #helpingothers, #boredbuthealthy).

THEY ARE ... (1 HOUR — USING YOUR INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE PREVIOUS LEARNING PACKAGE)

1. Using the answers from your interview, brainstorm a list of “They Are ...” statements about the person you interviewed. Write down many positive qualities and attributes about this person (ex: they are great at baking banana bread, they are science fiction fans, they are thoughtful).

2. Rearrange your statements into a “They Are…” poem. Decorate your poem with drawings and doodles.

ADVICE, PLEASE! (1 HOUR)

You will take on the role of an advice columnist.

Your task is to respond to a peer seeking advice: Dear Teen Tipster, I am a 13-year-old student in Nova Scotia during the pandemic. I am missing my friends, school, and activities. I need help - what can I do to keep my mind and body healthy while physically distancing from others?

Sincerely, Too Much Free Time

1. Brainstorm advice you could give a peer during this time.

2. Write a response to “Too Much

Free Time” giving them both mental and physical health suggestions.

GOOD DEED COMIC (1 HOUR)

Think about a good deed that has taken place during this pandemic (globally or in your community).

1. Create a comic strip that highlights the good deed.

For example, a local pizza shop is accepting nominations for those who may need an extra boost and delivering them free pizza. A famous hockey company is making face guards for hospital staff.

2. Using your comic strip,

TAKE ACTION! (1 HOUR)

A public service announcement (PSA) is a message to the public with the goal of raising awareness and changing public attitudes and behaviours. Your generation of teens is experiencing something no other history of teens have experienced therefore you know, see and understand things that could inform and educate.

1. Think about an important issue you think the world needs to hear about today or you want to raise awareness about in your community.

2. Create a PSA that will inform people about your issue. Your PSA could be in the form of a commercial, infographic, poster, audio recording, social media post, etc.

Be creative!

GRADES 9 - LITERACY CHOICE ACTIVITIES

Essential Question: What does it mean to be a hero*?

*For the purpose of these activities, the word hero is being used inclusive of all gender identities.

Learning Intention: I know I’m on track with my literacy learning, when I can: reflect on the characteristics and impact of a hero and make connections to myself, others, and the world.

DEFINING A HERO (1 HOUR)

What does the word ‘hero’ mean to you? Develop your own definition for the word ‘hero', by trying one or more of the following suggestions: Brainstorm (list or web) types of heroes and specific examples. These ideas can include real people or fictional characters.

Compare / contrast character traits of heroes (Venn diagram).

Write a paragraph that clearly defines what it means to be a hero.

JOB POSTING (2 HOURS)

Using what you learned in the ‘Defining a hero’ activity:

1. Create a job posting in search of a hero that might be seen in your community. Here are some things you may wish to include: job description (what is the job?); scope of responsibilities (what are the specific tasks involved with the job?); competencies/qualifications (what skills and abilities are needed?).

2. Write a cover letter from the point of view of a hero responding to the job posting. The letter should detail how the hero is the perfect fit for each aspect described in the job posting and why the hero should get the job.

HOW CAN I BE A HERO AT HOME? (1 HOUR)

Heroic acts do not always have to be extraordinary. Sometimes, heroes make regular, smaller contributions to their families and communities.

During this challenging time, you can still volunteer and be a hero at home. 1. Make a list of how you can help at home.

2. Choose several tasks to complete over the next two weeks to help out.

3. Record your volunteer experience each day and amount of time spent.

4. At the end of the two week period, reflect upon the impact of your contributions. How did it make you feel? How do you think it made others in your home feel? How did your contributions help? Which, if any, of the tasks you completed, do you think you will continue to do? Are there other ways you hope to help in your community or school, once social distancing has ended?

A HERO IN MY LIFE (1 HOUR USING YOUR ANSWERS

FROM YOUR INTERVIEW LAST WEEK)

1. Using the answers from your interview last week, turn your interviewee into a comic book hero.

2. Write a biography for your hero. What is their super power?

What kind of person are they? How do they ‘save the day’?

3. Create a comic book image of them or a symbol to represent them.

HEROES ALL AROUND ME (1 HOUR)

We are currently in a time where everyday heroes are all around us.

First responders, front-line medical workers, grocery clerks, truck drivers, and many others are putting themselves at risk in order to help others.

Start a journal from the point of view of one of the heroes suggested above, or a hero of your choice.

Create 3 or 4 journal entries that consider how the hero spent their day, their challenges, feelings, worries, or celebrations (big or small).

HEROES IN FICTION (2 HOURS)

Choose any heroic character from a story or book, a video game, a tv show or a movie.

1. Brainstorm a list of the character traits this hero demonstrates.

2. For each character trait listed, provide a specific example of how it is demonstrated either through their thoughts, words, choices, actions, or interactions with others.

3. Create a new adventure for this hero, highlighting their heroic contributions. You may wish to create a comic strip, write a short story, or recite the adventure to someone special.