Grades 7-9 literacy
Grade 7 - LITERACY CHOICE ACTIVITIES
Essential Question:
What influences identity?
Learning Intention: I know I’m on track with my literacy learning when I can understand and reflect on how personal identity is shaped by family, culture, friends, personal interests and my environment.
DESIGN A NEW COURSE
We go to school to develop a better sense of the world around us, but it is also an opportunity to discover new interests and connect with other perspectives. Our time in school plays an important role in developing our identity.
So, imagine if you could design a new course that starts in September. This course is customized for your interests, skills, and experience - while teaching you more about the world around you. Describe what this course would look like in a course outline, similar to the ones you receive when starting a new grade.
What is the overall goal of the course?
What topics would this course cover?
What type of assignments would you do to demonstrate your learning?
What would this course offer that is different from your traditional courses?
MEDIA STEREOTYPE
A lot of how we view the world comes through reading and viewing books, television, websites, social media, and other media sources. In some cases, the way that a person is identified is based on a set idea, or a stereotype, based on their role. For example, think about how a grandmother or principal is typically portrayed on television, and then think about real people you know in these roles. Is this accurate?
For this activity, spend some time looking through advertisements, stories, comics, shows, websites, and any other sources that portray characters in various roles (for example, police officer, teacher, scientist, chef, or athlete).
Did the character's actions tell you something about him or her?
Is the character unrealistic or authentic?
Is the character a stereotype?
Once you have identified a role that is based on a common image or set idea, create a wanted poster for this stereotype.
Write the title of the role at the top of the poster
List places where this stereotype might be found
Describe the stereotype’s appearance
Draw a picture for your poster
WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF ME?
We know a great deal about people in the past based on the tools they used, their expression through art, their homes, what they ate, and the remains they left behind thousands of years ago.
Your task is to create an outline for a play where you have two scenes.
The first scene shows a number of characters that are your age. They can be doing anything you want - such as playing basketball, listening to music, eating lunch, etc. The important thing is that the characters are all dressed and using items that reflect your culture.
The second scene comes 10,000 years later when archaeologists have uncovered the remains of your culture. These investigators are puzzled by the remains and will try to understand your way of life. Put yourself in their shoes and examine how they might jump to the wrong conclusion.
LABELS
Think of a famous person that would be easily recognized across the country - such as a movie star, social media influencer, athlete, politician, or musician. Write down a list of words or labels you would use to describe this person. Then consider the following questions:
What words or “labels” would you use to describe yourself?
What words might others use to describe you?
What words might others use to describe you that you would not choose for yourself?
Identify a time when you labeled someone else. Why did you do it?
Why do you think we are quick to place labels on each other?
Write a short poem using the theme of labels and how they shape the way we see others and ourselves.
DEAR FUTURE SELF
Write a letter to yourself with the focus of answering the question, “Who am I?”. How you answer the question is entirely up to you. Once you have the letter completed, hide it in a place where you are likely to find it in the future (like a photo album) or give it to someone that you can trust to keep it safe.
The point is to imagine yourself in the future reading this letter. It could be in high school, or even beyond. Think about the following:
When you read this letter, which aspects of your identity do you hope have stayed the same?
What is one thing about yourself that you hope has changed?
What can you do to help make this change happen?
REFLECT ON THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr Seuss
So, considering the activities you have done this week, what do you think this quote says about personal identity?
Grade 8 - LITERACY CHOICE ACTIVITIES
Essential Question :
How are you influenced by your interaction with media?
The term media refers to the communication channels through which we circulate news, music, movies, education, promotional messages and other data. It includes social media apps, newspapers and magazines, television, radio, billboards, clothing brands, the internet, and billboards. What other types of media can you think of?
Learning Intention:
I know I’m on track with my literacy learning when I can understand, and reflect on, what I read and how it influences my thinking.
MEDIA ALL AROUND YOU
Reflect on the media around you -- what you interact with voluntarily and involuntarily. Create a graffiti wall to represent the media around you. Include words and images. Consider:
What type(s) of media are around you?
How much time do you spend playing or viewing different types of media?
What type(s) of media do you interact with most?
Why do you choose these types of media?
What makes a form of media interesting to you?
Saltwire: This activity has a required visual - See image “media all around you”
NOT JUST MY PERSPECTIVE
There are many arguments for and against popular media such as video games, reality TV shows, social media apps…
Create a list of pros and cons. Write several paragraphs addressing some of the pros and cons and explaining your opinion about the media you selected.
PROBLEM SOLVE
Think about your experiences with story (video games, books, movies, TV, songs, stories told by people you know, your life experiences…). What problem(s) have you or the individual encountered? How did you or the individual get out of this situation? Create a comic strip to share with others explaining how you or the individual solved the problem and overcame an obstacle.
EXAMINING BIAS
Some level of bias exists in everything we read and view. Examine how media portrays characters by reflecting on who is represented, who is under-represented and who is not represented. You might consider: race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability/disability, body shape, religion, socio-economic status.
Choose three specific examples of media and create a chart of your findings.
Choose one of your examples that you feel has bias.
Using your choice, create or revise characters to better reflect the diversity in our world. Your creation could be an illustration, a model, a written description or any other form you wish!
Saltwire: This activity has a required visual - See image “examining bias - English version” and “examining bias - French version”
POWER OF PERSUASION
Imagine you are trying to convince someone your favourite form of media is valuable. Create a visual that would persuade them to try your media. You may wish to include some written arguments to support your visual.
IT’S YOUR TURN
Come up with a new idea for a game/show/documentary/book/app/brand that would address an important concept or issue. How will you ensure multiple perspectives or viewpoints are presented?
Create a “blurb” about your new idea.
Design a cover/logo/symbol for your idea.
Create a 10 minute pitch (way to convince with evidence) that could be used to sell your idea. Your pitch should outline the important information or concept it will promote, describe your new idea, and tell how it will engage consumers.
DEAR MEDIA
Think about your own experiences with media and how it impacts you personally. You may wish to refer to the other activities you have done for ideas.
If you could speak directly to the media around you, what would you say?
What would you like it to keep doing for you? To add? To stop doing?
Think of media as a person and address them through the form of your choice (Ex. letter, poem, song, rant, etc.).
REFLECT ON THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Consider how the activities you chose to complete help you to understand how you are influenced by the media around you. Explain what you learned about yourself and media.
Grade 9 - LITERACY CHOICE ACTIVITIES
Essential Question:
Why is it important to examine the past, present and future?
Learning Target:
I know I’m on track with my literacy learning when I am able to reflect on the links between the past, present, and future through writing and representing, and make connections to myself, others, and the world.
Try to choose one activity from each section. Choose based on interest, connection with the topic, or your own background knowledge.
Reminder: A great resource to learn about past events can be having conversations with others. This could include face to face conversations with the people you live with or people you can reach by phone/email.
PAST
WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE?
Reflect on a major historical event (think about something you know or you learned in Social Studies or Citizenship)
Ex: Africville, 9/11, WWI, WWII, Halifax Explosion, civil rights movement, residential schools.
Write 5 diary entries about what it would be like as a student during that time. Your entries could include descriptions of what happens to you during the event and how you are feeling and/or reacting to it. You might consider the relationships in your life and how this event impacts them. How does this event change your life?
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Ask someone you know about a major historical event they were alive for. What would you like to learn about the event and their perspective? Create 10 questions for that person and interview them. Record their responses. What did you learn about the event and the person’s experience?
BACK FROM THE PAST
Choose two historical figures -- they can be local, Canadian or international. Create a conversation from one historical figure to another describing their life and their experiences. Your conversation could be represented in a script, a social media post with comments, a comic, postcards, or a form of your choice.
Examples of historical figures :
Rita Joe, Delmore “Buddy” Daye, Viola Desmond, John. A MacDonald, Soldier in the war (John McCrae), Terry Fox, Rocket Richard, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela...
PRESENT
REPORT THIS
Watch or listen to a news conference about COVID-19 (Trudeau, Strang, McNeil), write down three things you learned during the news conference and come up with three follow up questions. What was most surprising to you?
DEAR ME
Write a letter to your future self about the important things in your life right now. What’s on your mind? You could include thoughts about important people, the current state of the world, or anything else you find interesting. What would you want your future self to know about your life in 2020?
SAFETY FIRST
Create a pamphlet about safety precautions during Covid 19 or another subject of your choice. Your pamphlet should be directed to a specific audience and their current knowledge. Focus on the essential information your reader needs to know about your topic.
When planning, keep in mind what text features you will include: font, colour, graphics, headings, sub-titles, bolded words, charts. Share your pamphlet with someone.
FUTURE
FUTURISTIC FICTION
Write a story set in the future. A futuristic story is ahead of its time in setting, characters and plot. Before you begin writing, create an organizer to brainstorm your ideas. Example of an organizer:
HOW I SEE THE WORLD
Design a visual representation or map of what you think your world will look like in the future. On your map or diagram, label all the important places or key features. Describe the places and what has changed. Be as creative as you like in your design and description!
WHAT THEY SAID
Choose one of the following quotes:
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X
“Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.” - Simone de Beauvoir
Write a reflection on how these quotes make you think about the future. Write your own quote or hashtag to inspire someone else about the future.
REFLECT ON THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Consider how the activities you chose to complete help you to understand why it is important to examine the past, present and future. Explain your overall thinking about the connection between all three (past, present, future).