Unit 2 Small Group Texts
Unit Home | Writing Task | Anchor Texts | Small Group Texts | Independent Texts
Monkey Master
💡 Teacher Tip: Students will get more from this text if you show them or have them research clips of animals creating art before they begin reading.
Vocabulary
purist
aesthetic
abstract
Word Study
Focus: Greek Suffix: -ist
Standard(s)
6.R.9 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiplemeaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
b. Consistently use Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word.
Support/Resources
Speaking & Listening
Focus: Research & Group Discussion
Standard(s)
6.W.4 Conduct short research projects to craft an argument or answer a question.
6.SL.1 Participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations on topics, texts, and issues.
Support/Resources
How to Implement Accountable and Academic Student Talk Stems (Better Lesson)
Black Cowboy, Wild Horses
⬅ Click for online resources. 📄 (link to PDF version)
Hook and inspire your students with these ideas. Build your own Playlist of media, short texts, novel connections and extension activities to enrich your teaching. Please be sure to preview all materials before sharing them with your students.
Vocabulary
Concept Vocabulary
milled
skittered
quivering
Skill Vocabulary
plot
conflict
exposition
rising action
climax
falling action
resolution
Analyze Craft & Structure
Focus: Story Structure - Plot
Standard(s)
🔍 6.RL.7 Compare two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text.
Support/Resources
Sharing Perspectives Discussion Prompts
Mini Lessons: Analyzing Narratives for Plot Devices
Word Study
Focus: Multiple-Meaning Words
Standard(s)
6.R.9 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiplemeaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Support/Resources
Conventions
Focus: Perfect Tenses of Verbs
Support/Resources
Nearpod Lesson: Perfect Verb Tense
*key words: present perfect tense, past perfect tense, future perfect tense, past participle
Speaking & Listening
Focus: Reseach - Informative Multimedia Presentation
Standard(s)
🔍6.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic that conveys ideas and information clearly and provide a concluding section that supports the information or explanation presented.
6.W.4 Conduct short research projects to craft an argument or answer a question.
6.SL.1 Participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations on topics, texts, and issues.
Support/Resources
Supplementary Texts
💡 Teacher Tip: In order for students to succeed in these small group activities, it is essential for teachers to provide mini lessons on figurative language and structure.
A Blessing
Vocabulary
shyly
loneliness
blossom
Activities
Analyze Craft & Structure: Elements of Poetry
*key words: lyric poem, sound devices, repetition, alliterationn, figurative language, simile, tone
Word Study: Multiple-Meaning Words
Conventions:Verbs and Verb Tenses
*key words: action verb, linking verb, past tense, past tense, future tense
Standards
6.R.8 Determine the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative language, connotative meanings, and figures of speech. Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings within a text.
6.R.9 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiplemeaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Predators
Vocabulary
cultivate
wild
domesticated
Activities
Analyze Craft & Structure: Poetic Structure
*key words: line, stanza, stanza structure
Author's Style: Word Choice and Tone
*key words: denotation, connotation
Word Study: Latin Root: -dom-
Writing to Compare
Standards
6.R.8 Determine the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative language, connotative meanings, and figures of speech. Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings within a text.
6.RL.10 Analyze how a sentence, paragraph, stanza, chapter, scene, or section fits into the overall structure and how it contributes to the development of theme, main idea, settings, or plot.
🔍6.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic that conveys ideas and information clearly and provide a concluding section that supports the information or explanation presented.
Collaborative Performance Task: Informative
💡 Teacher Tip: This is a great discussion question, but for pacing considerations, perhaps a presentation is not necessary. Instead, you could arrange an informal discussion or Socratic Seminar.
Focus: Multimedia Presentation
Prompt: You have read texts that explore the relationships between animals and people. With your group, plan and deliver an informative multimedia presentation that examines this topic:
How can the bonds between people and animals be surprising?
Use images or other media to illustrate, emphasize, and clarify key points in your presentation. End with a brief question-and-answer session.
Academic Vocabulary
exclude
illustrate
community
elaborate
objective
💡 It is essential to have students use these words throughout the unit, particularly in their performance tasks/assessments.
Standard(s)
6.SL.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details; use appropriate eye-contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
6.SL.5 Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.
Support/Resources
Facilitating Socratic Seminars