In 5th Grade English Language Arts, students explore the different factors that can positively and negatively influence a community and how groups of people have fought for their rights, particularly immigration and civil rights. Students build their social-emotional skills through the core texts Seedfolks and The Breadwinner, learn about the impacts of plastic pollution in Protecting the Earth. In each unit, students engage in process-based writing projects connected to the core texts that develop their narrative, informational, and opinion writing skills.
Using authentic, engaging texts, teachers help students develop their language comprehension and address grade-level reading, writing, language, and speaking and listening standards. Over the course of 5th Grade ELA, students deepen their understanding of the world around them through thematically-aligned, knowledge-building units, embedded daily writing instruction, and frequent opportunities for in-class discussion.
After completing the 5th Grade ELA course, students will have the reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills, and the relevant background knowledge to set them up for success in middle school ELA.
Lessons Total Instructional Days
Unit 1: Building Community: Seedfolks 17 26
Unit 2: Exploring Human Rights: The Breadwinner 30 35
Unit 3: Protecting the Earth: Plastic Pollution 16 24
Unit 4: Exploring Mars: Spirit and Opportunity 33 43
Unit 5: Seeking Truth: A Wrinkle in Time 26 28
Total 122 156
Unit 1: Building Community: Seedfolks
CORE TEXTS
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman (Harper Trophy, 2004) — 710L
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
101 Small Ways to Change the World by Lonely Planet Kids, Aubre Andrus
Hand to Heart: Improving Communities by Jessica Cohn
Building community
Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio by Tony Johnston (600L)
Junebug by Alice Mead (570L) *
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar (670L) **
Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya (750L)
The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley (800L)
The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser
The Year of the Garden by Andrea Cheng (620L) *
* lower Lexile or qualitative measures than core text.
** higher Lexile or qualitative measures than core text.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Rubric: Grade 5 Narrative Writing Rubric
Template: Narrative Brainstorming Template
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSON 1
LESSON 2
LESSON 3
LESSON 4
LESSON 5
LESSON 6
LESSON 7
LESSON 8
LESSON 9
LESSON 10
LESSON 11
LESSON 12
LESSON 13
LESSON 14
LESSON 15
LESSON 16
LESSON 17
Unit 2: Exploring Human Rights: The Breadwinner
CORE TEXTS
The Breadwinner: 15th Anniversary Edition by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books, 2015) — 710L
Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely through a Never-Ending War by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books, 2012)
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick (Brown Books for Young Readers, 2016)
Rubric: Grade 5 Narrative Writing Rubric
Resource: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) by United Nations General Assembly
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
Mud City by Deborah Ellis (740L)
My Name is Parvana by Deborah Ellis (670L)
Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis (700L)
Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids by Mary Robinson (880L)
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali **
Kids of Kabul by Deborah Ellis (800L)
Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat (870L) **
Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak by Deborah Ellis (790L)
Understanding Afghanistan Today by Don Nardo
Who is Malala Yousafzai by Dinah Brown (680L) *
Escaping war/human rights violations
Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan (800L) **
Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai (880L) **
I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin (770L) **
Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai (800L)
The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon (840L)
The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz (830L) **
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney (620L)
Fighting for human rights
19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East by Naomi Shihab Nye (910L)
A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird (830L)
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed (600L) **
The Breadwinner: 15th Anniversary Edition by Deborah Ellis (710L)
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSON 1
LESSON 2
LESSON 3
LESSON 4
LESSON 5
LESSON 6
LESSON 7
LESSON 8
LESSON 9
LESSON 10
LESSON 11
LESSON 12
LESSON 13
LESSON 14
LESSON 15
LESSON 16
LESSON 17
LESSON 18
LESSON 19
LESSON 20
LESSON 21
LESSON 22
LESSON 23
LESSON 24
LESSON 25
LESSON 26
LESSON 27
LESSON 28
LESSON 29
LESSON 30
Unit 3: Protecting the Earth: Plastic Pollution
CORE TEXTS
Trash Vortex: How Plastic Pollution Is Choking the World's Oceans by Danielle Smith-Llera (Compass Point Books, 2018) — 1120L
Article: “Single-Use Plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability” (United Nations Environment Programme, 2018)
Article: “Ten "stealth microplastics" to avoid if you want to save the oceans” by Sharon George and Deirdre McKay (The Conversation)
Article: “Queensland passes laws banning 'killer' single-use plastics” (The Guardian)
Article: “"People need them": The trouble with the movement to ban plastic straws” (The Guardian)
Article: “Mythbusting: 5 common misperceptions surrounding the environmental impacts of single-use plastics” (University of Michigan News)
Article: “Little girl, big difference: 4th grader’s idea helps reduce trash at Pikes Peak region-area elementary school” by Lindsey Grewe for CBS
Article: “CA Girl Scout’s letters spurred companies to cut down on using plastic straws” by Washington Post, adapted by The Lily News
Rubric: Grade 5 Literary Analysis and Opinion Writing Rubric
Template: Two-Paragraph Outline
Template: Three Paragraph Outline
Template: Plastic Pollution Note-Taker
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
Flush by Carl Hiaasen (770L) *
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (860L) *
World Without Fish by Mark Kurlansky (1160L) **
Endangered Oceans: Investigating Oceans in Crisis (Endangered Earth) by Jody S. Rake (830L) *
Human Impact (The Restless Sea) by Carole Garbuny Vogel
One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul (570L)
Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution by Michiel Roscam Abbing
Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by Patricia Newman (900L) *
The Plastic Problem by Rachel Salt
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion (Scientists in the Field Series) by Loree Griffin Burns
What a Waste by Jess French (IG920L) *
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSON 1
LESSON 2
LESSON 3
LESSON 4
LESSON 5
LESSON 6
LESSON 7
LESSON 8
LESSON 9
LESSON 10
LESSON 11
LESSON 12
LESSON 13
LESSON 14
LESSON 15
LESSON 16
Unit 4: Exploring Mars: Spirit and Opportunity
CORE TEXTS
The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch (HMH Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition, 2017) — 950L
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum (970L)
Curiosity’s Mission on Mars: Exploring the Red Planet by Ron Miller (1140L)
Hidden Figures (Young Readers’ Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly (1120L) **
Impact!: Asteroids and the Science of Saving the World by Elizabeth Rusch and Karin Anderson (1070L)
Mission to Pluto: The First Visit to an Ice Dwarf and the Kuiper Belt by Mary Kay Carson (940L)
Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes by Ellen Jackson and Nic Bishop
The 10 Greatest Breakthroughs in Space Exploration by Julie Clark (IG960L)
The Amazing Story of Space Travel by Agniesezka Biskup (GN800L)
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Video: “How We Landed on Mars with NASA Spirit” by The Azza
Article: “Now a Stationary Research Platform, NASA's Mars Rover Spirit Starts a New Chapter in Red Planet Scientific Studies” by NASA Press Release 7
Resource: Mars Robotics Education Poster (NASA)
Article: “Mars Rovers Advance Understanding of the Red Planet”
Article: “Mars Rover Spirit Unearths Surprise Evidence of Wetter Past”
Article: “Shoulder Motor Balks on Opportunity's Robotic Arm”
Resource: Robots: Machines on the Move (NASA)
Website: Spacecraft: Surface Operations: Instruments by Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Resource: Rover Races Activity (NASA)
Assessment Text: “Impact!: Asteroids and the Science of Saving the World” by Elizabeth Rusch (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2017) (Note: this text is only used for the assessment.)
Template: Narrative Brainstorming Template
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSON 1
LESSON 2
LESSON 3
LESSON 4
LESSON 5
LESSON 6
LESSON 7
LESSON 8
LESSON 9
LESSON 10
LESSON 11
LESSON 12
LESSON 13
LESSON 14
LESSON 15
LESSON 16
LESSON 17
LESSON 18
LESSON 19
LESSON 20
LESSON 21
LESSON 22
LESSON 23
LESSON 24
LESSON 25
LESSON 26
LESSON 27
LESSON 28
LESSON 29
LESSON 30
LESSON 31
LESSON 32
LESSON 33
Unit 5: Seeking Truth: A Wrinkle in Time
CORE TEXTS
Book: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Square Fish, Reprint edition, 2007) — 740L
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Time Quintet Book 3) by Madeleine L’Engle (850L)
A Wind in the Door (Time Quintet Book 2) by Madeleine L’Engle (790L)
An Acceptable Time (Time Quintet Book 5) by Madeleine L’Engle (710L)
Many Waters (Time Quintet Book 4) by Madeleine L’Engle (700L)
Endurance, Young Readers Edition: My Year in Space and How I Got There by Scott Kelly (1070L) *
Racing the Moon by Alan Armstrong (780L)
T-Minus: The Race to the Moon by Jim Ottaviani (740L)
Seeking truth/science fiction
Among the Hidden (The Shadow Children series) by Margaret Peterson Haddix (800L)
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer (660L) *
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (780L) **
George’s Secret Key series by Stephen Hawking (860L)
Ready Player One: A Novel by Ernest Cline (970L) **
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm (550L) *
The Jupiter Pirates series by Jason Fry (860L)
The Stonekeeper (The Amulet Series) by Kazu Kibuishi (310L) *
The White Mountains by John Christopher (890L)
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (750L)
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke (310L) *
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Book: A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
by Hope Larson and Madeleine L'Engle (Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2012)
Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading (Grade 5 Unit 6)
Rubric: Grade 5 Literary Analysis and Opinion Writing Rubric
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSON 1
LESSON 2
LESSON 3
LESSON 4
LESSON 5
LESSON 6
LESSON 7
LESSON 8
LESSON 9
LESSON 10
LESSON 11
LESSON 12
LESSON 13
LESSON 14
LESSON 15
LESSON 16
LESSON 17
LESSON 18
LESSON 19
LESSON 20
LESSON 21
LESSON 22
LESSON 23
LESSON 24
LESSON 25
LESSON 26
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