January/February/March

Essential Question: Is technology helpful or harmful to society?

TEXT: That's Not Progress!, Feathered Friend, The Biometric Body, Biometrics are Not Better, The Internet of Things, Is Our Gain Also Our Loss?, The Black Hole of Technology, The Fun They Had

Argumentative Writing, Science Fiction: Genre/Text Elements, Concept Vocabulary, Close Reads, Conventions, Composition, Speaking and Listening

Argument, Science Fiction, Informational Articles, Reflective Essay, News Article, Poetry, Video, Podcast, & Photo Essay

• Author's purpose, message and tone

• Purpose and Organization

• Poetic Forms and Meaning

• Multiple Themes

• Author's Central Idea

• Analyze sections independently

Writing an Argumentative Essay-

• statement of the writer's claim or position

• reasons and evidence to support the claim

• Argumentative techniques, such as appeals to reader's emotions

• Often an opposing position that is presented and refuted

January/ February

• Hammurabi's Code

Geography and the Early Settlement of Egypt, Kush, and Canaan

Description: In an Experiential Exercise, students use their bodies to recreate the physical geography of ancient Egypt, Kush, and Canaan to learn about how environmental factors influenced early settlement in these areas.

Essential Question: How did geography affect early settlement in Egypt, Kush, and Canaan?

The Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs

Description: In a Writing for Understanding activity, students board an Egyptian sailing boat and "visit" monuments along the Nile River, to learn about four ancient Egyptian pharaohs and their important accomplishments.

Essential Question: What did the pharaohs of ancient Egypt accomplish, and how did they do it?

Reading Further: The Egyptian Mummy Project

Explore: Egyptian Trade

Explore: Analyzing Images of Pharaohs