Unit 1 Reading: Swing

Our first ELA Reading for Spring semester 2021 is "Swing" by Kwame Alexander

Noah and his best friend Walt want to become cool, make the baseball team, and win over Sam, the girl Noah has loved for years. When Noah finds old love letters, Walt hatches a plan to woo Sam. But as Noah's love life and Walt's baseball career begin, the letters alter everything....

You can access our flip books and audio for each episode of Swing here:

Spring Semester, Week Two

January 19 - January 22

Episode One

Swing Journal #1

Journal # 1- Analyzing the book cover

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Swing Episode 1

Swing Episode #1 Questions

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Letter to President Biden

This is your opportunity to write a letter to the President - what would you want him to start working on?

Share your letter with Dr. Vargas at nav6916@lausd.net or Mrs. Vargas at gmoya@lausd.net

Episode Two

What do you think this quote means?

We will see one of the characters make references to this quote. Do you know who Malcolm X was?

Swing Episode 2

Swing Episode 2 Questions

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POINT OF VIEW PRACTICE worksheet (1).pdf

Activity # 2 - Key words to help you determine point of view

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Malcolm X - Biography

Episode Three

Week Three

January 25 - January 29

Episode Four

Journal # 1: Which type of bird are you: early bird or night owl? Why?

Swing Episode 4 Questions

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The Power of Words Figurative Language

The Power of Words: Figurative Language

Connotation and Denotation

ConnotativeversusDenotativeMeanings.pdf

Activity # 1 - Connotation and Denotation

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Episode Five

Journal # 2 Week 2

Journal # 2 - What is your favorite song?

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Swing Episode 5

Swing Episode 5 Questions

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Informal Letter Activity

Activity # 2 - Informal letter

Writing an informal letter to someone special in your life. Use this format as shown on (0:56) of video

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How to Write an Informal Letter

Use this format as shown on (0:56) of video

Episode Six

Journal # 3

Journal # 3 - What is love...

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Swing Episode 6 Questions

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Figurative Language - Metaphors and Similes

circle-the-simile.pdf

Activity # 3 - Similes

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metaphor-meanings.pdf

Activity # 4 - Metaphors

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Simile and Metaphor Quiz

Quick Check

Week four

February 1 - february 5

Episode Seven

Swing- Analyzing the power of words.docx

Swing - Analyzing the Power of Words

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Swing Episode 7 Questions

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Episode Eight

Swing Let's Recap

Activity # 1- Let's recap the Swing

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Swing Episode 8 Questions

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BIOGRAPHY PROJECT

In Swing, Walt has a talent of knowing how famous people died. He is a walking encyclopedia of information. Choose 2 individuals you would like to find more about and do a biography project. Here is a graphic organizer you can use as you research the two individuals for this project.

Satchel Paige Benny Goodman Hank Aaron

Roberto Clemente Bryce Harper Barry Bonds

Bob Marley Bruno Mars Miles Davis

Dizzy Gillespie Nelson Mandela Herbie Hancock

Ella Fitzgerald John Coltrane Dexter Gordon

Langston Hughes Billie Holiday Jackie Robinson

Biography Reports Walt’s Favorite People Template

This is an example of how you can use Google Slides for your Biography Project

K12ELA7-2.1.2-BiographyGraphicOrganizer-BYSA.pdf

Graphic Organizer to help you get started on your research

Idioms-Meanings-P-1-Advanced.pdf

What do these Idioms mean?

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Floyd's advice to Noah

Letter to Older Self

Write your older self a letter. This letter should not be open until February 2031

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Episode Nine

My Favorite things

Journal #1 - What are your favorite things?

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Swing Episode 9 Questions

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Journal # 2 - What do you see?

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This is ART! By Noah

Week five

February 8 - February 12

Episode Ten

Which doggie are you?

Swing Episode 10 Questions

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Episode 11

A View from my Window

Journal # 1 - A view from your window

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Swing Episode 11 Questions

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onomatopoeia_sound_words (1).pdf

Onomatopoeia - figurative language

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Wednesday

Falling in Love with Figurative Meanings

Guided Activity

Valentines Idioms.pdf

Activity # 2 - Heart & Love Idioms

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Episode 12

Which stuff toy would you pick?

Swing Episode 12 Questions

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Sounds outside your Window

Journal # 2 - Identifying sounds outside your window

Identifying-Writing-Onomatopoeia-Worksheet (1).pdf

Activity # 3 - Identifying and writing sounds

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Week Six

February 15 - February 19

Episode 13

My Favorite Playlist

Journal # 1 - My favorite playlist

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Swing Episode 13 Questions

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In Swing, we read how the love letters between Corinthian and AnneMarie spoke of their love and how it was not accepted by some at the time. Read about the actual couple, whose love made it possible for mixed race marriages to be legal across the US.