Unit 1 ELA 8GT

ELA 8 GT Unit 1: Crossroads of Culture and Community

DURATION:

This unit has been designed to last approximately 1 quarter.

UNIT OVERVIEW:

The unit "Crossroads of Culture and Community" explores the role that cultural identity plays in our community and as we progress through the stages of our lives. Students will read two whole novels: Refugee, a fictional account of three young refugees at various places in the world, and I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai's memoir (young adult version). Throughout the lesson sequence and as they read these two books, students will also explore the similarities and differences between fiction and non-fiction writing, the focus of their PBA.

See the Whole Novel Resources for this unit for suggestions on how to incorporate these texts into the lesson sequence. The suggestions for Refugee include Reader's Response Journals focusing on character decisions and Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development (RL.8.3) and encourage the teacher to hold two book seminars, one halfway through the book and one at its conclusion. The suggestions for I Am Malala include Reader's Response Journals focusing on the biographical approach and memoir is a genre of non-fiction and also encourage two book seminars, one halfway through the book and one at its conclusion. Teachers are encouraged to adjust these suggestions to suit their needs, such as offering the sticky note strategy or allowing students to complete their responses online. Please read the Instructional Notes within those folders for further clarification. There are also Slam Dunk research tasks associated with each of the texts. See the Slam Dunk Index page for links.

Due to the controversial subject matters of both of the seminal texts of this unit (terrorism, human rights, violence, immigration, refugees, discrimination, war), teachers should be proactive about potential discomfort, conflict, opposing viewpoints, sensitive responses, and misunderstandings. It is recommended that teachers draft a letter to be sent home in advance to prepare students and families for these controversial subject matters.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

• How do we navigate cultural crossroads?

TARGET STANDARDS:

For further clarification, teachers may consult the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for Clarifications.

RI.8.9 Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.

RI.8.3 Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).

W.8.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

W.8.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.