The information shown here is a meant as a general outline. It is subject to change without notice based on special events, scheduling conflicts and the needs and interests of students. Topics, activities and titles may change, be removed or added at any time.
Building classroom norms and culture
- Creativity
- Pre-assessments for learning
- Introduction and review of depth and complexity
Analysis and interpretation of poetry: ‘Birdfoot’s Grandpa’ and ‘Famous’
- Theme
- Point of view
- Quote accurately from text
- “Birdfoot’s Grandpa”
- “Famous”
Thematic generalizations: ‘Lenny’s Red Letter Day’
- Annotations
- Implicit and explicit interpretations
- Changes in character
- Making inferences
- Plot
- “Lenny’s Red Letter Day”
Conflict and change in literature: ‘The Old Man & His Affectionate Son’
- Point of view
- Theme
- Change
- Conflict
- Literary reflections
- Literary elements
- Vocabulary
- Dilema and developing an Issue
- Depth and complexity
- Ethics, conflict and multiple perspectives
- “The Old Man & His Affectionate Son”
Literary analysis: ‘The Helpful Badger’
- Characterization
- Plot structure
- Theme
- Literature and vocabulary webs
- Plot maps and text structure
- “The Helpful Badger”
‘The Secret Garden’ Chapters 1-7
The text “Call It Courage” may be substituted for “The Secret Garden”
- Symbolism
- Setting
- Plot
- Interpret imagery
- Various paired texts
‘The Secret Garden’ Chapters 8-11
- Theme
- Rising action
- Change
- Symbolism
‘The Secret Garden’ Chapters 12-18
- Character traits
- Symbolism
‘The Secret Garden’ Chapters 19-23
- Point of view
- Conflict leads to change
- Theme
‘The Secret Garden’ Chapters 24-27
- Characterization
- Plot structure
- Theme
Literary analysis and interpretation: ‘Little Gidding’
- Theme
- Text structure
- This text introduces students to the conceptual understanding that guides this idea: “The past shapes who we are, what we believe, how we behave, and what we value.”
- “Little Gidding”
Learning from the past: ‘Terrible Things’
- Allegory
- Background knowledge on Holocaust
- Social injustice
- Person vs. society conflict
Literary analysis and interpretation: ‘The Power of Light’
- Symbolism
- Theme
- Structure
- Read and respond to complex literature and advanced literary nonfiction
- Socratic Seminar
- “The Power of Light”
- Paired literary text for “The Power of Light”: “Rose Blanche” for multiple perspectives
African American poetry and Harlem Renaissance: ‘Harlam’
- Figurative language
- Imagery
- Literary elements
- Informational research
- How a writer’s culture, history, and environment shapes who they are, what they believe, how they behave and what they value
- “Harlem” and other poetry selections
Emily Dickinson
- Symbolism
- Theme
- Structure
- Students research the life and work of Emily Dickinson and consider how one’s environment affects a person’s outlook and approach to life as well as to art
Brain basics
- Parts of the brain
- 4 lobes
- Neuron
- Limbic system
- Texts in this cycle provide students with essential knowledge in order to explore ways science helps individuals understand the world
Creativity
- Creative thinking
- Elements of creativity: fluency, flexibility, elaboration, originality
Neurological disease and disorders and creativity
- Creativity
- Informational research
Grammar Town
Grammar Town is an ongoing unit throughout the year
- The eight parts of speech
- Parts of a sentence
- Phrases
- Clauses
