Divide the class into small groups that share a similar heritage, or have each group gather examples of a single genre from several cultures and report on similarities and differences they discover. Culture a. explore and describe similarities and differences in the ways groups, societies, and cultures address similar human needs and concerns. Time, Continuity, and Change d. identify and use different sources for reconstructing the past, such as documents, letters, diaries, maps, textbooks, photos, and others. People, Places, and Environment b. interpret, use, and distinguish various representations of the earth, such as maps, globes, and photographs. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts.
Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles. Students whose first language is not English make use of their first language to develop competency in the English language arts and to develop understanding of content across the curriculum. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.