Literary works studied in the unit include Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor, Hawthorne's, Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, and selected Poe short stories. Vocabulary, grammar, persuasive writing, and research are integrated into unit activities. While all four language arts strands of literature, writing, language study, and oral communication are integrated into this unit, the core of the unit involves students interacting with literature while enhancing reading comprehension and textual analysis skills. By reading the literature and engaging in shared inquiry, students should develop an awareness about the nature and importance of change, particularly as it affects people in various circumstances, times, and cultures. The literature selections, including The Secret Garden and world-class short stories by such authors as Tolstoy and Singer, serve as a basis for discussion.
Students engage in literary response and persuasive writing activities.
Grammar, vocabulary, reasoning, and research are also embedded in unit activities. This teacher's guide contains important information for the implementation of the accompanying units, all organized around the concept of change. The guide provides the design specifications used in the development of the units, criteria for assessing language arts curriculum, and a section on monitoring language arts classrooms to ensure faithful implementation practices. The Center for Gifted Education has seven curriculum units containing different real- world situations that face today's society, plus a guide to using the curriculum. The units are geared towards different elementary levels, yet can be adapted for use in all levels of K-8.