Character development/analyzing character Imagery Repetition Mood Analyze Text structure Trace Evaluate/critique claim September Paired Texts: two informational texts about hairstyles through the centuries: “Off With Her Hair” and “Hey Kids, Get a Haircut!” Group Work: “Integrating Knowledge and Ideas” Informational Text Paired with a Play/Drama: “The Horror of Slavery” and “I Would Rather Die” tells the story of how the famous abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, made his way from slavery to freedom. Exercise: “Compare Two Group Work: “What is the Theme?” Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry Companion Poems: Language Standards: L.3 Writing Standards: W.1 Reading Standards: Informational Text: RI.1 RI.3 RI.6 Reading Standards for Literature: RL.2 RL.4 (connotative meanings) RL.5 RL.9 Reading Standards for Literature: RL.4 RL.5 Interpreting text Integrating knowledge and Claim Suspense/tension Compare/contrast Tone Symbolism Inference Bigwig Scene Playwright Textual Evidence Abolitionist Analyzing Theme Imagery Totter Wobble Poppies
December Narrative Nonfiction: “I Survived the Boston Marathon Bombing” (the story of Sydney Corcoran and her mother, who were both injured in the Boston Marathon bombing of April 2013.) Speech: “We Summon the Strength” (three days after the bombing, President Barack Obama gave this speech to the people of Boston.) Exercise: Applying a Central Idea Informational Text: “Throw Away Your Earbuds Now!” (listening to music with earbuds can permanently damage your hearing) Essay: “I Can’t Hear You” (life after hearing loss) Novel: The Giver, by Lois Lowry Companion Poems: “Every Cat Has a Story” by Naomi Shihab Nye, “Seeing the World,” by Steven Harrick, and “Street Painting” by Ann Turner Speaking and Listening Standards: SL.1 SL.2 Reading Standards: Informational Text: RI.1 RI.2 RI.4 RI.5 Reading Standards: Informational Text: RI.1 RI.5 Reading Standards for Literature: RL.4 RL.5 Language Standard: L.5 Text evidence Author’s craft Supporting details Inference Text structure Key/central/main idea Figurative language Metaphor Text Features Author’s Inference Imagery Sensory Details Figurative language Simile Personification hyperbole Stanza Line break Repetition mood January Short Fiction: “People Call Me Crazy,” by Gary Paulsen: (Thatcher is dreading Reading Standards for Literature RL.3 RL.4 Tone Compare Resent
his summer at Camp Lakewood especially all activities that involve water. But soon, Thatcher finds himself in a life or death situation that will change the course of his life.) Drama: “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (An adaptation of the classic tale of good and evil. The play is paired with a personal essay, “Confessions of a Former Hazer”, in which a writer reflects on her experience as a summer-camp hazer. Debate: “Should Justin Bieber Be Deported?” RL.6 Reading Standards for Literature RL.4 RL.5 RL.6 Reading Standards: Informational Text RI.8 RI.9 Writing Standard: W.1 Conflict Conflict Resolution Character development Relationship Figurative language Text Evidence Interpreting Text Imagery Personification Characterization Text evidence Interpreting text Scene Act Infer/inference Mood Hazing Supporting an argument Morality Abominable Chaotic Decrepit Dilapidated Sinister Substantial Tracing and Evaluating Arguments Author’s claim Author’s evidence Evaluation Counterargument/acknowledging an alternate or opposing viewpoint Emotional appeal Fallacy
Dialogue Author’s point of view February Strategies Readers and Writers Use to Bring About Change Narrative Nonfiction: “The Girl Who Discovered the Dinosaurs” (the story of how a 12-year-old girl’s fossil discovery led to the birth of modern paleontology. The article is paired with a newspaper report , (“Dinosaurs for Sale: Why some of today’s important fossils will never be studied”), about the controversy surrounding private fossil collections.) Informational Text, Drama, and Narrative Nonfiction: “The Horror of Nazi Germany” is a short informational text about Nazi Germany. “The Book Thief” is a play adapted from the acclaimed movie based on the bestselling novel by Markus Zusak, which tells the riveting story of a German girl who takes comfort in books during the terrors of World War II. “The Boys Who Fought the Nazis” is a nonfiction narrative which tells the story of how three friends Language Standards: L.4a L.4c Reading Standards: Informational Text: RI.1 RI.2 RI.4 RI.5 RI.9 Writing Standard: W.3 Reading Standards: Informational Text: RI.1 Reading Standards for Literature: RL.1 RL.2 RL.5 Writing Standard: W.3 Auction Carnivorous Embed Paleontology Remnant Specimen Trove Unearth Text features Headline Vertical layout Captions Subheads Lurking Text structure Inference Objective summary Central idea Supporting evidence Genocide Haggard Liberate Manifesto Scapegoat Systematically dehumanize Teem Banned books Theme Supporting evidence Plot Inference Symbolism Interpreting text
risked their lives fighting against one of the most evil regimes the world has ever seen. Small group work: “Exploring Theme” Novel: Cinder, by Marissa Meyer (science fiction) Companion Poems: “Ode to Family Photographs” by Gary Soto and “Hoods” by Paul B. Janeczko Group Work: “Patterns/Repetitions in “Ode to Family Photographs” Grammar: Students practice the correct of adverse and averse while reading about how three celebrities saved lives. Reading Standards for Literature: RL.4 RL.5 RL.6 Epilogue Mood Patterns Repetition Rituals Myths Figurative language Simile Metaphor March Paired “I Use a Robot to Go to School” is a nonfiction narrative about a girl whose severe food allergy makes attending school so dangerous that she sends a robot in her place. “What Causes Allergies?” is an informational text on the science of allergies. Debate/Argument: “Plastic Bags: Convenient and Cruel” (Environmental experts have sounded the alarm about Reading Standards: Informational Text: RI.1 RI.5 RI.6 Language Standards: L.3a Reading Standards: Informational Text RI.8 RI.9 Anaphylaxis Comprise EpiPen Pathogen Scrutinize Vigilance Author’s purpose Text structure Mood Inference Word choice Compare/contrast Environment Environmentalism Biodegradable Food
plastic. Should they be banned everywhere? Students read arguments on both sides of the debate and take a stand. Group Work: “You Write It”: turning an infographic into an editorial. Language/Grammar: agreement; parentheses practice; choosing words for effect; colons Novel: Cinder, by Marissa Meyer (science fiction) Poetry: “Spring by Jim Wayne Miler “Foul Shot” by Edwin A. Hoey “A Hot Property” by Ronald Wallace Writing Standards: W.1a-W.1e Language Standards: L.2 L.3a Reading Standards for Literature: RL.4 RL.5 Landfill Leach Recycle Reusable Claim/Thesis Supporting details Anecdote Summarize Acknowledge the alternate or opposing claim Sensory detail Imagery Figurative language Metaphor Simile Stanza Solemn Wobbles Wavers Nudges Coy Alliteration Repetition Personification Plot Line break Active verbs April We are ready! We can do this! Review all standards May KPrep Test and preparation for specific 8th grade skills Language Standards 1-5 Commas; irregular verbs; transition words; semicolons and colons; misplaced modifiers; there, their, and they’re; its vs