BCS 6th Grade ELA Curriculum and Unit Guide 6th Grade General Writing Resources/Strategies Writing Standard Student Expectations Teacher Moves Genres W6.1 – Argument/ Persuasive Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence Model varying points of view and different positions on a specific topic Design quick writes of opinions Provide appropriate and interesting topics. essays speeches editorials letters to the editor W6.2 – Informative/ Explanatory Write informative/ Explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content Provide multiple resources Model a topic study Integrate content area (teachers) Teach note-taking Teach/review planning with Thinking Maps Allow time for research Report of information Summary Technical analysis Literary Analysis W6.3 – Narrative Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, relevant descriptive details, and well structured event sequences Teach cause and effect Expose students to a variety of genres including mentor texts and memoirs Create a powerful shared experience Autobiography Biography Creative fiction Memoirs
Unit 1 – Growing Up (4 Weeks) Suggested Text (Examples of text) contains lessons using these and other texts Fiction “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros (Textbook * +) “Tuesday of the Other June” by Norma Fox Mazer (Textbook * +) “All Summer In a Day” by Ray Bradbury (Textbook * +) Poetry “Past, Present, Future” by Emily Bronte “The Quarrel” by Eleanor Farjeon (Textbook +) Non-Fiction “The Vicious Sixth Grade Game” by Carole Currie (Asheville Citizen Times, Sept. 2, 1998) “All I Really Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum (Textbook +) “The Problem with Bullies” by Sean Price (Textbook *) Other Media Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Film 1971) Clip from X Factor Finding Neverland (Film 2004) “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan (Song Lyrics) “Time of Your Life” by Greenday (Song Lyrics) “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Birds (Song Lyrics) “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift (Song Lyrics) “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert (Song Lyrics) Textbooks Referenced: * Literature Grade 6, Holt McDougal, 2012 + The Language of Literature Grade 6, McDougal Littell, 2006
BCS 6th Grade ELA Unit Guide Unit 2 – Folklore: Blast From the Past (5-6 Weeks) Suggested Text (Examples of text) contains lessons using these and other texts Fiction “Apollo’s Tree: The Story of Daphne and Apollo” by Mary Pope Osborne (Textbook *) “Arachne” by Olivia E. Coolidge (Textbook * +) “Damon and Pythias: A Drama, Dramatized by Fan Kissen (Textbook * +) “Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story From China” by Ai-Ling Louie (Textbook *) “Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story” by Robert D. San Souci (Textbook *) “ The Chenoo” by Joseph and James Bruchac (Textbook *) Poetry http://endicottsudio.typepad.com/poetrylist/folklore_myth_poems/ Non-Fiction Text Analysis workshop: Myths, Legends, and Tales (Textbook *) “Spider Webs” (Textbook *) From “In Search of Pompeii” by Giovanni Caselli “Vicious Vikings” by Terry Deary and Martin Brown Other Media The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and The Olympians (Film) The Odyssey (Film or Play) “Reflection” (Excerpt from the Mulan Film) Textbooks Referenced: * Literature Grade 6, Holt McDougal, 2012 + The Language of Literature Grade 6, McDougal Littell, 2006
BCS 6th Grade ELA Unit Guide Unit 3 – Word Pictures (4 Weeks) Unit Overview/ Questions: Is that what I meant to say? A study of the power of words. Focus Standards RL 6.4 Vocabulary/Word Choice W 6.8 Gather/Synthesize Information SL 6.6 Adapt Speech/Command of Formal English L 6.5 Figurative Language/Word Relationship Skill Focus Vocabulary/Word Choice Gather/Synthesize Information Adapt Speech/Command of Formal English Figurative Language/Word Relationships Learning Targets I can . . . Determine figurative and literal meaning of words and phrases based on how they are used in text Quote or paraphrase information found for my finished work. Adapt my speech to a variety of tasks and contexts Interpret figures of speech in context Content/Academic Vocabulary Content-Specific Simile, Hyperbole, Alliteration, Metaphor, Personification, Oxymoron, Onomatopoeia, Rhythm, Rhyme, Stanza, Line, Speaker, Tone, Imagery, Visualization, Refrain, Repetition, Form Academic Structure, Paraphrase “Powerful” Words Analyze, compare, contrast, describe, evaluate, explain, formulate, infer, predict, summarize, support, trace
BCS 6th Grade ELA Unit Guide Unit 3 – Word Pictures (4 Weeks) Suggested Text (Examples of text) contains lessons using these and other texts Poetry Access Textbook – Select “Unit 5, Word Pictures” http://my.hrw.com/index.jsp?isVerified=true&message=logout “I Am Phoenix: Poems for Two Voices” by Paul Fleischman Other Media “Fireworks” by Katy Perry (Song Lyrics) (may need to be purchased) Textbooks Referenced: * Literature Grade 6, Holt McDougal, 2012 + The Language of Literature Grade 6, McDougal Littell , 2006 BCS 6th Grade ELA Unit Guide
BCS 6th Grade ELA Unit Guide Unit 4 – Person to Person: Analyzing Character and Point of View (6 Weeks) Suggested Text (Examples of text) contains lessons using these and other texts Fiction “Ghost of the Lagoon” by Armstrong Sperry (Textbook * +) “Jeremiah’s Song” by Walter Dean Myers (Textbook *) “Aaron’s Gift” by Myron Levoy (Textbook * +) Poetry “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou (Textbook * +) “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins (Textbook *) Non-Fiction Text Analysis Workshop (Textbook *) “Role-Playing and Discovery” by Jerry Pinkey (Textbook *) “The Life and Adventures of Nat Love” by Nat Love (Textbook *) “Mathew Henson at the Top of the World” by Jim Haskins (Textbook *) “Boy: Tales of Childhood” by Roald Dahl Other Media Media Study-Film clip from “Smallville” (Textbook *) “The Mighty” Excerpt from Freak the Mighty “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson (Song Lyrics) Textbooks Referenced: * Literature Grade 6, Holt McDougal, 2012 + The Language of Literature Grade 6, McDougal Littell, 2006
BCS 6th Grade ELA Unit Guide Unit 5 – Know the Facts (5-9 Weeks) Suggested Text (Examples of text) contains lessons using these and other texts Online Textbook Access Textbook – Select “Unit 8, Know the Facts” http://my.hrw.com/index.jsp?isVerified=true&message=logout Informational Text “Hurricane Hunters” by Renee Skelton (Article-Textbook *) “Super Croc” by Peter Winkler (Magazine Article-Textbook *) “Bird Brains” by Gareth Huw Davies (Online Article-Textbook *) “Digging Up the Past: Discovery and Excavation of Shi Huangdi’s Tomb” by Helen Wieman Bledsoe (Article-Textbk*) “The First Emperor” from The Tomb Robbers by Daniel Cohen (Textbook * +) “What Video Games Can Teach Us” by Emily Sohn (Magazine Article-Textbook *) “The Violent Side of Video Games” (Magazine Article – Textbook *) “Should Wild Animals Be Kept as Pets?” by The Humane Society (Persuasive Essay-Textbook *) Other Media News Reports/Clips (Textbook *) “No Thought of Reward” by Mawi Asgedom (Speech – Textbook *) “Start the Day Right!” (Public Service Announcement Script – Textbook*) “Shine-n-Grow: Hair Repair That Really Works!” (Advertisement – Textbook *) “Brain Breeze” (Advertisement – Textbook *) BCS 6th Grade ELA Unit Guide