Second Nine Weeks: Different Perspectives

Unit 2 Big Question: What is important to know? (4 Weeks)

-Reading Workshop: Memoir
-Baseball Text Set: Jackie Robinson/Women in Sports
Unit 3 Big Question: Do We Need Words to Communicate? (2 Weeks)
-Poetry Collections and Figurative Language
Mythology Mini Unit: (3 Weeks)
-Greek Gods and Goddesses
In this unit, we will explore the big question and the unit theme in relation to several
different texts. Though the unit contains texts of all genres, our focus will be on nonfiction and
poetry. The unit will combine two chapters from the textbook (chapters 2 and 3). The class will
study the elements of nonfiction and poetry, and, by engaging in nonfiction texts by multicultural
authors, students will learn to appreciate viewpoints that are different from their own. In
addition, students will analyze point of view, or the perspective of the author, and the purposes of
texts. In this unit, we will learn that different people have different perspectives and life
outlooks, and we will try to gain a better appreciation for various multicultural and historical
perspectives regarding social and historical situations and events.
The text set for unit 2 is centered around the theme of sports, especially baseball. During
this text set, the class will read Jackie Robinsons biography, while also analyzing his
autobiography and several articles written about him. As the class explores the various
perspectives regarding Robinson, civil rights, sports, and other topics, students will write a
nonfiction text of their own that shares their point of view about a personal situation, event, or
memory.
For the second half of the unit, the class will conduct an in-depth study of language and
poetry, and for the final 2-3 weeks, the class will explore Greek mythology in a cross circular
mini-unit on Greece and mythology. This mini-unit will include supplemental readings,
presentations, lectures, and activities that supplement the sixth grade Social Studies unit on
ancient Greece. Throughout the nine weeks, the class will celebrate the different perspectives of
others, while exploring what it is like to be different.
Texts:
Nonfiction:
The Drive-In Movies and The School Play by Gary Soto
Names/Nombres by Julia Alvarez
Jackie Robinson: Justice at Last by Ken Burns
I Never Had It Made by Jackie Robinson
Memories of an All-American Girl
A League of their Own (Movie)

Letter from Birmingham

Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Poetry:
Oranges by Gary Soto
Nothing Gold Can Stay, Dust of Snow, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy
Evening by Robert Frost
I wandered lonely as a cloud By William Wordsworth
Grass by Carl Sandburg
Other titles as needed
Mythology:
Narcissus and Echo
Theseus and the Minator
Perseus and Medusa
Midas and the Golden Touch
Prometheus
Pandoras Box
Skills:
Elements of Nonfiction, Mood, Tone, Point of View, Authors Purpose, Text Structures, Central
Idea, Text Features, Persuasive Techniques,
Elements of Poetry, Poetic Form, Poetic Structures, Figurative Language, Symbolism, Imagery,
Sound Devices, Connotation, Word Choice
Elements of Mythology, Personification, Archetypes
Persuasive Writing, Personal Narrative Writing (Memoir), Literary Analysis, Compare-Contrast
Essay, Problem-Solution Essay
Academic Vocabulary: concept, distinguish, examine, guess, judge, knowledge, limit, measure,
narrow, observe, purpose, question, refer, source, study, support, opinions, affect, visual,
reflecting, achieve, argue, anticipate, conclude, cite, unique, position, sources, facts, research,
reveal, contrast