Non-Fiction
In the Non-Fiction Unit, students will read a variety of texts including blogs, biographies, newspaper articles, instructions, and more. They will recognize features of different non-fiction texts and explain the significance each one. They will also write, revise, and publish their own non-fiction text, taking into consideration the topic, audience, and purpose for their writing. Furthermore, they will explore listening strategies in social settings and develop their understanding of point of view in a variety of media texts.
Podcasts
In the Podcasts Unit, students will discover the numerous purposes for speaking. They will learn about the important elements of podcasts, including perspectives related to production and credibility. They will develop their vocal skills when speaking and will learn strategies to add style to their speaking. They will also have the opportunity to produce a podcast of their own which will include design elements and advertisements.
Presentations
In the Presentations Unit, students will learn about important considerations for presentations, such as the purpose and the audience. They will differentiate between active and passive listening, and identify point of view and alternative perspectives in presentations. They will also explore the different techniques and conventions used in presentations, and apply these concepts to create a presentation of their own.
Graphic Novels
In the Graphic Novels Unit, students will analyze graphic novels to discover their purpose and target audience, and use stylistic elements to determine the meaning of texts. They will begin to understand the different opinions and responses that audiences may have to a text depending on age and interests. Further, they will explore a variety of textual and graphic elements and practice drawing word balloons and facial expressions to convey a certain meaning.
Legends, Myths, and Fables
In the Legends, Myths, and Fables Unit, students will learn how to differentiate these types of media texts and will identify the main idea and details related to each one. They will explore a variety of ways to organize ideas and order information, and focus on using graphic organizers and story maps. They will also make inferences about texts and explore strategies to communicate clearly and coherently.
Poetry
In the Poetry Unit, students will read and listen to a variety of poems. They will use strategies such as brainstorming and grammatical structures like adjectives and adverbs to write their own poetry. They will also explore the stylistic elements of poetry, watch presented poetry, and use emotion when presenting their own poems.
Novel Study
In the Novel Study Unit, students will explore different elements of novels including titles, table of contents, summaries, and plot. They will select a novel to read and will make inferences about their novel, research questions and keywords, and build an opinion about the problems presented. They will discuss the impact of voice, tone, and mood and relate it to their chosen novel’s point of view and perspective.
Media Texts
In the Media Texts Unit, students will learn about the various media texts used regularly in our society. From emails and blogs, to billboards and websites, they will develop an understanding of the key elements for each type of media text and how to listen, read, and respond to each.
