ELA G1:M2

What’s Up in the Sky: A Study of the Sun, Moon, and Stars

Each module is approximately 6-8 weeks of instruction broken into 3 units. The "week at a glance" chart in the curriculum map gives the big picture, breaking down the module into a detailed week-by-week view. It shows how the module unfolds, the focus of each week of instruction, and where the six assessments and the performance task occur.

View the module overview

Weeks 1-3 Unit 1: Reading Literature and Retelling: Exploring the Sun, Moon, and Stars through Story

Instructional Focus	CCS Standards	Assessments
Building background knowledge: Why do authors write about the sun, moon, and stars? Close reading of narrative text Summer Sun, Risin' Asking and answering questions using complex text Role-play: Character, setting, and events in narrative texts Independent writing: Responding to text Character building and reflecting: Respect Building background knowledge: Why do authors write about the sun, moon, and stars? Focused read-aloud of Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me and Sun and Moon Role-play: Character, setting, and events in narrative texts Independent writing: Responding to text Character building and reflecting: Respect Building background knowledge: Why do authors write about the sun, moon, and stars? Focused read-aloud of Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky Role-play: Character, setting, and events in narrative texts Independent writing: Responding to text Character building and reflecting: Respect	RL.1.1 RL.1.2 RL.1.3 RL.1.4 RL.1.7 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.1a SL.1.2 L.1.1b L.1.1c L.1.1d L.1.1e L.1.2a L.1.4a L.1.6	Unit 1 Assessment: Reading and Answering Questions about Kitten's First Full Moon (RL.1.2, RL.1.3, RL.1.7, W.1.8, SL.1.2, and L.1.6)

Weeks 3–4 Unit 2: Reading to Learn and Writing to Understand: A Study of the Patterns of the Sun, Moon, and Stars

Instructional Focus	CCS Standards	Assessments
Building background knowledge: What patterns can we observe in the sky? Close read-aloud of informational text What Makes Day and Night? Shared Writing: Describing the sun and moon Independent writing: Sky notebook Character building and reflecting: Integrity Building background knowledge: What patterns can we observe in the sky? Focused read-aloud of informational text Does the Sun Sleep? Noticing Sun, Moon, and Star Patterns Interactive science experiences, demonstrations, and simulations Shared writing: Patterns of the moon and stars Independent writing: Sky notebook Launching Science Talks	RL.1.5 RI.1.1 RI.1.2 RI.1.4 RI.1.6 RI.1.7 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.1a SL.1.1b SL.1.2 SL.1.4 SL.1.6 L.1.1 L.1.1f L.1.1i L.1.1j L.1.5c L.1.6	Unit 2 Assessment: Discussing Observable Patterns in the Sky (SL.1.1a, SL.1.1b, and SL.1.4)

Weeks 5–7 Unit 3: Writing Narratives: Using Observations of the Sun to Write Narrative Poems

Instructional Focus	CCS Standards	Assessments
Focused read-aloud of What the Moon Sees Building background knowledge: What happens during the day and what happens during the night? Building descriptive vocabulary: Interactive Word Wall Examining models of excellence and developing criteria for high quality work Shared writing: "What the Moon Sees" narrative poem Focused read-aloud of What the Sun Sees Building descriptive vocabulary: Interactive Word Wall Independent writing: "What the Sun Sees" narrative poem Reflecting on high-quality work Revising and editing "What the Sun Sees" narrative poems Sharing and celebrating our work	RL.1.1 RL.1.10 W.1.3 W.1.5 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.2 SL.1.4 SL.1.6 L.1.1f L.1.1j L.1.2a L.1.2b L.1.6	Performance Task: Revising and Editing "What the Sun Sees" Narrative Poems (W.1.3, W.1.5, L.1.1f, L.1.1j, and L.1.2b)

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