ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1

Build Background Knowledge: Greek Mythology

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Students begin Unit 1 by reading from The Lightning Thief. They analyze how the author develops the point of view of the narrator, and they strategize to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words and phrases, including figurative language. In the second half of Unit 1, students prepare for a Socratic Seminar discussion by analyzing how Percy, the main character in the novel, responds to challenges. They create discussion norms to have a productive text-based discourse about the novel. Theme is also introduced in the second half of the unit, in preparation for Unit 2.

Please note: For the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum, there are Teaching Notes for each unit that contain helpful information for supporting English language learners. These overview notes complement the more specific English language learner supports and differentiated materials within each lesson. (See the Support All Students section of the Teaching Notes in Lesson 1 for further detail.) You will find the unit's Teaching Notes in the Unit download below.

CCS Standards

Reading—Literature

RL.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RL.6.3: Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
RL.6.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
RL.6.6: Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
RL.6.10: By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

Speaking and Listening

SL.6.1a: Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
SL.6.1b: Follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

Language

L.6.4a: Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.6.4c: Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
L.6.4d: Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).
L.6.5: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
L.6.5a: Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification) in context.
L.6.5b: Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., cause/effect, part/whole, item/category) to better understand each of the words.
L.6.5c: Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., stingy, scrimping, economical, unwasteful, thrifty).
L.6.6: Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

The Four Ts

Topic: Greek Mythology
Task:

Analyze and determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary and phrases, including figurative language; explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator in a new chapter of The Lightning Thief (mid-unit assessment).
Prepare for a text-based discussion with peers in a Socratic Seminar, answering the prompt: How does Percy respond to challenges? What can we infer about his character from these responses? (end of unit assessment).

Targets: RL.6.1, RL.6.3, RL.6.4, RL.6.6, RL.6.10, SL.6.1a, SL.6.1b, L.6.4a, L.6.4c, L.6.4d, L.6.5, L.6.6
Texts: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, "Why Ancient Greek Mythology Is Still Relevant Today" by Geri Mlleff

Assessment

Each unit in the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum has two standards-based assessments built in, one mid-unit assessment and one end of unit assessment. The module concludes with a performance task at the end of Unit 3 to synthesize students' understanding of what they accomplished through supported, standards-based writing.

Download this Unit’s Assessments

Habits of Character/Social-Emotional Learning Focus

Central to the EL Education curriculum is a focus on "habits of character" and social-emotional learning. Students work to become effective learners, developing mindsets and skills for success in college, career, and life (e.g., initiative, responsibility, perseverance, collaboration); work to become ethical people, treating others well and standing up for what is right (e.g., empathy, integrity, respect, compassion); and work to contribute to a better world, putting their learning to use to improve communities (e.g., citizenship, service).

In this unit, students focus on respect, empathy, and collaboration as they respond to one another's ideas and skills in written work and in discussions. They also look for evidence of perseverance and integrity demonstrated by characters in the text and by themselves in the classroom.

Unit-at-a-Glance

Each unit is made up of a sequence of between 10-18 lessons. The Unit-at-a-Glance charts, available on the grade-level landing pages, break down each unit's lessons, showing CCS standards, agenda breakdown, daily learning targets, and ongoing assessments. The charts also indicate which lessons include mid- and end of unit assessments and the performance task.

View the unit-at-a-glance chart

Texts and Resources to Buy

Texts and resources that need to be procured. Please download the Required Trade Books and Resources Procurement List for procurement guidance.

Text or Resource	Quantity	ISBNs
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan	one per student	ISBN: 9780786838653

Preparation and Materials

Prepare vocabulary logs and independent reading journals.

Ensure that families are aware of the sensitive content of The Lightning Thief, and prepare students who may be affected by this content in advance.

The following materials are introduced in this unit and referenced throughout both the module and the school year:

Academic word wall
Domain-specific word wall
Performance Task anchor chart
Module Guiding Questions anchor chart
Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart
Close Readers Do These Things anchor chart
Point of View anchor chart
Work to Become Effective Learners anchor chart
Strategies to Answer Selected Response Questions anchor chart
Discover Theme anchor chart
Discussion Norms anchor chart
Vocabulary logs
Track Progress folders
Equity sticks

CCS Standards

Reading—Literature

Speaking and Listening

Language

The Four Ts

Assessment

Habits of Character/Social-Emotional Learning Focus

Unit-at-a-Glance

Texts and Resources to Buy

Preparation and Materials

Lessons

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L1

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L2

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L3

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L4

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L5

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L6

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L7

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L8

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L9

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L10

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L11

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L12

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L13

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L14

ELA 2019 G6:M1:U1:L15

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