ELA G1:M4

Caring for Birds

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 1-2 Unit 1: Analyzing Literature: Stories of Bird Helpers

Instructional Focus	CCS Standards	Assessments
Week 1 Close read-aloud of the literary text The Lion and the Bird Describing story elements Determining the central message Understanding a story using the Role-Play protocol Interactive sentence building using icons Speaking and writing simple and complex sentences Exploring the habits of character compassion and respect	RL.1.1 RL.1.2 RL.1.3 RL.1.7 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.1b SL.1.2 L.1.1g L.1.1j L.1.4 L.1.4a L.1.4b L.1.4c	N/A
Week 2 Comparing and contrasting The Lion and the Bird with Pierre the Penguin Focused read-aloud with the text Maggie the One-Eyed Peregrine Falcon Independent writing: comparing story elements in two texts Using vocabulary strategies to determine new words in a text	RL.1.1 RL.1.3 RL.1.9 W.1.8 SL.1.2 L.1.1 L.1.1g L.1.1j L.1.2 L.1.4	Unit 1 Assessment: Comparing and Contrasting Pierre the Penguin and Maggie the One-Eyed Peregrine Falcon (RL.1.1, RL.1.3, RL.1.9)

Weeks 3-4 Unit 2: Supporting Opinions: The Story of Pale Male

Instructional Focus	CCS Standards	Assessments
Week 3 Building background about bird nests Developing opinions Focused read-aloud with the text City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male Understanding and using determiners in sentences Independent reading and research with the text "What's Best? The Debate about Pale Male's Nest"	RL.1.1 RL.1.3 RI.1.1 RI.1.2 RI.1.4 RI.1.5 RI.1.6 RI.1.7 RI.1.9 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.1b SL.1.2 L.1.1 L.1.1d L.1.1j L.1.2 L.1.4 L.1.4a L.1.4b L.1.4c L.1.6	N/A
Week 4 Analyzing a model of opinion writing Designing visuals using a compelling reason to support an opinion Shared writing: Leave the Nest Up! Stating an opinion with a supporting reason in the Vote with Your Feet protocol	RL.1.10 RI.1.1 RI.1.2 RI.1.4 RI.1.6 RI.1.8 W.1.1 W.1.7 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.1a SL.1.1b SL.1.2 SL.1.5 L.1.1 L.1.1d L.1.1h L.1.2 L.1.2b L.1.4 L.1.6	Unit 2 Assessment: Opinion Writing: Take the Nest Down! (W.1.1, W.1.7, W.1.8, L.1.1, L1.1a, L.1.1b, L.1.1d, L.1.1g, L.1.2, L.1.2a, L.1.2b, L1.2e, L.1.6)

Weeks 5-8 Unit 3: Taking Action through Literacy and Artwork: Caring for Birds

Instructional Focus	CCS Standards	Assessments
Week 5 Focused read-aloud with the text A Place for Birds Language Dives Whole group and small group research to identify an author's supporting reasons Reviewing vocabulary strategies Identifying an author's point and reasons in a text	RI.1.1 RI.1.2 RI.1.3 RI.1.4 RI.1.7 RI.1.8 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.2 L.1.4 L.1.4a L.1.4b L.1.4c	N/A
Week 6 Using icons to identifying an author's reasons Reviewing adjectives Analyzing a model and generating criteria for a Feathered Friends Saver and informative paragraph Giving and receiving kind, helpful, and specific feedback Planning and drafting a scientific drawing and informative paragraph	RI.1.1 RI.1.3 RI.1.4 RI.1.8 W.1.2 W.1.5 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.1a SL.1.1b SL.1.2 SL.1.3 SL.1.5 L.1.1 L.1.1f L.1.2 L.1.4 L.1.4a L.1.4b L.1.4c	Unit 3 Assessment: Identifying Reasons People Need Birds (RI.1.1, RI.1.4, RI.1.8, SL.1.2, L.1.4, L.1.4a, L.1.4b, L.1.4c)
Week 7 Publishing informative paragraphs Final draft of scientific drawings Typing an introduction sentence Preparing to present the final Feathered Friends Savers	W.1.2 W.1.5 W.1.6 W.1.8 SL.1.1 SL.1.2 SL.1.3 SL.1.4 SL.1.5 SL.1.6 L.1.1 L.1.1a L.1.1f L.1.2 L.1.4	Performance Task: Feathered Friends Savers
Week 8 End of module celebration Sharing Feathered Friends Savers Reflecting on learning Shared writing: Letter to an Ornithologist	W.1.8 SL.1.4 SL.1.6	N/A

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