Subject: English I
Grade Level: 9th
Unit Title: Rite of Passage/Epiphany / Timeframe Needed for Completion: 4 weeks
Grading Period: TBD
Big Idea/Theme:
Relationships
Understandings:
  • Your personality/character traits are a result of your experiences
  • Decision-making is a powerful responsibility
  • Reflection is essential to successful, forward progress
  • Quick reactions are often dangerous

Essential Questions: (guiding questions)
  1. How do life experiences shape the individual?
  2. How can a single event change the course of an individual’s life?
  3. What is the power of reflection?
/ Curriculum Goals/Objectives (to be assessed at the end of the unit/quarter)
2.01 Read, listen, and view a variety of informational texts
2.02 Explain commonly used terms and concepts
2.03 Instruct an audience on how to perform a specific operation or procedure
3.02 Express an informed opinion
3.03 Support informed opinions
4.01 Evaluate the effectiveness of communication
4.02 Read and critique various genres
4.03 Read, listen, and view a variety of informational texts
5.01 Read and analyze various works
5.02 Respond personally to a variety of genres and texts
5.03 Read, listen, and view a variety of literary texts
6.01 Demonstrate understanding of conventional written and spoken expression
6.02 Discern and correct errors in spoken and written English
RL 1, 2, 3 Key Ideas and Details
RL 4, 5, 6 Craft and Structure
RL 7 Integration of Knowledge
RL 10 Range
RI 1, 2, 3 KID
RI 4, 5,6 C&S
RI 7, 9 I of K
RI 10 Range
W 1, 2 Text types and purpose
W 4, 5, 6 Production and Distribution
W 10 Range
SL 1, 2 Comprehension and Collaboration
L 1, 2 Conventions
L 3 Knowledge
L 4, 5, 6 Vocabulary
Essential Skills:
Reading-
  1. Illustrate connections between texts/personal experiences
  2. Demonstrate effective reading strategies
  3. Identify main idea and supporting details
  4. Select and defendconclusions
  5. Formulate inferences to increase understanding
  6. Analyze author’s argument
  7. Recall literary techniques to understand author’s purpose.
  8. Examine and state author’s purpose
  9. Examine and compare multiple texts
  10. Examine and compare structures of texts
11. Formulate questions while you read
12. Use literary analysis to interpret text
13. Analyze character development
14. Construct concrete examples of dreams, goals, or conflicts
Writing:
  1. Write to describe, inform, entertain, or persuade using various clarification techniques to support each writing type( argument, informational/explanatory and narrative)
Speaking and Listening
  1. Contribute to class discussions
  2. Participate in small group discussions
  3. Listen and respond to speakers
Vocabulary:
Elements of Drama
Reading Strategies
Figurative Language
Rite of Passage
Epiphany
Process Writing
Bloom’s Taxonomy Dimensions / Assessment Tasks:
Benchmark (Goals 5 and 6)(benchmarks used as report to students noting strengths and weaknesses)
Shakespeare on Facebook/Twitter Project
How To Paper (Decision Essay)
Journaling
Teacher-Made Test
Reading Check Quizzes
3-D Character Analysis Project
Theatrical Reenactments
Phrase Test
Modern-day Romeo and Juliet Project
Portfolio pieces (writing, art)
Suggested Materials:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Riding the Rails (DVD)
Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher
Ellen Foster by Kay Gibbons
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The Odyssey by Homer (excerpts for purpose)
Downriver by Will Hobbs
Chromebook/Netbook
Edmodo
Short Stories: (textbook) The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst;
Informational texts:
Photography; Art:
Dorthea Lange (
Music:
“Meant to Live” by Switchfoot
“You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor
“Lonely Girl” by Pink
“Maneater” by Hall and Oates
Film:
“Horton Hear a Who” Dr. Seuss
Excerpts: (from Text Exemplars) can be found on-line :
Related links: