2014-2015 Third Nine Weeks 7th Grade English Lesson Plans
Beginning of Third Nine Weeks
Week 3.1
Date: 1/05, MondayBellringer/Hook:
-Review Classroom Rules and Procedures
-Figurative Language Terms:
Characterization
Imagery
Author’s Style
Transitions:
-Essential Question – Student Journal Response (share aloud): Have you ever been forced to do something against your will?
- Study the cover of The Great Wide Sea, what do you think this book is going to be about?
-Preview The Great Wide Sea Vocabulary (general/sailing terms)
Reflection:
Looking back on the first semester of school, name one thing you think you did well and one thing you could improve upon to ensure a successful second semester. / Date: 1/06, Tuesday
Bellringer/Hook:
-Quiz yourself: How much do you know about boats?
Transitions:
-Begin reading The Great Wide Sea, Section 1: Prologue & The Boat, Ch. 1 – 3, pgs. 1 – 16; discuss
-Watch YouTube video “Learning How to Sail, Part 1”
-Review and discuss “Section 1 Glossary of Sailing Terms”
-Work on “Section 1 – The Boat Vocabulary” handout
Reflection:
-Writer’s Workshop –
Section 1: The Boat – Responding/Analyzing Quotes
“She took care of the house and she teased Dad, especially when he quoted poetry at us. Like, maybe we’d be taking a walk in the woods by the lake in the fall and Dad would stop and sweep his arms towards the trees and say, ‘Margaret, are you grieving over Goldengrove unleaving?’ And Mom would say, ‘Jim, how many times do I have to tell you—my name is Christine.’” (page 9) / Date: 1/07, Wednesday
*Library Day*
Bellringer/Hook:
-“Section 1: Characterization” handout
Transitions:
-Read silently The Great Wide Sea, Section 1: The Boat, Ch. 4 – 6, pgs. 17 – 30; discuss
-Watch YouTube video “Learning How to Sail, Part 2”
-Review Glossary of Sailing Terms
-Work on “Section 1 – The Boat Vocabulary” handout
Reflection:
-Section 1 – Prologue and The Boat (1-6) Writing Activity / Date: 1/08, Thursday
(Report Cards go home)
Bellringer/Hook:
-Quiz on Section 1: Prologue & The Boat
Transitions:
-Work on Section 1 Discussion Questions
-Read silently The Great Wide Sea, Section 2: The Bahamas, Ch. 7 – 8, pgs. 31 – 45; discuss
-Work on “Section 2.1 – The Bahamas Vocabulary” handout
-Label map of the Bahamas; track the Byron family as they sail around the Bahamas.
-Watch YouTube video “Learning How to Sail, Part 3”
-Review and discuss “Section 2 Glossary of Sailing Terms”
Reflection:
-Reflect on the time you learned to swim OR a time you went swimming that was memorable. Explain what feelings are associated with that experience? How does your experience compare to Ben or Gerry’s? / Date: 1/09, Friday
Bellringer/Hook:
-Quiz – Label the basic parts of a sailboat
Transitions:
-Complete Section 1 Discussion Questions
-Read silently The Great Wide Sea, Section 2: The Bahamas, Ch. 9 – 11, pgs. 46 – 65; discuss
-Review and discuss “Section 2 Glossary of Sailing Terms”
-Label map of the Bahamas; track the Byron family as they sail around the Bahamas.
Reflection:
-Respond to the events of Chapter 11, pg. 65 – whose perspective do you agree with, Ben’s or Dad’s? Explain your answer using text evidence.
Notes:
Week 3.2
Date: 1/12, MondayBellringer/Hook:
- Figurative Language Lesson Due
- Journal Response: Describe a time when someone’s actions changed your opinion of him/her (for better or worse).
Transitions:
-Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 2: The Bahamas, Ch. 12-13, pgs. 66 – 76
-Label map of the Bahamas; track the Byron family as they sail around the Bahamas.
-Review and discuss “Section 2 Glossary of Sailing Terms”
-“Section 2.1 – The Bahamas Vocabulary” handout
Reflection:
-Work on Section 2.1 Discussion Questions / Date: 1/13, Tuesday
Bellringer/Hook:
-Journal Response: At what age is it okay to cry? Is all crying the same? How could it be different?
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 2: The Bahamas, Ch. 14-15, pgs. 77 – 90
-Label map of the Bahamas; track the Byron family as they sail around the Bahamas.
-Review and discuss “Section 2 Glossary of Sailing Terms”
-Work on “Section 2.1 – The Bahamas Vocabulary” handout
-Work on Section 2.2 Discussion Questions
Reflection:
At the bottom of today’s Journal Response, give an example of a time that each character has cried. Then, explain WHY they cried and the effect it had on the others. Was crying in each situation “okay?” / Date: 1/14, Wednesday
Bellringer/Hook:
-“Mischief” word association, students list ways in which one can be “mischievous”
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 2: The Bahamas, Ch. 16-17, pgs. 91 - 104
-Work on Section 2.2 Discussion Questions
-Read Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, discuss Max’s behavior/attitude and compare with characters from The Great Wide Sea
Reflection:
Journal Response: Gerry says the monsters are mean; what is “mean” about the monsters? Explain whom else Gerry has used that word to describe so far. Keeping in mind the members of the Byron family, would you use that word to describe any of them? Why? / Date: 1/15, Thursday
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 2: The Bahamas, Ch. 18-19, pgs. 105 – 123
-Watch Part I of “Where the Wild Things Are” (51 minutes)
Reflection:
Journal Response: When the monsters threaten to eat up Max and then tell him that they love him, Benlaughs. What could be funny about that? Now think about how Ben and his Dad treat eachother or how Ben sometimes treats his brothers. Think about the monsters that threaten tohurt the one they love the most. Can you draw any parallels? / Date: 1/16, Friday
Bellringer/Hook:
Section 2 Quiz
Transitions:
-Watch Part II of “Where the Wild Things Are” (50 minutes)
Reflection:
Journal Response: As older readers, we knowthat Max’s trip is a dream. But if we think about it as a real voyage, can we draw someparallels between Dad’s decision and Max’s dream decision? Why did each of them decide tosail away? Did they get what they wanted?
Notes:
Week 3.3
Date: 1/19, MondayNo School
MLK, Jr. Day / Date: 1/20, Tuesday
Bellringer/Hook:
- Journal Response: Ben thinks about the events that came together to cause them to be sailing to Bermuda. One of them is “if I hadn’t gotten so angry.” What does it say about Ben that he would think this? Thinking back over other events in the story, find moments when his anger may have impeded his understanding or changed the ways things worked out.
- Figurative Language Terms:
Tone
Allusion
Static Character
Dynamic Character
Transitions:
- Section 3: “The Storm” Vocabulary
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 3: The Storm (Ch. 20-21, pgs. 124 – 133
- Socratic Seminar: Birth Order Article
Reflection:
- “Bill” – Poetry Reflection / Date: 1/21, Wednesday
*Library Day*
Bellringer/Hook:
- Journal Response: On page 120, we read that the collision with another boat has scraped off part of the name painted on the Chrysalis’ stern. All that is left is Chrys—is. Some readers see this as now spelling “crisis.” Some see it as spelling “Chris (the mom’s name) is.” Explain how you see it.
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 3: The Storm, Ch. 22-23, pgs. 134 – 142
- Character Facebook Activity (finish for HW)
Reflection:
- Work on Section 3: “The Storm” Vocabulary / Date: 1/22, Thursday
Bellringer/Hook:
Listen to and annotate the song, “Unchained Melody.”
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 3: The Storm, Ch. 24-26, pgs. 143 – 155
- Section 3: “The Storm” Vocabulary HW Due
- Study/discuss the Dad’s poem on page 131; have students determine it’s significance to Ben’s parents
- Have students choose a song that’s important to them and re-create Dad’s poem (Final illustrated draft due Monday, 1/26)
Reflection:
- Journal Response: On page 144, Ben says of the storm, “control is an illusion.” Draw parallels between this insight and the moment of insight he experiences on page 75 when he says, “I was wrong.” / Date: 1/23, Friday
Bellringer/Hook:
- “Summer Storms” – Poetry Reflection
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 3: The Storm, Ch. 27-28, pgs. 156 – 167
- Group Discussion of Section 3: “The Storm” Discussion Questions 1 – 4
Reflection:
- Work on Section 3: “The Storm” Discussion Questions (#s 5 – 10)
Notes: From the Socratic Discussion, explain how “birth order” plays a significant role in Byron brothers’ family dynamic.
Week 3.4
Date: 1/26, MondayBellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 3: The Storm, Ch. 29, pgs. 168 – 172
Reflection: / Date: 1/27, Tuesday
Bellringer/Hook:
- Section 3 Quiz
Transitions:
- Section 4: “The Island” Vocabulary
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 4: The Island, Ch. 30-31, pgs. 173 – 190
- Section 4: Allusion handout
- Dylan Poem “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night”
Reflection: / Date: 1/28, Wednesday
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 4: The Island, Ch. 32, pgs. 191 – 203
Reflection: / Date: 1/29, Thursday
Bellringer/Hook:
“Foreign Fish” – Poetry Reflection
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 4: The Island, Ch. 33, pgs. 204 – 214
Reflection: / Date: 1/30, Friday
Bellringer/Hook:
- Figurative Language Lesson Due
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 4: The Island, Ch. 34-35, pgs. 215 – 226
Reflection:
Notes:
Mid Third Nine Weeks
Week 3.5 BENCHMARK TESTING/Library Week
Date: 2/02, MondayBellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 4: The Island, Ch. 36-37, pgs. 227 – 242
Reflection: / Date: 2/03, Tuesday
(Progress Reports go home)
BENCHMARK
TEST / Date: 2/04, Wednesday
*Library Day*
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 4: The Island, Ch. 38, pgs. 243 – 253
Reflection:
- Section 4 Quiz / Date: 2/05, Thursday
Bellringer/Hook:
“Don’t Go” – Poetry Reflection
Transitions:
- Section 5: “Home” Vocabulary
- Read The Great Wide Sea, Section 5: Home, Ch. 39-40, pgs. 254 – 269
Reflection: / Date: 2/06, Friday
Bellringer/Hook:
“Going My Own Way” – Poetry Reflection
Transitions:
- Finish reading The Great Wide Sea, Section 5: Home, Ch. 41-42, pgs. 270 – 283
Reflection:
-Re-read the Prologue on pages 1 – 2 and compare to the text on page 283; what reason did the author have for including these sections?
Notes:
Week 3.6
Date: 2/09, MondayTransitions:
- Review “Make-Up” Day
/ Date: 2/10, Tuesday
Transitions:
- Summative Test, Part 1 (Reading Comprehension) on The Great Wide Sea by M. H. Herlong / Date: 2/11, Wednesday
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
Reflection: / Date: 2/12, Thursday
Presentations / Date: 2/13, Friday
Presentations
Notes:
Week 3.7
Date: 2/16, MondayNo School
Inclement Weather Day / Date: 2/17, Tuesday
Bellringer/Hook:
- “Depression” – Poetry Reflection
Transitions:
- Socratic Seminar: “Stages of Grief”
Reflection: / Date: 2/18, Wednesday
*Library Day*
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
Writing – “Stages of Grief” Essay
Reflection: / Date: 2/19, Thursday
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
Writing – “Stages of Grief” Essay
Reflection: / Date: 2/20, Friday
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
Writing – “Stages of Grief” Essay Due
Reflection:
Notes:
Week 3.8
Date: 2/23, MondayBellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
-Group Survival Kit
-Survive the Savage Sea OLD TB pg. 444 Complete Figurative Language Chart
Reflection: / Date: 2/24, Tuesday
Bellringer/Hook:
-Survivor Standardized Test Prep (STP): “He Ate Ants” TB pg. 449; WB pg. 68
Transitions:
-Begin reading Survive the Savage Sea OLD TB pg. 444; log days/events family is lost at sea
Reflection: / Date: 2/25, Wednesday
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
- Survive the Savage Sea OLD TB pg. 444; copy/define Words to Own; Workbook pg. 17
-Read and discuss Survive the Savage Sea OLD TB pg. 444; log days/events family is lost at sea
-Post Card Activity
Reflection: / Date: 2/26, Thursday
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
-Finish reading and discuss Survive the Savage Sea OLD TB pg. 444; log days/events family is lost at sea
-Video clip of the Robertson family
Reflection: / Date: 2/27, Friday
Transitions:
-Summative Test, Part 2 (Written Response) on The Great Wide Sea by M. H. Herlong and Survive the Savage Sea by Dougal Robertson
Reflection:
-Figurative Language Lesson Due
Notes:
End of Third Nine Weeks
Week 3.9 PARCC TESTING/ 7th Grade Library Week
Date: 3/02, MondayPARCC TESTING: Session 1
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
-Re-watch YouTube video “Learning How to Sail, Part 3”
-SOAPSTone using Scope Article:
“Around the World at 17” – short documentary clip of Zac’s sailing adventure
Reflection / Date: 3/03, Tuesday
PARCC TESTING: Session 1
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
-SOAPSTone using Scope Article: “Sailing into Danger” – video of Abby sailing/trailer of documentary
Reflection: / Date: 3/04, Wednesday
PARCC TESTING: Session 1
(3rd/4th “Flipped” with 1st/2nd)
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
-YouTube video: “I Shouldn’t Be Alive: Shipwrecked”
Reflection:
- Reflect on Mark and Rob’s experience in the video. Compare this survival story to the Robertson’s struggle to survive in Survive the Savage Sea.
Do you think you would be able to survive being stranded on your own? / Date: 3/05, Thursday
PARCC TESTING: Session 1
(3rd/4th “Flipped” with 1st/2nd)
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
-Socratic Seminar all texts this week and Emergency Survival Article?
Reflection: / Date: 3/06, Friday
PARCC TESTING: Session 2
Bellringer/Hook:
Transitions:
-Socratic Seminar using Scope article, “Life-or-Death Choice: How far would you go to save your best friend?” and poem, “You Cannot Measure Courage”
Reflection:
NO SCHOOL March 9 – 13, 2014 – Spring Break
*PARCC (with the writing component) during the month of March.
*All Lesson Plans are tentative and subject to change based on fluctuations in school day activities and students’ working paces. These serve as a general guideline and may be adjusted daily/weekly/hourly as needed.