7th+Grade+Language+Arts

(4-6 weeks) || What is a short story? What makes a short story short? How does it differ from a novel? What are the elements of plot? How do the elements of plot help us to read and understand short stories? || Reading selected short stories from the textbook || Reading comprehension; finding elements of plot; critical thinking || Elements of Literature (including Kipling's //Rikki Tikki Tavi//, O. Henry's //After 20 years//, Hemingway's //A Day's Wait//, Taylor's //Song of the Trees,// Toudouze's //Three Skeleton Key//) || Packets that focus on a specific plot element. Class discussions and googledoc notes to share ideas about the story with classmates || PPT presentation of a fairy tale in order to demonstrate their understanding of the elements of plot. quizzes on each story. paragraph writing to critically analyze each story. comprehensive exam || RL1,RL2,RL3,W1a-e,W2a-e, W4,W5,W6,W10, SL1a-d, SL2, SL5, L3 ||
 * ~ Unit ||~ Start Date (duration) ||~ Essential Questions ||~ Content / Concepts ||~ Skills ||~ Texts ||~ Supporting / Supplementary Materials ||~ **Assessment** ||~ **​Common Core** ||
 * 1 || day 1 until after holidays
 * 2 || 20 weeks usually starting the first full week of school assigned every five day week of school for 20 weeks || How can we incorporate new words into our working vocabularies? || new words (definitions for all and synonyms, antonyms for most words) || be able to spell, define and apply the words in sentences || Wordly Wise 7 || online version of book for exercises, games the students can access from home || Weekly spelling and vocabulary tests

End of the year games that students create || W10, SL6, L2a-b, L3, L4a-d, L5b-c, L6 || bulletin board focusing on poetic elements || a. quizzes b. poetry project (interpreting poems) c. write an original poem for school wide poetry contest d. unit exam || RL4,RL5,W10 SL1a-d, SL4, SL5, L3, L5a || (What can reading teach us about the world and ourselves?) What are the traits of a good leader? What does Middle Earth look like? What qualities do various races in Middle Earth have and how can they be compared? How does Tolkien define good and evil? Do you agree with his definition? || Reading "The Hobbit" Some background on Tolkien What is the plot, character, setting, theme in this novel? || Reading comprehension; finding various plot elements in the novel; note taking while reading; asking questions to get at theme || "The Hobbit" J.R.R.Tolkien || projects each individual student creates highlighting the important plot points of each chapter- a visual component is created and left in the room for reference. || a. quizzes b. individual chapter presentations to class c. end of book exam d. essay on the novel (group essay to model the essay form and individual essay) || RL1, RL2, RL3, RL6, RL7, RL10 W1a-e, W2a-e, Sl1a-d, SL4, SL5, SL2, SL6 L3 || Parts of Speech || critical reading mechanics of writing || assorted exercises presented daily;
 * 3 || 6 weeks in April-May || What is poetry? How is poetry read? What are terms that help us identify and discuss poetry? What are criteria we can use to evaluate poetry? What are various poetic forms? Which do we respond to better and why? || Selected poetry from the 7th grade text book; poetic elements || Poetry comprehension; understand the basic elements of poetry; writing poetry || Elements of Literature (Poe, Carroll, Longfellow among other poets we read) || additional poems from popular culture
 * || December-January (8-10 weeks) || What makes a novel a novel?
 * || ongoing daily throughout the year || Why do we need to study grammar? What value is there in spending class time discussing grammar? || Grammar and Punctuation.

peer editing || //Warriner's Grammar// || graded homework

grammar handbook includes grammar rules and examples

quizzes and tests || W10, L1a-c, L2a-b, L3, L5b-c || peer assessment graded homework graded rough draft peer editing final draft || W1a-e, W2 a-e,W4,W5,W6,W10, L3 || How historical fiction sheds light on a given time period || reading comprehension reading aloud || "Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry" Mildred Taylor || background on Great Depression, sharecroppers. segregation
 * || 6 completed book reports over the course of the year || What is the importance of writing and the writing process? What are the basic components of an essay? How is an essay organized and written? || Writing an Essay || Writing Skills; Grammar and Punctuation; organization; critical reading and writing; analytical skills; peer editing || Books as selected by student from a master list appropriate to grade level ||  || written reports
 * || weekly assignments throughout the year || What is the importance of self-expression and how do I organize my thoughts? || Writing an English Journal || Writing Skills; Grammar and Punctuation; organization; critical reading and writing; analytical skills || None || n/a ||  || W4, W5, W6,W10, L3 ||
 * || ongoing throughout the year || What is the importance of critical reading? What is the importance of oral reading? || Reading Comprehension ||  ||   ||   || in class discussions and all written work || Sl1a-d, SL2, SL3, SL4, SL5,SL6 ||
 * || 4-6 weeks || What is self respect? How can we define independence? How were African Americans living in the south treated? || Empathy through critical reading;

study guide || quizzes class discussion essay exam || RL9, RL10,RL6, RL1, RL2, RL3,RI1, RI2, RI3, RI5, RI6, W1a-e, W2a-e,SL1a-d, L3,L5c ||