TERM ONE: Poetry, figurative language, parts of speech review, grammar and punctuation, paragraph writing, media creation
For the months of September and October, cursive writing and grammar learning occurs on Wednesdays. On Fridays, the focus is on listening comprehension of teacher oral reading.
- Rhyme
- Simile
- Metaphor
- Personification
- Alliteration
- Onomatopoeia
- Imagery
- Stanza
Review and practice in creating and interpreting poetic devices through the strategy of "visualization" will be explored. Student knowledge of these devices will be assessed with a quiz. Afterwards, students will read and write various poems focusing on meaning.
Understanding poetic rhythm will be rehearsed with reader's theater group readings.
Grammar includes parts of speech review as well as learning new elements. Punctuation will also include review and learning of new types such as the ellipsis, semi-colon and the dash.
Grammar includes parts of speech review as well as learning new elements. Punctuation will also include review and learning of new types such as the ellipsis, semi-colon and the dash.
Paragraph writing will begin with review of a basic 5-sentence paragraph and developing ideas with examples. This skill will help students transition into essay writing in term two.
Media creation will be integrated into not only Language but also in other subject areas.
TERM TWO: Essays, Narratives, Graphic Novel, Media Deconstruction
Five paragraph formal essays are explored through guided writing practice. The format of introductory paragraph with thesis statement, three paragraphs in the body of the essay, and a concluding paragraph that restates the thesis and ends with a powerful statement is discussed.
As a review, we will do shared readings of various narrative genres as a whole class exploring how these elements are applied in the narrative. Students will complete a quiz about these elements.
Five paragraph formal essays are explored through guided writing practice. The format of introductory paragraph with thesis statement, three paragraphs in the body of the essay, and a concluding paragraph that restates the thesis and ends with a powerful statement is discussed.
Narratives (short stories) focus on the study of these literary elements:
- Plot
- Character
- Setting
- Conflict
- Theme
As a review, we will do shared readings of various narrative genres as a whole class exploring how these elements are applied in the narrative. Students will complete a quiz about these elements.
With formal teacher guidance, we will complete a shared reading of After Twenty Years by O. Henry focusing on various close reading strategies. Students will complete a follow-up writing assignment based on this narrative.
Graphic Novels focus on the study of how the following elements are used to tell narratives.
- Illustrations
- Panel
- Speech bubble
- Thought bubble
- Caption
- Burst
- Sound effects
- Gutters
- Frame
- Bleed
- Extreme close-up
- Close-up
- Wide-angle
- Perspective
Check out this video to review...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83H0nQvIbeA
Students will read a five-chapter graphic novel in small groups. Each group will read a different graphic novel, and each student will participate in a reading interview of one chapter with the teacher. They will work towards understanding how illustrations and text work together to tell a narrative. The cumulative activity includes the group performance of a reader's theater based on one of the chapters and a character literary essay.
Media Deconstruction examines various aspects of historical and contemporary media forms deconstructing message in the media by asking questions such as:
- Who is the target audience?
- What techniques are being used?
- What or who is missing?
- Is the media biased?
- Why are some perspectives obvious and others unclear?
- What is the message?
- Disinformation, misinformation and the use of AI
