Defending What Matters: Solimar

Describe the setting of Solimar and explain how the genre impacts the setting.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 1–2

Standards

RL.5.3

Use multiple sources to gather information about monarch butterflies and their migration in order to better understand the setting of Solimar.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Epilogue: "Long Live the Butterfly"
“Watch a Breathtaking Monarch Butterfly Swarm”
“Monarch Butterfly Migration and Overwintering”
“Monarch Migration”
“Monarch Butterflies”

Standards

RI.5.3RI.5.9W.5.7W.5.8

Characterize Solimar based on her actions, dialogue, feelings, or interactions with others.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 3–4

Standards

RL.5.1RL.5.3

Compare and contrast Solimar and Campeón's perspectives about San Gregorio.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 5–6

Standards

RL.5.1RL.5.3

Language

Describe how authors use verb tenses to convey time in a narrative story.

Past Tense in Narrative Stories Handout (G5, Alt U2, L5)

Standards

L.5.1.bL.5.1.c

Rewrite a section of Solimar from another character's point of view.

Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer

Standards

L.5.1.cL.5.1.dRL.5.6W.5.3W.5.3.aW.5.3.bW.5.3.d

Describe how descriptive details impact the mood.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 7–8

Standards

L.5.1.cRL.5.3

Compare and contrast the relationships between characters by using evidence from the text.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 9–10

Standards

L.5.1.cRL.5.3

Discussion

Discuss how fantasy elements help advance the plot of a story.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 1–10

Standards

SL.5.1SL.5.1.aSL.5.1.bSL.5.3SL.5.6

Describe why King Aveno is the antithesis of King Sebastián and how it impacts the key events in the story.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 11–12

Standards

L.5.1.cRL.5.3

Compare and contrast Berto and Solimar and determine the importance of their similarities and differences.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 13–14

Standards

L.5.1.bL.5.1.cRL.5.3

Compare and contrast how Berto and Mari Copeny worked to make a positive impact on their communities by using evidence from literary and informational texts.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 1–14
“Mari Copeny Takes Action to Save Her City”

Standards

L.5.1.bL.5.1.cRI.5.3RL.5.3

Describe how fantasy elements contribute to the setting and events in the story.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 15–16

Standards

L.5.1.bL.5.1.cRL.5.3

Language

Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense throughout a sentence or collection of sentences.

Target Task Handout (G5, Alt U2, L14)

Standards

L.5.1.d

Rewrite a section of Solimar from another character's point of view.

Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer

Standards

L.5.1.cL.5.1.dRL.5.6W.5.3W.5.3.aW.5.3.bW.5.3.d

Analyze Berto's dialogue and explain how his statement about dreams conveys a deeper theme and provides insight into his beliefs and character.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 17–18

Standards

L.5.1.dRL.5.2RL.5.3

Analyze the setting and key events to determine how they develop the theme.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 19–20

Standards

L.5.1.dRL.5.2RL.5.3

Compare and contrast the way that characters respond to challenges using examples from the text.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 21–22

Standards

L.5.1.dRL.5.3

Day 1 - Planning & Drafting

3 days

Overview

Rewrite sections of Solimar from another character's point of view.

Plan and draft the setting, characters, and plot for a narrative.

Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer

Standards

L.5.1.cL.5.1.dW.5.3W.5.3.aW.5.3.bW.5.3.d

Day 2 - Revision

Develop a narrative by including dialogue to show changes in events or characters, or personality.

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer — Completed on Day 1

Standards

W.5.3W.5.3.aW.5.3.bW.5.3.d

Develop a character's personality by using dialogue tags to show how a character is speaking.

Standards

L.5.1.cL.5.1.dW.5.3W.5.3.aW.5.3.bW.5.3.d

Analyze how a character's actions lead to resolution.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Ch. 23–24

Standards

L.5.1.dRL.5.2RL.5.3

Discussion

Determine the thematic topics in Solimar and explain how the author uses key details from the text to develop topics into themes.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs

Standards

L.5.1.dRL.5.2SL.5.1SL.5.1.aSL.5.1.bSL.5.6W.5.9

Write a paragraph to answer a unit Essential Question.

Single Paragraph Outline

Standards

L.5.1.dRL.5.2RL.5.9W.5.1W.5.1.aW.5.1.cW.5.1.d

Compare and contrast the strategies used by different activists to protect monarch butterflies.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs — Postscript: Long Live the Butterfly
“New York Teen Leads Global Movement to Protect Monarch Butterflies”
“For a Family in Mexico, a Mission to Protect Monarchs”

Standards

L.5.1.dRI.5.6RI.5.9

Discussion

Compare and contrast the actions of different activists and the impact they had on their communities.

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs
“Mari Copeny Takes Action to Save Her City”
“New York Teen Leads Global Movement to Protect Monarch Butterflies”
“For a Family in Mexico, a Mission to Protect Monarchs”

Standards

RI.5.6RL.5.2RL.5.3SL.5.1SL.5.1.aSL.5.1.bSL.5.3SL.5.6

Assessment

Gauge student understanding of unit content and skills with one of Fishtank's unit assessments.

5 days

Overview

Write an opinion letter about how a changemaker created positive change using evidence from a unit text to support your claim.

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Brainstorm and organize ideas before establishing an opinion about a topic.

Brainstorming Template (G5, Alt U2, L26)
Letter to the Editor Mentor Text (G5, Alt U2, L26)
Elements of a Letter Reference Sheet (G5, Alt U2, L26)
Two Paragraph Outline (G5, Alt U2, L26)

Standards

W.5.1W.5.1.aW.5.9

Day 2 - Planning

Plan before writing by outlining main ideas and supporting details.

Brainstorming Template (G5, Alt U2, L26) — completed on Day 1
Two Paragraph Outline (G5, Alt U2, L26) — started on Day 1

Standards

W.5.1W.5.1.aW.5.1.dW.5.9

Day 3 - Drafting

Compose well-developed body paragraphs that expand on key ideas with detailed explanations to support the opinion.

Brainstorming Template (G5, Alt U2, L26) — completed on Day 1
Two Paragraph Outline (G5, Alt U2, L26) — completed on Day 2

Standards

W.5.1W.5.1.aW.5.9

Day 4 - Drafting

Organize opinion writing by crafting clear introduction and conclusion sections that effectively summarize the opinion or position.

Day 5 - Revision & Editing

Brainstorming Template (G5, Alt U2, L26) — completed on Day 1
Two Paragraph Outline (G5, Alt U2, L26) — completed on Day 2
Elements of a Letter Reference Sheet (G5, Alt U2, L26)

Standards

W.5.1W.5.1.aW.5.1.cW.5.1.dW.5.9

Delete unnecessary or repetitive language.