Curriculum  /  ELA  /  6th Grade  /  Unit 1: Finding Your Way: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963  /  Lesson 11

Finding Your Way: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963

Lesson 11
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ELA

Unit 1

6th Grade

Lesson 11 of 32

Objective

Craft an objective summary of a section of text in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Readings and Materials

  • Book: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis  pp. 86 – 99 — Chapter 7

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Target Task

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Writing Prompt

Write a complete objective summary of the chapter, "Every Chihuahua in America Lines up to Take a Bite out of Byron." Aim for 4–5 sentences.

Sample Response

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Key Questions

Key Questions

  • How does Momma react differently when Byron misbehaves this time? How does this change reveal a shift in the plot? 

  • How does Joey react to Byron's haircut? What does this reveal about her? 

  • Summarize how Byron's Dad handles the situation with his haircut.

  • How does this chapter foreshadow events in future chapters?

Exit Ticket

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Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.

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Vocabulary

Literary Terms

colloquial language

n.

informal, everyday speech, which may include non-standard grammatical structures, slang, and idiomatic expressions

Text-based

mercy

n.

(p. 88)

kind treatment by a person who has some power over another person

tolerate

v.

(p. 95)

to allow or accept

Homework

Assign

To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis  pp. 100 – 120

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What is Kenny's father doing to the car? Why?

  • How does Kenny feel about the Brown Bomber? 

  • What big, exciting thing does Kenny's father buy for the Brown Bomber?

  • How does the family respond to this new feature of their car? 

  • Where is the family traveling to over the summer, and why?

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Common Core Standards

  • RL.6.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

Supporting Standards

L.6.6
RL.6.1
RL.6.4
RL.6.10
SL.6.1
SL.6.6
W.6.1.c
W.6.2
W.6.2.a
W.6.2.b
W.6.4
W.6.9
W.6.9.a
W.6.10

Next

Explain how Kenny develops and changes to drive the plot forward.

Lesson 12
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