Curriculum / ELA / 6th Grade / Unit 1: Finding Your Way: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 / Lesson 15
ELA
Unit 1
6th Grade
Lesson 15 of 32
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Lesson Notes
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Gather evidence and create an outline in response to a writing prompt.
Book: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis pp. 122 – 125
Poem: “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes
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Prior to the start of class, print out the quotes in the Hamlet Quote Card resource and glue/tape them to a notecard in order to be prepared for the opening activity. If possible, move the student desks/tables to the side of the room so that there is room for students to walk around. Alternatively, take students to a space outside the classroom where they will have more room to engage in the activity.
Today's lesson focuses on the relationship between parents and their children. This may be a difficult topic for some students. Consider framing the discussion around the relationship children have with a loving caregiver/adult in their life.
Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved.
Complete an outline in preparation for writing a response to the prompt:
What idea is explored in both "Mother to Son" and The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 on pages 122–125? Provide specific evidence from both texts to support your response and carefully explain your thinking.
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RL.6.9 — Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.
W.6.1 — Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
W.6.5 — With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit
L.6.6 — Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
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.
RL.6.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
RL.6.10 — By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6—8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
W.6.4 — Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.6.9 — Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.6.9.a — Apply grade 6 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres [e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories] in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics").
W.6.10 — Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Next
Draft and revise a paragraph response, focusing on writing strong claims, analysis, and introducing evidence effectively.
Describe how author Christopher Paul Curtis reveals the narrator's perspective in the first chapter of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
Standards
RL.6.6
Explain how author Christopher Paul Curtis develops the narrator's unique point of view in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
Explain how Christopher Paul Curtis develops Kenny's point of view of himself and other characters.
Explain how Kenny's perspective of himself and other characters develops and changes throughout the novel.
RL.6.3RL.6.6
Unpack a prompt, study a mentor text, and gather evidence in preparation for writing a paragraph response.
RL.6.3W.6.1W.6.5
Synthesize annotations and create a strong outline for a paragraph response.
Draft a paragraph response and revise for analysis.
RL.6.3W.6.1.aW.6.1.bW.6.1.cW.6.5
Explain how and why characters respond and change in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
Explain how author Christopher Paul Curtis develops the perspective of his narrator and other characters in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
Provide an objective summary of a nonfiction text.
RI.6.2
Craft an objective summary of a section of text in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
RL.6.2
Explain how Kenny develops and changes to drive the plot forward.
RL.6.3RL.6.4
Write an objective summary of a section of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
Analyze the impact of literary devices and how they help develop mood and meaning in the poem "Mother to Son."
RL.6.4
RL.6.9W.6.1W.6.5
RL.6.9W.6.1W.6.1.aW.6.1.bW.6.1.c
Explain the purpose and impact of "The Green Book" using text, audio, and visual resources.
RI.6.7
Analyze how the author develops and contrasts characters' perspectives in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
Explain how characters respond and change as the plot of The Watsons go to Birmingham –1963 progresses.
RL.6.3
Unpack a prompt, study a Mentor Text, and begin a plan for rewriting a scene from The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 from a new perspective.
W.6.3W.6.5
Outline and draft narratives.
W.6.3W.6.3.aW.6.3.bW.6.5
Revise narratives for descriptive language and sensory details, and identify the cases of pronouns in writing.
L.6.1L.6.1.aW.6.3W.6.3.aW.6.3.bW.6.3.d
Analyze how Christopher Paul Curtis develops the mood in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.
Identify how Kenny's point of view changes throughout the novel.
Integrate information from the article and photos to understand the impact of segregation on African Americans in Alabama.
Explain how Randall develops voice and perspective in the poem "The Ballad of Birmingham."
RL.6.6RL.6.9
Take a clear position on a question and share evidence to support that point of view in a Socratic dialogue.
SL.6.1SL.6.1.aSL.6.1.bSL.6.4
Unpack the expectations of a writing task, study a mentor text, and begin to plan a personal narrative.
Outline and begin to draft narratives.
W.6.3W.6.3.aW.6.5
Write strong conclusions and revise drafts for descriptive language.
W.6.3W.6.3.bW.6.3.dW.6.3.eW.6.5
Provide peer feedback and self-assess using a rubric.
2 days
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