Finding Your Way: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963

Lesson 21
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ELA

Unit 1

6th Grade

Lesson 21 of 32

Objective


Outline and draft narratives.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis  pp. 178 – 179

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Submit a draft of your narrative in response to the prompt: 

Kenny Watson is the narrator of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. The reader sees the world of the novel through Kenny's eyes, gaining access to his thoughts and feelings. 
What would it be like to read the same text, but from the perspective of a different character? 

Your task is to rewrite pages 178–179 from Byron's perspective. Your story must:

  • Be at least four paragraphs long
  • Be organized logically
  • Include important events, lines of dialogue, and characters from the original text
  • Establish a unique point of view based on what you already know of Byron
  • Provide descriptive and sensory details

Sample Response

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Homework


Complete any unfinished drafting.

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.

  • sensory details: details related to the five senses; sometimes called "imagery"

 

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Common Core Standards


  • W.6.3 — Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
  • W.6.3.a — Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
  • W.6.3.b — Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
  • 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.

Supporting Standards

L.6.6
RL.6.10
SL.6.1
SL.6.6
W.6.4
W.6.10

Next

Revise narratives for descriptive language and sensory details, and identify the cases of pronouns in writing.

Lesson 22
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