Defining America: Poems, Essays, and Short Stories

Lesson 20
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ELA

Unit 1

7th Grade

Lesson 20 of 25

Objective


Take a clear position on a question and share evidence to support that point of view in a Socratic dialogue.

Readings and Materials


  • All unit texts 

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Key Questions


Discussion Questions

  • What does America symbolize to people immigrating here?

  • How do expectations of America compare to the realities faced by immigrants?

  • How does being an immigrant—or a child of immigrants—shape a person’s identity?

  • How do immigrants maintain connections with their home countries and cultures, even as they adapt to American culture?

  • What unique challenges do undocumented immigrants face that are different from other immigrants?

  • What does it mean to be American?

Notes


  • Decide which Type of Academic Discourse you want to use in this lesson. We recommend a table-group discussion, fishbowl, or whole-class discussion. Then, choose which of this lesson’s Discussion Questions you are going to have students answer. Consider how much discussion time will be devoted to each question. 
  • Create clear expectations for the discussion and student groups (if necessary). Additionally, decide what discourse strategies you will model for students to ensure that students are able to effectively engage with one another (for guidance, see our Teacher Tool about Tiers of Academic Discourse).

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Common Core Standards


  • SL.7.1 — Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
  • SL.7.1.a — Come to discussions prepared, having read or researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
  • SL.7.1.b — Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.
  • SL.7.4 — Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

Supporting Standards

L.7.6
RI.7.1
RL.7.1
SL.7.6
W.7.9
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Lesson 19

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Lesson 21

Lesson Map

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