1st
Week
Week 1 – Aug. 5-10
Nine Weeks
ELA 7th Grade
Literary Selection/(Skills)
Bio-Poems
Journal Writing: Childhood belief, story, fairytale
- Complete draft in English
Find the Truth – Unit 1 Introduction PH Pages 2-4
“The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks” (1st Reading)
Reading: Read and discuss
English: Essay
1. Narrative – After reading The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks,
think about the contrasting (opposite) values of greed and
caring. Think about how the lord’s greed failed, in the end,
to get him what he wanted, and how Yasuko and Shozo’s
caring and selflessness resulted in a happy ending for the
two of them. Write a brief one page narrative about a time
in your life when greed or kindness ruled your decisionmaking. How did it feel to be greedy? To be kind?
Fiction and Non-Fiction Foldables PH Pages 6-7
Introduction of the First Model Selection: The Three-Century
Woman PH Page 8
Week 2 – Aug. 12-16
Week 3 – Aug. 19-23
In the Grip of Graffiti RC Pages 12-15
“The Three-Century Woman” PH Pages 9-17
- Reading Skills – Reader’s Notebook Pages 2-12
“The Fall of the Hindenburg” PH Page18-20
- Reading Skills – Reader’s Notebook Pages 13-15
- Share childhood belief, story, fairytale in English
- English – introduce Writing Grading Rubrics
Complete STAR testing and Reader’s Notebook
Review Elements of Fiction and Non-Fiction
Compare and Contrast Essay
Reading Graphic Organizer
English: Essay
2. Graphic Organizer/Writing Prompt: Informative/Explanatory Using the two texts, “Three Century Woman” and “The Fall
of the Hindenburg”, complete the graphic organizer on page
21. Compare and contrast the actual historical event and
the stories told by great grandmother Breckinridge. Refer to
and cite great grandma’s comments to the reporters to
reflect insight into her character.
Comprehension Test of the model selection
Week 4 – Aug. 26–30
“Papa’s Parrot” pgs. 24-31 – short story
Preteach "Papa's Parrot"
Preview and rank the vocabulary for "Papa's Parrot" textbook
page 24.
Write the words then rank each as:
1. I do not know the word at all.
2. I know the word a little bit or have seen it before.
3. I know and use the word in my vocabulary.
Vocabulary - Reading Skill: Context Clues - page 23
Reading - Literary Analysis - Narrative Text & Narration Chart page 23
Writing About the Big Question (All-in-One pg. 12)
Discuss Dramatic Reading - Page 47
Background Video
Meet the Author
Read independently completing the Narration Chart as you read.
Hear it! "Papa's Parrot"
Students will read along as they hear the author read the model
selection. (Stop for Reading Checks)
Think Aloud: Analyzing Compare and Contrast of Their
Relationship
-
Reading Skills – Reader’s Notebook Pages 19-24
Bell ringer (Quick Write- Sentence Starters) •1.
Harry does not perceive his father's.......
•2.
When Papa gets a parrot, Harry concludes ................
•3.
Working in the shop while his father is ill, Harry begins to
gain insight .............
•4.
Finally, the parrot convinces Harry that ....................
Prepare for Dramatic Reading - Page 47
Story Discussion
Week 5 – Sept. 2-6
Reading: Read and discuss
English: Essay
4. Journal: Informative/Explanatory - Using the story, “Papa’s
Parrot” and explain why Harry and his friends visit Mr.
Tillian after school, then infer why Harry and his friends
stopped visiting him as they grew older. Analyze why Mr.
Tillian bought Rocky (the cause) and how that affects their
relationship. Why does Harry react the way he does when
Rocky says, “Where’s Harry?” and “Miss him!”
Comprehension Test
Sept 2- Labor Day
Sept 4 – Progress Reports
Sept. 6 – Early Release
Reading: Discussion and chart
English; Essay
1. Journal: Argumentative – You have read “Papa’s Parrot.”
The Big Question is “What is the best way to find the
truth?” In “Papa’s Parrot,” Rocky, the parrot, reveals the
truth about Mr. Tillian missing his son. Using your
knowledge of the text, consider if it would have been better
for Harry to have learned the truth from his father instead
of the parrot. Decide which way to learn the truth is better
and cite evidence from the text to support your claim.
Reading: Dramatic Readings from “Papa’s Parrot”
A rubric for grading is on page 183.
“The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks” 2nd Read
Week 6 – Sept. 9-13
Week 7 – Sept. 16-20
“mk” – autobiography PH Pages 32-45
- Reading Skills – Reader’s Notebook Pages 26-28
“The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks” 3rd Read
“Discovering a Paper Son” PH pgs. 75-76 - public document
- Reading Skills – Reader’s Notebook Pages 41-44
6. Journal: Informative/Explanatory – In “Byron Yee:
Discovering a Paper Son,” Byron Yee describes the plight
of Chinese immigrants arriving in America. Write a letter
from the perspective of a “paper son,” like Byron Yee’s
father, arriving in America for the first time. Write to
your family and describe your experiences. Use the
public document you have read to add details to your
letter. PH p. 77
Week 8 - Sept. 23-27
CRCT Test Practice PH pgs. 70-71
“Learning the Truth in China” Reality Central text - Pages 8-11 –
article about freedom of speech- censorship
“Return to Humanity “ – Reality Central text – pgs. 28-31 –
article about Ishmeal Beah
Informative/Explanatory – This big question for this 9 week
period is: What is the best way to find the truth? Using the
knowledge you have gained from reading passages in this unit,
what can passages about events in history and from our past
teach us about ourselves?
Week 9 – Sept. 30 – Oct. 4
Oct. 4 – END of the 1st 9 weeks
“The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks” 4th Read and Project Work
RESEARCH CONNECTION(S)
2-3 Short Research Connections:
a. Hindenburg – have students do research on zeppelins: their
design, origin, history, amenities, and reasons for its
disaster.
b. Samurai – research the life of samurai and how their
lifestyle was- is there a place for those types of behaviors in
today’s society? Art project on samurai soldiers, lifestyle,
culture
c. Dramatic reading – Papa’s Parrot – p. 47 “Listening and
Speaking” A rubric for grading is on page 183.
d. Research the Author – Richard Peck – (Eng.)
October 7-8 Fall Break
Week
Week 1 - Oct. 10-11
Week 2 - Oct. 14-18
Week 3 - Oct. 21-25
Week 4 - Oct. 28-Nov. 1
Week 5 - Nov. 4-8
Week 6- Nov. 11-15
Week 7 - Nov. 18-22
2nd Nine Weeks
ELA 7th Grade
Literary Selection/(Skills)
Completion on Unit 1 - Mulan Viewing
Introduction: Short Stories, Elements of Short Stories, The Treasure
of Lemon Brown pgs. 204-215/ (Prediction, Inference, Flashback,
Foreshadowing, Plot, Dialect, Characterization, Theme)
Freedom Walkers: Extended Text
Literacy Circles
Writing: Cornell Notes
Freedom Walkers: Extended Text - Continued
Writing: Narrative – After reading “Freedom Walkers” and learning
more background information about segregation and the state of
our country during that period of time, think about what it means
to be someone who wanted peace and preached that love was
more important than skin color. We have studied the work of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. He strongly believed that, “we must meet
hate with love.” Write a poem that extends the meaning of this
quote to our daily lives and to how we treat others.
Prediction Guide p. 225
Bear Boy pgs. 216-225/ (Make Predictions: Use Prior Knowledge,
Plot)
Writing: Argumentative – Think about bear boy’s relationship with
his father in “The Bear Boy.” Also, consider how the story ends.
Decide if the bear boy’s time with the bear cubs and mother bear
influenced his current relationship with his father. In this Native
American folktale the lesson is taught that parents have a
responsibility to love their children and teach them all the things
they will need to know. Do you think the lesson applies to people of
all cultures? Defend your claim with evidence from the story and
personal experience.
Short Research Connection: Before reading “Rikki Tikki Tavi” –
research either the mongoose or the cobra. Be sure to include
information about their physical appearance and prowess, their
diet, and their habitat. You may choose to include illustrations,
maps or other drawings.
Rikki Tikki Tavi p. 226-245– short story (Make Predictions: Use
Prior Knowledge, Plot p. 245)
Seventh Grade p. 290-295 (Comparing Idioms p. 288)
Melting Pot p. 296 -300 – short story (Comparing Idioms)
The Third Wish p. 311 -319– short story (Making Inferences:
Recognize Details, Conflict and Resolution p. 319)
Writing: Narrative – After reading “Seventh Grade,” decide what
advice would you give Victor about the way he tries to impress
Teresa. What does Victor probably learn from his experiences in
seventh grade? Write a short narrative essay detailing your advice
and lessons learned. Be sure to cite evidence from the text.
Writing: Argumentative – After reading “Melting Pot” make a
Nov. 25-29 Furlough Days and
Thanksgiving
Week 8 - Dec. 2-6
Week 9 - Dec. 9-13
Dec. 16-18
judgment. Do you believe it is possible to belong to both groups:
new arrivals and long-time residents? Quindlen would suggest that
being tolerant and interested in people from all backgrounds will
help people get along. How is Quindlen both “one of them” and
“one of us?” Cite evidence from the text to support your judgment.
Writing: Argumentative - After reading “The Third Wish” decide
whether you believe Mr. Peters used his wishes wisely. What
evidence from the story makes you feel that way? What evidence
from the story makes you feel that way? In an essay, support your
claim with evidence from the text.
No School
The People Could Fly p.1008-1015 – (Compare and Contrast: Use
Venn Diagram; Folk Tale)
Mother to Son – p. 612-613 – (Draw Conclusions, Connecting the
Details; Figurative Language)
The Titans Remember (in Reality Central textbook) p. 93
After reading “The Titans Remember,” students will view the movie
“Remember the Titans.” Using the text and notes from the movie,
show how the lessons learned can be applied to your life.
A Christmas Carol p. 738 – (Drama and Stage Directions)
Writing: Informative/Explanatory - After reading “The Titans
Remember” you know more about the lessons people can learn
from those who are different. For example, sports teams are made
up of people who are not alike. However, good sports teams are
alike in one way. They put aside differences to achieve success.
Write a paragraph to explain this lesson learned from the “Titans.”
Use and cite evidence from the text using the terms: analyze,
background, facts, interview and understand, as noted in the text.
Dec 18 – END of 2nd 9 weeks
End of 1st Semester