Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Common Core State Standards
Please review the assessments prior to teaching the units. Some lessons will require supplemental lessons outside Pearson CA Literature.
Unit 1: Fiction and Nonfiction
About the Unit:
This unit is an overview of the elements of a story, including plot, mood, setting, and characters.
Is truth the same for everyone?
Essential Learnings:
 Students will be able to evaluate the structural elements of the plot, compare and contrast literary characters from different historical eras, and
analyze the relevance of setting (including mood, tone, and meaning of text).

Students will be able to write an autobiographical essay, using correct and varied sentence types, correct punctuation of dialogue, and will be able
to revise their writing for word choice, transitions, and consistent point of view.
Focus Standards for this Unit:
Reading Literature
Reading
Speaking and Listening
Language
Writing
Informational Text
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10
2, 10
4, 6
4, 5
3, 4, 5, 7, 10
Writing Workshop: Descriptive Essay pp. 104-109 CCSS: Informational 2
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Dates
8/26
To
9/11
9/14
To
9/18
9/21
To
9/25
9/28
To
10/02
10/05
To
10/9
10/12
To
10/16
Unit 1: Fiction &
Nonfiction
Model Selections(823)
Standards
RL
RIT
2
SL
L
4
W
4, 5
Pick one of these:
“Raymond’s Run” OR
“A Retrieved
Reformation” (24a-53)
Gentleman of Rio en
Medio” OR “Cub
Pilot on the
Mississippi” (54a-79
RL
1, 7, 10, 2,
3, 6
RIT
SL
4
L
5, 4
W
RL
RIT
10
SL
6
L
4
W
10
“An American
Childhood” OR “The
Adventure of the
Speckled Band”
(110a-155)
“Travels with
Charley” OR “The
American Dream”
(156a-179)
Comparing Literary
Works
The Finish of
Patsy Barnes, The
Drummer Boy of
Shiloh (190-207)
RL
RIT
SL
L
W
RL
4
RIT
SL
L
4
W
3, 7
RL
2
RIT
SL
L
W
Support
Resources
All in One
Academic
Vocabulary
Mood, tone
Plot, setting
Pearson
characterization
Website (to
conflict
listen to the
characters
stories)
point of view
exposition
Reading kit
resolution
dialogue
Grammar
historical fiction
Resource Book autobiography
climax
antagonist
protagonist
Build in Writing
narrative
applications 2.1
fiction
to weeks 5 and
nonfiction
6 (use the
Writing
Workshop
section, pages
208-215)
Assessment Unit 1, RL.1, RL.2, RI.2, L.4a, L.4b, L.5b, L.6, W.5
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Unit 2: Short Stories
About the Unit:
This unit is an overview of the elements of a short story, including theme, characterization, and literary devices (especially symbolism).
Can all conflicts be resolved?
Essential Learnings:
 Students will be able to identify and analyze recurring themes, identify significant literary devices, and compare/contrast characters.

Students will be able to compare the original text to a summary to determine a summary’s accuracy.

Students will be able to write a summary of a narrative and write a response to literature.
Focus Standards for this Unit:
Reading Literature
Reading
Speaking and Listening
Language
Informational Text
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
1, 4, 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Writing
3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
Writing Workshop: Critical Review, pp. 326-331 CCSS: Writing 9; CCSS: Language 2, 5
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Dates
10/19
To
10/23
10/26
To
10/30
11/02
To
11/13
11/16
To
11/20
11/23
To
12/04
Unit 2: Short
Stories
Model
Selections(234243) “A Hour with
Abuelo”
“The Story Teller”
(384a-405) “Thank
You, M’am”
(384a-405)
(Another option for
weeks 2 and 3 is
“Flowers for
Algernon” OR
“Charles”)
“The Tell-Tale
Heart”
Informational Texts
Summary of TellTale Heart (308311)
Comparing Literary
Works (414-437)
“The White
Umbrella,” and
“The Medicine
Bag”
Standards
RL
RIT
SL
6
L
2, 5
W
9, 3, 4, 5, 6
RL
RIT
SL
L
W
1
3, 1
SL
L
4, 1
W
SL
L
W
4
5, 4, 3
10
SL
L
W
1 ,9, 10, 2,
6
RL
1, 4, 7, 6
RIT
RL
RIT
7, 3
RL
9
RIT
Support
Resources
All in One
Pearson Website
(to listen to the
stories)
Reading kit
Grammar
Resource Book
Burrito
Summary from
Step Up to
Writing
Build in Writing
applications 2.2
to week 5 (use
the Writing
Workshop
section, Critical
Review, pages
327-331)
Step Up to
Writing
Academic
Vocabulary
theme
summary
traditional
contemporary
symbolism
implied vs.
stated theme
universal
theme
character traits
motivation
audience
purpose
word choice
irony
revise
Assessment Unit 2, RI.1, RI.6, RI.8, L.4a, W.2d, W.9a
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Unit 3: Types of Nonfiction
About the Unit:
This unit is an overview of the elements of nonfiction, with a focus on persuasion.
How much information is enough?
Essential Learnings:
 Students will be able to compare and contrast consumer materials.
 Students will be able to analyze text that uses proposition and support patterns.
 Students will be able to find similarities and differences between texts in the treatment, scope, or organization of ideas.
 Students will be able to evaluate the unity, coherence, logic, internal consistency, and structural patterns of text.
 Students will be able to write a persuasive essay using counterargument, support theses and conclusions with analogies, paraphrases,
quotations, opinions from authorities, comparisons, and similar devices.
Focus Standards for this Unit:
Reading Literature
Reading Informational
Speaking and
Language
Writing
Text
Listening
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
5, 6
3, 4, 5
2, 9
Writing Workshop: Exposition: How-to-Essay, pp. 548-553 CCSS: Writing 4, 5, 10
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Dates
Unit 3: Types of
Nonfiction
12/07
To
12/11
Introduction pages
(464-465) “Always to
Remember: The Vision
of Maya Ying Lin”
OR “I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings”
(500a-525)
Vocabulary Workshop
(pp624-625)
Informational Texts
(528-533) “Real Life
Reading” (pp 408-413)
Comparing Literary
Works (534-547)
12/14
To
12/18
1/04
To
1/08
1/11
To
1/15
1/19
To
1/29
2/01
To
2/05
“The Trouble with
Television” OR “On
Woman’s Right to
Suffrage” (554a-571)
“Sharing in the
American Dream” OR
“Science and the
Sense of Wonder”
Info. Texts (592-597)
Comparing Literary
Works (598-613)
Standards
RL
RIT
SL
Support
Resources
L
W
1, 4, 5
5
4
2
RL
RIT
5, 9
SL
L
W
RL
RIT
3, 5
SL
L
W
RL
RIT
3, 6, 10, 8
SL
5, 6
L
4
W
9
RL
RIT
1, 8, 10, 4
SL
L
5, 3, 5
W
RIT
4
SL
L
5
W
RL
Built in
writing
assignments
within the
unit.
Writing:
Persuasive
Essay (pp
614-621)
Step Up to
Writing
(persuasive
writing)
Academic Vocabulary
chronological,
comparison and contrast,
cause and effect
problem and solution
tone, voice
biography, autobiography
persuasive, expository
author’s purpose
treatment, scope
organization
editorial, thesis
counterargument
analogies
quotations, proposition
support, features
persuasive appeals
bandwagon,
loaded language,
testimonials,
generalizations
rhetorical questions
consumer
primary source
secondary source
unity, coherence, logic
internal consistency
structural patterns
Assessment Unit 3, RI.1, RI.6, RI.8, L.4a, W.2d, W.9a
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Unit 4: Poetry
About the Unit:
This unit is an overview of the elements poetry, with a focus on figurative language.
What is the secret to reaching someone with words?
Essential Learnings:
 Students will be able to analyze idioms, analogies, metaphors, and similes.
 Students will be able to determine different forms of poetry.
 Students will be able to identify significant literary devices in poetry.
Focus Standards for this Unit:
Reading Literature
Reading
Speaking and Listening
Informational Text
2, 4, 5, 6, 10
Language
Writing
4, 5
Writing Workshop: Exposition: Problem-and-Solution Essay, pp. 708-713 CCSS: Writing 1; CCSS: Language 1, 3
Dates
Unit 4: Poetry
2/08
To
2/12
2/22
To
2/26
2/29
To
3/04
3/07
To
3/11
Learning about Poetry 640-643
Poetry Collection 1 or Poetry
Collection 2
Poetry Collection 3 AND Poetry
Collection 4
RL
4, 6
RIT
RL
2, 4
RIT
Poetry Collection 7 AND Poetry
Collection 8 (740a-763)
RL
10, 5
RL
4
Comparing Literary Works
(772-779)
Standards
SL
Support
Resources
L
4
W
SL
L
4, 5
W
RIT
SL
L
W
RIT
SL
L
5
W
Reading Kit
Academic Vocabulary
Idiom, analogy
Metaphor, smile
figurative meaning
literal meaning
poetry, ballad, couplet
epic, elegy, ode, sonnet
lyric, free verse, dialect
sound devices
technical directions
warranty
Assessment Unit 4, RL.2, RL.4, L.4c, L.4d, L.5
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Unit 5: Nonfiction and Test Prep
About the Unit:
This unit is an overview of informational materials. This unit also builds in time for test preparation and Blueprint standards re-teach.
Is it our differences or our similarities that matter most?
Essential Learnings:
 Students will be able to explain the use of a complex mechanical device by following technical directions.
 Students will be able to use consumer, workplace, and public documents.
 Students will be able to compare and contrast the features and elements of consumer, public, and workplace documents.
 Students will be able to evaluate informational materials.
Focus Standards for this Unit:
Reading Literature
Reading Informational Text Speaking and Listening
Language
Writing
1, 4, 5, 9
4
4, 6, 7, 8, 10
Writing Workshop: Exposition: Research Report, pp. 982-993 CCSS: Writing 7, 8
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Dates
Unit 5: Nonfiction
Standards
3/14
To
3/24
4/04
To
4/08
4/11
To
4/15
4/18
To
4/22
Informational Texts (692-697)
Informational Texts (766-771)
Vocabulary workshop (790-791)
Informational Texts (830-835)
Informational Texts (962-967)
RL
Informational texts (1064-1069)
Informational Texts (1134-1141)
Informational Texts (82-85)
The Diary of Anne Frank, Act 1
(848a-915) The Diary of Anne
Frank, Act 2 (916a-959)
OR Flowers for Algernon (347381)
RIT
9, 4
SL
RL
RIT
1, 9
RL
RL
3, 6, 7
Support
Resources
L
4
W
SL
L
W
RIT
5
SL
L
4
RIT
SL
L
W
4, 6, 7, 8,
10
W
Writing
Workshop:
How To
548-553
Academic
Vocabulary
element
generalization
similarity
difference, consistent
point of view
byline
index
consumer
workplace, public
Assessment Unit 5, RI.1, RI.4, RI.5, W.4, W.7
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Pearson California Literature
8th Grade Curriculum Map
2015-2016
Unit 6: Themes in American Stories
About the Unit:
This unit is an overview of the folktales and mythology.
Are yesterday’s heroes important today?
Essential Learnings:
 Students will be able to analyze American folk tradition in literature.
Reading Literature
1, 2, 3, 9, 10
Reading Informational
Text
10
Focus Standards for this Unit:
Speaking and
Language
Listening
2, 5, 6
1, 2, 4, 5
Writing
7, 10
Writing Workshop: Research: Multimedia Report, pp. 1084-1089 CCSS: Writing 6
Dates
4/25
To
5/06
5/09
To
5/20
5/23
To
6/3
6/6
To
6/10
Unit 6 Themes in American
Stories
“Coyote Steals the Sun and
Moon” OR “Why the Waves
have Whitecaps” (1022a-1037)
“Brer Possum’s Dilemma”,
“John Henry” OR “Chicoria;
The People, Yes” (1038a-1061)
Standards
Support Resources
RL
1, 2, 3,
9
RL
1, 2,
10, 9
RIT
SL
2, 5
L
4, 1
W
RIT
SL
6
L
5, 2
W
“Out of the Dust” or Ellis
Island” (1090-1109)
RL
10
RIT
SL
L
4, 2
W
7, 10
“Choice: A Tribute to Martin
Luther King” (1110-1161)
RL
9
RIT
10
SL
L
4
W
Graphic Organizer
Transparencies
Reader’s Notebook
Readers Notebook:
EL Version
Unit 6 Resources
PD Guidebook
Academic
Vocabulary
myth
dialect
oral Tradition
cultural context
summer vacation
grateful
interpret
respond
Assessment Unit 6, RL.2, RL.3, RI.1, RI.2, L.4a, L.5c, W.7
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