Embracing Heritage/Literature and Informational Text
Essential Question/Anchor: How does heritage define us individually and as a nation?
In this eight-week, students continue to read stories and informational texts and discuss what they each reveal about our own country.
Related Literary Texts
Unit 3
Suggested Objectives:
Stories
An Indian in Cowboy Country: Stories from an
Immigrant’s Life (Pradeep Anand)
Define the word heritage and review the
word culture.
As Long as the Rivers Flow: The Stories of Nine
Native Americans (Scholastic Biography) (Paula
Gunn Allen and Patricia Clark Smith)
Explore U.S. immigrant experiences
through historical fiction and nonfiction
texts.
Behind the Mountains (First Person Fiction)
(Edwidge Danticat)
Dreaming of America (Eve Bunting)
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Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan
Became an American Boy (Andrea Warren)
Esperanza Rising (Pam Munoz Ryan)
Journey of the Sparrows (Fran Leeper Buss)
“On Discovering America” from Survey Graphic
Magazine (Pearl S. Buck)
One Eye Laughing, the Other Eye Weeping: The
Diary of Julie Weiss, Vienna, Austria to New York,
1938 (Dear America Series) (Barry Denenberg)
One More River to Cross: The Stories of Twelve Black
Americans (Scholastic Biography) (Jim Haskins) (EA)
Project Mulberry (Linda Sue Park)
Something About America (Maria Testa)
Analyze multiple accounts of U.S.
immigration from different points of view
and describe important similarities and
differences in the details they provide.
Conduct interviews to gather information
from human “primary sources” (e.g., with
family members).
Summarize information gleaned from
interviews.
Explain the importance of oral tradition.
Conduct research on countries from
which family members emigrated.
Write arguments about the proposition
that America is a “land of opportunity.”
Define related words and identify their
parts of speech (e.g., migrate, immigrate,
emigrate, etc.).
The Christmas Tapestry (Patricia Polacco)
Weedflower (Cynthia Kadohata)
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West Baton Rouge Parish 2013 Grade 6 ELA
Building Student Knowledge
“Remember, remember always that
all of us, and you and I especially,
are descended from immigrants and
revolutionists.” —Franklin D.
Roosevelt
America is a nation of immigrants.
This diversity has helped to make
our country rich in ideas, traditions,
and customs. Except for the Native
Americans, every American came
here from somewhere else—or is
born of ancestors who did. People
have come, and continue to come, to
America to seek freedom and
opportunity. Some did not come here
voluntarily. And some immigrants
encountered prejudice. To learn more
about the role of immigration in
American heritage, students read and
discuss a variety of fictional and
informational texts. To appreciate
how we are shaped by the
experiences we have and the people
we encounter, students do a
Generations Project, in which they
consider perspectives from different
generations within a family. The
project also helps hone students’
interview and research skills. In
addition, students create semantic
maps of the phrase “embracing
heritage” in order to represent
visually their understanding of this
phrase.
They write an
informative/explanatory essay in
response to the essential question:
How does heritage define us
individually and as a nation.
GRADE 6
Focus Common Core Standard
Possible CCS
Reading
RL.6.1 RL.6.4
RL.6.6 RL.6.9
RI.6.3
RI.6.7 RI.6.8
RI.6.9
Writing
W.6.1
W.6.4
W.6.5
W.6.7
W.6.9 (a) W.6.9(b)
Speaking and Listening
SL.6.1
SL.6.2
SL.6.3
SL.6.6
Language
L.6.1
L.6.1(a)
L.6.1(b)
L.6.1(c)
L.6.1(d)
L.6.2
L.6.2(a)
L.6.2(b)
L.6.3
L.6.4
L.6.4(c)
L.6.4(d)
Note:
This unit provides an example of how cross-curricular collaboration can naturally occur between English and other content areas. Students can read informational texts in
history class, and compare those accounts to personal narratives and accounts about the immigrants' experience read in English class. Much discussion centers on the ways in
which background information enhances understanding of literature (whether on immigration or any other history/science topic of teachers' choosing). This unit also
demonstrates how the reading and writing standards provide instructional connectivity between learning in English and other content areas.
Informational Texts
Nonfiction
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A History of US: Reconstructing America 1865-1890 (Book 7) (Joy Hakim) (EA)
Coming To America: The Story of Immigration (Betsy Maestro and Susannah Ryan)
Do People Grow on Family Trees?: Genealogy for Kids and Other Beginners, The Official Ellis Island Handbook (Ira Wolfman and Michael
Klein)
First Crossing: Stories about Teen Immigrants (Donald R. Gallo)
How People Immigrate (True Books) (Sarah De Capua)
If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island (If You[r]…Series) (Ellen Levine and Wayne Parmenter)
Immigrant Kids (Russell Freedman) (EA)
New Kids in Town: Oral Histories of Immigrant Teens (Scholastic Biography) (Janet Bode)
Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Uncovering Your Family’s History (Maureen Alice Taylor)
Art, Music and Media
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Art
o
o
o
o
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Music
o
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Childe Hassam, Flags on Fifty-Seventh Street: The Winter of 1918 (1918)
Childe Hassam, Village Scene (1883-1885)
Childe Hassam, Winter in Union Square (1889-1890)
Jacob Riis, various photographs
“Coming to America” (Neil Diamond)
West Baton Rouge Parish 2013 Grade 6 ELA
Unit 3:
Terminology:
Biography
Epilogue
Heritage
Legacy
Lore
Memoir
Realism
Traditional literature
Weeks 13-20
Unit 3 Literature and Informational Text
“I CAN” Statements
Standards for Unit 3
Reading Literature
RL.6.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make
logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or
speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
RL.6.4 Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including
determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and
analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
I can analyze text to cite textual evidence which is explicitly stated.
I can analyze text to cite textual evidence which is inferred.
I can determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a
text, including figurative and connotative meanings.
I can analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
FOCUS STANDARD
RL.6.6 Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of
a text.
RL.6.9 Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in
order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
Reading Informational Text
FOCUS STANDARD
RI.6.3 Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and
interact over the course of a text.
RI.6.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and
formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
RI.6.8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text,
including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and
sufficiency of the evidence
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I can compare and contrast point of view of the narrator to characters in a
text.
I can analyze how the author develops these different points of view.
I can compare and contrast one author’s presentation of events with that of
another (e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).
I can analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced,
illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
I can integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g.,
visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent
understanding of a topic or issue.
I can trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text.
I can distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence
FOCUS STANDARD
RI.6.9 Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in
order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
Writing
FOCUS STANDARD
W.6.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive
topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
W.6.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development,
organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
FOCUS STANDARD
W.6.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising,
editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
W.6.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on
focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under
investigation.
W.6.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support
analysis, reflection, and research.
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”).
b. Apply grade 6 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., “Trace and
evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims
that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not”).
Speaking and Listening
SL.6.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations
and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others‟ ideas and
expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
from claims that are not
I can compare and contrast one author’s presentation of events with that of
another (e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).
I can write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant
evidence.
I can introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.
I can produce a writing piece that is clear and coherent with idea
development, organization, and style appropriate to task, purpose,
and audience.
I can develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising,
editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
I can conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on
several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
I can draw evidence from key ideas and details as support for research.
I can analyze key ideas and details in a text as evidence for support
understanding of text.
I can reflect on key ideas and details in a text as evidence for support
understanding of text.
I can engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one,
in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts,
and issues, building on others‟ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Come to discussions prepared having read or studied required material;
explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic,
text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
I can follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals and deadlines,
and define individual roles as needed.
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West Baton Rouge Parish 2013 Grade 6 ELA
I can pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by
making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under
discussion.
I can review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of
multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.
SL.6.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media
and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
FOCUS STANDARD
SL.6.3 Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence
and rhetoric.
SL.6.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks,
demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or
appropriate.
Language
L.6.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English
grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
I can interpret information presented in diverse media and formats
(e.g.,
visually, quantitatively, orally)
I can explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
I can delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims.
I can distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence
from claims that are not.
I can adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating
command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
I can demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English
grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
I can identify and use pronouns are in the proper case (subjective,
objective, possessive).
I can use intensive pronouns correctly (e.g., myself, ourselves).
I can recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and
person.
I can recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or
ambiguous antecedents).
I can recognize variations from Standard English in their own and others'
writing and speaking, and identify and use strategies to improve expression
in conventional language.*
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West Baton Rouge Parish 2013 Grade 6 ELA
L.6.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English
capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
I can demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English
capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
I can use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes) to set off
nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.*
I can spell correctly.
L.6.3 Apply knowledge of language to understand how language
functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or
style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.
I can use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing,
speaking, reading, or listening.
I can vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and
style.
I can maintain consistency in style and tone.
FOCUS STANDARD
L.6.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning
words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word
parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as
appropriate.
I can determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning
words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly
from a range of strategies.
I can use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a
word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a
word or phrase.
I can use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as
clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
I can consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses),
both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or
clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
I can verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or
phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a
dictionary).
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West Baton Rouge Parish 2013 Grade 6 ELA