6th Grade unit: Fiction/Non-fiction 2012
Unit: Fiction/Non-Fiction, Grade 6
I.
Enduring Understanding- important ideas with lasting value beyond the classroom.
Diversity and Conflict Enable Opportunity / Adaptations to Adversity
 There are many universal adversities which result in universal adaptations.
 Personal characteristics (habits of the mind) enable one to adapt and rise above adversity while others do not.
 Adaptations in nature serve as a model for humankind’s adaptation to adversity.
 Individuals, communities, or nations endure great sacrifice as they adapt to the adversities they face.
 One’s cultural history and personal experiences shape our adaptations to the world in which we live.
II.
Essential Learning Outcomes:
1. Reading: Identify elements of fiction and nonfiction
2. Writing: Present a well constructed persuasive speech
3. Writing: Write a well constructed multiple paragraph persuasive composition using factual details to convince the reader to recycle
How does the study of fiction and non fiction promote the understanding of the purpose for reading?
How do the characteristics of fiction and non fiction compare?
How is a writer’s purpose reflected in his or her writing?
III.
Content: Student’s will know
 How to identify the elements of fiction
 How to identify point of view
 How to distinguish between different types of fiction and nonfiction
 Identify characteristics of nonfiction
Skills: Students will be able to
 Use prior knowledge to make predictions
 Identify and use clues to support their predictions
 Confirm or verify predictions
 Revise predictions
 Use text structure to make predictions about content of informal materials
 Check facts by using reliable sources
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6th Grade unit: Fiction/Non-fiction 2012
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IV.
Distinguish between facts and opinions
Recognize clues that indicate opinions
Make generalizations based on facts
Look for details that reveal the author’s perspective and tone
Distinguish between important and unimportant details to determine the main idea
Identify key details to determine the main idea
Evaluate evidence to determine an author’s purpose
Activities: Students are immersed in the 1930’s era through pictures, music, articles, video and literature (both non fiction/fiction).
1. Through the use of a KWL chart students will identify elements of both fiction and non fiction. Then they will make a venn diagram
reflecting what they learned.
2. As students read” Bud Not Buddy” they will complete an anticipation guide (prior knowledge to make predictions)
3. As students read the biography of their choice they will complete a prediction graphic organizer (Prove It !) see attached
4.
5. As students read their biographies they will fill in a Five Finger strategy organizer
6. Through students’ prior knowledge, predictions and content material students will build a group timeline (1930’s) that wrap around
the walls of the classroom. They will check facts by using reliable sources
7. Through the use of a KWL chart students will identify uses for the radio during the mid-late 1930’s. Then students will research the
development of this invention and its uses and to write a paragraph to summarize what they find out
8. Students will be given 10 fact and 10 opinion index cards related to the Great Depression. They will work together to group each
under the fact/opinion headings on an interactive chart.
9. Biographical figure and the Depression: Students will read about their biographical figure, emphasizing the things he/she did before
they became famous. Students will use the facts they find to write a short essay describing their biographical figure and telling what
they think was his/her greatest accomplishment during that time.
10. Students will complete a facts-question-response chart based on their biography.
11. As a group students will produce a t-chart representing the attributes of important and unimportant details.
12. Through articles and excerpts from Bud Not Buddy and their biographies students will identify key details to determine the main
idea.
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6th Grade unit: Fiction/Non-fiction 2012
13. Then, in order to determine the main idea students will practice with various articles, Bud Not Buddy and their biographies.
12 .Students will create a tone and mood words anchor chart for the class. The anchor chart will consist of a list of words that describe
the author's tone and mood. Then, students will work individually to write a movie preview based on a picture from the 1930’s, their
biographical figure, Bud Not Buddy. The students must write the mood and tone that the picture represents.
13 Students will answer: Why is it important as a reader to identify the mood and tone of a writer?
14 Students will brainstorm through the use of a KWL chart what author's purpose is? (why they are writing - to inform, to persuade, to
entertain, to describe). I will choose 2 persuasive articles/editorials about the same topic the great depression- one positive, one
negative. Students will read them aloud and determine that the purpose is to persuade. Then student will distinguish between the
authors' viewpoints.
15 As a group students will complete an author’s purpose chart for Bud, Not Buddy
16 Students will research the popular music and musicians of the era. If possible, have students bring in tapes or CDs and listen to the
music. Students who are able to read music and play an instrument will be encouraged to learn some a piece and perform them
(Kira, Katherine, Steven). A musician from the Community Music School will come in and perform a piece from the era.
V.
Assessment:
Summative:
1. Nonfiction/Fiction Benchmark 2 –Summative : Common Assessment: Multiple Choice
2. Writing Benchmark #2-Summative Assessment: Common Assessment: Persuasive Speech
3. Persuasive Speech Template
Formative: I am still developing this
Students will select a biographical figure (biography ) in connection to Bud Not Buddy time period (1930’s/Great Depression) to
read, reflect on and respond to.
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6th Grade unit: Fiction/Non-fiction 2012
VI.
Resources:
 Classroom computers, access to you tube, classroom wiki, elmo, smartboard
 Read write think
 Glogster
 Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
 Handout of various non fiction/fiction articles, text, literature
 Music-1930’s jazz/blues-CD, Itunes
 Pictures, clothing, instruments-1930’s era
 Graphic organizers
 Biographies (see attached list)
Text
Genre
Setting/Time
Period
Issue
Literature
Theme
Bud, Not
Buddy
Realistic Fiction
1936
Flint and Grand
Rapids, MI
Identity
Family
Racism
Tolerance
Content Areas
Connections
Depression-era
Fine Arts
Connections
Blues, Jazz
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