Unit Plan: Sentence Fluency/ Legends and Geography
Grade: 8
Unit Title
Sentence Fluency and Native American Legends
Duration
3 weeks
Understandings
Essential
Questions
Skills and
Activities
A verb is a word that tells what a person is doing
A noun is a person place or thing
An adverb describes a verb
An adjective describes a noun
A pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun
A proper sentence always has subject-verb agreement
A proper sentence always has tense agreement
A clause is a group of words that have a subject and a verb
A dependent clause cannot stand on its own
An independent clause can stand on its own
A simple sentence contains one independent clause and no dependent clauses
A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses and NO dependent
clauses
A run-on consists of two or more sentences written as though they were a single
sentence
A sentence fragment is part of a sentence that is written as if it were a whole sentence
(a dependent clause all by itself)
A complex sentence contains an independent AND dependent clause
There are four different types of sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative,
exclamatory
All proper nouns are capitalized
Identifying central ideas and supporting details helps you to understand what you are
reading better
Plot diagramming a story helps you to visually see the movement and strength of
events in a story
Figurative language helps strengthen a piece of writing by making it more visual in the
reader’s mind
Legends and fables are an essential part of Native American history and psychology
Legends and fables are lessons on the impact of geography on people
Legends and fables are lessons on the cultures of the storytellers
Why is it important to know the difference between the different parts of speech?
How does it help your writing to understanding the different kinds of sentences?
How does one know the difference between a central idea, a supporting idea, and
details?
How is a plot diagram useful?
How does figurative language help create a visual in the reader’s mind?
Learn to analyze the morals and values of Native American legends
Be able to identify how physical geography affects Native American values and spiritual
beliefs
Gain an understanding of how Native Americans view the land
Understand how Native Americans use stories to pass on values, beliefs, history, and
traditions to their young
Write proper sentences
Reading Native American legends and fables
Analyzing the legends and fables for geographical and cultural clues to Native
American culture
Identifying figurative language
Learn to create and use a plot diagram
Acquire and learn to use new vocabulary related to the Native American legends
Become more confident in performing in front of a group (voice/volume/expression
etc)
Learn to identify themes/central ideas, movement of plot, figurative language etc
Pre Unit
Assessment
Formative
Assessment
Summative
Assessment
Standards and
Benchmarks
Resources
Sentence practice
Reading discussions of legends
Analyzing worksheets
Written test on the sentence portion of unit
Oral and written exam on the legend and fable portion of unit
Aero standards for Language Arts 6-8: RL 2, 3, 4
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Native American legend websites
o http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Legends-AB.html
o http://www.indigenouspeople.net/stories.htm
o http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/native-american-myths/
o http://www.native-languages.org/legends.htm
o http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Legends-AB.html
Literature Anthology textbook (brown)
Native American Stories – Joseph Burchach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlHtzU133NI (also a downloaded video in
the unit file)
Attachments
(Reflection)
Lesson Blocks
*Students should take notes throughout this lesson
Lesson 1: Parts of speech review
1. Put the 6 different parts of speech on the board (noun, verb, adverb, adjective, pronoun, proper
noun, propositions and conjunctions) and have students come up and write appropriate words
under each heading – review for accuracy
a. Focus on adverbs: end in “ly”
b. Green book pages, nounts: 36/ pronouns: 59, / verbs: 92, / adj:126 / adv: 134/ propositions:
152, / conjunctions:158
Lesson 2: Sentences
1. Review the parts of a sentence: subject verb object:
a. Green book: 186
2. Review the different types of sentences
a. See SENTENCE LESSON (BELOW)
b. Do exercises in green book187, 190, 191, 193, (198, 199 compound complex lesson)
3. Review kinds of sentences (dec, int. etc)
a. Do the exercise on page 17 of green book for practice – 17
4. Review the different tenses – practice conjugating
Lesson 3: REVIEW Graphic organizers
1. PPT of different types of GOs
a. Styles
b. Uses
2. Lesson on main idea/supporting idea/details/supporting details
a. Format example
b. Types of fruit example
3. Have them make a GO using main ideas etc as the theme with the grammar lessons they’ve been
learning
4. FOCUS: Concept maps
a. Create a concept map of teachers at AISB (some work elementary and secondary, some
work in admin and teaching) – show the various relationships
5. FOCUS: Outlines
6. Show how Prezi works
7. Show how to make GOs on the computer
8. Show how to make outlines on the computer
Lesson 4: Paper test on sentence fluency
Lesson 5: Introductions and background
1. Lesson on what legends/fables/myths/creation/folklore stories are
a. Show examples for each kind and point out elements of each kind
i. Legend: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Legends-AB.html
ii. Creation/Myth: http://www.indigenouspeople.net/stories.htm
iii. Fable: Assops: http://www.aesopfables.com/aesop3.html
b. Elements of each:
Myth
A myth is a traditional story, which may describe the origins of the world and/or of a people. A myth is an attempt to explain
mysteries, supernatural events, and cultural traditions. Sometimes sacred in nature, a myth can involve gods or other creatures,
and, a myth represents reality in dramatic ways.
Folklore/Folktale
Whereas myth has at its core the origins of a people, and is often sacred, folklore is a collection of fictional
tales about people and/or animals. Folktales describe how the main character copes with the events of
everyday life, and the tale may involve crisis or conflict. Superstitions and unfounded beliefs are important
elements in the folklore tradition. The study of folklore is called folkloristics.
Legend
A legend is a story purported to be historical in nature, but without substantiation. Prominent examples include: King Arthur,
Blackbeardand Robin Hood. Where evidence of the existence of actual historical figures exists, figures like King Richardare
legends due in large part to the many stories that have been created about them.
Legend also refers to anything that inspires a body of stories, or anything of lasting importance or fame. The story is handed
down from earlier times, but will continue to evolve with time.
Fables
Very few characters; characters are animated or personified. Anywhere and time is real. Very simple and short plot, but thought
provoking and interesting, and a fable always has a theme or moral message behind it. Fables tend to focus on human strengths
or weaknesses.
Lesson 6: Central ideas, plot diagramming and figurative language
1. Quick review lesson of central idea, supporting idea, detail, supporting detail, theme etc
a. Choose a few stories and have students identify the above
2. Quick review on plot diagram
a. Choose a few stories and have students create a plot diagram
3. Quick review of what figurative language is
a. Choose a few stories and have students identify the figurative language used and how it
enhanced the story
Lesson 7: Legends and Geography
1. Read legends from the websites above and DISCUSS what the story tells you about how the people
relate to the land AND what it tells you about how they live.
2. Discuss why Nature/the land was so important to them
a. Got livelihood from it
b. Spiritual connection
c. All they knew
d. Had a different view of nature’s purpose
3. Discuss how the land influenced how they lived and thought, and what they believed.
a. Discuss what aspects of their culture was directly connected to the land
Lesson 8: Written exam for legends and geography