Longview ISD
Page 1
6th Grade Unit 6:
Across Cultures/Oral Traditions
TAKS Objective:
3, 4
Suggested Time Frame:
TEKS:
6th Six Weeks
6.4B, 6.12E, 6.13F,
Unit Overview
Students will explore folk tales, fables, myths, and legends from around the world.
Enduring Understandings
 Oral traditions allow the past to become
intermeshed with the present.
 Storytelling acts as a means of
preserving cultural heritage.
Essential Questions
 What can be learned from stories of
ancestors?
 Why is it important to learn from other
cultures?
Language of Instruction
customs
folklore
genre
mythology
myths
oral tradition
research
Relationships and/or Connections that
should emerge
Students will learn how the past guides
the future. See Real World Links, p. xxvi,
McDougal Littell Literature.
Core Vocabulary
devotion
sentry
discourage
shabby
dismal
slate
engage
solution
feeble
steward
flourish
sufficient
ford
taper
gracious
tarpaulin
helm
technical
homely
tempt
resolve
treason
retort
trigger
revive
tyrant
rival
venture
sacred
vigor
Products students will develop
Select from:
 Timeline
 Role playing
 Book projects
 Diorama
 Inspiration
 Word Processing
 Storytelling Festival
 PowerPoint
Writing Purpose
Research/Report Writing
Focus and Coherence
Apply sentence structure techniques to
report writing and research
presentations
 Newspaper articles
 Surveys
 Applications
 Resumes
Organization
Writing Process
 Use technology to support writing
process
 Review rubric attributes for
categorical (research) writing
Depth of Development
 Focus: Categorical/Research
Writing
 Selecting materials related to
research question and thesis
sentence
 Develop ideas within and across

paragraphs
Use format (bold headings)
clues to guide readers
Voice
Share:
 Variety of published examples of
compare/contrast persuasive writing
 Respond by:
 Student partners compare traits
 Compare story characters’
traits
 Create graphic organizers
 Write paragraphs that reflect
comparison and persuasive
efforts
Use points of view from different
perspective
Conventions
Review 6th grade expectations including:
A14, A16, A17, A18, A19, B10, C20,
C21, C25, C26, C40, I2
8/27/2007
DRAFT 2
Longview ISD
Page 2
6th Grade Unit 6:
Across Cultures/Oral Traditions
TAKS Objective:
3, 4
Suggested Time Frame:
TEKS:
6th Six Weeks
6.4B, 6.12E, 6.13F,
Unit Overview
Students will explore folk tales, fables, myths, and legends from around the world.
Text Resources
Choose from:
Literature Anthology
 The Boy Who Flew
 The Bamboo Beads
 The Story of Ceres and Proserpina
 The Disobedient Child
 King Thrushbeard
 The Frog Who Wanted to be a Singer
 In the Land of Small Dragon
 The Legend of the Hummingbird
 The Living Kuan-yin
 Why Monkeys Live in Trees
 Where the Girl Rescued Her Brother
 The Wolf and the House Dog
6th grade novels
 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
 The Swiss Family Robinson
 The Cay
 My Side of the Mountain
 Where the Red Fern Grows
 Number the Stars
 The Secret Garden
Enrichment Workstations
Whole group
Small group
Paired learning (partners)
Library
Computer Lab
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Writing/Grammar
Vocabulary
Reading Skills
Sustained Silent Reading
Poetry
Computer
Library Research
Technology & Electronic Resources
 TEA website: interactive TAKS
practice
 Online reading resources:
www.Kidsolr.com
Selected Children’s Stories
 Variations of The Night Before
Christmas, e.g. Texan, Cajun, etc.
 Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter
 In the Land of Small Dragon
 The Five Chinese Brothers
 Arachne
 Follow the Drinking Gourd
 What Teachers Are Doing When
Nobody is Looking
Other (i.e., Speakers, Field Trips)
WRITING MINILESSONS:
NOTES:
 Online video clips
 Internet research
 www.mcdougallittell.com
Speaking/ Listening Skills/Processes
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6.1A
6.1B
6.1C
6.1D
6.2A
6.2D
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6.2E
6.3A
6.3B
6.3C
6.4A
6.4C
6.5A
6.5B
6.5C
6.5D
6.5E
6.5F
Reading Skills and Processes
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6.6A
6.6B
6.6C
6.7A
6.7B
6.7C
6.7D
6.7E
6.8A
6.8B
6.8C
6.9A
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6.9B
6.9C
6.9D
6.9E
6.10K
6.10M
6.11A
6.11B
6.11D
6.12B
6.12D
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6.13A
6.13B
6.13C
6.13D
6.13E
6.13G
6.13H
6.13I
6.14A
6.14B
6.14C
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6.19E
6.20B
6.20C
6.20D
6.20E
6.20F
6.20G
6.21A
6.21B
Writing Skills/Processes
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6.15F
6.15H
6.16A
6.16B
6.16C
6.16D
6.16E
6.16F
6.16G
6.18A
6.18B
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6.18C
6.18D
6.18E
6.18F
6.18G
6.18H
6.18I
6.19A
9.19B
6.19C
6.19D
Viewing & Representing Skills/Processes
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6.22A
6.22B
6.22C
6.23A
6.23B
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6.23C
6.23D
6.24A
6.24B
6.24C
Method(s) of Assessment
Observation
A Observation evaluated by peers
B Students engaged in learning activities
C Direct questioning
D Observation of performance or process
Constructed Response
I.
TEKS Check
II. Open-ended
R2R:
“Mississippi’s Displaced Dolphins
Rescued”, and “Find the Right Sports
Program for Your Kids”
III.
Essay
IV. Research Paper
V. Log / Journal
VI. Story / Play / Poem
VII.
Model / Map / Video
VIII. Oral / Visual / Multimedia Presentation
Selected Response
1 Fill-in-the-blank test
2 Matching test
3 Multiple choice test
4 True/False test
8/27/2007
DRAFT 2
Longview ISD
Page 3
Sixth Grade ELA 6th Six Weeks Summary
In this brief summary, dates will fluctuate according to your students,
calendar, and special events.
Connections
Suggested: 5 Days

Skills: Review various TEKS addressed during semester

Modeling: What Teachers Are Doing When Nobody is Looking

Reading: Choose from the collection of short stories, poetry, etc. in McDougall Littell's The Language of Literature

Novel Study: (can choose from the following): Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry; The Swiss Family Robinson; The Cay;
Number the Stars; My Side of the Mountain; The Secret Garden; Where the Red Fern Grows

Writing: Begin Prewriting (brainstorming) for Research/Report Writing
Suggested: 5 Days

Skills: Produce research projects and reports for various audiences

Modeling: Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters

Reading: Choose from the collection of short stories, poetry, etc. in McDougall Littell's The Language of Literature

Novel Study: (can choose from following): Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry; The Swiss Family Robinson; The Cay; Number
the Stars; My Side of the Mountain; The Secret Garden; Where the Red Fern Grows

Writing: Continue Prewriting (mapping ideas using graphic organizer) for Research/Report writing

Suggested Writing: Personal News Paper (See unit 6 resources)
Suggested: 5 Days

Skills: Produce research projects and reports for various audiences

Modeling: The Five Chinese Brothers

Reading: Choose from the collection of short stories, poetry, etc. in McDougall Littell's The Language of Literature

Novel Study(can choose from the following): Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry; The Swiss Family Robinson; The Cay;
Number the Stars; My Side of the Mountain; The Secret Garden; Where the Red Fern Grows

Writing: Continue Prewriting (begin writing rough draft) for Research/Report writing.
Suggested: 5 Days

Skills: Determine distinctive characteristics of cultures through wide reading

Modeling: Arachne

Reading: Choose from the collection of short stories, poetry, etc. in McDougall Littell's The Language of Literature

Novel Study: (can choose from the following): Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry; The Swiss Family Robinson; The Cay;
Number the Stars; My Side of the Mountain; The Secret Garden; Where the Red Fern Grows

Writing: Complete rough draft. Editing and revising Research/Report writing
Suggested: 5 Days

Skills: Determine distinctive characteristics of cultures through wide reading

Modeling: Follow the Drinking Gourd

Reading: Choose from the collection of short stories, poetry, etc. in McDougall Littell's The Language of Literature

Novel Study: (can choose from the following): Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry; The Swiss Family Robinson; The Cay;
Number the Stars; My Side of the Mountain; The Secret Garden; Where the Red Fern Grows

Writing: Publishing (final copy) of Research/Report writing
Suggested: 5 Days

Skills: Author’s Point of View

Modeling: The Jolly Postman

Reading: Choose from the collection of short stories, poetry, etc. in McDougall Littell's The Language of Literature

Novel Study: (can choose from the following): Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry; The Swiss Family Robinson; The Cay;
Number the Stars; My Side of the Mountain; The Secret Garden; Where the Red Fern Grows

Writing: Journal Writing
Suggested: 2 Days

Skills: Prepare and review for semester exams

Modeling: Oh, The Places You Can Go
8/27/2007
DRAFT 2