English Language Arts
Course Outline
Mrs. Carbone Grade 6
 Non-Fiction (Common Core Standards – RI, 1 – 10)
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Biographies and Autobiographies
Informational Texts (newspapers, magazines, websites)
Journals/Diaries
Anecdotes
Skills:
o Make Inferences
o Find Central Ideas
o Find Meanings of Words and Phrases
o Understand Point of View
o Evaluate Arguments
o Compare and Contrast Events
o Find Evidence
 Fiction (Common Core Standards – RL, 1 – 11)
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Historical Fiction
Myths
Legends
Science Fiction
Poetry
Mysteries
Dramas
Fairy Tales
Skills:
o Make Inferences
o Ascertain Central Ideas
o Summarize
o Determine Themes
o Analyze Characters, Setting, Conflict/Resolution, Plot
o Find Meanings of Words and Phrases
o Explain Development of Point of View
o Compare and Contrast Texts in Different Forms
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 Writing (Common Core Standards W, 1 – 11)
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Arguments
Informative/Explanatory Texts
Narratives
Short Research Projects
Responses to Literary Work
Journal Entries
Skills:
o Use Relevant Evidence
o Support Claims
o Develop Topics
o Use Appropriate Grammar, Vocabulary, Capitalization, and Punctuation
o Engage the Reader with Sensory Language
o Use Transition Words to Convey Sequence
o Produce Clear and Coherent Writing
o Plan, Revise, and Edit
o Use Technology to Publish Writing
 Speaking and Listening (Common Core Standards SL, 1 – 6)
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Collaborative Discussions
Diverse Media
Arguments/Claims
Skills:
o Follow Rules for Discussions (eye contact, volume, pronunciation)
o Pose and Respond to Questions
o Understand Multiple Perspectives
o Interpret Information Presented
o Think Analytically
o Address Problems Creatively
o Present Claims and Findings
o Sequence Ideas Logically
o Use Facts and Details to Accentuate Main Ideas
o Adapt Speech to a Variety of Contexts
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 Language (Common Core Standards L, 1 – 6)
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Grammar
Capitalization
Punctuation
Spelling
Sentence Structure
Vocabulary
Figurative Language
Skills:
o Use and Recognize Proper Pronouns
o Maintain Consistency in Style and Tone
o Use Context to Find the Meaning of a Word
o Consult Reference Materials for Pronunciations and Meanings
o Interpret Figures of Speech
o Acquire and Use Grade-Appropriate Words
o Vary Sentence Patterns
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Common Core Modules
Topic
Central Texts
Writing
Tasks
Module 1: Close
Reading and Writing
to Learn
Myths: Not Just
Long Ago
The Lightning Thief,
Rick Riordan
D’Aulaires’ Book of
Greek Myths
The Hero’s Journey
(adapted by EL)
Literary Analysis:
Reading Mythical
Allusions to Deepen
Interpretation of The
Lightning Thief
My Hero’s
Journey Narrative
Module 2: Working
with Evidence
Rules to Live By
Bud Not Buddy,
Christopher Paul Curtis
“Stanford University
Commencement
Address,” Steve Jobs
Argument: How does
Bud use his rules?
Research/Inform: “My
Rules to Live By”
Module 3:
Understanding
Perspectives
The Land of the
Golden Mountain
Dragonwings,
Laurence Yep
Module 4: Research,
Decision Making, and
Forming Positions
Insecticides: Costs vs.
Benefits
Frightful’s Mountain,
Jean Craighead George
“San Francisco’s Old
Chinatown,”
Commissioner Jesse B.
Cook
“The Exterminator,”
Kristen Weir
Literary Analysis:
Author’s Culture and
Perspective
Research Simulation
Position Paper
Newspaper Article
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