Grade 6 Language Arts

Required Reading:

6th Grade Unit 5: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. ISBN 9781416936473

Required Materials:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Note cards (15 minimum)
• Unit 5: the novel Hatchet
• Nonfiction informational book
• Web page from website
• Envelope
• Postage stamp
• Product to make comparison

Syllabus:

Unit 1 - Reading Skills and Strategies

Objectives:

• Practice to improve reading fluency and comprehension.
• Identify the complete subject and complete predicate.
• Use the context to determine word meanings.
• Identify the simple subject and the simple predicate in a sentence.
• Read aloud with a partner, practicing fluency and comprehension.
• Listen with comprehension when others read aloud.
• Identify compound subjects and predicates.
• Identify an author’s purpose and establish purposes for reading.
• Spell words with the ie pattern.
• Identify the genres of fiction and nonfiction literature.
• State the main idea and summarize texts.
• Summarize, make inferences, and use text evidence from fiction.
• Identify the basics of writing a paragraph and an informative essay.
• Spell words with the ei pattern.
• Brainstorm ideas, use a graphic organizer, and write a paragraph.
• Revise, edit, and publish an informative essay.

Lessons:

• Read With Fluency and Comprehension
• Improve Reading Comprehension
• Read Aloud and Listen With Comprehension
• Determine an Author’s Purpose
• Identify Genres of Literature
• Summarize and Make Inferences Using Text Evidence
• Identify Topic Sentences and Write an Informative Essay
• Brainstorm, Organize, and Draft a Paragraph
• Revise, Edit, and Publish an Informative Essay

Unit 2 - Elements of Fiction

Objectives:

• Identify the elements of characterization, setting, and conflict in fiction.
• Identify plot elements, point of view, and theme in fiction.
• Analyze point of view, suspense, and plot development.
• Analyze different uses of words and phrases.
• Write a conclusion to a story.
• Identify and compare genres of fiction texts.
• Watch a video and make comparisons to the text.
• Analyze a fiction story to determine genre and plot development.
• Make inferences about fiction texts, including the theme.
• Make inferences about setting and dialect.
• Paraphrase and make inferences from fiction.
• Identify the meanings of common affixes and roots.
• Use a word’s prefix or root to determine its meaning.

Lessons:

• Identify Characterization, Setting, and Conflict
• Identify Plot Elements, Point of View, and Theme
• Analyze an Excerpt of "The Prince and the Pauper"
• Compare Forms of “The Real Princess
• Analyze Plot in an Excerpt of "The Princess and the Goblin
• Infer Theme in an Excerpt of "Little Women"
• Analyze Setting and Dialect in an Excerpt of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
• Paraphrase and Infer Ideas in “Whitewashing the Fence”
• Review the Meanings of Affixes and Roots

Unit 3 - Classical Literature and Writing an Imaginative Story

Objectives:

• Classify traditional and classical literature.
• Identify stylistic elements and their purposes.
• Analyze a fable for stylistic elements.
• Analyze elements of a myth.
• Analyze literature from various cultures.
• Plan an imaginative story by brainstorming.
• Demonstrate the function of helping verbs and verbs.
• Develop a plot diagram to plan a fiction story.
• Create complex characters with physical, social, and emotional traits.
• Spell regular and irregular verbs correctly.
• Incorporate a setting and dialogue to develop a story.
• Use fiction-writing techniques to write a draft of an imaginative story.
• Identify the meanings of common Greek and Latin prefixes.
• Revise and edit an imaginative story.
• Get feedback and publish an imaginative story.

Lessons:

• Identify Stylistic Elements in Classical Literature
• Analyze Stylistic Elements in “The Apple of Contentment”
• Analyze the Myth “How Perseus Conquered the Sea”
• Analyze the Indian Folktale “The Gold-Giving Serpent”
• Plan an Imaginative Story (Part 1)
• Plan an Imaginative Story (Part 2)
• Write Dialogue and Descriptions
• Write an Imaginative Story
• Revise, Edit, and Publish a Story

Unit 4 - Poetry and Drama

Objectives:

• Recognize imagery, sensory language, and theme in poetry.
• Spell words that contain the vowel digraphs ou and ough.
• Recognize and describe the effect of sound devices in poetry.
• Explain how figurative language contributes to the meaning of a poem.
• Describe different styles of poetry.
• Explain the purpose of graphic elements in poetry.
• Distinguish between count and noncount nouns.
• Analyze graphic elements in poetry.
• Write a haiku and a free verse poem.
• Use correct subject-verb agreement in sentences.
• Revise, edit, and share poems.
• Write titles and compound sentences correctly.
• Describe the basic elements of drama.
• Read and make inferences about drama.
• Compare a film scene from The Wizard of Oz to the play script.

Lessons:

• Identify Structures in Poetry
• Analyze Sound Devices in Poetry
• Analyze Figurative Language in Poetry
• Examine Styles of Poetry
• Analyze Graphic Elements; Write Poetry; Use Correct Subject-Verb Agreement
• Revise Poetry; Write Compound Sentences and Titles Correctly
• Identify Elements of Drama
• Compare a Drama Script and Film

Unit 5 -The Novel Hatchet and Writing a Character Analysis Essay

Objectives:

• Make predictions and generate questions before reading.
• Identify flash back and use new vocabulary.
• Analyze sensory details and figurative language.
• Use context and a dictionary to determine word meanings.
• Confirm genre predictions.
• Recognize and explain sarcasm in a literary text.
• Analyze conflicts and summarize events.
• Make inferences about the characters and events.
• Illustrate a scene from the text.
• Make inferences about details and foreshadowing.
• Define and recall words by using context.
• Analyze character development in a story.
• Take notes and annotate to write an essay.
• Compare ideas in two texts of different genres.
• Make conclusions and discuss a fiction story.
• Analyze a character’s reactions.
• Revise and edit an essay.

Lessons:

• Make Predictions, Chapter 1
• Explain Figurative Language, Chapters 2–3
• Analyze Sarcasm and Plot Elements, Chapters 4–5
• Determine Main Ideas and Infer, Chapters 6–8
• Analyze Details and Foreshadowing, Chapters 9–11
• Write a Character Analysis, Chapters 12–14
• Compare Two Genres, Chapters 15–16
• Make Inferences and Draw Conclusions, Chapters 17–18
• Revise and Edit Essay, Chapter 19 and Epilogue

Unit 6 - Informational Texts and Write a Book Report

Objectives:

• Analyze informational text.
• Select and read an informational book for a report.
• Use text evidence to make inferences.
• Recognize and analyze analogies.
• Analyze figurative language in informational text.
• Identify different parts of a book’s construction.
• Read an informational book and write a book report
• Identify and write active and passive verb sentences.
• Identify and write prepositions and prepositional phrases.
• Identify and use pronouns correctly.
• Compare genres on similar topics.
• Analyze a technical text with graphics.
• Use parentheses correctly.
• Revise and edit a book report.
• Combine sentences in various ways.

Lessons:

• Analyze Informational Text
• Make Inferences About Informational Text
• Analyze Figurative Language in Informational Text
• Identify Parts of a Book and Write a Book Report
• Write Passive Verb Sentences and Prepositional Phrases
• Use Pronouns Correctly
• Compare Genres: Memoir, Autobiography, and Informational Text
• Analyze a Technical Text; Use Parentheses
• Combine Sentences; Revise and Edit a Book Report

Unit 7 - Research and Writing a Report

Objects:

• Understand audience, purpose, and guidelines for writing a research report.
• Decide on a research topic and generate questions.
• Develop a research plan; evaluate and cite sources.
• Evaluate sources for persuasive devices and write notecards.
• Interpret and summarize information from graphics.
• Cite a source in a paragraph.
• Paraphrase and summarize information on notecards.
• Use an ellipsis and write quotations correctly.
• Organize information, create an outline, and reformulate the research question.
• Write body paragraphs using topic sentences.
• Formulate a thesis statement and write an analysis.
• Identify and use adjectives and adverbs correctly.
• Write an introduction and a conclusion for a research report.
• Type, revise, edit, and publish a research report.

Lessons:

• Plan for Writing a Research Paper
• Develop a Research Plan and Find Credible Sources
• Analyze for Persuasive Devices and Write Source Information
• Interpret Graphics and Cite Sources in Paragraphs
• Write Notecards and Quotations
• Organize Notecards and Create an Outline
• Write the Body Paragraphs; Formulate a Thesis
• Write an Introduction and a Conclusion
• Type, Revise, Edit, and Publish the Research Report

Unit 8 - Persuasion and Write a Persuasive Essay

Objectives:

• Understand the meaning and use of persuasion.
• Define and analyze rhetorical devices and appeals.
• Identify and write logical fallacies.
• Evaluate claims in a political speech.
• Write an analysis using evidence from the text.
• Write and punctuate complex sentences correctly.
• Analyze a persuasive essay that uses an anecdote.
• Identify problem/solution and classification organizations.
• Analyze an essay for tone, structural elements, and persuasion.
• Choose a persuasive topic and formulate a thesis.
• Research and evaluate evidence to answer a claim.
• Write an anecdote that supports a persuasive claim.
• Make an outline and write a draft.
• Use subordinate clauses to write claims and reasons.
• Type, revise, and edit a persuasive essay.

Lessons:

• Use Persuasion
• Identify Logical Fallacies
• Evaluate Claims in President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Speech
• Write and Punctuate Complex Sentences
• Analyze an Essay With an Anecdote
• Analyze Problem/Solution and Classification Organizations
• Choose a Persuasive Topic; Research and Write an Anecdote
• Make an Outline; Write an Introduction and Conclusion
• Type, Revise, and Edit a Persuasive Essay

Unit 9 - Analyze, Create, and Present Media

Objectives:

• Identify elements used in media.
• Analyze purpose, audience, appeals, and graphics in media.
• Recognize and analyze effective public speaking skills.
• Listen to, summarize, and evaluate a video presentation.
• Discuss answers and collaborate with a peer.
• Practice presentation skills.
• Evaluate a speaker’s presentation skills.
• Create a multimedia presentation.
• Use commas with coordinate adjectives and interjections, and in a list.
• Use the correlative conjunctions neither/nor and either/or correctly.
• Avoid vague pronoun references.
• Use commonly confused words correctly.
• Write initials, abbreviations, and acronyms correctly.
• Use possessives correctly.
• Revise and edit a persuasive essay.
• Present a multimedia project.

Lessons:

• Identify Multimedia Elements
• Analyze Elements in Media
• Analyze Effective Public Speaking Skills
• Evaluating a Video of a Speech
• Practice Presentation Skills; Create a Multimedia Project
• Use Commas and Correlative Conjunctions Correctly
• Correct Pronoun References and Confusing Words
• Write Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Initials Correctly
• Review Possessives and Edit a Persuasive Essay; Present a Multimedia Project

Unit 10 - Listening, Discussing, and Composing

Objectives:

• Define vocabulary pertaining to listening skills.
• Identify purposes and skills for effective listening.
• Listen to and follow a set of instructions to make a craft.
• Write a procedure and give oral instructions to make a craft.
• Follow a format to write a personal letter.
• Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast two items.
• Use a compare-and-contrast organization to write a business letter of an opinion.
• Use informational sources to find synonyms and antonyms of a word.
• Distinguish the correct denotation and connotation of a word in context.
• Determine main ideas and make inferences.
• Define and identify direct and indirect objects.
• Define and identify transitive and intransitive verbs.
• Write a memoir, and revise and edit it.
• Use relative pronouns and relative adverbs correctly.
• Engage in teamwork and a formal discussion.

Lessons:

• Identifying Listening Skills and Purposes
• Following and Giving Instructions; Writing a Procedure
• Composing a Personal or Friendly Letter
• Comparing Two Products; Writing a Business Letter
• Analyzing an Excerpt of Henry Ford’s Autobiography
• Analyzing an Essay About Autonomous Cars
• Identifying Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
• Composing a Memoir; Using Relative Pronouns and Relative Adverbs
• Engaging in Teamwork and Discussions