The following is a tentative syllabus for the cardinal language arts program. The time schedule, units and/or projects may change according to the needs of the students and the teacher. Please check your child's assignment notebook for daily assignments.
1st Qtr Literature
(ends 11/09)
Individual reading evaluations
Group study of Ernest Shackleton's voyage to the Antarctic, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World.
Individual readings of extraordinary survival stories to present to the group.
Readers Workshop - Challenge/survival
(Students will select one of the following)
The Cay - Theodore Taylor
Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Banners in the Sky - James Ullman
Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O' Dell
Touching Spirit Bear - by Ben Mikaelsen
Will teach book selection, make personal connections, predict/support, confirm/adjust predictions, visualization, characterizations and vocabulary.
Will include literature circles, journaling and project work. Field Trip: REI rock climbing wall Survival simulation.
Individual novel - student chosen survival book to be presented orally to the class.
Individual project to be determined for this quarter.
2nd Qtr Literature
(ends 1/07))
Readers Workshop: Myths and Legends of ancient Rome and Greece
Students will read selections from various texts and engage in group and individual activities and projects.
Students will understand the history and relevance of myths and legends in literature in connection with our world history studies.
Build vocabulary, understand elements of literature such as story elements and figurative language. Students will analyze, interpret and synthesize information and ideas.
Will compare and contrast, understand cultural perspective, assess validity of information and differentiate between reality and fantasy.
Student will be required to read one book set in ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome and present it to the class.
Student project will be to write an original myth and present it to the class.
Attend Seattle Children's Theater production of Jason and the Golden Fleece on Oct. 26.
All class study: Students will read Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol in class, study the life of the author and the society of the period.
Class will attend a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Act theater- date to be determined
3rd Qtr Literature
(ends 04/02)
Reader's Workshop - Middle Ages
(Students will select one of the following)
Crispin by Avi
Tales of King Arthur by Andrew Land
Arthur: The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Students will evaluate the text in the context of our world studies on the medieval and renaissance eras.
Students will differentiate between reality and fantasy. Will analyze the theme, plot, conflict voice and style.
A project will be required and will be determined later.
Reader's Workshop - Asia, Middle East, India Unit
(Students will select one of the following)
The Good Earth by Pear Buck
Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Garth Nix
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
Students will connect these historical novels with world studies on China, India and the Middle East.
Will identify the social and cultural characteristics that define these regions and understand how attitudes and beliefs influence the people in different regions of the world.
Will analyze, compare and contrast, describe characters and settings of these novels.
Students may choose to read a book set in either of these time locations or time eras...Asia, Middle East, India or Medieval/Renaissance times. Present to the class.
4th Qtr Literature
(ends 06/13)
Various short readings from different sources
Readers Workshop - tolerance/prejudice unit
(students will select book from one of the following:)
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki
Anne Frank, Dairy of a Young Girl
Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic
Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang
Will relate to our world studies of modern history, the Holocaust, WWI and WWII, China's cultural revolution Will address issues of persecution, injustice and cultural awareness
Will teach these reading strategies: determining relevant information, historical context, problem/climax/resolution, author's point of view.
Student's will read another non-fiction work set during this time period to present to the class.
Writing and vocabulary building
In all Readers Workshop units we will have literature connected writing and vocabulary building assignments
Writing skills and spelling
Will be taught in leveled groups by Frau J and Mr. Cosgrove. We will determine the skill level of the students and build the curriculum around their needs.
