Grade:

Unit:

Information Literacy SkillsTheme: Challenges

Theme Information Literacy Skills

ResearchOpportuniti

esWeek 1

Main Selection: Boom TownApproaching: Children at Work: Colonial AmericaOn Level: Children at Work: on the FrontierBeyond: The Work They DidVocabulary/Comprehension: Let’s TradeSocial Studies Link: How to Earn Money!

Making Money

Comprehension Strategy:

Summarize Comprehension

Skill:Sequence FluencyRepeated Reading LiteratureHistorical fiction, nonfiction article Reference/

Research Skills

Evaluating Media p. 150i Graphic Organizers:Sequence Chart, 153B Technology www.macmillanmh.comListening Library:Audio CD:Main SelectionsLeveled ReadersIntervention AnthologyFluency SolutionsCDROMVocabulary PuzzleMakerOnline InstructionMeet the Author/IllustratorComputer Literacy LessonsResearch and Inquiry ActivitiesOral Language Activites

Main Writing:CompareTheme Project:: Investigate: A Problemp. 150h

Other: Self-Selected Theme Project p. 150h

United StreamingWestward Expansion for Students: Mountain Men & Gold SeekersThis video has several segments on just the gold rush.

3 5

Vocabulary and Spelling

ActivitiesWeek 2

Main Selection: Beatrice’s GoatApproaching:Henry Bergh and the ASPCA On Level:John Muir: Friend of Nature Beyond: Alexander Fleming and his Great Discovery Vocabulary and Comprehension: Helping People Help ThemselvesSocial Studies Link: Ugandan Girl Reaches Goal

Making a Difference

Comprehension Strategy:

Make Inferences and Analyze Comprehension

Skill:Cause and Effect FluencyRepeated Reading LiteratureNonfiction article, newspaper articleBiography

Reference/Research Skills

Dictionary p. 206 Graphic

Organizers Cause and Effect p.187b, 201,207,217TText FeatureEditorial p. 217R,217T TechnologyUse online graphic organizer for Cause and Effect p.189More information about author and illustratorMacmillanmh.com

Main WritingAdding Detail p. 198Descriptive Writing p. 216-217Preview and Predict p. 189

OtherNon-profit OrganizationsUgandaASPCAAlexander FlemingJohn Muir

United Streaming:John Muir Grades 6-8

Week 3Main Selection:A Carousel of DreamsApproaching: The Babe and IOn Level: The Year of Miss Agnes Beyond:Amelia and Eleanor Go for a RideVocabulary\Comprehension: Visions of the Future from the PastTest Strategy: On My Own

In Motion

Comprehension Strategy

Making Inferences and Analyze Comprehension

Skill: Fact and Opinion FluencyRepeated Reading Literature: Nonfiction article Reference/

Research SkillsFocus Questions: Why should cities have programs to cut down on air pollution? p. 218 DWhat are some facts about carousels? What are some opinions people have

Main WritingExpository p. 218ABrochure p. 229B

Focus Questions

p. 218C - p.218 D

Daily Writing Promptsp. 218C-128D

Synthesize and Write: Brochure p. 229BDescriptive Writing p. 218JJournal 218J

Picture Prompt/Write

about riding carousels? p. 218DEvaluate Sources p. 229AResearch: Lord Kelvin, Jules Verne, Lee DeFrost, Leondardo da Vinci p. 220Skim and Scan p.225B,226,227, 229R,229TTransportation p. 218JSatellites p. 218J Graphic

OrganizersKWL p. 229A TechnologySee above for research possibilities.

about what you see p. 219Writing Prompts p. 229A-229BGenerate QuestionsSkim and ScanNotetakingSynthesizePublishEvaluate

Week 4Main Selection:The PrinterApproaching:Blizzard HeroesOn Level: Hurricane HeroesBeyond: Earthquake HeroesVocabulary/Comprehension: To The RescueSocial Studies Link: Smokejumpers

Heroes Comprehension Strategy

Making Inferences and Analyze p. 230A p. 233A-233B, 234, 239, 242,259m,259q,259s Comprehension

Skill:Make and Confirm Predictions p. 230A, 234, 235, 240, 243, 251, 253,259n, 259o,259p, 259q,259r,259s,259t FluencyRepeated Reading LiteratureRealistic fiction nonfiction article Reference/

Research SkillsFocus Questions: p. 230C-230D Graphic

OrganizersSequence Chart p. 230JPrediction Chart p. 233, 235 Technologywww.macmillanmh.comListening LibraryFluency Solutions PuzzlemakerOnline Instruction:Meet the

Main Writing Descriptive p230A, 230J, p. 252, 258-259 B

OtherWrite an Introductory Speech p. 258

Author/IllustratorComputer Literacy LessonsResearch and Inquiry Activities Vocab Activities

Week 5Main Selection:Animal ArchitectsApproaching:Amazing Mammal BuildersOn Level:Amazing Bird BuildersBeyond: Amazing Insect and Spider BuildersVocabulary/Comprehension: Web SpinnersOther: Poetry (Limiricks)

Animal Architects

Comprehension Strategy

Summarize 263, 263A,264,270,278,281, 281B,285M, 285N, 285Q, 285S Comprehension

SkillDescription FluencyRepeated Reading Literature/GenreInformational NonfictionPoetryHistorical Fiction p. 260bLimerick p. 282Literary Elements:; Simile, rhythmic pattern p. 282, 285R, 285T Reference/

Research SkillsHow are animals’ home similar to people’s homes? p260c,265How are some animal homes similar to your home? p. 260cCompare the structures of “Web Spinners” with the structure of another animal home. p. 260dDo the mole and the flea both like their homes?Describe some of the many different animal homes. p. 260dFive facts about animals p260iResearch info about different kinds of homes 260jResearch and write facts about animal homes 260jEssential Questions p 268 Graphic

Main Writing

Poetry p260j, 282-285bParagraph for a magazine article p. 260jDescriptive Writing p. 284Writing Trait: Word Choice p. 285

Picture Prompt p261Daily WritingPretend you are a web spinner you have learned about. Write a classified ad to sell your home. p. 260cPretend you could be any size. Write a paragraph describing your home and tell why you would want to live there. p. 260cDescribe an animal home that you would like to build for a pet. List the materials you will use and write steps to build the home. 260dWrite a limerick about an animal’s home. Remember to follow the pattern of rhythm and

OrganizersWord Web about animal homes 260, 263BDescription web 263. 264.267Topic web p. 265Word Web p. 285A TechnologyMedia Literacy p. 270

rhyme of limericks.P260d Imagine you are an animal. Write a description of your home from an animal’s point of view. p260d

Writing trait p. 278Personal Response Journal p. 279Write About It p. 280

Week 6 Review and Assess

Test Strategy

Comprehension

Reference / Research Skills

Technology

Unit Theme: We can use our hearts and minds to meet challenges.Project: Student Questions: What kinds of challenges do you like?What hard challenges have you faced?Who are some people who have overcome great challenges?

Research Component

Activities Skills Materials

Appreciation Students think of a

Student realizes the need for information after a viewing, reading, listening or other type of sensory experience.

kind of challenge that they would like to investigate.

PresearchStudents establish a focus by developing an overview of the topic and exploring relationships.

Brainstorm to identify people and library resources that have information on the challenge they chose. People may include friends, family members, neighbors, teachers, and other community members. Have students identify people who would provide the best information and would be available for an interview.

SearchStudents plan and implement a search strategy by identifying information providers, selecting information resources and tools, and seeking relevant information.

Students do library research and contact the sources they identified to set up interviews. Students may find information about their challenge in photographs, videos, diaries, journals, and letters. Students should take notes or records any interviews (with permission) so that they can use the information later.

InterpretationStudents interpret the information they have gathered to make new meaning. They assess the usefulness of their information and reflect on the information to develop personal meaning.CommunicationStudents apply their information to construct and present their new knowledge.

Students share what they learned by making a class scrapbook about the challenges they investigated. Students plan a design or layout, use their notes to write descriptive

paragraphs about the challenge and illustrated the paragraphs with photographs, drawings, posters, or other visuals.

EvaluationStudents think about and evaluate both their process and their product during research and at the conclusion of research.

Teacher assesses the research process and presentation.Student uses checklist and scoring rubric to assess project.

Student and Teacher checklist, 289KRubric, 289L

Task Skills Procedures/ProductsPractice using tools in a paint program

Learn to scan a picture and save to desktop.