YEAR 7 ENGLISH UNIT PLAN: SKELLIG

VELS Strand Disciplinebased learning VELS Domain English VELS Dimension READING Standard and level Discipline-based learning (English, Level 4.5) Learning Focus Improve reading skills and comprehension Improve vocabulary Students read and view imaginative, informative and persuasive texts Exploration of the theme: imaginary friends that explore ideas and information (why do we have them related to challenging topics, themes and issues. Character analysis based on textual references. What does the text tell us about They identify the ideas, themes and them? issues explored in these texts, and provide supporting evidence to Exploration of theme: schooling justify their interpretations. They produce personal responses, for example, interpretive pieces and character profiles. Learning Activities and resources Active reading Students read text aloud in class, picked at random. Create vocab lists that students add new words to as they read in class. Use active reading worksheet (fill in the missing words) to test reading comprehension and improve vocab. Character analysis Group discussion: What do we know about the main characters? Provide text references as thought starters. Groups present their ideas to class to build knowledge. Then create annotated poster of the protagonist using direct quotes from book. Imaginary friends theme discussion Class discussion on why we might have imaginary friends. Why would Michael/Mina have one? Could they be good or bad? Schooling theme discussion Divide class into groups, each with their own chapter range. Use text to ID differences between Mina and Michaels schooling in the book. Synthesize results on whiteboard. Schooling analysis Class split into 2 groups home school and traditional school. Each group mindmaps advantages and disadvantages for this school. Information them organised into pros and cons on whiteboard. Disciplinebased learning English WRITING Discipline-based learning (English, Level 4.5) Students produce, in print and electronic forms, texts for a variety of purposes, including speculating, hypothesising, persuading and reflecting. They write extended narratives or scripts with attention to characterisation, consistency of viewpoint and development of a resolution. They write arguments that state and justify a personal viewpoint; reports incorporating challenging themes and issues; personal reflections on, or evaluations of, texts presenting challenging themes and issues. They use a range of punctuation accurately to support meaning, including the use of ellipses, dashes, colons and semi-colons. They edit their writing for clarity, coherence and consistency of style, and proofread and correct spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. Narrative essay technique with free reign to be imaginative Exploration of the theme: imaginary friends. Teach proofreading skills and value of this technique How to argue points of view you dont necessarily agree with Persuasive essay writing technique Imaginary Friends Essay Using newly learned essay writing technique and the thought-starters from the imaginary friends theme discussion, write an essay the imaginary friend you used to have, or the one you wish you had. Use worksheet provided to help with essay structure and content. Proofing Get students to take home their friends first draft of imaginary friend essay to proofread. Students then rewrite essay based on proofing comments before handing in to teacher for marking. Preparing argumentative thinking Crazy statements worksheet 10 inflammatory statements like chocolate is good for your teeth and monkeys are smarter than humans. Students have to argue for these (obviously incorrect) points. Presented orally in class. Schooling essay Teach persuasive essay structure. Using information from schooling analysis activity, write a persuasive essay on the why either home schooling or traditional schooling is better. Crazy statements worksheet Summative: Essay on imaginary friend. Persuasive essay on schooling Essay writing technique Analysis of narrative essay structure intro, body, conclusion, topic sentences. Formative: First draft of essay on imaginary friend. Assessment (Formative and Summative)

Formative: Reading aloud of text Fill in the missing words worksheet Contribution to character analysis discussion Contribution to imaginary friends discussion Contribution to schooling discussion Contribution to group brainstorm.

Summative: Annotated character analysis poster

Disciplinebased learning

English

SPEAKING & LISTENING

Discipline-based learning (English, Level 4.5) Students express creative and analytical responses to texts, themes and issues. They identify main issues in a topic and provide supporting detail and evidence for opinions. They critically evaluate the spoken language of others and select, prepare and present spoken texts for specific audiences and purposes.

Teach mindmapping Teaching debating technique Presentation skills

Schooling debate Teach debating process. Split class up into individual roles (researchers, speakers, judges, etc). Students work on their roles, then class debate is held.

Summative: Individual performance in class debate