Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: Speak Up, Speak Out Name: Josephine Lee

Content Area: English Language Arts Grade Level: 8
CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

RL.8.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot;
provide an objective summary of the text

RL.8.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word
choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts

W.8.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences

W.8.5
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new
approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed

SL.8.2
Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g. visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g. social,
commercial, political) behind its presentation

L8.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Big Ideas/Unit Goals:

What is poetry?

What is the significance of identity?

What does creative self-expression look like?

How can we promote social awareness?

Unit Summary:

In this unit we will be exploring who we are and social issues that matter to us. This unit is designed for an 8th grade English class. There are many different
ways to introduce ourselves and present the self to others - likes/dislikes, traditions, family, past actions, etc. What we care about and the things we are willing
to take a stand for sheds light into our character. For the next several weeks we will be dissecting poetry as a means of expressing ourselves and social activism.

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level: Brainstorming Formative: Detective Highlight Summative: Research Poem

Students will access a word garden to brainstorm
what they think/know a poem/poetry is. This will
create a baseline of understanding
Students will analyze selected poetry and be tasked
with locating different figurative language
presented to check for understanding.
Students will work individually to research a social
issue or topic that they feel strongly about/ is relevant
to them / they are interested. Students will then take
their findings and create a poem using elements of
poetry from the previous lessons to convey their
knowledge and present concerns.

Lesson 1 (Teacher Lecture)

Student Learning Objective:
Students will be able to
identify main ideas,
themes, and moods of
poetry and various
components of figurative
speech.
Acceptable Evidence
(Assessments):
Flashcard and quizzes
where students are
successfully able to identify
poetry terms
Lesson Activities:
Introduction lecture to spoken word poetry with different examples. Students will be asked to read
through a transcript and then view the spoken word poetry video and asked to identify elements of the
poem relating to meaning and the conveying of such (ie tone, pauses, emphasis, gestures, word choice,
figures of speech used).

Lesson 2 (Webercise/ iPad Lesson)

Student Learning Objective: Acceptable Evidence: Lesson Activities:

Students will work
collaboratively to analyze
poetry and provide
constructive criticism.
Completed webercise Students will define additional poetry terms in their own words and research other styles of poetry.
documents
Students will work in groups to construct a poem using at least 3 of the components of figures of speech
Group assessment and discussed.
incorporation of previous
and new terms in short
group project of poetry
construction
Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)
Student Learning Objective: Acceptable Evidence: Lesson Activities:

Students will begin the
process of synthesizing
their research into a
creative research poem to
present to the class.
Exit slips and journal Double-entry journal for students to think deeply about the information from their research and how
entries detailing research they would like to convey what they have learned and how best to express their concerns.
topic
Rough draft constructive criticism using “I like”, “I wonder”, and “what if” statements in carousel activity
Rough draft of poems
relating to research,
showing thoughtfulness
and integrating poetic
devices

Unit Resources:

Sarah Kay Spoken Word: https://youtu.be/BIAQENsqcuM?t=22

Sarah Kay & Phil Kaye Spoke Word Duo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esgfG3BoAPc

Darius Simpson & Scout Bostley - Lost Voices https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpPASWlnZIA

Useful Websites:

Exploring spoken word: https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/exploring-spoken-word-poetry/

Poetry topics: http://wanderingthoughtslane.blogspot.com/2013/03/write-about-this.html