Unit

Fiction--Song of the Trees--Novella

Local Objective

At the end of this unit, students will be able to...

a.  Analyze characteristics of different formes of prose, including the short story, novel, and novella.

b.  Make generalizations.

c.  Analyze different forms of fiction, and describe the main characteristics of each form.

d.  Analyze the importance of the setting to the mood, tone, and meaning of the text.

e.  Determine the meaning of vocabulary.

 

Objective used to evaluate students


Yes

Assessment Activity

1.  The students will be assessed by participating in classroom discussions and completing independent activities on the objectives of analyzing characteristics of different forms of prose, making generalizations, analyzing different forms of fiction, describing the main characters, analyzing the importance of setting the mood/tone/meaning of the text, and determining the meaning of vocabulary.

2.  At the end of the selection, students will complete a selection test to evaluate the mastery of analyzing characteristics of different forms of prose (questions 11,20), making generalizations (questions 2,4,6,8,12), analyzing different forms of fiction (questions 10,14), describing the main characters (questions 3,5,7,9,13), analyzing the importance of setting the mood/tone/meaning of the text (question 1), and determining the meaning of vocabulary (questions 15-19).

Level of Expectation

80%

List of concepts and Evaluation Types


ConceptEvaluation Type
Wall Chart of Story ElementsPE
Plot DiagramCR
"Response and Analysis" QuestionsCR
Vocabulary Check WorksheetMC
Selection TestPE

Learning Activity

The students will:

1.  Participate in survey.  Explain why you rated the statements the way you did.

2.  Read the selection vocabulary, determine their meanings, and read sample sentences.  Complete a vocabulary check worksheet. (handout 21,197,198)

3.  Participate in a discussion about the "Great Depression".

4.  Read the fiction, novella story entitled "Song of the Trees" by Mildred D. Taylor.  Participate in discussions during the reading.  Notice the differences in the way this work was wrote compared to earlier stories read.

5.  Complete a "Response and Analysis" set of questions.  (p. 524)  Retell the story events during this process.

6.  Complete a plot diagram. (general handout)

7.  Complete a study guide. (handout)

8.  Take a selection test on the fiction, novella story entitled "Song of the Trees" by Mildred D. Taylor.

9.  As a group, students will complete wall chart covering story elements.

 

Instructional Method

The teacher will:

1.  Guide students by having them participate in a survey.  They will rate on a scale 1 to 4, the following statements. a) People gain self-respect by standing up for their beliefs.  b) Given the chance, most people will never take advantage of another person.  c) Some people are treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.  d) Nobody owns the earth.  Have students explain why they rated the statements the way they did.

2.  Introduce the selection vocabulary words, meanings, and sample sentences.  Assign a vocabulary check worksheet. (handout 21,197,198)

3.  Guide students during the discussion of the "Great Depression."

4.  Guide students during the reading of the fiction, novella story entitled "Song of the Trees" by Mildred D. Taylor.  Guide discussion throughout the reading.

5.  Discuss and model the "Response and Analysis" questions.  Guide students in the retelling of the story events.

6.  Discuss and model how to complete a plot diagram. (general handout)

7.  Discuss the study guide for the selection test. (handout)

8. Review selection test and complete wall chart covering all story elements.

Content Standards

CA 2, CA 3

Process Standards

2.4, 3.8, 3.7, 1.5, 3.5, 3.4, 1.6, 3.1

Resources

Holt Elements of Literature

Marker Board

Correction Exercise

Tutoring

Peer Coaching

Enrichment Exercise

Independent Reading

Special Needs

Peer Coaching

Tutoring

Modified Assignments

GLEs v1.0


GLE CodeDisciplineStrandBig IdeaConceptGrade Level/CourseGLE
CA/1/1/E/07/aCommunication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processVocabularyGrade 7Develop vocabulary through text, using - roots and affixes - context clues - glossary, dictionary and thesaurus
CA/1/1/F/07/aCommunication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPre-ReadingGrade 7Apply pre-reading strategies to aid comprehension - access prior knowledge - preview - predict - set a purpose and rate for reading
CA/1/1/H/07/aCommunication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPost-ReadingGrade 7Apply post-reading skills to comprehend and interpret text - question to clarify - reflect - analyzedraw conclusions - summarize - paraphrase
CA/1/2/A/07/aCommunication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesText FeaturesGrade 7Locate - interpret and apply information in title, table of contents and glossary - and recognize the format of fiction, poetry and drama in grade-level text
CA/1/2/C/07/aCommunication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesText ElementsGrade 7Use details from text to - identify plot and sub-plot, theme and various types of conflict - analyze cause and effect - identify and explain point of view and mood - determine how an incident foreshadows a future event - evaluate the problem-solving processes of characters and the effectiveness of solutions

GLEs v2.0 and CLEs


GLE CodeDisciplineStrandBig IdeaConceptGrade Level/CourseGLE
CA/R/1/E/7/b.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processVocabulary7th GradeDevelop vocabulary through text, using context clues
CA/R/1/E/7/c.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processVocabulary7th GradeDevelop vocabulary through text, using glossary, dictionary and thesaurus
CA/R/1/F/7/a.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPre-Reading7th GradeApply pre-reading strategies to aid comprehension: access prior knowledge
CA/R/1/F/7/b.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPre-Reading7th GradeApply pre-reading strategies to aid comprehension: preview
CA/R/1/F/7/c.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPre-Reading7th GradeApply pre-reading strategies to aid comprehension: predict with evidence
CA/R/1/F/7/d.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPre-Reading7th GradeApply pre-reading strategies to aid comprehension: set a purpose and rate for reading
CA/R/1/H/7/a.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPost-Reading7th GradeApply post-reading skills to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate text: identify and explain the relationship between the main idea and supporting details
CA/R/1/H/7/b.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPost-Reading7th GradeApply post-reading skills to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate text: question to clarify
CA/R/1/H/7/c.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPost-Reading7th GradeApply post-reading skills to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate text: reflect
CA/R/1/H/7/d.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPost-Reading7th GradeApply post-reading skills to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate text: draw conclusions
CA/R/1/H/7/e.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPost-Reading7th GradeApply post-reading skills to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate text: paraphrase
CA/R/1/H/7/f.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processPost-Reading7th GradeApply post-reading skills to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate text: summarize
CA/R/2/A/7/a.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesText Features7th GradeUse grade level text to interpret and analyze information in title
CA/R/2/A/7/b.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesText Features7th GradeUse grade level text to recognize and interpret the text features of fiction, poetry and drama
CA/R/2/C/7/a.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Elements7th GradeUse details from text to demonstrate comprehension skills previously introduced
CA/R/2/C/7/b.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Elements7th GradeUse details from text to identify plot and sub-plot, mood, flashback, theme and types of conflict
CA/R/2/C/7/c.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Elements7th GradeUse details from text to analyze cause and effect
CA/R/2/C/7/d.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Elements7th GradeUse details from text to identify and explain point of view
CA/R/2/C/7/e.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Elements7th GradeUse details from text to identify and explain author's viewpoint/perspective
CA/R/2/C/7/f.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Elements7th GradeUse details from text to evaluate the problem-solving processes of characters
CA/R/2/C/7/g.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Elements7th GradeUse details from text to evaluate the effectiveness of solutions
CA/R/2/B/7/c.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate fiction, poetry and drama from a variety of cultures and timesLiterary Techniques7th GradeIdentify and explain literary techniques, in text emphasizing propaganda
CA/R/1/I/7/b.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processMaking Connections7th GradeCompare, contrast and analyze connections: text to self (text ideas and own experiences)
CA/R/1/I/7/c.Communication ArtsReadingDevelop and apply skills and strategies to the reading processMaking Connections7th GradeCompare, contrast and analyze connections: text to world (text ideas and the world by identifying how literature reflects a culture and historic time frame)

Objective Notes/Essential Questions


DateNote/Question
6/19/2007 8:23:12 AMWatch video
6/29/2010 2:10:34 PMGuiding questions to be asked during reading:
1. What two different methods of characterization does the author use to reveal something about Little Man?     
2. What do you learn about the family through this conversation?     
3. Why does the sudden silence in the forest worry Cassie?     
4. Based on what you know about the setting, what "ways" do you think Mr. Andersen is referring to?     
5. Why is Mama standing up to Mr. Andersen?     
6. What do Mr. Andersen's words reveal about his character?
6/29/2010 2:11:41 PM7. What personal qualities does Little Man seem to share with his parents?     
8. Cassie defends Little Man, and Christopher-John defends Cassie.  What do their actions say about close families in general?     
9. What type of person is Tom?     
10. What advantage does Papa have in his conflict with Mr. Andersen?    
11. In what way is this the high point of the novella's action?     
12. How has David won his self-respect?