Course: 5th grade ELA

Course Description

Fifth grade reading and writing units including character study and informational texts.

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Curriculum

12 lessons Character Study
Character study is a 20 day long reading unit focused on character traits and plot structure. The unit also covers reading skills such as making predictions and inferences.
- Lessons
- Characters and Setting
  Students will be able to identify characters and setting in a narrative. Students will notice all fiction stories have a setting and characters.
- Major and Minor Characters
  Students will be able to distinguish between major and minor characters.
- How Minor Characters Affect Major Characters
  Students will be able to notice when and how minor characters affect major characters.
- Character Traits
  Students will determine character traits (physical and emotional)
- Character Traits Affect Character Actions
  Students will notice how character traits affect character actions.
- Setting Affects Characters
  Students will notice how a setting affects a characters actions and feelings.
- Inferencing to connect to a character
  Students will make inferences about a story by using background knowledge.
- Predict Character Actions from Character Traits
  Students will be able to use what they know about a characters' traits to predict characters' actions.
- Plot Structure: Elements of a Story
  Students will be able to list the five elements of story using an acronym.
- Plot Structure: Problem & Solution
  Students will use a graphic organizer to detail the problem and solution in a fiction story.
- Theme: Through Character Actions/Thoughts
  Students will determine the theme of a story by tracking a character's emotions across a narrative.
- Theme: Through Problem and Solution
  Students will be able to determine the theme of a short story by analyzing the problems and solutions in a narrative.
8 lessons Reading Strategies
This unit focuses on specific lessons to target reading strategies students often need in order to access curriculum. For example, asking questions to monitor comprehension, envisioning, and inferencing.
- Lessons
- Asking Questions to Monitor Comprehension
  Readers think about a book before they start reading and ask themselves questions about the book to get their mind ready to read.
- Rereading to find answers to our questions
  Students will reread a text to answer questions they generate during reading.
- Visualizing to become a Character
  Students will envision to make a movie in their minds while reading a fiction book in order to become closer to a character.
- Inferencing with Background Knowledge
  Students will be able to make an inference based on their background knowledge.
- Making Connections: Book to Self
  Students will be able to make text to self connections in a grade level text. Students will predict how characters think/feel based on these connections.
- Inferences with Pictures
  Students will make inferences based on pictures to understand the author's meaning.
- Determining Importance
  Students will retell a story with important information.
- Envision to Monitor Comprehension
  Students will envision while reading to monitor comprehension and connect deeply to characters.
20 lessons Informational Text
This unit is focused on reading skill necessary to understand informational texts. The lessons focus on parts of informational texts, author's purpose, and specific reading strategies that are helpful in nonfiction reading.
- Lessons
- Characteristics of Informational Texts
  Students will be able to notice specific characteristics of an informational text by looking at multiple examples.
- Headings and Titles
  Students will be able to differentiate between the title of an informational text and the headings. Students will relate the headings back to the main idea or title of the passage.
- Captions and Graphic Aides
  Students will be able to gather information using captions and graphic aides.
- Using the Glossary
  Students will be able to use the glossary to define unknown words in an informational text.
- Text Organization: Chronological Order
  Students will understand that chronological order is a way for author's to organize informational texts.
- Chronological Order Signal Words
  Students will use knowledge of signal words to organize a text chronologically.
- Text Organization: Cause and Effect
  Students will be able to determine cause and effect in a series of sentences.
- Cause and Effect Cue Words
  Students will be able to notice cue words that determine cause and effect. They will also notice cause and effect relationships within informational texts.
- Text Organization: Compare and Contrast
  Students will be able to use a Venn diagram to compare themselves to another person. They will also notice that some writers use compare and contrast to organize informational texts.
- Venn Diagrams: Compare and Contrast
  Students will use a Venn diagram to organize facts in an informational text.
- Text Organization: Main Ideas and Details
  Students will use a web diagram to determine the main idea and details of a paragraph in an informational text.
- Boxes and Bullets: Main Idea
  Students will use a boxes and bullets graphic organizer to find the main idea and details of an informational text.
- Text Organization: Problem and Solution
  Students will be able to notice and record multiple problems in an informational text using a graphic organizer.
- Problem and Solution Part 2
  Students will be able to identify multiple solutions to a problem in an informational text using a graphic organizer.
- Fact and Opinion
  Students will be able to label statements as either facts or opinions.
- Fact and Opinion in an Informational Text
  Students will be able to label facts and opinions in an informational text article.
- Author's Purpose: Persuade
  Students will be able to identify the author's purpose of persuade and give examples of this type of writing.
- Author's Purpose: Inform
  Students will be able to notice when an author's purpose is to inform readers. They will notice characteristics of this style or writing.
- Author's Purpose: Entertain
  Students will be able to notice characteristics of stories that are meant to entertain.
- Determining Author's Purpose
  Students will be able to determine an author's purpose when given different examples of texts.
20 lessons Poetry
Students will recognize multiple types and styles of poetry. They will respond in writing to poetry as well as read poetry fluently and with expression. Students will be able to define and identify figurative language in poetry.
- Lessons
- Characteristics of Poetry
  Students will be able to notice characteristics of poetry as a genre.
- Parts of Poetry
  Students will be able to notice stanzas and lines in a poem.
- Rhyme Scheme
  Students will be able to identify and label different rhyme schemes in poetry.
- Free Verse and Couplets
  Students will be able to identify and distinguish between free verse poetry and poems with rhyming couplets.
- Alliteration
  Students will be able to identify and create alliteration in poetry.
- Onomatopoeia
  Students will be able to define and identify examples of onomatopoeia in poetry.
- Metaphors
  Students will be able to identify metaphors in poetry and explain their meaning.
- Similes
  Students will be able to identify similes and explain their meaning in a poem.
- Metaphors and Similes
  Students will be able to distinguish between metaphors and similes. They will also explain the meaning of metaphors and similes in poems.
- Meaning of Poetry
  Students will be able to determine the meaning of a poem by analyzing an author's word choice and respond in writing.
- Responding to Poetry in Writing
  Students will be able to answer questions about a poem to summarize the main idea. They will also identify points of interest and confusion.
- Reading Poetry Fluently
  Students will be able to read a poem with fluency and expression. They will also use a checklist to rate students on their ability to read fluently.
- Haiku
  Students will be able to identify and define a Haiku as a type of poetry. They will be able to use this knowledge to create their own Haikus.
- Limerick
  Students will be able to identify and define limericks as a style of poetry. They will also be given time to create their own limericks.
- Cinquain
  Students will be able to identify the common structures of cinquain poetry and write their own examples.
- Personification
  Students will be able to define and identify examples of personification.
- Mood in Poetry
  Students will determine the mood of various poems and explain their reasoning.
- Voice in Poems
  Students will be able to identify the speaker in a poem and distinguish between the personal and imaginary voice. They will also identify the speaker's message in a poem.
- Point of View
  Students will be able to determine if a poem is written in first or third person point of view and define each view.
- Poetry Assessment
  Students will be able to complete an assessment of poetry skills.
15 lessons Informational Text: Writing
This unit is designed to teach students about research writing. The lessons follow the format for Writer's Workshop. Many of the lessons provide a formula for students to follow while constructing their essays to ensure struggling readers and writers would be successful throughout the unit.
- Lessons
- Define Research as a Writing Style
  Students will be able to form a working definition of research writing through the study of student examples.
- Choose topics
  Students will select topics they are interested in to begin the research process.
- Questioning
  Students will be able to develop questions to guide their research.
- Citing Sources
  Students will learn to organize information for a research paper based on sources. They will cite sources using a graphic organizer.
- Primary vs. Secondary Sources
  Students will be able to define and distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
- Plagiarism
  Students will be able to define and give examples of ways to prevent plagiarism.
- Research Paper Structure
  Students will be able to explain the structure in a research paper and begin the research process by answering guiding questions.
- Paragraph Structure
  Students will be able to write a paragraph using a topic sentence and supporting details.
- Introductory Paragraph
  Students will write introductory paragraphs for research papers using a given format.
- Supporting Paragraphs
  Students will use their research graphic organizers to write supporting paragraphs about a topic.
- Conclusion Paragraph
  Students will be able to use a formula to write conclusion paragraphs for research papers.
- Editing
  Students will be able to edit their research papers for subject and verb agreement.
- Writing a bibliography
  Students will cite sources for a research paper in a bibliography format.
- Peer Editing
  Students will be able to peer edit their research papers using a checklist.
- Publishing
  Students will write final drafts of research presentations and share with their peers.
15 lessons Realistic Fiction Writing
This fifteen lesson unit guides students through the writing process (generating ideas, drafting, editing, revising, publishing). They will be expected to create realistic characters and plot a story using a story mountain. This unit culminates with each student publishing a realistic fiction story.
- Lessons
- Characteristics of Fiction
  Students will be able to notice characteristics of realistic fiction stories. They will also list events, characters, and places in these stories that could exist in the world.
- Imagine Stories we wished existed in the world
  Students will be able to generate ideas for realistic fiction stories by imagining stories they wish existed in the world.
- Writing from Problems
  Students will generate ideas for realistic fiction stories by thinking about problems in their lives.
- Real Life stories
  Students will be able to generate realistic fiction story ideas by thinking about small moments in their own lives.
- Internal Characteristics of Characters
  Students will be able to describe their characters internally using a graphic organizer.
- External Characteristics of Characters
  Students will be able to describe their main character using external character traits.
- Plotting Stories
  Students will be able to plot their realistic fiction story ideas using a story mountain.
- Writing Long
  Students will be able to use a story mountain to write long about each part of the plot.
- Adding Dialogue
  Students will be able to add dialogue to scenes in their realistic fiction stories.
- Show not Tell
  Students will be able to show how a character is thinking or feeling through character actions and dialogue.
- Writing with our Senses
  Students will be able to add descriptive details to their writing using their five senses.
- Editing Dialogue
  Students will be able to edit their realistic fiction stories for incorrect dialogue use.
- Editing for Run On Sentences
  Students will correct run on sentences in their realistic fiction stories.
- Editing for Common and Proper Nouns
  Students will be able to differentiate between common and proper nouns. They will edit their realistic fiction writing to capitalize proper nouns.
- Publishing
  Students will be able to publish final drafts of realistic fiction stories. These final drafts should include correction punctuation, capitalization, and indentation.
26 lessons Test Prep: Skills Based
This unit is focused on skills needed to be successful on the DC-CAS test at the end of the year. The unit is structured around a five day cycle. Day one is what good readers do, day two is focused on fiction, day three is non-fiction, day four is a testing strategy for those types of questions, and day five is a mini-assessment. The six skills covered in this unit are identify details, analyze details, main ideas, author's purpose, poetry, and procedural text.
- Lessons
- Reading with purpose
  SWBAT set a purpose for reading by coming up with questions and answering questions as they read.
- Identify Details: Fiction
  Students will be able to answer identify details questions by using their knowledge of sequence.
- Identify Details: Non-Fiction
  Students will be able to answer identify details questions in a non-fiction text using knowledge of headings.
- Understanding questions on a test
  Students will be able to rephrase a question in order to understand what details they should locate in a text.
- Assessment on Identify Details
  Students will be able to demonstrate mastery of strategies taught to answer identify detail questions.
- Inferences with background knowledge
  Students will be able to make inference using evidence from a text and background knowledge.
- Fiction Inferences
  Students will be able to make inferences about characters in a fiction text.
- Non-fiction Big Ideas
  Students will be able to infer big ideas about a non-fiction article.
- Eliminating distraction answers
  Students will be able to eliminate answer choices to correctly answer analyze detail questions.
- Asssess on analyze details and draw conclusions
  Students will demonstrate mastery of strategies taught to correctly answer analyze details questions.
- Main Idea: Strategies
  Students will use a variety of strategies to determine the main idea of a text.
- Chunking Text: Fiction
  Students will be able to chunk a fiction text into smaller sections to find the main idea.
- Using headings to find main idea in NF
  Students will find the main idea of each section in a non-fiction text.
- Eliminating interesting details to select the main idea
  Students will eliminate answer choices on a test to select the main idea of a passage.
- Assess on main ideas
  Students will demonstrate mastery on a main idea assessment.
- Author's Purpose overview
  Students will be able to define the three types of author's purpose.
- Story Elements: Entertain
  Students will be able to use their knowledge of story elements to determine the author's purpose of a story.
- Compare and contrast persuasive and informative writing
  Students will be able to use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast two types of writing.
- Author's Purpose: Testing Examples
  Students will be able to answer multiple choice test questions based on the author's purpose for writing.
- Assess on Author's Purpose
  Students will demonstrate mastery of skills taught during the week-long study of author's purpose.
- Figurative Language Overview
  Students will review metaphors and similes for assessment in poetry.
- Meaning of Poetry
  Students will find the main idea of a poem.
- Assess on Poetry
  Students will look at sample test questions and practice test-taking strategies to answer questions about poetry.
- Procedural Text: Sequence
  Students will be able to sequence a procedural text.
- Goals of Procedural Texts
  Students will write a procedural text detailing how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They will also evaluate a partners directions.
- Assess on Procedural Text
  Students will answer example test-questions based on procedural texts.
13 lessons Launching Readers Workshop
This unit contains lessons based on procedures and routines necessary to set up readers workshop in the classroom. I suggest using this unit for the first weeks of school
- Lessons
- Selecting books based on interest
  Students will use a variety of strategies to select a book to read during independent reading time.
- Selecting "just right' books
  Students will use the "five finger rule" to select books that are just right for their reading level.
- Stop and jot while reading
  Students will stop and jot while reading a non-fiction text.
- Stop and jot while reading (pt. 2)
  Students will stop and jot their thinking while reading a fiction text.
- Turn and Talk (starters)
  Students will be able to use accountable talk to start a conversation about a book.
- Turn and Talk (responses)
  Students will respond in conversation to a partner about a book.
- Turn and talk (keeping conversation going)
  Students will use prompts to continue a conversation about a book.
- Abandon books
  Students will list reasons for abandoning a book.
- Keep a record of reading
  Students will be able to keep a record of their reading and reflect on completed reading assignments.
- Write book recommendations
  Students will be able to write a book recommendation about a recently completed book.
- Reading Stamina
  Students will read independently for a prolonged amount of time to practice reading stamina.
- Creating Rules for Workshop Time
  Students will create classroom rules for workshop time during Reader's Workshop. They will engage in discussion about these rules with their peers.
- Knowing Yourself as a Reader
  Students will think about distractions they face while reading and come up with solutions to these problems. Students will also complete a reading survey to get to know themselves as readers.
11 lessons Vocabulary Study
A series of lessons based on word deconstruction. The unit also contains lessons based on figuring out unknown words while reading.
- Lessons
- Prefixes
  Students will define common prefixes and create words using knowledge of prefixes.
- Suffixes
  Students will define common suffixes and create words using their knowledge of suffixes.
- Building Words
  Students will use knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to build and define words.
- Define Words: using word parts
  Students will break down a word into parts to determine the meaning of an unknown word.
- Unknown Word: context clues
  Students will use context clues to determine the meaning of an unknown word.
- Unknown Word: synonyms
  Students will substitute synonyms for words to determine the meaning of an unknown word.
- Mulitple Meaning Words
  Students will determine the most appropriate definition for a multiple meaning word.
- Using a Dictionary: Saying the Word
  Students will use a dictionary to learn the pronunciation of an unknown word.
- Using a Dictionary: Finding a Definition
  Students will use a dictionary to determine the definition of an unknown word.
- Using a Thesaurus to Define an Unknown Word
  Students will use a thesaurus to find synonyms for an unknown word.
- Vocabulary Assessment
  Students will demonstrate mastery of all skills taught during the vocabulary unit.