This document outlines the curriculum for a unit on the relationship between humans and animals. It includes the relevant standards, curriculum materials, teaching methods, theories of teaching and learning, and context about the students and school. The unit will use a balanced literacy approach including read alouds, partner reading, and independent reading. It will incorporate a debate, gallery walk, group discussions, and presentations to engage students. Differentiation and the workshop model will be used to ensure all students can access higher-order thinking.
This document outlines the curriculum for a unit on the relationship between humans and animals. It includes the relevant standards, curriculum materials, teaching methods, theories of teaching and learning, and context about the students and school. The unit will use a balanced literacy approach including read alouds, partner reading, and independent reading. It will incorporate a debate, gallery walk, group discussions, and presentations to engage students. Differentiation and the workshop model will be used to ensure all students can access higher-order thinking.
This document outlines the curriculum for a unit on the relationship between humans and animals. It includes the relevant standards, curriculum materials, teaching methods, theories of teaching and learning, and context about the students and school. The unit will use a balanced literacy approach including read alouds, partner reading, and independent reading. It will incorporate a debate, gallery walk, group discussions, and presentations to engage students. Differentiation and the workshop model will be used to ensure all students can access higher-order thinking.
This document outlines the curriculum for a unit on the relationship between humans and animals. It includes the relevant standards, curriculum materials, teaching methods, theories of teaching and learning, and context about the students and school. The unit will use a balanced literacy approach including read alouds, partner reading, and independent reading. It will incorporate a debate, gallery walk, group discussions, and presentations to engage students. Differentiation and the workshop model will be used to ensure all students can access higher-order thinking.
Literacy: CC.1.2.3.D Explain the point of view of the author.
CC.1.2.3.L Read and comprehend literary non-fiction and informational text on grade level, reading independently and proficiently. CC.1.2.3.A Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. CC.1.2.3.C Explain how a series of events, concepts, or steps in a procedure is connected within a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
- Changing the World: Persuasive Speeches,
Petitions, and Editorials, Lucy Calkins - Every Living Thing, Cynthia Rylant - Famous Animals, Susan Brocker - American Zoo Association - Cass Becomes a Star, Graham Meadows - A Dog Movie Star Demonstrates the Art of Canine Acting, youtube.com - Save the Birds, Fay Robinson - Aero and Officer Mike, Joan Plummer Russell, from the Storytown anthology - Canine Partners for Life - USDA Animal Welfare Information Center - Native American Animal Stories, Joseph Bruchac - Fireflies, Julia Brinckloe
Writing-- CC.1.4.3.G Write opinion pieces on familiar topics or
texts; CC.1.4.3.H Introduce the topic and state an opinion on the topic; CC.1.4.3.I Support an opinion with reasons; Create an organizational structure that includes reasons linked in a logical order with a concluding statement or section; CC.1.4.3.K Use a variety of words and sentence types to appeal to the audience; CC.1.4.3.L Demonstrate a grade-appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. CC.1.4.3.X Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences. Speaking and Listening-- CC.1.5.3.A Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on grade level topics and texts, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly. Social studies-- 5.2.3.A. Identify personal rights and responsibilities; 5.2.3.C. Identify leadership and public service opportunities in the school, community, state, and nation; 5.2.3.D. Describe how citizens participate in school and community activities.
What
The Relationship Between Humans and Animals
Why
We will use a variety of teaching methods to
engage our students and reach all different types of learners: - Read alouds, partner reading, shared reading, and independent reading will touch on all parts of the balanced literacy framework - The debate and gallery walk will encourage student inquiry and meaning making - Small group and whole class discussion will provide space for students to share their ideas and learn from each other - Presentations will build students speaking and listening skills
Theories of Teaching and
Learning:
How
Teaching Methods:
- Penn Alexander is one of the best schools in
SDP, and our students have consistently high scores on standardized tests - A few students are ELL, have IEPs, or just need more support - Students are interested in animals, evidenced by their choice of informational text writing topics, their I Have a Dream statements, their Big Money responses, and countless conversations with students about their pets - Students have background knowledge of/personal experience with animals - Students are accustomed to engaging in higher-order thinking, are aware of social issues, and display an interest in tackling nuanced topics - Topic is consistent with 3rd grade curriculum progression and state standards
Educational Philosophy and Beliefs:
- Students should learn from each other, challenge each other, and engage in meaningful conversation - Differentiation should be used to accomplish equity - Education should teach students to see things from different perspectives and understand nuance - Students should have an active role in the knowledgebuilding process - Education should foster empathy and compassion - Teaching should inspire a sense of initiative within students, and should give students a significant (but developmentally appropriate) level of agency and responsibility - Teaching and learning should be an enjoyable experience!
- Calkins theory of teaching/learning
writing: emphasis on a writing process where students create an argument, evaluate available evidence, and use the workshop model to plan and revise their work - Tomlinson: differentiation is a way to ensure that all students are given the tools they need to access higher-order thinking - Gardners theory of multiple intelligences: incorporate a variety of activities and teaching methods so that each student can access deep learning and effectively demonstrate their understanding - Gilles: importance of group work and collaboration; students use each other as resources in the knowledge-building process - Scardamalia & Bereiter: learning as an iterative process of inquiry and implicit knowledge development