7th Grade ELA/History

Guiding Question: What is the significance of George Washington's First Inaugural Speech? Objective: Students will understand the significance of George Washington's First Inaugural by reading secondary sources, drawing evidence, and constructing a CERL response with a score of at least 3/4 according to the rubric.  Standards: 8.4.2 - Students will explain the significance of famous speeches (e.g. Washington's addresses, Jefferson's 1801 Inaugural) WHST.6-8.9 - Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research ELD B.6 - Reading closely literary and informational texts to determine how meaning is conveyed. Do Now (Voice Level 0) 2 minutes:  Write today's objective in your own words. What is the activity you will be completing?  Whole Group  (Voice Level 1-2) 40 minutes:  Task 1: Read the two sources below with your small group and complete the Say, Mean, Matter chart.  Source 1: History.c

Guiding Question: Why was George Washington elected to be our first President?  Objectives: Students will work to increase their Lexile levels by determining the central ideas of an Achieve article about the election of George Washington, completing all five tabs including summarizing the Dig Deeper section, and score at least 75% on the activity.  Students will understand the ideals of the newly created United States by investigating the election of George Washington, completing a jigsaw reading and answering guiding questions, and having a collaborative discussion of the texts with at least 80% accuracy.  Standards: HSS.8.4 - Students will understand the aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation RH.6-8.2 - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source ELD B.6 - Read closely to determine how meaning is made. Do Now (Voice Level 0) 5 minutes:  On a half sheet of paper, write today's objectives

Guiding Question: How do we improve our communities?  Objectives: Students will show their participation in the political process by creating a Google Slides presentation of their PBL issue, Action Plan, and communication with their representatives with a score of at least 3/4 according to the rubric. Students will actively listen to determine the central ideas of a podcast on the 2016 Presidential election and answer questions with at least 80% accuracy. Standards: HSS.8.3.6 - Describe how the Constitution provides numerous opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process and monitor and influence government. RH.6-8.2 - Determine the central ideas of a primary or secondary source ELD.B.5 - Listen actively to to spoken English in a range of contexts Do Now (Voice Level 0) 5 minutes:  Write today's objectives in your own words. What are the activities you will be completing and how do you know whether or not you completed them? 

Guiding Question: Who can we ask for help with issues that face our community? Objective: Students will be able to guide and support their peers by peer-editing so that they are able to revise their letters to their representatives and score at least a 3/4 on the rubric.  Standards: W.8.5 -  With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, and/or rewriting.  HSS.8.3 - Students will understand the ways in which citizens participate in the American political system. Do Now (Voice Level 0) 2 minutes:  Write today's objective in your own words. What is the activity you will be completing?  Whole Group  (Voice Level 1-2) 40 minutes:  Task 1:  What makes a good letter?  Task 2:  You will be peer-editing letters in your table groups using the checklist provided. You need to provide  meaningful  feedback to your peers! If you have not completed a rough draft of your letter

Guiding Question: Who can we ask for help with issues that face our community?  Objectives: Students will work to increase their Lexile levels by determining the central ideas of an Achieve article about the three branches of government, completing all five tabs including summarizing the Dig Deeper section, and score at least 75% on the activity.  Students will participate in the political system by writing a clear and coherent letter to one of their state or federal representatives about their PBL issue and what their group is doing to help with a score of at least 3/4 according to the rubric.  Standards: HSS.8.3 - Students will understand the ways in which citizens participate in the American political system. RH.6-8.2 - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source W.8.4 - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. ELD B.6 - Read

Guiding Question:  What happened last night? Objectives:  Students will reflect on the 2016 Presidential election by reading a news story and completing a graphic organizer with at least 80% accuracy.  Standards:  RH.6-8.2 - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source W.8.4 - Produce clear and coherent writing that is appropriate to task and audience ELD C.12 - Selecting and applying precise vocabulary and other language resources to effectively convey ideas Whole Group (Voice Level 1) 10 Minutes:  CNN Student News Independent (Voice Level 0) 30 Minutes:  Please choose to fill out your graphic organizer based on one of the following news articles. Trump Elected President in Surprise Win - this article is from NewsELA and can be adjusted for lower lexiles. I recommend this article if you are below a lexile level of 950. How Hillary Clinton Lost - this article is from CNN and is written at a high lexile level.

Guiding Question: What responsibilities  do we have as citizens?  Who represents us in government?  Objectives: Students will work to increase their Lexile levels by determining the central ideas of an Achieve article about elections, completing all five tabs including summarizing the Dig Deeper section, and score at least 75% on the activity.  Students will explore opportunities to participate in the political process and influence their government by reading about the responsibilities of citizenship and researching their own representatives with their groups and completing a Say-Mean-Matter chart with at least 80% accuracy.  Standards: HSS.8.3.6 - Describe how the Constitution provides numerous opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process and monitor and influence government. RH.6-8.2 - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source ELD B.6 - Read closely to determine how meaning is made.