(Massachusetts standard 4.15) Describe the diverse nature of the American people by identifying the distinctive contributions to American culture.
Our nation is so diverse because of the high immigration rates over the past century or so. The American culture has transformed over the years depending on who is making up different parts of our population during different time periods and in different regions. In order to describe the diverse nature of the American people we must first understand who is coming to America, how, and why they are coming to America. From this understanding we can then move on to understand the different contributions to American culture over the years.
(CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.5) Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
Audio recordings will be\ used in the explanation of Ellis island (recordings of immigrants passing through Ellis Island, describing certain aspects of the process) and the Clips presentations.
Visual displays will be used in every lesson in this unit. When creating powerpoint presentations I will use pictures to make such concepts more concrete. I will also use videos to describe the current immigration policies and again make concepts concrete.
(CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.D) Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
This unit is full of content specific language such as passport, visa, Ellis Island, detain, passage, diseases ( trachoma, dementia, ie.), first class, and so on. The students will be given word banks to use when writing and will be asked to use such vocabulary when speaking.
(CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1.C) Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
Students will be given the opportunity to pose questions on our questions board. They will be asked to respond to specific questions at the end and throughout each lesson. There will be a large amount of classroom discussion, therefore requiring students to respond to my questions, but also respond to questions and comments posed by their peers.
(CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.3) Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points.
Each time the students complete a formative and summative assessment they will be asked to provide reasons or evidence to support their original statements.
(CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.4) Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Students will be required to complete (or watch) an interview, take notes, and synthesize the story and details in a final presentation. They will be asked to state main ideas but using interview given details.