Jennings+Unit+Plan

**Unit Plan**

 * First and Last Name: Shannon S. Jennings**


 * School District: Mark Twain R-8**


 * School Name: Mark Twain**


 * School City, State: Rueter, MO**

**(Unit Overview)**

Do actions speak louder than words?--A Character Study
As a culminating activity, students will be planning and implementing a service learning project for our community.
 * Unit Summary: Students will be exploring ways in which character development, conflict, author's viewpoint, and perspective influence our emotions and effect**
 * our decisions. Students will also be reflecting on popular sayings such as "The pen is mightier than the sword" and "A picture is worth a thousand words."**


 * Subject Area: Communication Arts/Character Education**


 * Grade Level: 7-8**


 * Approximate Time Needed: 2 weeks--10/1-hour class periods**

**(Unit Foundation)**

I want my students to be able to: 1. apply knowledge to new problems 2. create or design new ways to show learning 3. make connections to solidify their understanding 4. describe or explain their thought processes to solve a problem 5. analyze information to determine if it reflects what they know to be true, or use information to prove/disprove a theory 6. draw conclusions from different sources to explain thinking 7. critique their own work, as well as others', for accuracy and meaning
 * Habits of Learning Taxonomy:**


 * Targeted Content Standards and Benchmarks:**

Comm Arts 1I-Reading 1. Compare, contrast, analyze, and evaluate connections between information in fiction and nonfiction works, text ideas and own experiences 2C-Reading 1. Use details in text to explain cause and effect, identify point of view, interpret actions, behaviors, and motives of characters 3E-Writing 1. Compose texts that contain a created chart, graph, and or other graphic organizer based on printed information

NETS-S 1b-Create original works as a means of personal or group expression 1c-Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues 1d-Identify trends and forecast possibilities 2a-Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.


 * Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes**:


 * Curriculum-Framing Questions**


 * Essential Question: Do actions speak louder than words?**


 * Unit Questions: What draws us to literature?**


 * Content Questions: What are character traits?** **How are characters developed?** **How does conflict in a story effect how we view the characters?**
 * Do emotions effect our decisions?**
 * Authentic Tasks**
 * Photo shoot with personal essays (comparison: which is more emotionally powerful?) Maybe make it a persuasive contest and vote??? pictures of abused animals vs. detailed essays describing abuse?????**
 * Create and implement a community service-learning project for our community**
 * Assessment**