Concept-Based Unit Ideas

Kristina Hamester

Unit #1 is for a first grade ESL pull out class encompassing 3 days of material.

Unit Title: Changes Around Me

Concepts: Preview Sequence, Compare and Contrast

Web Strands:

• Vocabulary,
• Socialization
• Earth Science

Generalizations

• We can analyze changing things.
• Change can be difficult to accept and adapt.
• Change of setting enables the possibility of meeting new people and making new friends.
• New neighbors benefit from prior know how of veteran neighbors.
• The four seasons have distinct characteristics.

Guiding Essential Questions

• What are ways of change? (C)
• How will you change this year as you meet new friends? (C)
• How have you learned new things because of change? (D)
• What is good about change? (C)
• What are changes we see in the four seasons? (F)

Critical Content:

Students can retell, describe, have basic knowledge of writing through sounding out words, ask questions, use the board and notes given by teacher to express ideas, try to explain themselves verbally, listen to peers, follow along with read-aloud text, relate to themes: adults moving in to a new house/apartment, changing clothes based on the weather outside, families learning a new language, animals that change according to their habitat: like a chameleon that changes color or a dog that sheds his fur

Key Skills

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.D Use personal, possessive, and indefinite pronouns (e.g., I, me, my; they, them, their, anyone, everything)
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.F Use frequently occurring adjectives.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.5.C Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at home that are cozy).
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions to signal simple relationships (e.g., because).

Culminating Assessment Task

• What (the unit study): Communicate characteristics of a season..
• Why (the conceptual understanding): .. to demonstrate change from the previous season..
• How: (Engaging Scenario):  .. by discussing change from an array of other examples and observing pictures of seasons and identifying the changing characteristics between the seasons.

Learning Experiences

• Teacher Facilitated Discussion with Graphic Organizers about  – What are ways of change? How will you change this year as you meet new friends? Have you learned new things because of change? What is good about change? What are changes we see in the four seasons?
• Read Aloud- Teacher Models Textbook to Encourage Reading Fluency
• Writing Opportunities – Draw and Write Response, Word Books, Fact about Season
• Auditory Learning -“Farmer in the Dell” – Changed to Song of Seasons
• Visual Learning – Photos of elements of seasons
• Technology – Chromebooks for Internet Research of Season

Unit Overview

When I was in the 5th grade, my two best friends told me they were going to new schools. I visited them on the weekends and learned about their new schools. One friend even got a big new house that we would play in. Sometimes change is hard. But sometimes change is fun!

Teacher Resources/Notes

Draw and Write Paper: https://pin.it/qwo2xmzxtu6idi

Farmer In the Dell: https://youtu.be/kP9PHArRM3E

Lesson 1 Idea:

Day 1

1. Ask students to consider prior knowledge of Change through a List on Board: What kinds of things Change?
2. Ask, “How will you change this year as you meet new friends?” Write on projected Compare and Contrast T-Chart: What are examples of Before and After Change?
3. Read Text pg. 2-3 Aloud to Students
4. Teacher Models a personal story about moving houses. Then the teacher asks students to, “Imagine welcoming some new person to your neighborhood. What would you tell them?” Give Draw/Write Paper for individual student responses. 
5. Formatively Assess students during discussions and writing time on whether they are grasping the concepts of change and reflecting appropriately based on communicating their answers to the following questions: What is good about change? Have you learned new things because of change?

UNIT #2 

Unit Title	Traditions
Concepts	Compare and Contrast, Summarize, Context Clues
Web Strands	English Language Arts Social Studies
Unit Web
Generalizations	Traditions come from a family’s culture. Traditions can include special dress, music, food, dance, activities, and decorations. We respectfully share, analyze, and discuss cultures to learn about them. Traditions may be added to your family if agreed upon.
Guiding Essential Questions	What are some of the occasions or reasons for celebration in your family? (F) What traditions do you like the most? (D) Do you usually have a party? (F) Do you play special games or sing songs? (F) How do traditions make your day special? (C) What other holiday would you like to learn more about? (F) How can you compare and contrast two holidays? (C)
Critical Content	Students can describe in past, present or future tense, can ask questions, can follow along with read-aloud text, can sound out words, can use the board and notes given by teacher to express ideas, can listen and respond to peers,
Key Skills	CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.C Use singular and plural nouns with matching verbs in basic sentences (e.g., He hops; We hop). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.E Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future (e.g., Yesterday I walked home; Today I walk home; Tomorrow I will walk home). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.F Use frequently occurring adjectives. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.J Produce and expand complete simple and compound declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in response to prompts. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.5.C Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at home that are cozy). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions to signal simple relationships (e.g., because).
Culminating Assessment Task	What (the unit study): Tell characteristics of traditions.. Why (the conceptual understanding): .. to share understandings and gain further understanding of various cultures.. How: (Engaging Scenario):  .. by discussing traditions and all their elements as a group, reading about them, watching video on them and creating a descriptive paragraph about the findings.
Learning Experiences	Teacher Facilitated Discussion with Graphic Organizers Read Aloud- Teacher Models Textbook to Encourage Reading Fluency Writing Opportunities – Draw and Write Response, Word Books Auditory Learning – Video, Songs Visual Learning – Video, Photographs, Textbook visuals Technology – Chromebooks for Internet Research
Unit Overview	Is there a special day of the year that only happens one time a year? When you get to decorate, or eat special foods, play music or games and be around your family? What tradition is that in your family?
Teacher Resources / Notes	Draw and Write Paper: https://pin.it/qwo2xmzxtu6idi YouTube Video of Tradition: https://youtu.be/q8nh6qIh-_A Printable Word Web: https://pin.it/5nvpxeqe566pdf

Lesson 2 Idea:

1st grade ESL pull out class

Day 1

1. Watch a short video clip of traditions: https://youtu.be/q8nh6qIh-_A
2. Look at Photograph of Family at Thanksgiving. Ask students what they see. Explain that a tradition is something that a family does to celebrate special days such as holidays.
3. Ask students to consider prior knowledge of Traditions through a Word Web either on the board or in group work or individual work. https://pin.it/5nvpxeqe566pdf 

Word Web Example

Think about the different celebrations your family enjoys:

1. 1. What are some of the occasions or reasons for celebration in your family?
   2. What traditions do you like the most?

Allow students to share their thoughts.

2. Read Aloud pg 112-113 in text. Students Follow Along for Fluency Practice
3. Teacher Models a personal tradition story to students. Then asks students to, “Think about how you celebrate your birthday. Do you have a party? Do you play special games or sing songs? How do traditions make your day special?
4. Give Draw/Write Paper for individual student responses. https://pin.it/qwo2xmzxtu6idi
5. Formatively Assess students during discussions and writing time on whether they are grasping the concepts of traditions and reflecting appropriately based on communicating their answers to the following questions: What holiday do you celebrate? What traditions do you and your family do on this special day? Extension: What other holiday would you like to learn more about?