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UNIT 1: INTERPRETATION BOOK CLUBS
Developing Your Theories in Writing about Reading
Form ideas / theories using these questions:
Example of Developing Ideas Through Writing
Big Idea (claim): Two character traits that are important in the story is that Kek is optimistic but Ganwar is pessimistic.
Elaboration: This is important in the story because Kek's optimism keeps him believing that his mother will return. I think that this will have a positive effect on Kek in the story because it will make him give his life in America a chance. Since he believes his mom is coming, he believes that they can start a new life together. Even though life in America is hard, Kek tries to understand all the new things. For example, Kek is curious about all of the things in the apartment (light switch, toilet, bed). He is willing to learn these things and makes an effort.
On the other hand, Ganwar's pessimism has negative effects on him in the story. One instance of this is when Ganwar gets in fights in school. This makes me think that Ganwar struggles accepting his life in America. For example when Kek insists that America is "heaven on earth", Ganwar tells him that he will find out that it isn't. Ganwar also tells Kek not to get his hope up, showing his negativity. This makes me think that Ganwar's pessimism makes him act negatively towards Kek and others in the story. I predict that we will learn more about why Ganwar is so negative. Is it possible that he used to be like Kek but he's been disappointed so much that he no longer has hope?
What are Qualities of Effective Writing About Reading
1. Organization (t-chart, paragraphs, web)
2. Evidence and descriptive details
3. Strong Vocabulary (adjectives, story elements, literary language, author's craft)
When we Analyze Characters we Form Ideas About...
1. Character traits
2. Character motivation/ want
3. Character relationships
4. Character's problems and the lessons they learn
Form ideas / theories using these questions:
- Character trait- Does the trait positively or negatively affect the character? Does it cause problems or does it help them? Can you make a prediction?
- Character's Problem/ Motivation- How does this make the character act in the story
- Important Event- What is it about this event that is important? Does it go with an idea you’ve already had about the story or the characters?
- This makes me think...
- This is important because...
- This shows me....
- One example of this...
- For instance...
Example of Developing Ideas Through Writing
Big Idea (claim): Two character traits that are important in the story is that Kek is optimistic but Ganwar is pessimistic.
Elaboration: This is important in the story because Kek's optimism keeps him believing that his mother will return. I think that this will have a positive effect on Kek in the story because it will make him give his life in America a chance. Since he believes his mom is coming, he believes that they can start a new life together. Even though life in America is hard, Kek tries to understand all the new things. For example, Kek is curious about all of the things in the apartment (light switch, toilet, bed). He is willing to learn these things and makes an effort.
On the other hand, Ganwar's pessimism has negative effects on him in the story. One instance of this is when Ganwar gets in fights in school. This makes me think that Ganwar struggles accepting his life in America. For example when Kek insists that America is "heaven on earth", Ganwar tells him that he will find out that it isn't. Ganwar also tells Kek not to get his hope up, showing his negativity. This makes me think that Ganwar's pessimism makes him act negatively towards Kek and others in the story. I predict that we will learn more about why Ganwar is so negative. Is it possible that he used to be like Kek but he's been disappointed so much that he no longer has hope?
What are Qualities of Effective Writing About Reading
1. Organization (t-chart, paragraphs, web)
2. Evidence and descriptive details
3. Strong Vocabulary (adjectives, story elements, literary language, author's craft)
When we Analyze Characters we Form Ideas About...
1. Character traits
2. Character motivation/ want
3. Character relationships
4. Character's problems and the lessons they learn
UNIT 4 READING: ARGUMENT & ADVOCACY
BEND I: Chocolate Milk
Chocolate Milk Resourc
- “A School Fight over Chocolate Milk” by Kim Severson, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/dining/25Milk.html?_r=3&ref=dining&
- “Chocolate Milk: Tasty Nutrition” America Milk Processors, 2010. http://www.healthyeating.org/Portals/0/Documents/Milk%20Dairy/MilkPEPFlavMilkBro.pdf
- “The Hard Facts About Flavored Milk” from the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, 2017. http://www.jamieoliverfoodfoundation.org/usa/pdf/The-Hard-Facts-About-Flavored-Milk.pdf
- “Flavored Milk” from Drink-Milk.com, National Dairy Association, 2017. http://www.drink-milk.com/child-nutrition/flavored-milk.aspx#.VSLW8I7F_uQ
- “Shed that Sweet Tooth” from Time for Kids, 2015. http://www.timeforkids.com/news/shed-sweet-tooth/221286
- “Need Milk?” from Time for Kids, 2012. http://www.timeforkids.com/news/need-milk/42511
- “School Chocolate Milk Ban Didn’t Work: Now Students Are Consuming Less Protein and Calcium” April 2014, Sabrina Bachai. http://www.medicaldaily.com/school-chocolate-milk-ban-didnt-work-now-students-are-consuming-less-protein-and-calcium-277146
- “‘Got milk?’ Newsela, 2014. https://newsela.com/articles/milk-trends/id/3172/
- “Vitamins and Minerals” from KidsHealth.org http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/vitamins_minerals.html
- “Learning About Calories” from KidsHealth.org 2017. http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/calorie.html#cat119
- “Vitamins” from KidsHealth.org 2017. http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/vitamin.html#cat119
- “Minerals” from Kids Health.org (esp. the first part about calcium) 2017. http://kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/food/minerals.html#
- “The Surprising Consequences of Banning chocolate Milk”- Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University, 2016. http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/discoveries/surprising-consequences-banning-chocolate-mi
Bend 2: Texts for Research Groups
Sharks
• “Shark!: K–3 Teacher’s Guide” p 7-8
http://www.supportoursharks.com/en/Education/Teaching_Manuals/Seaworld/SW_
TeachingGuide_5-9.pdf
• “Big Question: Are there Many or Few Great White Sharks Near California?” (By Los AngelesTimes, adapted by Newsela Staff)
https://newsela.com/articles/shark-endangered/id/1764/
• “Sharks in Captivity”
http://www.sharks-world.com/sharks_in_captivity/
• “Saving Great White Sharks”
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org
• “Kids Stand Up for Animals in Captivity”
http://www.petakids.com/videos/kids-stand-animals-captivity/
• “Sand Tiger Shark”
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/sand-tiger-shark/
• “Sharks in the Bathtub—A Bad Idea”
http://www.newyorktails.com/sharks.htm
• “Saving Sharks”
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4188-saving-sharks
• “Sharks Endangered”
http://www.sharks-world.com/sharks_endangered/
• “Great White Comeback” by Samantha McCann
http://magazines.scholastic.com/news/2014/10/Great-White-Comeback
• “Swimming with sharks and stingrays” by Emily Sohn
https://student.societyforscience.org/article/swimming-sharks-and-stingrays
• “Bull Shark”
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bull-shark/
“Types of Sharks”
http://www.kidzone.ws/sharks/facts9.htm
• “Fun Shark Facts for Kids”
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/shark.html
• “Great White Shark”
http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/great-white-shark/
Zoos
Apes get people’s rights from court (By Scientific American, adapted by Newsela staff)
https://newsela.com/articles/orangutan-rights/id/6907/
• “Saving Sloths” (By Judith Jango-Cohen, for SuperScience)
http://magazines.scholastic.com/news/2014/06/Saving-Sloths
• “Solving a Big Problem”
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/conservation/solving-big-problem
• “Helping Island Iguanas”
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/conservation/helping-island-iguanas
• “Debate: Should zoos and aquariums exhibit beluga whales?” by Elizabeth Winchester
http://www.timeforkids.com/news/debate/80636
• “Giant Panda Cubs Give Hope to an Endangered Species” by David George Gordon
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/animalsnature/giantpandacubs/
• “Is Florida’s panther release program working?” (By The Sun Sentinel, adapted by Newsela staff)
https://newsela.com/articles/panther-releases/id/3264/
• “Costa Rica to Close its Zoos and Release Animals into the Wild” by Dan Nosowitz
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-08/costa-rica-close-its-zoos-and-release-animals-wild
• “Why Zoos Matter”
http://www.stlzoo.org/about/whyzoosmatter/ © 2015 by Lucy Calkins and Colleagues from the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project from Units of Study for Teaching Reading (Heinemann: Portsmouth, NH).
• “Zoo kills a giraffe and many ask: Was there another way?” (By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, adapted by Newsela staff, February 25, 2014)
https://newsela.com/articles/giraffe-copenhagen/id/2811/
• “Animal News: Animals rescued from overcrowded zoo in Mexico”
http://kidsnewspot.weebly.com/animal-news.html
Plastic:
• “Plastic Bags: To Ban or Not to Ban?”
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/plastic-bags-to-ban-or-not-to-ban/2555541.html
• “Plastic-Bag Bans Gaining Momentum Around the World” (by John Roach, National Geographic
News, April 4, 2008)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080404-plastic-bags_2.html
• “Ten Cents a Bag? That’s About Right” (By: Editorial Board of New York Times April 7, 2014)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/opinion/ten-cents-a-bag-thats-about-right.html
• Responses written back to the New York Times editors:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/14/opinion/paying-extra-for-a-plastic-bag-for-your-groceries.html?_r=1
• “Debate: Should schools require kids to bring in eco-friendly lunches?”
http://www.timeforkids.com/news/debate/14111
• “Haiti says No to Plastic” (By Jared Brenes, Scholastic News, October 10 , 2012)
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3757606
• “Is it Time to Bag the Plastic?” by Elizabeth Rosenthal
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/sunday-review/should-america-bag-the-plastic-bag.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
• “Tiny Plastic, Big Problem” by Alison Pearce Stevens
https://student.societyforscience.org/article/tiny-plastic-big-problem
• “Why Should We Not Ban Plastic Bags”
http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Why_Should_We_Not_Ban_Plastic_Bags
• “Should Cities Ban Plastic Bags?”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444165804578006832478712400
• “Reasons for Not Banning Plastic Bags”
https://infogr.am/Reasons-for-banningnot-banning-pastic-bags
• “California Becomes First State to Ban Plastic Bags” by Katy Steinmetz
http://time.com/3449887/california-plastic-bag-ban/
• “Grocery Store Bans Plastic Bags”
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/newsforyou/pdfs/newsforyou086.pdf
Mount Everest• NEW: “Climb Mount Everest with Berg Adventures—Trip Description”
http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_trips/asia/everest-description.php
• “Sherpa guides leave Mount Everest base camp after deadly avalanche” (By Associated Press,
adapted by Newsela Staff)
https://newsela.com/articles/sherpa-everest/id/3617/
• “Helping People Climb Mount Everest is a dangerous job for sherpas in Nepal” (By Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela Staff)
https://www.newsela.com/articles/everest-sherpas/id/7615/
• “Take a Hike Litterbugs!” (By Stephanie Kraus, Time for Kids, April 3, 2014)
http://www.timeforkids.com/node/155651/print
• “’Clean up!’ Nepal’s government tells Mount Everest Climbers” (By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela Staff)
https://www.newsela.com/articles/everest-litterbugs/id/2952/
• “Indian boy, 5, Becomes Youngest Trek to Mount Everest Base Camp (By Cover Asia Press/Daily News, November 11, 2014)
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/indian-boy-5-youngest-trek-everest-base-camparticle-1.2006574
• “Jordan Romero 13, summits Everest: How Young Is Too Young?” (By David Scott, Christian
Science Monitor, May 23, 2010)
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0523/Jordan-Romero-13-summits-Everest-How-young-is-too-young
• “Jordan Romero: Reaching the Top—The Youngest Kid to Climb Mount Everest” by Taylor
Campos and the Kids News, Inc. Team
http://www.kidsnewsinc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:jordan-romero-reaching-the-top-the-youngest-kid-to-climb-mount-everest
• “On Top of the World at 13” by Laura Leigh Davidson
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3754306
• “How Has Mount Everest Tourism Affected Nepal?” (By Cristen Conger)—longer, more nuanced article that talks about economic and environmental effects on Nepal from Mt Everest tourism
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/climbing/mt-everest-tourism.htm
• “Climber: Mount Everest Turning into ‘Trash Heap’”
http://www.today.com/news/climber-mount-everest-turning-trash-heap-2D79330339
New:
Mount Everest Tourism Continues Despite Earthquakes and Avalanches. https://skift.com/2016/04/24/mt-everest-tourism-continues-despite-earthquakes-and-avalanches/
Taking Control of Everests' Climbers Environmental Impact
http://www.dw.com/en/taking-control-of-everest-climbers-environmental-impact/a-17502443
Extreme Sports• “Play Extreme Sports: Paintball”
http://www.playextremesports.com/paintball-games.html
• “Building a Skate Park” by Skyler Siljeg
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/Skateboarding/articles/index.asp?article=building&topic=0
• “Snowboarder Kevin Pearce Recovers” (By Alexis Wiseman, Scholastic News Kids Press Corps)
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/snowboarder-kevin-pearce-recovers
• (video) Kevin Pearce Recovers (Scholastic News Online from Student Reporter, Alexis Wiseman)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPNd-r4zpbQ
• “X Games Snowmobile Crash Shows Extreme Sports Are Extremely Dangerous” (By: David
Whitley, Sporting News, February 20, 2013)
http://www.sportingnews.com/sport/story/2013-01-30/caleb-moore-crash-snowmobile-winter-x-games-update
• “Extreme Sports for Kids: Would You Let Your Child Do Them?”
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/08/extreme-sports-for-kids-would-you-let-your-child-do-them/
• Infographic: Extreme Sports Addiction
http://visual.ly/extreme-sports-addiction-infographic
• “Extreme Sports: Higher, Faster, More Treacherous” (By: Meredith C. Carroll, The Denver Post,January 31, 2013)—longer article, ties to football, calls for limits on X Game athletes, looks at
factors that push towards bigger and bigger risks
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_22490311/higher-faster-and-more-treacherous
• “Too extreme? Teen’s death renews debate” (By Nancy Armour, The Columbus Dispatch, August 31, 2010)http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2010/08/31/too-extreme-teens-deathrenews-debate.html
• “Getting Involved In ‘Extreme Sports’: Advice From Parents Of Top Extreme Athletes” (fromMomsteam.com) Search for title of archived article on website
http://www.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/youth-sports-parenting-basics/parents-role/getting-involved-in-extreme-sports-a?page=0%2C0#ixzz3IsASfFDh
• “With the Thrills Come Extreme Risks” (Jane E. Brody, The New York Times, March 31, 2014)—Many injuries can (and have) result(ed) from extreme sports particularly for children; if one is going to be involved in extreme sports, they should wear protective gear
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/31/with-the-thrills-come-extreme-risks/?_r=0
Research Topics and MultimediaUse these multimedia sources to learn more about your research question!
Zoos:• Zoo Tube: Home Sweet Habitat—Director of Education and Conversation is interviewed by a
teen—talks about how they design a orangutan’s habitat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuSrhtcjqMQ
• Kids Stand Up for Animals in Captivity from PETAKids
http://www.petakids.com/videos/kids-stand-animals-captivity/
• “NC Zoo’s ‘adoption’ program benefits animals, zookeeper training (By Ryan Sullivan, Fox News,September 6, 2013) (0–1:19)
http://myfox8.com/2013/09/06/nc-zoos-adoption-program-benefits-animals-zookeeper-training/
• “No Place Like Home” (By the Captive Animals’ Protection Agency, July 17, 2009) (3:00–5:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQHekJaG6fM&feature=player_embedded
• “Are there animal care problems at National Zoo?” (By Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News, December 10,
2013)
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/are-there-animal-care-problems-at-national-zoo/
Sharks:
• “Sharks Too Close for Comfort?” Discovery Channel Shark Week
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week/videos/sharks-too-close-for-comfort.htm
• “What’s More Deadly Than Sharks?” (Video from OneWorldOneOcean.com, August 3, 2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaqJjld6e5Y
• “Sharks: Stewards of the Reef (sharkstewards.com)” (Video created by Shark Saver, found on
YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVSyol-DVh8
Plastic:• “Edward Norton: Bag the Bag”
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/norton-bag-env
• “Bag the Ban Rally” (video clip created by Bag The Ban)
http://www.bagtheban.com/multimedia/item/bag-the-ban-rally
• “The Bay Vs. The Bag” (PSA from Save the Bay April 13, 2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSD21zp89zM&list=FLIbLgHP5qWXHVAwARUnw-oQ
• California: The Inconvenient Truth Behind Banning Plastic Bags
http://www.bagtheban.com/multimedia/item/california-truth-behind-efforts-to-ban-plastic-bags
• “California’s Bag Ban Hurting the Job Market” (video from Fox News interviewing American
Progressive Bag Alliance Chairman Mark Daniels.) (0–1:38); (2:40–3:09).
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/3823712949001/californias-bag-ban-hurting-the-job-market/#sp=show-clips
• (video) “Paper or Plastic: Which hurt the environment more? (Discovery News, December 19,
2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhmg6l_WNSE
Mount Everest:• Mount Everest Fun Facts (by Mocomi Kids)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqkgKHu1gt0
• Climbing New Heights
http://www.today.com/video/woman-set-to-make-history-on-mount-everest-431331907839
• “The Time I … Climbed Mount Everest” (Disney Channel, November 5, 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dcL-PJUFRI
• “Avalanche Kills At Least 12 People on Mount Everest”
http://video.foxnews.com/v/3483108771001/avalanche-kills-at-least-12-people-on-mount-everest/#sp=show-clips
• “Teen Climber: Too Young to Scale Mt. Everest?” (from 5:47–8:36)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpadzvO5JGM
Extreme Sports:•“Extreme Sports”
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/uk-now/video-uk/extreme-sports (0–2:24)
• “Base Jumper On Extreme Sports Risks and Rewards” (Video clip from CBS This Morning)
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/are-extreme-sports-too-dangerous/—Base jumper and extreme skier,
JT Holmes, discusses the risks and benefits of his career.
• “Sarah Burke’s Death: Extreme Sports Dangers” (January 1, 2012)
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/sarah-burkes-death-extreme-sports-dangers-15407972
• (video) “Xtreme Parents: Extreme Sports”
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/parenting-monster-trucks-children-drivingsports-2020-16283782
(0–3:20)
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