Stefani Tweedy 7th Grade Language Arts Created: 1/21/08 Zillah Middle School Modified: 4/2/10

Unit Title:Historical Fiction

Time Frame:29 days

Grade Level:7th

Unit Summary:During this unit, students will become familiar with the genre of historical fiction through class discussion and independent reading. We will spend some time discussing the events of WWII to build background knowledge before beginning our novel. We will read two excerpts from the literature book to compare and contrast and then will read a historical fiction novel. Students will also complete a historical fiction book report during the unit.

Essential Question(s):What is historical fiction?What are elements of historical fiction?How do I use a plot diagram?What were some of the struggles faced by Jewish people during

WWII?How does the history of WWII affect us today?

Core Concept(s):ReadingWriting

Content Area Standards (GLE’s):Reading: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.4Writing: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Assessments:Formative:

- During the story, we will be having discussions about the information being read.

Summative:- Students will be tested at the end of the unit on the

following concepts: story comprehension (questions will follow Bloom’s Taxonomy) and vocabulary.

- Students will be given a spelling test to check their understanding of the vocabulary words from this unit.

- Students will read a historical fiction story of their choice. They will complete a ‘historical character interview’ and will answer questions from their main characters perspective.

Stefani Tweedy 7th Grade Language Arts Created: 1/21/08 Zillah Middle School Modified: 4/2/10

Key Vocabulary:Chapters 1 – 4

Ghetto RationsTenementsSwastikaBarracksIndignationSynagogueEpidemicSeizePandemoniumPartitionLatrineRaidEmbankmentDeferenceElaborate Chapters 5 – 9

InfirmaryInconsolablyBramblesChicoryIndistinctTauntingPerpetualReluctantlyAdeptResignedDevoutQuotaStiflingEmbellishedBoilsPartisansDisintegratesBartering

Chapters 10 – 14

SabotagedPreoccupiedCrochetedTuberculosisNettlesTantalizing

Stefani Tweedy 7th Grade Language Arts Created: 1/21/08 Zillah Middle School Modified: 4/2/10

CultivatedRummagePliableHuddledGritEddiesGarmentsPeltingScaledChronicYom KipperFastTorahEdibleReminiscedGnawedAmidTwingeStifle TrudgeLethargy

Chapters 15 – Afterward

AnguishedEmaciatedLiberateSuccumbedTyphusDysenteryHasteningAppraisingGnawingSomberConsiderationSporadicPhlegmConvulsedMethodicallyVerminCrudeKnollInterspersedShroudedReignExterminationOppressive

Stefani Tweedy 7th Grade Language Arts Created: 1/21/08 Zillah Middle School Modified: 4/2/10

Materials/Resources:

Textbooks/Kits/Instructional Guides:Torn Thread (Anne Isaacs)Darkness Over Denmark (Ellen Levine) Spotlight on Literature 7th Grade Textbook

Print Materials (Books, Articles):Suggested Reading List:

Alcott, Lousia May. Little Women. (c) 2000Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever, 1793. (c) 2000Bartoletti, Susan. The Boy Who Dared. (c) 2008Berenbaum, Michael. World Must Know. (c)Bunting, Eve. The Terrible Things. (c)Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. (c) 1999Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham. (c) 1995Duble, Kathleen Benner. The Sacrifice. (c) 2005Frank, Anne. The Diary of a Young Girl. (c) 1967Isaacs, Anne. Torn Thread. (c) 2000Levine, Ellen. Darkness Over Denmark. (c) 2000Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. (c) 1989Nolan, Han. If I Should Die Before I Wake. (c)Sedgwick, Marcus. The Foreshadowing. (c) 2005Sender, Ruth Minsky. Cage. (c)Sheehan, Sean. Holocaust. (c)Spinelli, Jerry. Milkweed. (c) 2003Wells, Rosemary. Red Moon at Sharpsburg. (c) 2007Wood, Angela Gluck. Holocaust. (c)Wulffson, Don. Soldier X. (c)Yolen, Jane. The Devil’s Arithmetic. (c)Zullo, Mara Bovsun. Survivors. (c)

Multimedia:One Survivor Remembers DVDThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas DVD

Websites:www.preventgenocide.orgwww.holocaust-history.org

Handouts:Plot Diagram Example Darkness Over Denmark (Ellen Levine) Chapter 11 Historical Fiction Character Interview Book Report RubricVocabulary ListCrossword Puzzle/Word Search

Stefani Tweedy 7th Grade Language Arts Created: 1/21/08 Zillah Middle School Modified: 4/2/10

Summary QuestionsFinal Test

Other Materials:One Survivor Remembers Supplemental MaterialsChart Paper & PensVocabulary Words on Note CardsMemory Game Board

Lessons/Activities:

Lesson 1: What is Historical Fiction?Introduce Historical FictionList Important Events in History Begin Beyond the DivideLiterature Book Page 486

Lesson 2: What is Historical Fiction?Read Beyond the DivideLiterature Book Page 486

Lesson 3: What is Historical Fiction?Read The Moves Make the ManLiterature Book Page 250

Lesson 4: What is Historical Fiction?Read The Moves Make the ManLiterature Book Page 250Compare StoriesList Common Elements of Historical FictionAssign Historical Fiction Book Report (Due Last Day of

Unit)

Lesson 5: What is Historical Fiction?One Survivor Remembers DVD

Lesson 6: Building Background KnowledgeOne Survivor Remembers DVDDiscuss movieShow photos/letters from teaching kit

Lesson 7: Building Background KnowledgeOne Survivor Remembers DVDDiscuss movieDarkness Over Denmark Chapter 11 (Concentration

Camps)

Lesson 8: Building Background KnowledgeDarkness Over Denmark Chapter 11 (Concentration

Camps)

Stefani Tweedy 7th Grade Language Arts Created: 1/21/08 Zillah Middle School Modified: 4/2/10

Holocaust VocabularyCrossword Puzzle/Word Search

Lesson 9: Building Background KnowledgeDarkness Over Denmark Chapter 11 (Concentration

Camps)Vocabulary Game

Lesson 10: Building Background KnowledgeKWL HolocaustAbout the Author Read The Terrible Things

Lesson 11: Building Background KnowledgeComputer Lab – Finish KWLSchindler’s Choices (Lab)Discuss pictures and excerpts from Holocaust book%’s of population killed in Holocaust

Lesson 12-25: Exploring Historical FictionRead Torn Thread

Lesson 26: Exploring Historical FictionFinish Torn ThreadPlot Diagram (Class Activity)

Lesson 27: ReflectingCollect Book ReportsUnit TestGenocide Discussion

Lesson 28/29: ConnectingWatch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (94 minutes)