(unit 1) getting to know you unit overview

Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 5/28/09 Zillah Middle School Modified: 1/8/10

Unit Title:Getting To Know You

Time Frame:10 Days

Grade Level:8th

Unit Summary:During this unit students will complete a variety of activities to get to know one another and to “break the ice” at the beginning of the year. Students will learn classroom expectations and consequences, get familiar with the textbooks, learn about performance portfolios, practice interview skills, create posters, and present their posters in front of the class.

Essential Question(s):What is expected of me?Who am I?Who is in my class?How can I be a part of this community?

Core Concept(s):ReadingWritingCommunication

Content Area Standards (GLE’s):Reading: 3.1, 3.2, 4.1Writing: 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2Communication: 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2

Assessments:Formative:

- Students will answer a journal prompt question regarding expectations, consequences, and basic classroom procedures.

- Students will participate in a “BINGO” game that requires them to find classmates that have certain characteristics.

- Students will present Me/We posters to the class after interviewing their partners.

Summative:- There is not a summative assessment for this unit.


Key Vocabulary:ExpectationConsequenceProcedureMe/WePortfolio LogReflection Sheet Goal SheetCitizenshipWork/Study HabitsGoal Card

Materials/Resources:Multimedia:

Portfolio PowerPoint PresentationMe/We PowerPoint Presentation

Handouts:Class Syllabus (1 per student)Me/We Rubric (1 per student)BINGO Sheet (1 per student)Textbook Trivia Worksheet (1 per pair of students)Portfolio Log (1 per student)Reflection Sheet (1 copy as an example)Goal Sheet (1 per student)Portfolio Conference Letter (1 copy as an example)Portfolio Conference Rubric (1 copy as an example)Give Me Five Outline

Other Materials:File Folders (1 per student)Used File Folder (1 per student)ScissorsGlue SticksMarkers/Colored Pencils/CrayonsMagazine Cut-outsPhotos (encourage students to bring from home)Photo of each pair of students (1 copy per student)1 Set of Four Corners CardsExample Give Me Five Letter

Lessons/Activities:1. Welcome to Class

a. Hand out syllabus to students


b. Go over syllabus, expectations, consequences, and classroom procedures (book check-out, bathroom sign-out, pencil sharpening, etc).

c. Discuss classroom library form.d. Signed syllabus and library form due at the end of the

week.

2. Meet Your Textbooka. Journal prompt – Review information from yesterdayb. Hand out textbooksc. Textbook trivia worksheet (with a partner)d. Cover (and decorate) textbooks

1. Books will be kept in class throughout the year. The covers are meant to protect them from usual wear and tear, not to personalize them for each student.

3. Just Like Mea. Four Corners Gameb. Connections BINGO

4. Me/We Projecta. Introduce project, go over rubric, show examplesb. Have students get into pairsc. Discuss interview expectations d. Begin interviews

5. Me/We Projecta. Finish interviewsb. Cut out postersc. Begin decorating

6. Me/We Projecta. Decorate posters

7. Me/We Projecta. Present Postersb. Explain Rubric Grading

8. Introduction to Portfoliosa. Go over purpose, expectations, and proceduresb. Hand out file foldersc. Show examples of all formsd. Explain the importance of keeping folders organized (clips)e. Decorate folders

9. Goal Sheets and Portfolio Logs


a. Discuss short and long term goalsb. Discuss citizenship and work habitsc. Brainstorm a list of short term goalsd. Fill out goal sheet and log as a class

10. Give Me Five Lettera. Introduce letter format and purposeb. Read example letterc. Give students outlined. Student write letters in class and finish as homework

1. This is the baseline writing piece that we will refer back to throughout the year to look for improvements to students’ writing abilities. The teacher will keep these in a class file.

(unit 1) getting to know you unit overview

Documents