Middle School Language Arts Mini-Course: 02

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***The Middle School Language Arts Mini-Courses are designed around a theme and can be taken in any order. Each course contains informational readings and touches on national standards. To get a more rigorous and full semester long experience, please see my Middle School Language Arts Part 1 and Part 2 courses. The readings and topics are different in the full semester classes and cover more national standards.**

Course Description:
This self-paced Language Arts course does not have any live meetings. The course is aligned to the national standards of citing text evidence, main idea, summarizing, informational writing, and collaboration and discussion. 

This course is centered around the big question, "Is conflict always bad?". The informational readings and assignments during this course will be related to the course's big question as well as each reading's big question. The readings will be used to support the national standards. Feedback will be given on each assessment that is turned in.

National Standards:
-RI.5.1, RI.6.1, RI.7.1, RI.8.1, RI.9.1 - Citing Text Evidence
-RI.5.2, RI.6.2, RI.7.2, RI.8.2, RI.9.2 - Main Idea
-RI.5.2, RI.6.2, RI.7.2, RI.8.2, RI.9.2 - Summarizing
-W.5.2, W.6.2, W.7.2, W.8.2, W.9.2 - Informational Writing
-SL.5.1, SL.6.1, SL.7.1, SL.8.1, SL.9.1 - Collaboration and Discussion

Course Format:
Each unit (week) is focused around a standard. Learners will first participate in a lesson video. Then, before reading a text, learners will build background knowledge by reflection on a real-world question. Learners will complete and assessment and discussion questions after each reading.

The teacher will be available throughout the week via Outschool to answer any questions and give feedback. 

Course Schedule (Subject to Change):
Week 1:
-Lesson: Main Idea
-Reading: “Does Birth Order Matter?”
	-Big Question: Does birth order always affect a person’s life?
-Reading: “Dealing with Conflicts”
	-Big Question: When should kids ask for help in handling conflicts with classmates?

Week 2:
-Lesson: Citing Text Evidence
-Reading: “Animal Heroes”
	-Big Question: What makes some animals help humans in times of conflict?
-Reading: “Building Trust and Replacing Fear”
	-Big Question: Can fear be replaced with trust?
-Reading: “A Winner On and Off the Field”
	-Big Question: Can conflict build character?

Week 3:
-Lesson: Summarizing
-Reading: “World Pop Cultures”
	-Big Question: What do pop icons tell us about culture?
-Reading: “What Makes a Hero?”
	-Big Question: What can we learn from kids who become heroes?
-Reading: “Krumping Contests: Battles Where Nobody Gets Hurt”
	-Big Question: Can competitions like krumping provide an alternative to street life?

Week 4:
-Lesson: Informational Writing
-Assignment: Informational Writing Piece