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Writing About US History Through Literature With IEW Semester 1 (Middle)
Mrs. Jen Altman MSEd
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(401)
Utilize IEW writing skills to write about history as learned through literature, pre-colonial to civil rights.
Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
Follows Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Curriculum
Writing about US History Through Literature with IEW: Part 1 of 2 (16 Weeks) Course Overview: This course integrates advanced writing skills with the study of US history through literature, covering topics from pre-colonial times to the Civil Rights Movement. Students will develop skills in writing thesis statements, using MLA format, crafting persuasive essays, researching, and more, while reading books by authors of the culture or experts on the topics. Disclaimer: We will deal with...
16 lessons//16 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Writing an Outline - Corn/Maize• Book: See Behind Trees by Michael Dorris • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create an outline, review vocabulary.Week 2Lesson 2Writing from Outline - Natives and Fire• Book: Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, write from outline, review vocabulary.Week 3Lesson 3Indigenous People's Day• Book: Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich • Activities: Discuss Indigenous People's Day, write from outline, review vocabulary.Week 4Lesson 4The Not So "New World"• Book: Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich • Activities: Discuss the concept of the "New World," write from outline, review vocabularyWeek 5Lesson 5Story Sequence Chart• Book: Baby Rattlesnake by Lynn Moroney (Pawnee Tribe) • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.Week 6Lesson 6Story Sequence Chart• Book: How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki Tribe) • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.Week 7Lesson 7Story Sequence Chart• Book: When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Folktale from the Choctaw Nation by Tim Tingle (Choctaw Tribe) • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.Week 8Lesson 8Story Sequence Chart• Book: A Man Called Raven by Richard Van Camp (Alaskan Dena'ina Tribe) • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.Week 9Lesson 9Summarizing a Reference - Crispus Attucks• Topic: Summarizing a Reference - Phillis Wheatley • Book: Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar • Activities: Summarize a reference, review vocabulary.Week 10Lesson 10Summarizing a Reference - Phillis Wheatley• Book: Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar • Activities: Summarize a reference, review vocabularyWeek 11Lesson 11Summarizing a Reference - Indian Removal Act• Book: Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar • Activities: Summarize a reference, review vocabulary.Week 12Lesson 12Trail of Tears• Book: How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, summarize a reference, review vocabulary.Week 13Lesson 13Writing from Pictures - Trail of Tears• Book: How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle • Activities: Create a narrative from pictures, review vocabulary.Week 14Lesson 14Underground Railroad• Book: How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a narrative from pictures, review vocabulary.Week 15Lesson 15Fighting for Freedom• Book: I Thought My Soul Would Rise & Fly by Joyce Hansen • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a narrative from pictures, review vocabulary.Week 16Lesson 16Summarizing Multiple References - Harriet Tubman• Book: I Thought My Soul Would Rise & Fly by Joyce Hansen • Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, summarize multiple references, review vocabulary.
- Moving through Units 1–9 of the IEW methods, students will take notes, write from pictures, put together a mini research report, and compose creative essays.
I am a registered IEW instructor and have been using IEW for many years. I have a Master's Degree in Education. Additionally, I have completed the Anti-Racism I course through University of Colorado Boulder to better prepare me to discuss sensitive racial topics that have occurred throughout history. I continue to educate myself on these topics from those from the communities which are most greatly affected. I am also working through Anti-Racism II from University of Colorado Boulder and Black History, Black Freedom and Black Love from MasterClass.
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: 1-2 throughout the classFeedback: as neededDetails: Homework will be assigned each week and should be uploaded to the classroom before class. Each writing assignment includes a composition checklist, so what is expected is easily outlined. Papers are graded on a rubric, based on a checklist provided with each assignment.Letter Grade
Frequency: includedDetails: By request a report card will be provided, grades can also be seen in google classroom.Certificate of Completion
Frequency: 1 after class completionDetails: At the completion of Semester Two
1 file available upon enrollmentThe following books are required reading you can purchase them for a bookstore or borrowed from the library: See Behind Trees by Michael Dorris Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich Baby Rattlesnake by Lynn Moroney (Pawnee Tribe) How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki Tribe) When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Folktale from the Choctaw Nation by Tim Tingle (Choctaw Tribe) A Man Called Raven by Richard Van Camp (Alaskan Dena'ina Tribe) Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle I Thought My Sould Would Rise & Fly by Joyce Hansen
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
We will deal with sensitive history topics such as The Trail of Tears, Indian Removal Act, will touch on genocide and land theft, as well as Nazi Concentration Camps. Japanese Internment Camps, Tulsa Race Massacre touch on racism and violence related to racism. We will discuss Enslavement, Civil Rights, as well as the Chinese Inclusion Act. We will learn to think critically about these events and after reading about them from carefully selected literature, we will use them as a jumping off point for essay writing of various types. If questions arise regarding any of these items, including Indigenious People, I will share what I do know and research from reliable sources what I do not know.
The following books are required reading you can purchase them from a bookstore or borrow from the library: Baby Rattlesnake by Lynn Moroney (Pawnee Tribe) How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki Tribe) When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Folktale from the Choctaw Nation by Tim Tingle (Choctaw Tribe) A Man Called Raven by Richard Van Camp (Alaskan Dena'ina Tribe)
Joined April, 2019
4.9
401reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Education from Capella University
I am a homeschooling mom of 5. I have a Masters Degree in Education, specializing in Early Childhood Education. I taught English as a foreign language online to kids in Asia for 4 years. I have children ages 17, 15, 13, 10 and 8. I taught...
Reviews
Group Class
$285
for 16 classes1x per week, 16 weeks
55 min
Completed by 13 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-12 learners per class
