Week Two Main goal for this week: To introduce Asian American literature and connecting it with Our

America. Also, to introduce the unit projects.

Monday Description of activities Students will be making predictions about the next chapter in a journal activity, then we will read the next two chapters Students will complete a handout at the beginning of class which includes predictions and also applying their own opinions and values to the novel. Tuesday Students will read A Half Caste in small groups and fill out a reading guide worksheet in the process. Wednesday Students will be focusing on how father figures or lack thereof contribute to their understandings of the two texts. Thursday Students will be introduced to unit project and will completing project planning guide.

Friday
Students will watch a clip from Hardball (2001). As a class, we will read chapters 13-15 from Our America.

What students will be doing

Students will be divided into small groups of four and will read the short story A Half Caste together. Students will also have to complete a reading guide while/after reading.

Students will be completing 3-way Venn Diagram for Activate Understanding activity and then completing Create a Character writing activity through collaboration with group members.

Students will be introduced to project options and will fill out planning guide (attached), taking responsibility for which project they choose and capitalizing on personal strengths that will contribute to their success in completing the project. I will be providing students with the project choices handout and the project planning guide. I will collect the completed planning guides at the end of class and make copies so students keep track of goals.

Students will begin class by completing a journal entry comparing Hardball and Our America. Students will then comment on the class blog while chapters 13-15 in Our America are being read.

What/how youll teach

I will start a conversation using the handouts as a guideline, after the preview discussion I will conduct a shared reading of the next two chapters. after reading we will bring up our discussion again and how the next chapters may have changed our opinions. Students will learn about cultural values and how they differ depending on your environment. This will be assessed through discussion and handing in their journal exercises.

I will instruct students to begin reading the story and to look for connections it has with Our America. I will pass out the guides and float around the classroom checking on progress.

I will instruct students how to complete Venn Diagram, by giving example similarities and differences. I will pass out Create a Character hand outs and guiding students to completion throughout class period.

I will have the journal question on the board when the students arrive. I will then play the clip, read the prompt, and be available for questions while students journal. I will begin the reading then call on students to continue reading out loud.

What will be learned (and how will you know?)

Students will have practice with finding and analyzing information in a text. I will collect the worksheet and grade on accuracy.

Students will be able to make inferences on how two very different characters, especially LeAlan were affected by a similar situation.

Students will choose unit project based upon strengths they know will contribute to a good project. They will understand the importance of a carefully planned and executed project.

Students will have access to media, both through the movie and commenting on the blog. Students will also gain practice reading out loud and learn more about the Chicago justice system in these chapters.