Integrated

Language Arts
Unit of Study
By: Elizabeth Krogen
 Unit Overview and Purpose
1. Build a higher level of relational capacity in the learners'
lives

2. Build a larger understanding of different

exceptionalities/differences in the world around us

3. Create an appreciation/acceptance of ourselves and others

4. Develop a wider understanding of what different family

dynamics could be

5. Inspire a can-do attitude

 Unit Set Up

Book/Author: Insignificant Events in the Life of

a Cactus By: Dusti Bowling

Theme: Acceptance, Inclusion, and Empathy

Grade Level: 5th-7th grade

Time: 3 weeks (45min/day)

 Complementary Texts

Text Title Text Title Text Title

- Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus - You Are Enough By: Margaret O’Hair and - The ABC’s of Inclusion By: Beth Leipholtz
By: Dustin Bowling Sofia Sanchez
Theme
Theme Theme
- Acceptance
- Acceptance - Acceptance
- Inclusion
- Inclusion - Inclusion
- Empathy
- Empathy - Empathy
Age/Purpose of Text
Age/Purpose of Text Age/Purpose of Text
- K-8th grade
- 5th-8th grade - K-8 grade
th
- In this text you meet 26 different kids all
- This is a fantastic text to teach/learn about - Texts such as this one helps students with different exceptionalities. The book
differences. The story follows a young girl understand that differences are all provides you with information about
that was adopted and lives without arms. around us. Even with the differences we them as individuals and their
In this novel you also learn about different can all work/play/live in the same place exceptionality. Along with how it might
family dynamics. Along with learning how united. Teaching students to accept present to the reset of us in society.
to accept yourself and others.
themselves and others.
 Vocabulary Instruction
- Tier 1 - Activity - Vocabulary Quilt

1. Prank - Students will be provided with a

2. Insecure - Tier 2 - vocabulary word
3. Dingy - That student will become an
1. Dexterous expert on that word
2. Mimicked - Once they know all they can they
3. Sparse will fill out a “piece of a quilt”
4. Dementia - The students can decorate and
5. Obliged add any kind of information they
6. Buzzkill want (appropriate)
7. Swig - Once everyone is complete the
8. Flinching - Tier 3 - pieces of the quilt will be put
together on a wall to create a
1. Guillotine complete quilt
2. Bedraggled
3. Noncommittal
 Comprehension Check
Pre-Reading Activity

- Prediction Journal Entry: Students will be given the first three sentences in the book of “Insignificant Events in the Life of a
Cactus” and write what they think the book will be about.
- Pre-Test Vocabulary: Students will be given a small exit ticket the day the unit is explained. The exit ticket will have a few
vocabulary words that are important to the understanding of the text. They will write what they know/think the definition is at
that time.

During Reading Activity

- Journal Prompts: After a few chapters students will be asked to summary main points in their reading. Another way students
may be asked to journal is based on a prompt provided by me. This will be determined on reading levels.
- Vocabulary List Creation: Group, pairs, or individuals will create their own vocabulary list. This will be chunked into 4 chapter at
a time.
- Vocabulary Word Search: This will be done toward the very end of the novel as a review for the students. This list will reflect
what is on the pre/post vocabulary assessment.

After Reading Activity

- After Reading Journal Entry: Students will reflect on the entry they made predicting what they thought the story may be about.
They will mention why they can or can not see where they brain was going at the time of the journal.
- Post-Test Vocabulary: Students will be given the same small exit ticket from the beginning of the unit. They will complete the
exit ticket based on the new knowledge obtained from reading the novel.
 Integration of Language Arts Activities
LA Activity Approximat
Component e Time
Reading - Students will be expected to read assigned chapters in the - Before
book - During

Writing - Journal Prompts - Before

- Pre-Post Vocabulary Assessments - During
- After
Listening - Student will listen to the two supplementary texts read aloud - Before
- Students will listen to some chapters of the book “Insignificant - During
Events in the Life of a Cactus” - After
- Students will also be expected to listen to peers share their
journal entry’s
Speaking - Student will collaborate with their partner or group to create a - Middle
vocabulary list
- Students will also share specific journal entry's
Extensions - Students with a higher reading rate/level could go on to - After
reading the second book
- An individual from the community could come in and talk
 Assessment
Formal
Informal

- Journal Entries
- Participation (Reading the Novel,

- Vocabulary List Creation

Listening to the Read Aloud, Helping

their partner/group) - Vocabulary List Creation Rational

- Pre-Test Vocabulary

- Organic classroom conversations about

the novel
Resources
Bowling, Dusti. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.
Turtleback, 2020.

Leipholtz, Beth. ABCs of Inclusion. 2022.

O’Hair, Margaret, and Sofia Sanchez. You Are Enough: A Book

About Inclusion. Scholastic Inc., 2021.

*EDUC 321 Lectures