Exploring Word Meaning Through Pop Culture Music

Essential Question

How are rights understood and valued differently across cultures?
What do we gain when we learn about the lived experiences of other people?
What are the challenges of celebrating what we have in common while also honoring our differences?

Texts

Literature

Foul Line—1987

In this poem, a black woman carefully analyzes her interaction with a white waitress, whose actions, although civil, are smoldering with superiority.

Colleen McElroy

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Gender & Sexual Identity

July 5, 2014

Informational

"Hope, Despair and Memory" is an address given by Elie Wiesel on December 11, 1986, the date Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Wiesel is an author and humanitarian and is known for writing about his experience as a survivor of the Holocaust.

Elie Wiesel

Grade Level

9-12

Subject

History

Topic

Religion

July 5, 2014

Teaching Strategies

Word Work

Illustrated Vocabulary

In this visual strategy, students divide vocabulary words into parts and draw illustrations to represent the separate meaning of each part.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

L.6-12.4, L.6-12.6

July 19, 2014

Word Work

Meaning-Making Paragraphs

Students learn the meaning of vocabulary words by writing the word in multiple ways. Students write guided paragraphs about words from the central text then share their writing with peers.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

L.6-12.5, L.6-12.6

July 19, 2014

Word Work

Vocabulary Frames

Students use this tool to identify a word’s meaning, its parts and its opposite. After organizing the information on an illustrated flashcard, students practice using the word in a sentence.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

L.6-12.4, L.6-12.6

July 19, 2014

Student Tasks

Do Something

Community Arts Showcase

Students produce original art that conveys an anti-bias or social justice message then work with school staff to plan a public showcase of their work.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

July 13, 2014

Do Something

Inventing a Better World

Students invent a product or process that solves a social problem discussed in the central text.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

July 13, 2014

Do Something

Listen Up! PSA for Change

Students produce digital media to raise awareness and encourage change related to an anti-bias theme.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

July 13, 2014

Plan Built By

dkerbaugh

Exploring Word Meaning Through Pop Culture Music

Foul Line—1987

‘Hope, Despair and Memory’

Illustrated Vocabulary

Meaning-Making Paragraphs

Vocabulary Frames

Community Arts Showcase

Inventing a Better World

Listen Up! PSA for Change

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Exploring Word Meaning Through Pop Culture Music

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