English / Language Arts Standard 1: Discussion Students will use agreed-upon rules for informal and formal discussions in small and large groups. Standard 2: Questioning, Listening, and Contributing Students will pose questions, listen to the ideas of others, and contribute their own information or ideas in group discussions or interviews in order to acquire new knowledge. Standard 4: Vocabulary and Concept Development Students will understand and acquire new vocabulary and use it correctly in reading and writing. Standard 8: Understanding a Text Students will identify the basic facts and main ideas in a text and use them as the basis for interpretation. Standard 9: Making Connections Students will deepen their understanding of a literary or non-literary work by relating it to its contemporary context or historical background. Standard 11: Theme Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of theme in a literary work and provide evidence form the text to support their understanding.

English / Language Arts, cont. - Primary objective is to help students develop new perspectives on both nutrition and mental health - Reading “The Omnivore's Dilemma: Young Reader's Edition” by Michael Pollan - Daily relaxation/stress relief activities, such as: body awareness, yoga, breath awareness, imagery, visualization for success, seated stretches, progressive muscle relaxation, listening to relaxing music, and “mini” meditations - Ongoing Health Journal activity – students will reflect on daily relaxation exercises, write reading responses. Some entries will be shared with partners and/or the class. - Vocabulary cards – students will be given one small notecard at the end of the class to fill out at home after reading the assigned pages from the book. They will turn in the cards in a box at the beginning of class. Teacher will determine vocabulary - Reading quizzes – ongoing - Think-Pair-Share and Four Corners activities will be used regularly in class

English / Language Arts, cont. - Final assessment: PSA project - Students will work together with a partner and choose one topic discussed in class (related to nutrition or mental health) and produce a short PSA using Audacity and/or iMovie. - Each PSA will be posted on the class wiki or blog and referenced in the school newsletter. - In addition to creating the PSA, students will be required to write a one page reflection in which they explain how they condensed their knowledge of their topic into a one-minute or less PSA, and why they think their topic is important for the public to be made aware of.