Literature Focus Unit Jen Draovitch

Pirates! by Celia Rees The Pirate Hunter by Richard Zacks The Thirteenth Floor by Sid Fleischman Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson Piratica by Tanith Lee Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie The Golden Age of Piracy by Bob Temple

Students will take part in a thematic unit on pirates. This unit will integrate reading and writing with social studies, science, mathematics, art, music, and physical education. Students will develop an understanding of the history of piracy, world geography, and facts and legends about pirates.

Teacher will read aloud from Treasure Island Students will read a variety of pirate books, through silent reading and partner reading Students will read selections to each other from their ship logs Students will read a treasure map to find the hidden treasure Students will read a book individually on one famous pirate Students will read their Two Voice poem to class

Students will write in a journal (ship log), as they learn about life as pirate Students will write a wanted story for one famous pirate of their choice Students will write reflections on the good vs. bad stereotypes of pirates Students will write a Two Voice poem, one voice will be a pirate Students will write a code of conduct for the classroom

Students will participate in grand conversation on what they know and would like to know about pirates Students will have “Talk like a Pirate” Day where they can only speak like pirates Students will take turns telling us about their famous pirate Students will participate in small groups discussing what a code of conduct is and if it’s ethical for us to live by one Students will use the author’s chair to read their poems and ship logs

Students will listen to an interactive history adventure Students will listen to the teacher discuss each period of piracy and where piracy took place Students will listen to a guest pirate, as he tells them about life of the sea Students will listen to their peers, as they share their wanted stories, ship logs, and poems Students will listen to readings of Treasure Island

Students will view photographs of famous pirates and flags (Jolly Rogers) Students will view pirate word wall Students will view pirate videos *see technology ideas* Students will view pirate decorations (decorate whole room as a pirate ship)

Students will create a Pirate Word Wall Students will take photographs on “Dress like a Pirate” day Students will create their own Jolly Rogers and display them in the classroom Students will display their concrete poems in any pirate themed shape Students will decorate classroom as a pirate ship

Students will study how weather played an important part on pirate travel Students will make models of ships (out of cups), after they have completed them, we will sail them and see how much cargo they can hold Students will research a pirate’s diet and how disease affected them Students will study oceans and currents and how the pirates traveled Students will learn how to use a compass

Students will tally the amount of miles traveled by pirates per day, week, year, etc. Students will research pirates’ monetary system, then do a treasure math activity Students will take a survey on who thinks stories are fact/legend and will graph the results Students will practice measurement skills by making a pirate snack

Students will complete a KWL chart about pirates Students will use a world map to learn about different pirate routes Students will research a ship’s crew and their different roles A famous pirate from the past will visit our classroom(family member or teacher will play the role of pirate) Students will make a Venn diagram to compare different types of pirates Students will participate in a fact vs. legend quiz Students will learn how to read maps and find destinations

Students will make Jolly Rogers Students will help decorate classroom to look like a pirate ship Students will learn and recite pirate songs and chants Students will listen to various pirate music Students will make their own maps Students will design a wanted poster for their famous pirate

Students will participate in a class treasure hunt that takes them around their school Students will play a pirate dress relay Students will play Capture the Flag Students will play the game, Shipwreck

Digital photography Videos: Disney’s Hook CD: Drew’s Famous Pirate Party

Activating background knowledge: Students will think about what they already know about pirates Brainstorming: students will think of many ideas related to pirates Connecting: students will relate to the world around them by journaling and researching pirates of today and past years Revising: students will make changes to poems and wanted posters Summarizing: Students will pick out big ideas to remember

Print: Students will recognize words on the Pirate Word Wall. Comprehension: Students will be able to separate facts from legends. Students will recognize literary genres: historical fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Language: Students will notice pirate slang. Students will apply various skills in their writing activities. Reference: Students will make graphs, read timelines and read magazine and newspaper articles.

Large Group: grand conversations, talk like pirate day, classroom decoration, code of conduct (class rules), interview with famous pirate, singing songs, word wall, viewing movie, Venn diagram, presenting of wanted posters, aloud teacher reading and treasure hunt Small Groups: Peer conferencing, small group discussions, math survey Individual: Writing Wanted Posters, poems, and ship log, jolly rogers, silent reading time

Ship log entries and KWL chart 6+1 traits assessment for poems Participation in grand conversations Vocabulary test using Word Wall Informal observation of small groups, boat building, author’s chair Checklists for math graph and Venn diagram Active participation in music and PE activities Portfolio of work: jolly rogers, treasure maps, pirate decorations, poetry presentations

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday Morning Language Arts Grand convo about pirates Pick book to read for famous pirate Start Ship Logs DIRT time Two voice poem Class code of conduct Wanted pirate stories Group convo on ethics code Pirate word wall Perform two-voice poems, and ship logs Treasure Island reading Interactive history adventure Present wanted posters and stories Vocab test on word wall Concrete poems Social Studies Fact vs. Legend quiz KWL chart World map and pirate routes Venn diagram Famous pirate visits the classroom Ship’s crew and different roles Map readings Music/ Art Decorate classroom Listen to various pirate music Jolly Rogers Learn pirate chants and songs Design wanted posters Finish wanted posters Students make their own maps Afternoon Math Survey for fact/legend, graph results Tally miles traveled by pirates Pirate monetary system Treasure math activity Measurement practice, pirate snacks PE Pirate dress relay Shipwreck Capture the flag Class treasure hunt MOVIE: Hook Pirate dress up and talk like a pirate time Science Discuss about weather and travel Learn how to use compass Pirates diet and disease Study of ocean currents and how pirates traveled Ship models and sailing