Name: Kelly Desjardins

Grade Level: Grade Five

Subject Area: News Unit
Essential Graduation Learnings:
Communication - Graduates will be able to use the listening, viewing, speaking,
reading and writing modes of language(s), and mathematical and scientific
concepts and symbols, to think, learn and communicate effectively.
Citizenship - Graduates will be able to assess social, cultural, economic and
environmental interdependence in a local and global context.
Personal Development - Graduates will be able to continue to learn and to pursue
an active, healthy lifestyle.
Problem Solving - Graduates will be able to use the strategies and processes
needed to solve a wide variety of problems, including those requiring language,
and mathematical and scientific concepts.
Technological Competence - Graduates will be able to use a variety of
technologies, demonstrate an understanding of technological applications, and
apply appropriate technologies for solving problems.

Speaking and Listening

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be
expected to speak and listen
to explore, extend, clarify
and reflection on their
thoughts, ideas, feelings and
experiences.
Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Communication
Problem Solving

Specific Curriculum
Outcome: Ask and respond
to questions to seek
clarification or explanation
of ideas and concepts.
Anchor Text: Individual
Just Right books
Lesson Idea:
Students will select a just
right book of their own
interest. After reading the
book a few times, they will
be placed in pairs. Each
student will then interview
their partner based on their
comprehension of their
book. As a class we will
develop example questions
each interviewer can ask.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO, as
each student will have the
opportunity to ask and
respond to questions based

Speaking and Listening

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be
expected to communicate
information and ideas
effectively and clearly, and
to respond personally
critically.
Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Communication
Citizenship

Speaking and Listening

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be
expected to interact with
sensitivity and respect,
considering the situation,
audience, and purpose.

on the ideas and concepts of

their book.
Specific Curriculum: Use
word choice and expression
appropriate to the speaking
occasion.
Anchor Text: Local
Newspapers (e.g. The
Chronicle Herald, Halifax
Metro).
Lesson Idea:
At the beginning of the
week students will select
an article from a local
newspaper. They will have
the duration of the week to
read and comprehend the
article. Students will then
practice in groups of three
reading the article to their
group. Students will
provide feedback to their
group members on their
pronunciation and
expression. At the end of
the week each student will
read his or her article to
large groups/ or the class.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO as it
allows students to develop
an understanding of
appropriate expression.
Depending on the article the
student has selected with
depend of the tone and
volume of the presentation.
Specific Curriculum
Outcome: Identify
examples of prejudice,
stereotyping, or bias in oral
language; recognize their
negative effect on
individuals and cultures;

Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Personal
Development
Communication
Problem Solving
Citizenship

and attempt to use language

that shows respect for all
people.
Anchor Text: Newspapers
(e.g. New York Times,
Toronto Star).
Lesson Idea:
Students will analyze
editorial cartoons and
discuss in small groups of
five the
different stereotypes and
prejudices found within
them. Students will then
gather as a whole class and
continue this discussion.
During this discussion
students will be prompted
to reflect on how the
different stereotypes and
prejudice can negatively
impact each individual.
After the discussion
students will then create
their own editorial cartoon
that uses visuals and text
that are respectful for
everyone.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO as it
has the students identify
examples of stereotypes and
prejudice with written and
oral language. Through
the discussion the students
will have the opportunity to
recognize the negative
effects. Once students have
gather a foundation they
will them attempt to
illustrate respect language.

Reading and Viewing

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be

Specific Curriculum
Outcome: Select,

expected to select, read, and

view with understanding a
range of literature,
information, media, and
visual text.
Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Communication
Personal
Development
Problem Solving

Reading and Viewing

General Curriculum

independently,
texts appropriate to their
interest and learning need.
Anchor Text: Magazines
(e.g. TIME, LIFE).
Lesson Idea:
Students will select an
article from a magazine.
Students will first read the
entire article. If the student
feels the article is not
challenging enough or too
challenging they will have
the opportunity to select a
different article. Students
will then be asked to reread
the article this time using
the STOP LIGHT reading
guidelines. Students will
highlight in green parts of
the article they liked or
found interesting. They will
highlight in yellow parts
that were new to them and
that they want to explore
further. They will also
highlight in red parts
they didnt understand.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO
as students
are independently
selecting the articles based
off of their own
interest. They are also
providing them with an
opportunity to change
articles if they find it too
challenging or not
challenging enough. This
ties in finding texts
appropriate to their
individual learning needs.
Specific Curriculum

Outcome: Students will be

expected to interpret, select,
and combine information
using a variety of strategies,
resources and technologies.
Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Communication
Problem Solving

Reading and Viewing

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be

Outcome: Answer, with

increasing independence,
their own question and
those of others by selecting
relevant information from a
variety of text. Demonstrate understanding
of how classification
systems and basic reference
materials are used to
facilitate research.
Anchor Text: Worksheet
Lesson Idea:
Students will meet with the
schools librarian to engage
in a lesson about how the
library organizes the texts.
The lesson will include
different areas where
reference materials are
located. The students will
participate in a discussion
to explore how one might
us each reference text in
their research. Students
will then work in pairs to
fill out a worksheet on the
lesson. This activity will
help with their historical
figure Twitter Page.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO as
students are provided an
opportunity to develop an
understanding on how to
conduct research. Since the
schools library is their
closest research facility it is
important that they have an
understanding of how the
library is organized before
conduct research.
Specific Curriculum
Outcome: Use their

expected to respond
critically to a range of text,
applying the understanding
of language, form, and
genre.
Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Problem Solving
Communication

Writing and Other Ways

of Representing

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be
expected to use writing and
other forms of
representation to explore,
clarify and reflect on their

background knowledge to
question and analyze
information presented in a
print and visual text.
Anchor Text: Picture
Lesson Idea:
For the duration of the news
themed unit, students will
enter the classroom every
morning and be presented
with a picture. Students will
then be asked to
think critically about the
picture. They will be
prompted by questions such
as who is in the picture,
what are they doing, do you
recognize anything in the
picture and where do you
think the picture was taken.
After students have had
time to independently
reflect on the picture, the
class will participate in
a discussion. The picture
will be different everyday.
Some pictures maybe blurry
or zoomed in to engage in
more critical thinking.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO as
each student will question
and analyze the information
being presents in the visual
text. They will be prompted
by questions to help them
draw from their background
knowledge.
Specific Curriculum
Outcome: Use a range of
strategies in writing and
other ways of representing
to frame questions and
answer to those questions.

thoughts, feelings,
experiences and learning;
and to use their
imagination.
Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Communication
Problem Solving

Writing and Other Ways

of Representing

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be
expected to create text
collaboratively and
independently, using a wide
variety of forms for a range
of audiences and purposes.

Anchor Text: Holes by

Louis Sachar.
Lesson Idea:
Students will be reading the
text Holes by Louis Sachar.
While reading the novel
they will be asked to gather
information on a specific
event in the novel. Once
the have complete the novel
students will gather all the
information and create a
newspaper article based on
the event. Student will be
required to include the
characters thought
and feelings by using
quotes from the novel.
Students will then have an
opportunity to use their
imagination by illustrating
the event.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO, as
they will explore how to
write a newspaper article.
Students will also
be representing the
questions and answers to
those question by both
writing and illustrating the
event. Students will be
developing question
throughout the novel to help
them gather all
the necessary information.
Specific Curriculum
Outcome: Create written
and media text,
collaboratively and
independently in different
modes
(expressive, transnational,
poetic), and in an increasing

Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Technological
Competence
Communication

Writing and Other Ways

of Representing

General Curriculum
Outcome: Students will be
expected to use a range of
strategies to develop
effective writing and other
ways of representing and to
enhance their clarity,

variety of forms. - Use

specific features, structures
and patterns of various text
forms to create written and
media texts.
Anchor Text: Historical
newspapers or articles.
Lesson Idea:
The students will be placed
in groups of 3 for this
activity. Students will be
given a historic figure
within Canadian history.
Students will then conduct
research on their selected
figure. Each group will
then create a twitter page
for that figure. Through the
unit students will be require
to create tweet speaking as
their historic figure. These
tweets can be expression
and include quotes of their
famous statements or
saying. They can include
the figures hobbies, and
historic things they did.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO, as
students will be creating
written and media text
through their twitter
accounts. The tweets will be
written in a variety of forms
inducing expression, direct
quotes, statements and
facts.
Specific Curriculum
Outcome: Use a range of
prewriting, drafting,
revising, editing,
proofreading and
presentation strategies.
Anchor Text: Online new

precision and effectiveness.

Links to Essential
Graduation Learnings:
Communication
Problem Solving
Citizenship
Technological
Competence

video (e.g. CBC.ca,

YouTube).
Lesson Idea:
Students will be presented
with five online news
videos; each student must
select one video Once they
have selected their video
students will engage in a
lesson on how to write a
letter to the editor of their
video. Students will then
independently start to create
their own letter to the editor
of their video by creating
notes (prewriting), and
creating a first draft. Once
their first draft is complete
students will partner up and
edit each others work.
Students will then
switch partners twice to
ensure that three
different individuals have
edited their draft. Students
will the necessary changes
and proofreading their own
work. Once all of the steps
are complete students will
complete a final draft of
their letter.
How it relates to the
SCO?
This relates to the SCO, as
students will be practice a
range of prewriting,
drafting, revising, editing
and proofing reading skills.