Fourth+Nine+Weeks

The fourth nine weeks of first grade language arts has to do with media literacy - informative, entertaining and persuasive.

__**Media Literacy**__
The purpose of this unit on media literacy is to help students understand that media literacy is how messages are sent to large groups of people. Students will explore different forms of media such as print media and digital media. Students will learn to comprehend the conventions associated with print media versus digital media so that they can be more skilled at reading and comprehending the various forms. Students will also learn about the various purposes of communicating with large groups of people: to inform people, to entertain people, to give provide access to the latest news, etc.

__**Literary Texts**__
Students will focus on writing literary texts. By incorporating computers, students will have opportunities to put use some of the conventions of media literacy by exploring graphics, and publishing to a wiki or class website.


 * Expository and Procedural Texts**

This unit will give students the opportunity to express their own ideas in form of a media message and write an expository text. Expository text (letters) is used to describe and inform the audience of the topic and should contain appropriate conventions (e.g., date, salutation, closing). Students can write a letter to the class describing their favorite movie and why they should watch it. Students should be given the opportunity to ask questions and communicate their ideas by writing a short letter.

__**Assured Experiences**__
Throughout the unit, students experience:


 * Daily opportunities to read and write in a workshop format, as defined in the Introduction of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills;
 * Opportunities to read for a minimum of 20 minutes per day in both independent and instructional level text;
 * Teachers modeling reading strategies and comprehension techniques for students daily; and


 * Reading a variety of genres throughout the course of the unit, in addition to the focus genre(s) (i.e. through read-alouds, guided reading groups, independent reading, cross-curricular reading experiences, etc.)


 * Media Literacy**


 * What types of media give us information?
 * What types of media entertain us?
 * How is informative media different from entertainment media?
 * What techniques do media use to grab the attention of the audience?
 * How does the media influence our daily lives?
 * What types of messages do the media try to convey?
 * Where is media found?
 * How has media changed over the years?
 * How does media communication with different groups of people such as children versus adults?
 * **Literary Texts**
 * How does writing stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end help the reader?
 * How does the use of sensory details help the reader to get a clear picture in his/her mind?
 * What kinds of details are sensory details? ||


 * Suggested Pacing**


 * Week 1:**


 * Reading – ** Introduce students to the concept of media and the variety of media that exists; during this week, examine media that informs – TV news, newspaper, Discovery Channel, etc.; while watching or reading, have students notice sound and images used to reinforce the information being provided


 * Writing – ** Students will write responses to media as they watch or read in order to show that they can find evidence in the images and sound; have letters available during this week to prepare students to write letters later – non-negotiable product; personal stories should be written throughout the year


 * Week 2: **


 * Reading **** – ** During this week, examine media that entertains – TV shows (appropriate), video games, books, etc.; while watching or reading, have students notice sound and images used to reinforce how it enhances the purpose to entertain


 * Writing – ** Teacher creates an anchor chart that is an example of a letter for students to use as a model when they write their own letter(s); guide students to decide who they will write a letter to; drafting of letter(s) will start this week: personal stories should be written throughout the year


 * Week 3: **


 * Reading – ** Students may read or watch a variety of media this week in order to find ones that have the “best” sound or images in order to enhance its presentation; you may want to stretch the idea of media by talking about how media influences what we buy or read or watch (try having two different cereal boxes and ask which a child would like and which an adult would like and why)


 * Writing – **Students will complete their letter(s) by revising and editing and finally sending it to whom they wrote; if they finish early they may write a personal story