Grade 7, English Language Arts

In 7th-grade ELA, students continue their journey of exploring identity. Through contemporary literature & non-fiction, students will explore how their experiences, surroundings, and relationships with others impact their own personal development. Throughout the year, students will be challenged to read, write, and think critically about the role of the individual in society and consider a diverse range of perspectives. Each unit is anchored by a highly-engaging core text and supplemented by non-fiction articles, poetry, and short stories. All texts and accompanying activities further develop students’ analytical reading, writing, and discussion skills and broaden their understanding of who they are and their place in the world.

Unit

Timeframe

Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)

Major Learning Experiences from Unit 

Unit 1:

Community & The Role of the Individual

September - November

  • How can society balance individualism with responsibility to the community?

  • When should one conform to the rules and when are societal rules more harmful than helpful?

  • How does an individual’s personal choices impact their community?

Students will:

  • Read The Giver by Lois Lowry in order to explore the role of the individual in a utopian society.

  • Learn the concepts of utopia and dystopia and apply their understanding of these concepts to supplemental readings.

  • Write literary analysis, narrative pieces, and persuasive letters in connection with themes and topics in The Giver.

  • Participate independently in a student-driven Socratic Seminar exploring themes and essential questions in The Giver. 

Unit 2:

Identity and “Otherness”

November - January

  • Where do stereotypes come from and how do they affect our perception of ourselves and others?

  • How is our identity shaped by how others view us?

  • What does it mean to be fully American? Who gets to claim an American identity?

Students will:

  • Read American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang in order to understand how stereotypes impact personal identity.

  • Read, discuss, and respond to nonfiction articles about stereotypes and bias.

  • Analyze the narrative structure of graphic novels and explore the role that art & images play in telling a story.

  • Write a fully-developed synthesis essay drawing on multiple sources to make a literary argument about characterization and theme.

Unit 3:

Overcoming Adversity

February - March

  • How does experiencing adversity shape our identity?

  • How do culture, time, and place influence the development of identity?

  • What do we gain from reading two different perspectives of a similar experience?

Students will:

  • Read A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park in order to understand two different perspectives of the same experience of facing adversity.

  • Make content connections to 7th-grade Social Studies through the study of maps and global water issues.

  • Write a 2-voice poem, applying understanding of the two narrators’ perspectives and using figurative language.

  • Write multiple narratives, focusing on characterization and identity development.

  • Write a literary analysis essay comparing central themes in the novel to central themes in connected poetry. 

Unit 4: 

The Legacy of the Harlem Renaissance & Expressing Identity

March-May

  • What was the Harlem Renaissance and how is it still significant today?

  • How do cultural movements shape individual identity?

  • How does poetic structure impact meaning?

  • How do artists express themselves through their work?

Students will:

  • Read One Last Word by Nikki Grimes and additional poetry by Grimes and Harlem Renaissance poets.

  • Learn about the Harlem Renaissance by studying key figures, including musicians, poets, artists, and athletes.

  • Analyze how the language and structure of poetry determines meaning.

  • Write their own poetry, create their own art, or analyze modern art that connects to what they have learned about cultural and racial identity in the Harlem Renaissance. 

Unit 5:

Personal Narrative & Sense of Self

May-June

  • What are the narrative elements of memoir and personal stories?

  • What experiences in my life have become important parts of my identity?

  • How do we tell our stories?

Students will:

  • Read excerpts of memoirs and personal narratives by authors of various cultural backgrounds in order to understand the narrative elements of personal storytelling.

  • Interview a family or community member about significant experiences in their lives. 

  • Write and revise multiple drafts of a personal narrative. 

  • Record their personal narrative to pass up to their 8th-grade ELA teacher.