Brookside School

Key Concepts

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Information Seeking

Teacher provides one source for students for guided activity; teacher provides two or more sources for shared activity.

Introduction to electronic databases

Students use electronic databases and text to locate information

Students use electronic databases, text and websites to locate information

Website Evaluation

Students use electronic databases, text and websites to locate information

Website Evaluation

Academic Integrity Skills

Introduction to the concept that information comes from a source and the students are responsible for knowing their sources. (bare bones works cited page)

Information is property.

Paraphrasing and works cited to document sources

(simple Noodle Tools)

Information is property.

Paraphrasing, introduction of parenthetical documentation, direct quotation (one or two sentence quotes)

Turn It In. com

Paraphrasing and parenthetical documentation (advanced version of Noodle Tools, complete works cited page, direct quotations)

Turn It In. com

Note-taking/Reading Comprehension

Goal: Students will be able to separate key/relevant details from text.

Introducing the idea of separating main ideas from details

SS & Science - Double-column notes with key questions (teacher-supplied)

SS, Science & LA-Graphic Organizers

Fact Fragments to understand paraphrasing skills, Source Searching sheets on colored paper

SS & Science - Double-column notes with key questions

Graphic Organizers

Fact Fragments – transitional use of 6^th grade color coded source searching sheets

SS & Science - Guided double-column notes with guided key questions, inquiry-based, guided outlining

Graphic Organizers

Determining Importance

Summarizing

NoodleTools: MLA advanced citation and note card function.

Mastery

8^th graders will be able to use a variety of note-taking formats to study and research various kinds of text.

NoodleTools: MLA Advanced citation and “My Ideas” note card function used to draft paragraphs.

Analysis

Compare and contrast separating fact from opinion

Determining relevant facts

Connections - text to self, text to world, text to text

Drawing Conclusions

Inference

Compare and contrast separating fact from opinion

Expressing opinions

Connections - text to self, text to world, text to text

Drawing Conclusions

Inference

Compare and contrast separating fact from opinion

Expressing opinions

Connections - text to self, text to world, text to text

Drawing Conclusions

Inference

Compare and contrast separating fact from opinion

Expressing opinions

Connections - text to self, text to world, text to text

Drawing Conclusions

Inference

Expository/

Persuasive/

Narrative Writing

Five paragraph essay with teacher guidance on a topic

LA - Daily Journal Writing - Expository/Persuasive/Narrative

SS- Expository focus

LA – Persuasive and Narrative Focus

Five paragraph essay with teacher guidance on a topic

LA-Daily Writing - Expository/Persuasive/Narrative

SS & Science - Expository and Persuasive focus

LA – Persuasive and Narrative Focus

Teacher provided framework for Inquiry- based thesis- driven research paper

Five (or more) paragraph essay with scaffolding (i.e. use graphic organizers)

Frequent Writing using prompts (expository, persuasive, narrative)

Inquiry based thesis driven research paper

Providing information based on research (written and oral)

Frequent Writing using prompts (expository, persuasive, narrative)