Module 16: Lives That Teach Us-Language Arts 2 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, learners strengthen reading, writing, and language skills while exploring two biographies. Learners practice identifying the main (central) idea and key details and citing evidence from the text to support their understanding. They develop vocabulary skills by using context clues and distinguishing shades of meaning between words. Learners also build foundational word knowledge by identifying and constructing words with the vowel teams -ea and -ee and recognizing high-frequency words such as sleep, green, and clean. In language and writing, learners learn to identify and use positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives. Throughout the module, learners move through the writing process to draft, revise, edit, and publish a compare-and-contrast piece about two biographies, while also practicing proper formation of the cursive lowercase letters e and l.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 16.1 Lives That Teach Us None
2 16.2 Lives That Teach Us modeling clay
Writing Notebook
Handwriting Notebook
3 16.3 Lives That Teach Us note cards or pieces of paper;
4 16.4 Lives That Teach Us shaving cream (optional)
baking sheet (optional)
watercolor paint (optional)
paintbrush (optional)
paper towel (optional)
cup of water (optional)
paper (optional)
highlighters (assorted colors)
5 16.5 Lives That Teach Us None

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 16.1 Lives That Teach Us
  1. Identify words with vowel teams: -ea, -ee.
  2. Identify high-frequency words: sleep, green, clean.
  3. Use context clues to find the meaning of new vocabulary words.
  4. Identify main (central) idea and details.
2 16.2 Lives That Teach Us
  1. Identify the main (central) idea and details.
  2. Identify positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives.
  3. Construct a rough draft of a compare/contrast writing about two biographies.
  4. Demonstrate proper letter formation of cursive lowercase e and l.
3 16.3 Lives That Teach Us
  1. Construct words with vowel teams: -ea, -ee.
  2. Distinguish shades of meaning in vocabulary words.
  3. Recognize the main idea and details.
  4. Recognize positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives.
  5. Revise a compare/contrast writing on two biographies.
4 16.4 Lives That Teach Us
  1. Recall the main (central) idea and details.
  2. Use positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of conventions by editing a compare/contrast writing about two biographies.
  4. Demonstrate proper letter formation of cursive lowercase e and i.
5 16.5 Lives That Teach Us
  1. Recall words with vowel teams: -ea, -ee.
  2. Cite evidence to support the main (central) idea and details.
  3. Revise sentences with positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives.
  4. Create a published compare/contrast writing about two biographies.

Module Key Words:

Key Words Words of the Week Spelling Words Vocabulary Words
context clues
fluency
graphic organizer
positive adjectives
comparative adjectives
superlative adjectives
rough draft
revise
edit
publish
 sleep
green
clean
 teach
flea
leaf
cheat
wheat
queen
wheel
tweet
teen
screen
 community
conclusion
living
march
matter

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 16.1 Lives That Teach Us This week, students will learn about the /long e/ sound spelled with -ee and -ea. They will also learn new vocabulary while reading a biography. They will then compare this biography to one from a previous week. You can support your learner by asking simple questions about what they read and how the two people are alike or different. Talking about these ideas helps build students’ reading and thinking skills.
2 16.2 Lives That Teach Us This week, students are learning about the /long e/ sound spelled with ee and ea, like in tree and leaf. You can practice this with your learner by writing down words with the short /e/ and /long e/ sound spelled ea and ee, on notecards or sticky notes. Have your learner read the words aloud and then sort the words by short /e/ sound or /long e/ sound. Students will also practice vocabulary words. You can support your learner by using vocabulary words in sentences and having your child identify the words, part of speech, synonyms, and antonyms. In writing, students are drafting a comparison piece. Go over their facts in their Venn diagram to help them prepare. Students will also learn about comparative and superlative adjectives like smaller and biggest. Pick random things around the house to compare. Ask your learner to use comparative or superlative adjectives to describe the objects.
3 16.3 Lives That Teach Us This week, students are reviewing how the /long e/ sound is spelled using the vowel teams ee and ea. Ask your learner to look around and find objects or words that have these sounds, like tree, seat, sheet, or read. Have your learner say the words aloud and listen for the /long e/ sound. Students will also be learning about words that mean almost the same thing as their vocabulary words. To practice this, pick a word from the reading, like happy, and ask your learner to think of other words that mean about the same thing. Students will focus on understanding the main idea and details in a story or paragraph. A way to practice this is by reading a short story or a few paragraphs with your learner and asking, “What is this mostly about?” and “What are some important facts or details?” This helps build reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
4 16.4 Lives That Teach Us This week, students are learning about the /long e/ sound spelled with ee and ea, like in tree and leaf. Practice with your learner by reading together and pointing out any ee or ea words you find. A fun way to practice is to make a word hunt. Have your learner highlight or list /long e/ words that they see in books, on signs, or even on cereal boxes! Students are also working on spelling and understanding their WOW words and vocabulary words. Review these words with your learner by asking them to use the words in sentences or to spell them out loud. In reading, students are continuing to focus on finding the main idea of a text. When you read with your learner, ask, "What is this part mostly about?" or "What is the main idea of this story?"
5 16.5 Lives That Teach Us This week, students have focused on the /long e/ vowel sound spelled ee and ea, like in see and team. To reinforce this with your learner, read books or find words with these sounds together or play simple word games like I Spy, using /long e/ words. Students are also working on their writing pieces by learning how to review and revise their work carefully with support from their peers. Finally, students are practicing the use of comparative and superlative adjectives, words that compare things, like bigger and biggest. Encourage your learner to describe objects around the home or outside using comparative and superlative forms. For example: This apple is sweeter than that one; or That's the tallest tree in the park.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
16.1 Lives That Teach Us
  1. What are the characteristics of a biography?
16.2 Lives That Teach Us
  1. What is the main (central) idea of a text?
16.3 Lives That Teach Us
  1. What are positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives?
16.4 Lives That Teach Us
  1. How can you tell the relevant details that support the main (central) idea of a story?
16.5 Lives That Teach Us
  1. What is included in a compare/contrast essay?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees Franck Prevot
2 Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya Donna Jo Napoli
3 Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life Cheryl Blackford
4 Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning of Lyme Regis Laurence Anholt

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing
1 Learners can visit a local museum, library, or community organization to learn about the lives of people who have made a difference. During the outing, learners explore biographies, ask questions, and identify lessons they can learn from the experiences and contributions of others.