Module 17: American Heroes-Language Arts 2 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, learners develop reading, writing, and language skills while learning about George Washington. Learners practice identifying text features and using them to find important information in informational texts, as well as citing evidence from the text to support their understanding. They expand vocabulary by using context clues and distinguishing shades of meaning between words. Learners also strengthen foundational word skills by identifying words with the vowel teams -oa and -ow and recognizing high-frequency words such as show, own, and grow. In grammar and writing, learners learn to identify and use conjunctions to connect ideas in sentences. Throughout the module, learners move through the writing process to draft, revise, edit, and publish an informational brochure about George Washington, while building fluency in reading grade-level text and practicing proper formation of the cursive lowercase letters f and b.

Module Materials:

Lesson #	Lesson Title	Material(s)
1	17.1 American Heroes	None
2	17.2 American Heroes	modeling clay Writing Notebook Handwriting Notebook
3	17.3 American Heroes	note cards or pieces of paper;
4	17.4 American Heroes	shaving cream (optional) baking sheet (optional) watercolor paint (optional) paintbrush (optional) paper towel (optional) cup of water (optional) paper (optional) highlighters (assorted colors) Handwriting Notebook
5	17.5 American Heroes	None

Module Objectives:

Lesson #	Lesson Title	Objective(s)
1	17.1 American Heroes	Identify words with the vowel teams -oa and -ow. Identify high-frequency words: show, own, grow. Use context clues to find the meaning of new vocabulary words. Recognize text features. Identify conjunctions.
2	17.2 American Heroes	Identify text features. Classify conjunctions. Construct a rough draft of a brochure about George Washington. Demonstrate proper letter formation of cursive lowercase f and b.
3	17.3 American Heroes	Distinguish shades of meaning in vocabulary words. Recognize text features. Recognize conjunctions. Revise a brochure about George Washington.
4	17.4 American Heroes	Recall text features. Use conjunctions. Demonstrate understanding of conventions by editing a brochure about George Washington. Demonstrate proper letter formation of cursive lowercase f and b.
5	17.5 American Heroes	Demonstrate fluency when reading grade-level text. Cite evidence of text features. Revise and edit sentences with conjunctions. Create a published brochure about George Washington.

Module Key Words:

Key Words	Words of the Week	Spelling Words	Vocabulary Words
context clues fluency graphic organizer text features conjunctions brochure rough draft revise edit publish	shown own grow	boat cloak roast soap load blow snow bowl shown glow	founding independent famous label necessary

Module Assignments:

Lesson #	Lesson Title	Page #	Assignment Title

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson #	Lesson Title	Notes
1	17.1 American Heroes	If your learner struggles with when to use the new vowel teams, make a chart with each vowel team. Use this visual to help your learner understand when to use the oa spelling (at the beginning or middle of a word) and when to use the ow spelling (at the end of a word or syllable). This can help learners to recognize that the oa team should be followed by a consonant, while the ow team should not. If your learner quickly recognizes and uses the patterns, have them build words with the vowel teams. Challenge them, for example, to build a word with the ow team that has 5 letters.
2	17.2 American Heroes	When your learner writes the rough draft of their biographical brochure, they may need guidance on how to turn bullet points into sentences. Read aloud what they have written and ask them if their sentences flow together or if they need some transitions between them. You can also encourage your learner to use a variety of sentence types by including at least one question and one exclamation. With this week’s grammar focus on conjunctions, you can also guide your learner to combine two shorter sentences with the proper conjunction to add a compound sentence to their writing.
3	17.3 American Heroes	Your learner may have limited exposure to brochures, so this might be the perfect time for a field trip. You can go to the local library, grocery store, museum, or post office to see what types of brochures they have. Ask your learner to identify the nonfiction text features within one or more brochures.
4	17.4 American Heroes	When your learner reads nonfiction, preview the text with them. Read and discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, headings, and illustrations. Activate their background knowledge by discussing what your learner already knows about the topic. Model how to stop and reread when you are confused and how to stop and summarize each section as you read. You can find passages related to any topic, at any reading level, online. Challenge your learner to read about a topic that they know nothing about or to read something above their reading level. If your learner is frustrated, find a passage on the same topic at a lower reading level to help them build confidence.
5	17.5 American Heroes	Your learner’s vocabulary is growing every week. You can use notecards or a word wall to help them review the vocabulary. You can also have your learner name related words (founding: found, founder, foundation) and discuss each word’s part of speech and meaning. Categorizing vocabulary is a challenging activity that can be done with students at every level. Give your learner 6 or 7 notecards with vocabulary words on them. Ask if they can place all the words into 2 or 3 categories that they name. Categories can be related to the meaning of the words, parts of speech, or any classification that your learner can justify.

Guiding Questions
Suggested Books

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
17.1 American Heroes	What vowel sound is made when you see the -oa or -ow vowel team?
17.2 American Heroes	What are conjunctions?
17.3 American Heroes	What are the different types of text features you can encounter in a text?
17.4 American Heroes	What is a biography?
17.5 American Heroes	What are some things you need to include in a published brochure?

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
1	100 Native American Heroes: Brave Leaders, Creators, and Trailblazers Who Changed History and Shaped America	Rosie Bright Sky
2	100 African Americans Who Shaped American History	Chrisanne Beckner
3	The Children's Book of Heroes	William J. Bennett
4	Leaders & Heroes of the American Revolution	D.P. Michaels
5	Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels	Linda Skeers
6	25 Kids Who Changed American History	N. H. Greenwood

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 history museum or historical society to learn about American heroes from their community or state. During the visit, learners can explore exhibits, read informational displays, and observe artifacts that tell the stories of important leaders and historical figures. They can identify key events in the lives of these individuals and notice text features such as headings, captions, and timelines that help present information. This experience helps learners connect what they learn from biographies in class to real people and events from their local history.