Week 15: Argumentative Writing & Rhetoric

Objective: Students can explain the key idea behind drafting an argumentative essay.

Materials: Journals, whiteboard, mentor text excerpt

Warm-up: Quick-write: what do you already know about drafting an argumentative essay?

Main Activity: Direct mini-lesson introducing drafting an argumentative essay using a short mentor text, with think-aloud modeling.

Practice: Guided practice identifying drafting an argumentative essay in a shared class text.

Assessment: Exit ticket: one example of drafting an argumentative essay from today's text.

Objective: Students can identify examples of drafting an argumentative essay independently.

Materials: Independent reading text, annotation guide

Warm-up: Pair-share: review yesterday's exit tickets.

Main Activity: Small-group close reading focused on drafting an argumentative essay, with annotation practice.

Practice: Independent annotation of a new passage for drafting an argumentative essay.

Assessment: Teacher check of annotations for accuracy.

Objective: Students can apply drafting an argumentative essay to their own writing or analysis.

Materials: Writer's notebook, graphic organizer

Warm-up: Mini-review game on key vocabulary.

Main Activity: Students draft their own short piece or analysis applying drafting an argumentative essay.

Practice: Peer feedback exchange using a structured checklist.

Assessment: Self-assessment checklist submitted.

Objective: Students can revise work to strengthen use of drafting an argumentative essay.

Materials: Drafts from Wednesday, revision checklist

Warm-up: Discuss one strong peer example from yesterday.

Main Activity: Guided revision workshop focused on strengthening drafting an argumentative essay.

Practice: Independent revision time with teacher conferencing.

Assessment: Turn in revised draft for teacher feedback.

Objective: Students can demonstrate understanding of drafting an argumentative essay on a short assessment.

Materials: Assessment handout or digital quiz

Warm-up: Review key vocabulary and concepts as a class.

Main Activity: Short formative assessment covering the week's focus on drafting an argumentative essay.

Practice: Class discussion reviewing assessment answers.

Assessment: Completed assessment collected and reviewed.

Objective: Students can describe the concept of estimating with rational numbers.

Materials: Whiteboard, manipulatives, worked examples

Warm-up: Warm-up: review a related prior-skill problem.

Main Activity: Direct instruction introducing estimating with rational numbers with worked examples and visual models.

Practice: Guided practice with 3-5 problems on estimating with rational numbers.

Assessment: Exit ticket: one practice problem on estimating with rational numbers.

Objective: Students can solve straightforward problems involving estimating with rational numbers.

Materials: Practice worksheet, calculators as needed

Warm-up: Quick review of yesterday's exit ticket errors.

Main Activity: Guided practice with increasingly complex problems on estimating with rational numbers.

Practice: Independent practice set, checked in pairs.

Assessment: Teacher circulates and checks for understanding.

Objective: Students can apply estimating with rational numbers to real-world word problems.

Materials: Word problem set, graph paper if needed

Warm-up: Discuss a real-world scenario connected to estimating with rational numbers.

Main Activity: Small-group work solving multi-step word problems using estimating with rational numbers.

Practice: Groups present one solution strategy to the class.

Assessment: Short reflection on strategy used.

Objective: Students can solve a mixed set of problems on estimating with rational numbers with increasing independence.

Materials: Mixed practice set, answer key for self-check

Warm-up: Timed warm-up review of key steps.

Main Activity: Independent practice on a mixed problem set covering estimating with rational numbers.

Practice: Peer tutoring for students who need support.

Assessment: Self-check against answer key and flag questions.

Objective: Students can demonstrate mastery of estimating with rational numbers on a short quiz.

Materials: Quiz handout

Warm-up: Review key formulas/steps as a class.

Main Activity: Short formative quiz covering estimating with rational numbers.

Practice: Class review of quiz answers and common mistakes.

Assessment: Completed quiz collected and reviewed.

Objective: Students can describe the key idea behind relative vs. absolute dating.

Materials: Science notebook, diagram handout

Warm-up: Quick discussion: what do you already know about relative vs. absolute dating?

Main Activity: Direct instruction and demonstration introducing relative vs. absolute dating.

Practice: Guided notes and diagram labeling on relative vs. absolute dating.

Assessment: Exit ticket: one fact learned about relative vs. absolute dating.

Objective: Students can explain how relative vs. absolute dating works through observation.

Materials: Lab materials as needed, safety goggles

Warm-up: Review yesterday's key vocabulary.

Main Activity: Hands-on mini-investigation or demonstration exploring relative vs. absolute dating.

Practice: Students record observations and draw conclusions.

Assessment: Teacher checks lab notebooks for accuracy.

Objective: Students can connect relative vs. absolute dating to real-world examples.

Materials: Reading passage or video clip, discussion guide

Warm-up: Brainstorm real-world examples related to relative vs. absolute dating.

Main Activity: Small-group research or reading connecting relative vs. absolute dating to real-world contexts.

Practice: Groups share one real-world connection with the class.

Assessment: Short written reflection.

Objective: Students can answer application questions about relative vs. absolute dating.

Materials: Practice worksheet or lab report template

Warm-up: Quick review game on key vocabulary.

Main Activity: Independent practice answering application questions on relative vs. absolute dating.

Practice: Peer discussion to compare answers.

Assessment: Practice sheet collected for feedback.

Objective: Students can demonstrate understanding of relative vs. absolute dating on a short check-in.

Materials: Quiz handout or lab practical station

Warm-up: Review key concepts and vocabulary as a class.

Main Activity: Short formative check-in (quiz or mini lab practical) on relative vs. absolute dating.

Practice: Class discussion reviewing answers.

Assessment: Completed check-in collected and reviewed.

Objective: Students can describe the key events/ideas related to the Columbian Exchange.

Materials: Map or timeline handout, textbook excerpt

Warm-up: Quick discussion connecting to prior week's learning.

Main Activity: Direct instruction introducing the Columbian Exchange using maps, timelines, or primary sources.

Practice: Guided notes and class discussion on the Columbian Exchange.

Assessment: Exit ticket: one key fact about the Columbian Exchange.

Objective: Students can analyze a primary or secondary source related to the Columbian Exchange.

Materials: Primary source excerpt, analysis guide

Warm-up: Review yesterday's key vocabulary/events.

Main Activity: Small-group analysis of a primary or secondary source on the Columbian Exchange.

Practice: Groups share key findings with the class.

Assessment: Teacher checks source analysis notes.

Objective: Students can explain multiple perspectives related to the Columbian Exchange.

Materials: Discussion guide, graphic organizer

Warm-up: Warm-up question to activate prior knowledge.

Main Activity: Structured class discussion or debate exploring the Columbian Exchange from multiple perspectives.

Practice: Students record key arguments in a graphic organizer.

Assessment: Short written reflection on the discussion.

Objective: Students can answer analysis questions about the Columbian Exchange.

Materials: Practice worksheet, map or timeline

Warm-up: Quick review game on key vocabulary.

Main Activity: Independent practice answering analysis questions on the Columbian Exchange.

Practice: Peer discussion to compare answers.

Assessment: Practice sheet collected for feedback.

Objective: Students can demonstrate understanding of the Columbian Exchange on a short check-in.

Materials: Quiz handout

Warm-up: Review key events/vocabulary as a class.

Main Activity: Short formative check-in (quiz or discussion assessment) on the Columbian Exchange.

Practice: Class discussion reviewing answers.

Assessment: Completed check-in collected and reviewed.

Objective: Students can recognize and use new vocabulary/structures for storytelling in past tense.

Materials: Vocabulary flashcards, audio clip

Warm-up: Quick review of previously learned vocabulary.

Main Activity: Direct instruction introducing new vocabulary/grammar for storytelling in past tense, with audio modeling.

Practice: Guided repetition and pair practice using new vocabulary.

Assessment: Exit ticket: say or write 2 new words/phrases.

Objective: Students can use new vocabulary/structures for storytelling in past tense in simple sentences.

Materials: Practice worksheet, partner dialogue script

Warm-up: Quick vocabulary review game.

Main Activity: Guided pair practice building simple sentences related to storytelling in past tense.

Practice: Independent practice writing short sentences.

Assessment: Teacher circulates and checks pronunciation/accuracy.

Objective: Students can hold a short spoken exchange related to storytelling in past tense.

Materials: Dialogue prompt cards

Warm-up: Warm-up: greet a partner using target language.

Main Activity: Structured pair/small-group conversation practice on storytelling in past tense.

Practice: Students perform a short dialogue for a small group.

Assessment: Peer feedback on pronunciation and vocabulary use.

Objective: Students can use storytelling in past tense vocabulary/structures in a short written or spoken task.

Materials: Task handout, rubric

Warm-up: Quick review of key phrases.

Main Activity: Independent or paired task applying storytelling in past tense in a short scenario.

Practice: Peer review using a simple rubric.

Assessment: Task submitted for teacher feedback.

Objective: Students can demonstrate understanding of storytelling in past tense on a short oral/written check-in.

Materials: Check-in handout or oral rubric

Warm-up: Review key vocabulary and phrases as a class.

Main Activity: Short formative check-in (oral or written) on storytelling in past tense.

Practice: Class review of common errors.

Assessment: Completed check-in collected and reviewed.

Objective: Students can describe the key technique or concept behind combining print & collage.

Materials: Sketchbook, demonstration materials

Warm-up: Quick sketchbook warm-up related to today's topic.

Main Activity: Teacher demonstration introducing combining print & collage with example artworks.

Practice: Guided practice trying the technique in a sketchbook.

Assessment: Exit share: show one attempt at combining print & collage.

Objective: Students can apply combining print & collage with growing skill.

Materials: Art materials for the unit (paint, clay, etc.)

Warm-up: Review yesterday's technique with a quick refresher.

Main Activity: Guided studio practice refining combining print & collage.

Practice: Independent practice time with teacher circulating for feedback.

Assessment: Quick peer share of progress.

Objective: Students can create an original piece applying combining print & collage.

Materials: Art materials for the unit, reference images

Warm-up: Brainstorm ideas for an original piece using combining print & collage.

Main Activity: Studio work time creating an original piece applying combining print & collage.

Practice: Mid-work peer check-in for feedback.

Assessment: Progress photo or note added to portfolio log.

Objective: Students can revise and improve their work using combining print & collage.

Materials: In-progress artwork, critique guide

Warm-up: Gallery walk of in-progress work for inspiration.

Main Activity: Studio work time refining and finishing the piece.

Practice: Structured peer critique using a critique guide.

Assessment: Reflection note on revisions made.

Objective: Students can reflect on and discuss their completed work.

Materials: Completed artwork, reflection sheet

Warm-up: Prepare work for display/critique.

Main Activity: Class critique session discussing use of combining print & collage.

Practice: Written reflection on what was learned this week.

Assessment: Portfolio piece and reflection submitted.

Objective: Students can explain why test-taking strategies matters in daily life.

Materials: Discussion handout, video clip

Warm-up: Quick discussion: why might test-taking strategies matter to teens?

Main Activity: Direct discussion/mini-lesson introducing test-taking strategies with real-life examples.

Practice: Guided discussion and note-taking on key strategies.

Assessment: Exit ticket: one takeaway about test-taking strategies.

Objective: Students can identify strategies related to test-taking strategies.

Materials: Scenario cards, worksheet

Warm-up: Review yesterday's key takeaway.

Main Activity: Small-group discussion of scenario cards related to test-taking strategies.

Practice: Groups share strategies with the class.

Assessment: Teacher checks group notes.

Objective: Students can practice a skill related to test-taking strategies.

Materials: Role-play cards or activity materials

Warm-up: Quick warm-up discussion or icebreaker.

Main Activity: Role-play or hands-on activity practicing test-taking strategies.

Practice: Peer feedback after role-play/activity.

Assessment: Short reflection on what was practiced.

Objective: Students can apply test-taking strategies to a personal plan or example.

Materials: Planning worksheet

Warm-up: Review key strategies from earlier in the week.

Main Activity: Independent work creating a personal plan or example applying test-taking strategies.

Practice: Partner share of personal plans.

Assessment: Plan submitted for teacher feedback.

Objective: Students can reflect on their learning about test-taking strategies.

Materials: Reflection handout

Warm-up: Review the week's key ideas as a class.

Main Activity: Reflection activity or short discussion wrap-up on test-taking strategies.

Practice: Volunteers share reflections with the class.

Assessment: Completed reflection collected.