Thematic Unit:

Teaching skills in an integrated manner brings more meaning and relevance for the

learner. A thematic unit incorporates language, speech, writing, literature, and media

around a central theme or concept. Much of high school English teaching is anthology

driven, and the goal of this assignment is to help you begin thinking about how to use a

text in creative and resourceful ways. The steps below give directions for developing the

unit:

1. Use a 3-ring binder for your unit.

2. Select a theme of interest to high school students and that can be incorporated into a

standard English literature text. Write an introduction and rationale for the theme

explaining how it fits into the curriculum for the grade level taught.

2. Find at least five reading selections relevant to the theme to be read by the entire

class. You may use selections from text, short stories, poetry, or prose. Include a variety

of genres.

3. Include bibliographic information about all selections and a brief summary of the

selection.

4. Select at least five young adult novels relevant to the unit theme. Also select two

videos and two musical selections which would be relevant. Include bibliographic

information on the books and videos as well as a short synopsis of each. Either include the lyrics to the songs or explain how their meaning is relevant to the theme of the unit.

5. Identify three or four thematic objectives

6. Identify from six to eight language arts objectives from the NC Standard Course of Study. (Click Here for the website)

7. Describe a plan to introduce the theme to students. The purposes are to arouse

interest, to encourage students to relate the theme to their own lives and experience, and to predict or anticipate what is to come.

8. Assume you will be teaching this unit over a four-week period. Make a calendar showing how the activities of the unit will scheduled. This should include a statement of objectives and strategies for each lesson.

9. Select ONE of the lessons and develop it more fully using a lesson plan.

plan.

10. Describe a plan for a culminating activity for the unit. The purpose is to review and to generalize about meanings common to the literature and provide closure. NO MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS!!!!

11. Include a description of the criteria/methods that you use to evaluate students’

learning.

12. Provide a full reference to the textbook you used to design the unit.

13. Develop a Table of Contents and organize the unit with a professional title page.