Philosophy-Enriched Choice Book Unit Plan (adaptable for grades 6-12)
This Choice-Book Unit, when implemented in a English 10 Loveland High School classroom in the Spring of 2013, yielded quantitative advances in writing scores and qualitative improvements in character, morale, and community. While targeted at tenth grade language arts, the activities and template for philosophical reading, inquiring, discussing, and writing are adaptable to any choice book unit in grades 6-12.
Drawing from Peter Smagorinsky for instructional planning by design, and Kylene Beers, Kelly Gallagher and Sarah Wessling for meaningful reading and writing activities in the context of State Standards, this original unit also incorporates the wisdom of modern Philosophy for Children educators and theorists (Lipman, Worley, Hannam, Copeland). This unit focuses on the essential questions of Character and Purpose and asks students to create a multimedia presentation on their chosen character's philosophy.
The Unit Plan and materials are divided into three components below, available to browse or download. This Unit Plan may be read as a specific application of the principles discussed in the Philosophy for Young Adults and Literature for Young Adults pages.
Part I provides the Unit Topic and Rationale, Standards, Goals, Assessment, and ten daily instruction and management plans. Part I also includes a data analysis of student growth in constructed response assessments. Over the course of Unit One, students complete all aspects of the philosophical literacy learning cycle: reading, inquiring, listening, speaking, and writing.
Part II provides the handouts, written in student friendly language, designed to help students read and think with a philosophical lens. Some of these handouts are also provided on the Philosophical Literacy, Philosophical Inquiry, Philosophical Discussion, and Philosophical Writing pages.
I. Unit Plan and Rationale
Drawing from Peter Smagorinsky for instructional planning by design, and Kylene Beers, Kelly Gallagher and Sarah Wessling for meaningful reading and writing activities in the context of State Standards, this original unit also incorporates the wisdom of modern Philosophy for Children educators and theorists (Lipman, Worley, Hannam, Copeland). This unit focuses on the essential questions of Character and Purpose and asks students to create a multimedia presentation on their chosen character's philosophy.
The Unit Plan and materials are divided into three components below, available to browse or download. This Unit Plan may be read as a specific application of the principles discussed in the Philosophy for Young Adults and Literature for Young Adults pages.
Part I provides the Unit Topic and Rationale, Standards, Goals, Assessment, and ten daily instruction and management plans. Part I also includes a data analysis of student growth in constructed response assessments. Over the course of Unit One, students complete all aspects of the philosophical literacy learning cycle: reading, inquiring, listening, speaking, and writing.
Part II provides the handouts, written in student friendly language, designed to help students read and think with a philosophical lens. Some of these handouts are also provided on the Philosophical Literacy, Philosophical Inquiry, Philosophical Discussion, and Philosophical Writing pages.
I. Unit Plan and Rationale
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Introducing Philosophy Unit Plan and Rationale 1.docx | |
File Size: | 2426 kb |
File Type: | docx |
II . Handouts for Lessons 1-10
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Introducing Philosophy Unit Plan 1 Choice Book Handouts.docx | |
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Introducing Philosophy Unit plan 1 Blooms taxonomy and Grammar.docx | |
File Size: | 4612 kb |
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