This module focuses on the importance of clean freshwater around the world. In Unit 1, students read the text One Well: The Story of Water on Earth to build background knowledge about freshwater around the world and the three issues they will read more about in Unit 2: access to water, demands on water, and water pollution. In Unit 2, students continue their study of the three issues related to water, this time reading different texts about each issue and comparing the point of view of the authors to their own point of view. In the second half of the unit, they add to the research begun in Unit 1 by rereading the module texts for solutions for each issue. Students then use the Painted Essay® structure to write an opinion essay about the importance of water conservation. In Unit 3, students plan and create a video public service announcement to educate people about their chosen water issue and to encourage them to take action with specific recommendations to solve the problem. They write invitational letters to guests for the live launch of their video PSA. For the performance task, students present a live "launch" of the PSA (public service announcement) they created about a water issue. The presentation includes a personal reflection on why this issue is important and a brief description of the process of creating a public service announcement.
Essential Questions
Why are the world's freshwater sources threatened? Due to rainfall, freshwater is not distributed equally around the world. How do people persuade others to take action to contribute to a better world?
RI.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. RI.3.2 Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. RI.3.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. RI.3.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-‐specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topics or subject area. RI.3.6 Distinguish their own point of view from that of the authors of a text. RI.3.7 Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur). RI.3.9 Compare and contrast the most important points and key details presented in two texts on the same topic. RI.3.10 By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2–3 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
Foundational Reading RL.3.3 Know and apply grade-‐level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Identify and know the meaning of the most common prefixes and derivational suffixes.
Writing W.3.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. W.3.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. W.3.4 With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. W.3.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-‐specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Speaking and Listening SL.3.2 Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. SL.3.3 Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail. SL.3.4 Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace. SL.3.5 Create engaging audio recordings of stories or poems that demonstrate fluid reading at an understandable pace; add visual displays when appropriate to emphasize or enhance certain facts or details.
Language L 3.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences. b. Form and use regular and irregular plural nouns. c. Use abstract nouns (e.g., childhood). L3.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. b. Use commas in addresses. L3.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-‐meaning words and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Use sentence-‐level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known affix is added to a known word (e.g., agreeable/disagreeable, comfortable/ uncomfortable, care/careless, heat/preheat).
Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., company, companion).
Use glossaries or beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.