Stories of Human Rights What are human rights? Why do we have them, and how are they protected? This unit is designed to help students build knowledge about these questions while simultaneously building their ability to read challenging text closely. Students begin this unit by exploring human rights themes through images and key vocabulary. They then will analyze selected articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) through a series of close reading text-dependent tasks and questions, discussions, and writing. They will explore the history of the development and language of universal human rights documents, developing skills to determine the meaning of words and phrases. The Mid-Unit 1 Assessment will be an on-demand quiz of academic vocabulary from the UDHR. Students then will examine firsthand accounts of people’s experiences with human rights. This unit culminates with on demand writing, in which they analyze a firsthand account and explain how a family’s rights were challenged and how the family responded. Students will cite direct textual evidence to support their claims.
Essential Questions
•What lessons can we learn about human rights through literature and life? •What are human rights? •How can we tell powerful stories about people’s experiences?
I Can Statements
Key Standards Unit 5.1
Reading Informational Text • I can explain what a text says using quotes from the text. (RI.5.1) • I can determine the main idea(s) of an informational text based on key details. (RI.5.2) • I can explain important connections between people, events, or ideas in an informational text accurately. (RI.5.3) • I can determine the meaning of content words or phrases in an informational text. (RI.4) • I can choose evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. (RI.5.9)
Reading Foundational Skills • I can use a variety of strategies to read grade appropriate words and phrases I don’t know. (RF.5.4)
Writing • I can choose evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research. (W.5.9) • I can write for a variety of reasons. (W.5.10)
Language • I can use a variety of strategies to read grade-appropriate words and phrases I don’t know. (L.5.4) • I can use common Greek and Latin affixes (prefixes) and roots as clues to help me know what a word means. (L.5.4) • I can accurately use academic vocabulary to express my ideas. (L.5.6)
Speaking and Listening • I can effectively engage in a discussion with my peers. (SL.5.1) • I can summarize portions of a text when reading or listening to information being presented. (SL.5.2)