Ms. Binkley's English Class

Welcome to 6th-Grade English!  This year, we will be jumping right into our Narrative writing Unit. This is the perfect opportunity for students to tell stories of their past and share their lives with me and their peers. Students learn a variety of writing skills and it gives students multiple opportunities to practice what they learned. 

After our writing unit, we will dive into our first whole class novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1964. We will explore the world through the eyes of a young black boy navigating the world during the Civil Rights movement. Within the unit, we will read poetry, articles, and research civil rights leaders throughout history. 

We will close the semester with a fun argument unit. It helps students develop writing, reading, research, and speaking skills. It is a unit that encourages them to think on their feet and tap into their deep critical thinking skills. 

 

Starting in January, participate in a short story unit. This unit allows students to have a choice in their reading and is primarily based on collaboration. In their small groups, they will explore their text, write many essays, and take charge of their learning.

The unit that follows is definitely a class favorite. Using the platform Amplify, students learn how to research and write an informational essay about the tragic story of the Titanic. Students get to look at artifacts, immerse themselves in that world through role-playing activities, and learn new facts about the ship's sinking. 

To end the year, we read the novel Revolution is Not a Dinner Party. It is about a young girl living through the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Students learn about a part of China's history that is widely not talked about.