Gender, Race, and Class in Today’s America

Appendix on Implementing District Standards

This unit is written for 6^th grade English Language Arts classes. The following are Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which this unit significantly addresses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.4 / R.L.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.

This standard is addressed specifically through the in-depth study of the impact of the 13^th amendment to the United States Constitution. Through the careful analysis of the wording of the amendment students will understand how the specific language left loopholes for other types of slavery to embed themselves into American culture. 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

Throughout this unit students will review historical images, video clips, and graphs showing the impact of the 13^th amendment and Jim Crow laws on Black Americans throughout history. Students will use these resources to compare the history to what is presented in “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry”.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.8 Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.

The essential questions of the unit asks students to consider how life has changed for Black American’s over time. Using multi-media resources in conjunction with the our anchor novel “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry”, students will continually evaluate claims that life has improved or remained stagnant throughout time.