Facing Calamity: Climate Change Facts and Fictions

Lesson 4
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ELA

Unit 5

8th Grade

Lesson 4 of 23

Objective


Infer the meaning of unknown words using context clues, use reference materials to verify the meaning of words, and explain how word choice develops meaning in an informational article.

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Writing Prompt

  • What is the meaning of the phrase, "make inroads" as it is used in paragraph 13? What specific words and phrases help you determine the meaning of the word?
  • Look up the word "inroads" in the dictionary. Based on this definition and the context clues you used to come up with your preliminary definition, how does this word develop your understanding of the article?

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • Using context clues, what can you infer is the meaning of the words "makeshift" and "flotsam" from the first paragraph of this article? What specific words and phrases help you determine the meaning of these words?

    Look up these words in the dictionary. Based on this definition and the context clues you used to come up with your preliminary definition, how do these words help you understand the situation the people of the Marshall Islands face?

  • Using context clues, what can you infer is the meaning of the word "inundated" as it is used in paragraph 5? What specific words and phrases help you determine the meaning of the word?

    Then look up the word in the dictionary. Based on this definition and the context clues you used to come up with your preliminary definition, how does this word help you understand the situation the people of the Marshall Islands face?

  • Using context clues, what can you infer is the meaning of the word "plight" as it is used in paragraph 10? What specific words and phrases help you determine the meaning of the word?

    Look up the word in the dictionary. Based on this definition and the context clues you used to come up with your preliminary definition, how does this word help you understand the situation the people of the Marshall Islands face?

Discussion Questions

  • Some lawmakers have argued: "Our constituents are worried that the pledges you are committing the United States to will strengthen foreign economies at the expense of American workers." How do you respond to this idea? Do you think it is America’s responsibility to help Marshall Islanders and other people in the South Pacific who are facing the imminent destruction of their homelands?

Exit Ticket

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Vocabulary


Text-based

fallout

n.

the negative result of something

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Article: “Statement and Poem” by Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner 

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Common Core Standards


  • L.8.4 — Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
  • L.8.4.a — Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
  • L.8.4.c — Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
  • L.8.4.d — Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).
  • RI.8.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

Supporting Standards

L.8.5
L.8.5.c
L.8.6
RI.8.1
RI.8.2
RI.8.10
SL.8.1
SL.8.6
W.8.1
W.8.1.a
W.8.1.b
W.8.4
W.8.9
W.8.9.b
W.8.10
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Lesson 3

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Lesson 5

Lesson Map

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