8​th​​ ​Grade​ ​ELA​ ​-​ ​Human​ ​Intelligence 

Unit​ ​Overview 

By​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​this​ ​unit,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​: 

● Locate​ ​credible​ ​sources​ ​and​ ​distinguish​ ​them​ ​from​ ​unreliable​ ​sources. 

● Create​ ​an​ ​interactive​ ​informational​ ​text​ ​that​ ​informs​ ​people​ ​about​ ​a​ ​topic. 
● Close​ ​read​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​nonfiction​ ​texts:​ ​print,​ ​digital,​ ​and​ ​multimedia.
● Answer​ ​a​ ​meaningful​ ​self-generated​ ​research​ ​question​ ​with​ ​enough 
relevant,​ ​well-chosen​ ​details.
● Cite​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​sources​ ​in​ ​MLA​ ​format. 
● Describe​ ​the​ ​“growth​ ​mindset”​ ​and​ ​exemplify​ ​it​ ​in​ ​your​ ​work​ ​habits. 

Essential​ ​Question​:​ ​What​ ​is​ ​intelligence?​ ​In​ ​what​ ​different​ ​ways​ ​can​ ​people​ ​be 
intelligent? 

● Additionally,​ ​students​ ​will​ ​create​ ​their​ ​own​ ​essential​ ​questions​ ​for​ ​their 
research​ ​(writing)​ ​task. 

Performance​ ​Tasks​:  

1. Writing​:​ ​Select​ ​a​ ​topic​ ​that​ ​interests​ ​you​ ​and​ ​become​ ​an​ ​expert​ ​on​ ​it:​ ​locate,​ ​close 
read,​ ​and​ ​annotate​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​credible​ ​print,​ ​digital,​ ​and​ ​multimedia​ ​sources.​ ​Then, 
create​ ​an​ ​interactive​ ​text​ ​that​ ​creatively​ ​displays​ ​your​ ​information.​ ​Options​ ​may 
include: 
● Pamphlet 
● Prezi 
● Infographic​ ​(​easel.ly​​ ​or​ ​infogr.am​) 
● Feature​ ​article​ ​(C ​ anva​)  
● Documentary 
● Podcast 
● Screencast​ ​(​screencastify​) 
2. Reading​:​ ​Blog​ ​about​ ​informational​ ​texts​ ​that​ ​you​ ​read.  
3. Speaking​ a​ nd​ ​Listening​:​ ​Present​ ​your​ ​topic​ ​using​ ​your​ ​interactive​ ​text​ ​in​ ​a 
formal​ ​speech.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​listener,​ ​interact​ ​with​ ​a​ ​presentation​ ​by​ ​asking 
questions​ ​and​ ​giving​ ​peer​ ​feedback.  
 
Purpose​:  

● to​ ​learn​ ​about​ ​what​ ​you​ ​love​ ​and​ ​take​ ​charge​ ​of​ ​your​ ​own​ ​learning 
● to​ b ​ e​ ​an​ ​informed​ ​member​ ​of​ ​a​ ​community  
● to​ c​ ommunicate​ ​effectively​ ​with​ ​others 

Audience​:​ ​teachers,​ ​peers,​ ​non-experts,​ ​etc.  

Timeline​ ​and​ ​Deadlines​ ​(tentative)​: 

● Part​ ​I:​ ​Intelligence​ ​/​ ​Growth​ ​Mindset 
○ Focusing​ ​Question:​ ​What​ ​is​ ​intelligence?​ ​What​ ​are​ ​some​ ​different​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​be 
intelligent? 
○ Performance​ ​Tasks: 
■ close​ ​read​ ​an​ ​informational​ ​text 
■ select​ ​a​ ​topic​ ​and​ ​generate​ ​an​ ​Essential​ ​Question 
■ blog​ ​about​ ​your​ ​topic 
○ Monday,​ ​November​ ​6th​ ​-​ ​Thanksgiving 
● Part​ ​II:​ ​Sources​ ​and​ ​Research 
○ Focusing​ ​Question:​ ​How​ ​do​ ​we​ ​decide​ ​whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​to​ ​trust​ ​a​ ​source? 
○ Performance​ ​Tasks: 
■ create​ ​a​ ​bibliography​ ​of​ ​credible​ ​sources 
■ annotate​ ​your​ ​sources 
○ Monday,​ ​November​ ​27th​ ​-​ ​December​ ​8th 
● Part​ ​III:​ ​Interactive​ ​Info​ ​Text 
○ Focusing​ ​Question:​ ​Students​ ​will​ ​use​ ​their​ ​self-generated​ ​EQs. 
○ Performance​ ​Tasks: 
■ draft,​ ​revise,​ ​edit,​ ​and​ ​polish​ ​an​ ​interactive​ ​text 
○ Monday,​ ​December​ ​11th​ ​-​ ​Winter​ ​Break 
● Part​ ​IV:​ ​Speech  
○ Focusing​ ​Question:​ ​How​ ​can​ ​I​ ​best​ ​inform​ ​an​ ​audience​ ​about​ ​my​ ​topic? 
○ Performance​ ​Tasks: 
■ adapt​ ​your​ ​interactive​ ​text​ ​into​ ​an​ ​engaging​ ​multimedia​ ​presentation 
○ Monday,​ ​January​ ​8th​ ​-​ ​January​ ​12th