Grade 8 ELD Beginning Proficiency: Visual and Performing Arts

This unit contextualizes English language development through exploration of African

folktales and use of targeted language to express understanding of characters, events, and
story message by combining verbal(dialogue), written (creative writing) and kinesthetic
(performing arts) communication.

STAGE 1- STANDARDS/GOALS
What should students understand, know, and be able to do? Stage one identifies the desired
results of the unit including the related state content standards and expected performances,
enduring understandings, essential questions, knowledge, and skills.

Content Standard(s) https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/English-

Learners/CELP_Standards.pdf
Generalizations about what students should know and be able to do.

Content Standards Primary Expected Performances

CELP.6-8.1. An EL can construct meaning Students will be able to describe events in a

from oral presentations and literary and story and analyze characters’ actions.
informational text through grade-
appropriate listening, reading, and viewing.
CELP.6-8.8. An EL can determine the
meaning of words and phrases in oral
presentations and literary and
informational text.

CELP.6-8.2. An EL can participate in grade- Students will be able to make connections

appropriate oral and written exchanges of between the message and story events and
information, ideas, and analyses, characters.
responding to peer, audience, or reader
comments and questions.
CELP.6-8.4. An EL can construct grade-
appropriate oral and written claims and
support them with reasoning and evidence.

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CELP.6-8.3. An EL can speak and write Students will be able to write an original story
about grade-appropriate complex literary and perform/present it using storytelling
and informational texts and topics. techniques.
CELP.6-8.7. An EL can adapt language
choices to purpose, task, and audience
when speaking and writing.

Enduring Understandings Essential Questions

Insights learned from exploring
generalizations via the essential questions
(Students will understand THAT…)
K-12 enduring understandings are those Inquiry used to explore generalizations
understandings that should be developed
over time, they are not expected to be
mastered over one unit or one year.

Overarching Enduring Understandings: 1. Why do people/cultures tell stories?

Students will understand that language
learning in an academic context is 2. What makes a good story/folktale?
purposeful for storytelling and expressing
oneself creatively. 3. Can we communicate without language?

Unit Specific Enduring Understanding:

Students will understand that stories can
carry and convey cultural values.

Students will understand that meaning can

be conveyed through sound, body
language, facial expression, and other
storytelling techniques that do not include
spoken or written language.

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 Knowledge and Skills

What students are expected to know and be able to do

Knowledge
The students will know:
• African folktales and features of the genre such as a moral, lesson or message.

Skills
The students will be able to:
• describe story elements through retelling (written summary paragraphs).
• discuss opinions about the story’s message.
• write and perform/present an original story.

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED