Challenging Common Core Language Arts Lessons Activities and Extensions for Gifted and Advanced Learners in Grade 7

This book, from the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary, provides gifted and advanced learners challenging activities to master and engage with the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts through four mini units. Each mini unit is packed with activities that enrich and extend grade-level ELA content for grade 7. Included texts have messages and characters that are developmentally suitable for students. Through higher order reasoning questions, resulting discussions, and student-created products associated with these texts, gifted and advanced students' needs are met while still maintaining messages and characters to which students can relate. Students will be exposed to themes such as conflict, tragic flaws, civil rights, and tolerance. Each theme was chosen with advanced seventh-grade students in mind and their emerging need to learn more about themselves, their world, and how to work through adversity to accomplish their goals.Grade 7

INTRODUCTION 1 Unit I: Conflict Lesson 1.1: Making Choices Lesson 1.2: Lessons for the Future Lesson 1.3: Rite of Passage Lesson 1.4: Alienation: Man Versus Society Lesson 1.5: Cultural Relationships and Transitions Unit I: Culminating Essay Prompt Unit II: A Tragic Flaw Lesson 2.1: Icarus Has Fallen Lesson 2.2: Destruction Lesson 2.3: A Hero’s Road Lesson 2.4: Vengeance Versus Vindication Lesson 2.5: Tempting Fate Unit II: Culminating Essay Prompt Unit III: Civil Rights Lesson 3.1: Freedom Writer Lesson 3.2: Peaceful Protest Lesson 3.3: Apartheid Lesson 3.4: Governing Principles Lesson 3.5: Self-Reflection Unit III: Culminating Essay Prompt Unit IV: Tolerance Lesson 4.1: Censorship Lesson 4.2: Don’t Judge Me Lesson 4.3: You Say It, I Believe It Lesson 4.4: The Rescuer Unit IV: Culminating Essay Prompt ANSWER KEY REFERENCES ABOUT THE AUTHOR COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

The Center for Gifted Education at The College of William and Mary, a research and development center, was established in 1988 under the direction of Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska. The center provides services to educators, policy makers, graduate students, researchers, parents, and students in support of the needs of gifted and talented individuals. Located in Williamsburg, VA, the center has established a national reputation for excellence in research, curriculum development, and service. Several major grants, including funding from the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, have provided significant support for the work of the Center.