Introduction to Unit 1: Characters Who Change and Grow
About this Lesson
This lesson will introduce you to the ideas, texts, and skills we will explore throughout the unit.
Part 1: Exploring the Unit’s Big Ideas
Directions: Below are several ideas that we will explore in this unit. Rate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement. 5 minutes
1. Accepting change is a difficult part of growing up.
Disagree
2. Kids should speak up when an adult makes a mistake.
3. Sticking with something difficult is more rewarding than quitting.
4. What your friends think is more important than what adults think.
Disagree Strongly Agree
5. Understanding someone else’s story can change the way we treat them. Strongly Disagree
Agree
6. Winning is more important than just about anything else.
Part 2: Discussing the Unit’s Big Ideas
Directions: As you discuss the statements from Part 1 with your classmates, use the space below to capture interesting ideas you hear! 10 minutes
Notes Catcher
Part 3: What Will We Read?
Directions: Read the overview of unit texts. 5 minutes
Title & Author Genre
For Sample Only
“Do People Really Change?” by Jessica McBirney
“Home” by Hena Khan
“The Scholarship Jacket” by Marta Salinas
“Thrown” by Mike Jung
“The Medicine Bag” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
“Skitter Hitter” by Jason Reynolds
“Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara
Informational Text
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
Short Story
As you read, you will think about...
How do peoples’ personalities change over time?
How can your friends influence your thoughts and behavior?
What would you do if a teacher tried to cheat you out of something you deserved?
If something was too hard, would you quit or keep going?
Would you lie to your friends to avoid embarrassment?
Would you treat someone differently if you knew more about their past?
What’s more important: Defeating your enemies or supporting your family?
Part 4: What Skills Will We Learn?
Directions: Rate your confidence level for each of the unit skills listed below. 5 minutes
Reading Skills
Mark the column that best matches your confidence level for each skill. Not Confident Somewhat Confident Extremely Confident
1. I can identify the central idea of a text.
2. I can identify and explain the way a character changes in a story.
3. I can find evidence to support my answer.
Writing Skills
Mark the column that best matches your confidence level for each skill. Not Confident Somewhat Confident Extremely Confident
For Sample Only
1. I know how to break down a writing prompt.
2. I can write a strong body paragraph that includes a claim, evidence, and reasoning.
3. I know how to select evidence that clearly answers a writing prompt.
4. I know how to write an essay with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Vocabulary for Unit 1: Characters Who Change and Grow
Activity 1: In-Context Predictions
Directions: Use context clues to determine the meaning of each of your new vocabulary words. Your teacher will review the correct definitions with you after. The example below shows you how to do this.
1. Begin by looking at the photo. Ask yourself, What do I see? I see birds flying in the air. They are not being controlled or told where to go.
2. Next, look at the caption. Ask yourself, what word could I put in place of the underlined vocabulary word? Here I might substitute “all” or “complete” for absolute.
3. Then, look at the example sentence. Ask yourself, do my substitutions from the caption — “all” and “complete” — make sense in this sentence? Yes, “complete” works in the example sentence as well.
Example: Absolute [ab-suh-loot]
My mother’s no was absolute. Once she said it, there was no chance of changing her mind.
For Sample Only
Birds have absolute freedom to go wherever they like.
4. Finally, write or type a prediction in the last box.
What’s your prediction? My Answer: Complete
Correct Definition:
1. Burden [bur-dn]
Many older people are afraid to be a burden on their children, so they don’t ask for help or money.
Minh split her burden between two baskets so it was easier to carry.
What’s your prediction?
My Answer:
Correct Definition:
2. Despair [dih-spair]
I was filled with despair when I realized the concert was starting and my tickets were at home.
With their team losing 28-3, fans were filled with despair about their team’s chances of winning.
What’s your prediction?
My Answer:
For Sample Only
Correct Definition:
4. Reluctant [ri-luhk-tuhnt]
Lorie’s father believed in the dignity of hard work. I’m afraid of heights, so I was reluctant to go rock climbing.
Lions are a symbol of dignity because they command awe and respect.
What’s your prediction?
My Answer:
Marisol was reluctant to tell her friend that she broke her new phone.
What’s your prediction?
My Answer:
3. Dignity [dig-ni-tee]
Activity 2: Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences
Directions: Fill in the blanks using the correct vocabulary word to complete each sentence. You may have to change the form of the word (ex: go, going, gone).
Burden Despair Dignity Reluctant Reputation Trait Transform
1. I was to join the club, but it ended up being a great decision.
2. Poor Mya had to everything about her life after she broke her leg.
3. Dashawn had a for being the funniest student in his class.
4. My backpack is so heavy! By the time I get home, all I want to do is put this down.
5. Even though I lost the race, I did my best. For that reason, I still had my .
6. Ophelia’s most likable is how kind she is to everyone.
For Sample Only
7. Lyla was filled with when her teacher said she was calling home.
Activity 3: Matching
Directions: Match the following vocabulary words to their synonyms from the box. Write your answer in the column next to the word.
Synonyms: Change Hesitant Weight Honor Hopeless Feature Character
Words My Answer Burden Despair Dignity Reluctant Trait Reputation Transform
Activity 5: Application of Vocabulary
Directions: Answer each question in 1-2 complete sentences. Make sure that you use the underlined vocabulary word in your answer.
1. What is one household chore that feels like a burden to you? Explain why.
2. Have you ever felt reluctant to do something? Describe the situation.
3. What trait would you most like to have that you currently don’t have? Why?
For Sample Only
4. What is your reputation among your teachers? Why?
5. Who is the person you most think of when you think of dignity. Why?
6. Would you feel more despair if you broke your new phone or lost it? Why?
7. If you could transform one thing about the world, what would it be?
For Sample Only
Do People Really Change?
Jessica McBirney
About this Text
In this informational text, Jessica McBirney explores whether someone’s personality can change.
Purpose for Reading
To summarize an author’s central idea so that we can build our understanding of the ways personalities change over time.
Vocabulary
Let’s pronounce these words together as a class: Trait [treyt], Transform [trans-fawrm].
Whole Class Reading
[1] You might have heard someone say that a new pair of jeans or a new song changed their life. And maybe your tastes have changed: you used to hate ketchup, but now you like it. No one doubts that we change as we grow older.
During Reading Questions
Paragraphs 1-2
For Sample Only
Think and Share: What question is this article trying to answer?
[2] But do we change in major ways? Can we really change who we are? People used to believe we stay pretty much the same throughout our lives, but researchers are increasingly finding that we can and do change in big ways.
Do personalities really change?
[3] Psychologists are people who study the human mind, and they have identified five traits that help us understand someone’s personality. Because these traits are so important for understanding personality, they have been called the “Big Five.”
[4] The “Big Five” traits are:
1. Openness to experience: How open are you to trying new things?
2. Conscientiousness: How responsible are you?
3. Extroversion: How friendly, outgoing, and enthusiastic are you?
4. Agreeableness: How caring, trusting, and generous are you?
5. Emotional stability: How calm are you, especially when problems arise?
Paragraphs 3-5
Turn and Talk: Which of the “Big Five” traits do you think you have the most of?
Whole Class Reading
[5] Everyone has different levels of the big five traits. For example, Harry Potter1 has high levels of openness to experience, while Hermione Granger2 would score high in conscientiousness.
Independent Reading
[6] Scientists used to think that each person’s “Big Five” stayed the same their whole life, but newer research suggests that the traits do change. People who took a personality test as teenagers scored very differently when they took the same test 50 years later. Three traits usually changed more than the others. Those three traits were emotional stability, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. In fact, most adults were more emotionally stable, more conscientious, and more agreeable than when they were younger. Researchers considered this a sign that we mature over time, perhaps learning to get along better with others.
[7] Even though people change over time, the relationship between traits often remains similar. For example, someone who was very open to new experiences but who was not agreeable as a teenager was likely still more open to new things than agreeable as an adult. Scores changed, and sometimes scores changed a lot, but they didn’t change randomly.
During Reading Questions
During Reading Questions
Paragraph 6
A. Find Evidence: Highlight one detail that describes the traits people usually gain as they become adults.
B. Write: According to scientists, what causes this change?
For Sample Only
[8] The big takeaway from this new research is that our personalities do transform over time. As adults, we won’t be the same as we were as teens, and our personalities will continue to change throughout our entire lives. Still, these changes won’t be random. Personality changes often happen in expected ways, with most people becoming more emotionally steady and socially3 mature.
Paragraph 8
Write: What is the central idea of this passage?
“Do People Really Change?” by Jessica McBirney. Copyright © 2020 by CommonLit, Inc.
1. the main character from the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling
2. one of Harry Potter’s best friends, known for being a good student at Hogwarts
3 Socially (adverb): having to do with relationships and interactions with others
Name: Class:
Independent Practice
Date:
Directions: Answer the multiple choice questions for “Do People Really Change?” 5 minutes
1. Which sentence best describes the central idea of the article? [RI.2]
A. People’s personalities naturally change over time, often in predictable ways.
B. People’s personalities stop changing after they reach adulthood.
C. People’s personalities are more likely to change in childhood.
D. People always become kinder the older they get.
2. How does the author’s discussion of the “Big Five” contribute to the central idea of the article? [RI.2]
A. It describes the personality traits that are most likely to remain the same in a person.
B. It describes the main personality traits that may or may not change in a person.
C. It describes the personality traits that people most want to develop.
D. It describes why all people possess the five listed personality traits.
3. Why does the author most likely mention Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in paragraph 5? [RI.5]
A. to suggest that it is more important to have certain personality traits than others
B. to provide examples of people whose personalities have changed over time
C. to highlight that certain personality traits are more common than others
For Sample Only
D. to help readers understand the different levels of personality traits
4. How does paragraph 7 contribute to the central idea of the article? [RI.5]
A. It suggests that being open to new experiences is more important than being agreeable.
B. It suggests that the relationship between traits is usually similar over time.
C. It suggests that even though some personality change is possible, it is rare.
D. It suggests that our personalities change randomly as we become adults.
Independent Practice
Directions: Answer the short response prompt for “Do People Really Change?” 10 minutes
Prompt: You have just read “Do People Really Change?” by Jessica McBirney. Summarize the passage in four sentences. [RI.2]
Make sure to incorporate relevant unit vocabulary in your writing.
Self Checklist Did I…
include at least three details from the text?
incorporate relevant unit vocabulary?
For Sample Only
Breaking Down a Prompt
Today’s Goals
In this lesson, you will: learn about the “Big Five” traits and reference them as you write about your own personality. You will also learn to break down a prompt by reading it carefully and making a list of all its requirements.
Part 1: Reviewing the “Big Five” Traits
Directions: Complete the chart by adding names of people who match each trait. 5 minutes
Openness to New Experiences Tries new things
They always have a new hobby.
Conscientiousness Responsible
For Sample Only
Extroversion Enjoys being social
Agreeableness Gets along with others
Emotional Stability Calm and collected
They never miss a homework assignment or forget to do a chore.
People call them the “life of the party.”
They almost never get in arguments with anyone.
They almost never feel anxious or angry.
Part 2: Discussing the “Big Five” Traits
Directions: Discuss the “Big Five” traits using the prompts. 5 minutes
• Who is someone you know who shows a “Big Five” trait?
• What evidence supports your answer?
• Which trait do you show the most? Which trait do you wish you had more of?
Part 3: Learning to Break Down a Prompt
Directions: Review the notes on breaking down a prompt. Then, break down today’s prompt. 10 minutes
Notes on Breaking Down a Prompt
When reading a prompt, we always:
• Read it carefully, identifying everything the prompt requires
• Make a list of the prompt’s requirements
Today’s Prompt
Everyone’s personality is unique. Describe your personality using at least two of the “Big Five” traits:
• Openness to new experiences
• Conscientiousness
• Extroversion
• Agreeableness
For Sample Only
• Emotional stability
In your response, be sure to share a trait you would like to change. Support your answer using evidence from your own life. [W.2]
1. Make a list of the prompt’s requirements. Hint: this prompt has three requirements.
Part 4: Independent Writing
Directions: Answer the short response prompt. 15 minutes
Today’s Prompt
Everyone’s personality is unique. Describe your personality using at least two of the “Big Five” traits:
• Openness to new experiences
• Conscientiousness
• Extroversion
• Agreeableness
• Emotional stability
In your response, be sure to discuss a trait you would like to change. Support your answer using evidence from your won life. [W.2]
For Sample Only
Part 5: Checking Your Work
Directions: Review your work by completing the actions in the box. 10 minutes
Check Your Work
Annotate or highlight in green where you described your personality using at least two “Big Five” traits.
Annotate or highlight in yellow where you supported your claim with evidence from your life.
Annotate or highlight in red where you shared the trait you would like to change. Go back and add any missing ideas to your paragraph.