Unit Plan 20 (Grade 1 ELA): Two Stories, Similar Characters or Themes
Grade 1 ELA unit: students describe characters, setting, events in two stories, then compare and contrast adventures using text evidence and collaborative talk.
Focus: Compare/contrast adventures and experiences
Grade Level: 1
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Literature • Speaking/Listening)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Readers think across texts. This week, students meet two stories with similar characters or themes and learn to describe characters/setting/events in each, then compare and contrast the characters’ adventures/experiences. Students practice collaborative talk—listening, taking turns, and building on ideas with sentence stems.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Describe characters, setting, and major events in each story using key details (RL.1.3).
- Compare and contrast the adventures/experiences of characters across two stories (RL.1.9).
- Participate in partner/small-group conversations by following agreed-upon rules, taking turns, and asking/answering questions (SL.1.1).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 1
- RL.1.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
- RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
- SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can tell who, where, and what happened in both stories.
- I can say how the adventures are the same and different and give one detail from each story.
- I can use a conversation stem (“I agree because…”, “I noticed…”, “Can you tell me more?”) and take turns with my partner.