Unit Plan 30 (Grade 8 ELA): Reading Science/History Texts with Visuals
8th graders learn to interpret charts, diagrams, and maps within science and history texts, integrating visuals with prose to extract accurate claims. Students analyze domain-specific vocabulary in context and evaluate how different media formats clarify, distort, or emphasize information.
Focus: Interpreting charts/diagrams/maps; domain vocabulary in context
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading—Informational & Media; Vocabulary in Context)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Facts often live in figures. This week students learn to read science/history texts with their visuals—charts, diagrams, and maps—so they can pull accurate claims from data and evaluate how the medium shapes meaning. We’ll also zero in on domain-specific vocabulary in context, choosing precise meanings (and noticing when a common word has a technical sense).
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Integrate and evaluate information from visuals (charts, diagrams, maps, timelines) alongside prose to deepen understanding and spot advantages/limitations of each medium (RI.8.7).
- Determine the meaning of words and phrases in context, including technical terms, and explain how word choice affects clarity/precision (RI.8.4).
- Analyze information in diverse media (text, graphic, video) for purpose and likely impact on the audience (SL.8.2).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 8
- RI.8.7: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums to present a topic.
- RI.8.4: Determine word/phrase meaning, including technical meanings; analyze word choice.
- SL.8.2: Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and evaluate the motives behind its presentation.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can read a chart/map/diagram (title, scale, axes/legend, source, pattern) and state what it shows without guessing.
- I can pair a sentence from the text with a specific feature from the visual to make a stronger claim.
- I can pick the best meaning of a domain word using context and explain how it changes interpretation.
- I can say why a chart/map/video was chosen (purpose) and what it clarifies or distorts.