English Language Arts (Literacy)
Manzanita School Curricula for Grades 3-8
Please click here for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade Curricular Overview
3rd Grade
Narrative Writing: Crafting True Stories
Reading: Research Clubs: Elephants, Penguins, and Frogs, Oh My!,
Expository Writing: Informational Books
4th Grade
Narrative Writing: The Arc of Writing: Writing Realistic Fiction
Reading Content: Interpreting Characters
Expository Writing: Informational Essay
5th Grade
Narrative Writing: Crafting Personal Narrative
Reading: Argument and Advocacy: Researching Debatable Issues
Expository Writing: Research Based Argument
6th Grade
Narrative Writing: Personal Narrative: Crafting Powerful Life Stories
Reading: Fantasy Book Clubs:The Magic of Themes and Symbols
Expository Writing: Compare and Contrast Essay
7th Grade
Narrative Writing: Writing Realistic Fiction: Symbolism, Syntax, and Truth
Reading: Social Issues Book Clubs: Applying Analytical Lenses Across Literature and Informational Texts
Expository Writing: Literary Essay
8th Grade
Narrative Writing: Investigative Journalism
Reading: Historical Fiction Book Clubs
Expository Writing: Responding to prompts: Racial Conflict Essay
Upper School Grades 9-12
Units Covered:
Narrative Writing: Historical Fiction: Indian Schools
Reading: Analyzing Theme Through Multiple Perspectives (The American Dream)
Books: The Joy Luck Club, Death of a Salesman, Catcher in the Rye, The Invisible Man, The Namesake
Narrative Writing: Memoir
Reading: Themes of Empire Book Clubs
Books: 1984, Fahrenheit 451, The Handmaid’s Tale, Things Fall Apart, When My Name Was Keoko
Narrative Writing: Science Fiction
Reading: Themes/Symbolism in Shakespeare
Plays: Othello, Twelfth Night
Narrative Writing: This I Believe Essay
Reading: Gender and Race Book Clubs
Books: The Color Purple, The Adventures of Huck Finn, Middlesex, Solar Storms and Mean Spirit, Wench