Common Core Standards

Grade 6

Reading RL.6.5

Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

Is this scene a part of the exposition? Is it part of the rising action? Is it part of the climax? Of the denouement? The point of this standard is to have students see how we can tell what the theme, setting, or a plot of a text is. They should be also able to point to specific sections of a work and say what part of the plot it is in or what it adds to a text's theme or setting.

Example 1

Here's an example of a lesson to use when teaching Maniac Magee. You'll also want to have students read Langston Hughes' poem, "Thank You Ma'am."

Have students review the scene in which a woman comes to Maniac’s rescue when he has a confrontation with Mars Bar. Through discussion and analysis students will make a connection between the poem “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes and this specific scene in Maniac Magee.

Aligned Resources

Teacher Guides

Aristotle

The observed gravitational effect between Common Core activities results from their warping of Shmooptime.