Starfish Informational Texts & Activities
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Grades 7-8 History & Evolution of Beauty Real-World Connections Make Connections Between Texts

Starfish Informational Texts & Activities

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Contents
Description
Format
Rights

Starfish Nonfiction Connections – Snapshot of Included Resources:

  • 6 Informational Texts
  • Variety of Text Features
  • A & B Response Formats
  • 7 Extension Activities & Final Project
  • Pair Texts with Informational Texts
  • Topics cover subjectiveness of beauty standards, history of beauty, self-acceptance, and more
  • Google Slides™ Links for Google Drive™
  • Standards-Aligned Resources
  • Answer Keys for Informational Texts
The informational texts will build your students’ knowledge about the subjective way beauty standards developed in history and their evolution and impact to this day. More importantly, they build knowledge about self-acceptance and affirm all body types. As they do, the articles explain the factors, such as media, that shape perceptions of beauty. Combined with a reading of Starfish, the informational texts will provide students with numerous opportunities to synthesize these topics through close readings and analysis. By the end of this unit of study, students will have developed their ability to think critically, make connections between texts, and expanded their understanding not just of how popular society defines beauty but – more powerfully – how people can redefine it in healthier ways.
 
Informational Texts: The 6 informational texts about beauty and self-acceptance include two sets of questions – one comprehension set and one analysis set – that will develop essential skills aligned to the reading of informational and historical texts under the Common Core State Standards. The readings also allow for differentiation, accommodation, and flexible implementation. After working with these texts over the course of a unit, you can be confident your students will have mastered numerous skills and built their background knowledge on numerous topics, including:
  • Weightism
  • Ideals of Beauty
  • What Drives Ideals of Beauty?
  • The “Beauty” of Social Media
  • Concepts of Self
  • Change the Channel
 
The 7 extension activities and final project will engage learners and deepen their understanding about the development of beauty standards in history and topics related to self-acceptance. Students will critically examine definitions of beauty and their development, conduct research, analyze media messages, debate, apply self-acceptance strategies, and create their own bulletin board display promoting positivity and self-acceptance. As they do so, they will sharpen their critical thinking abilities and practice essential skills aligned to the reading of informational and historical texts under the Common Core State Standards.
 
  • Power of Words: Offensive words or hurtful language about body size and weight can be found in Starfish. It is critical students understand that words have the power to do harm. This activity will help them understand the power of words and help prepare them to thoughtfully treat them whenever they are encountered.
 
  • What Is Beauty?: The beauty lesson engages students in a reflection about the characteristics of beauty. They will think about their own personal definition of beauty. Then, the class will develop a common definition of beauty. Finally, students will reflect on the definition of beauty and how their understanding of this concept changes as they engage with Starfish.
 
  • Ancient Beauty: As students learn about the history of beauty, they will apply their learning through the Ancient Beauty Activity. Students will research an ancient civilization, learning about its standards and ideals of beauty, the role beauty played in that civilization, and create a presentation to teach others about their new knowledge. Then, students will present their research and learning to their peers.
 
  • Media Messages: Students will collect data on the beauty/health-focused advertisements or stories they see over the course of an evening. Then, they reflect on these advertisements or stories and revise the message they send into a more positive one focused on self-acceptance.
 
  • A Critical Debate: For this activity, students will consider the three primary causes of low self-acceptance in individuals. Then, they will debate which one they think is the most influential in a person’s life.
 
  • Flip the Script: In this activity, students will apply the concept of self-acceptance to Ellie’s story. Students will select an important moment in the story and “flip the script” for Ellie, rewriting the moment to reflect a self-acceptance strategy.
 
  • Text Connections: The text connections resource sees students making cross-curricular connections through the informational texts and activities and the novel, Starfish. Students consider how their new knowledge about beauty and self-acceptance intersects with Ellie’s story.
 
  • Build Up Bulletin Project: For the final project, students will apply their new understanding of self-acceptance to create a unique bulletin board that encourages self-acceptance for others. Similar to Ellie’s display in her school, students will design an interactive visual to help others build self-acceptance or promote a positive message in the school community.
 
Digital Links: This resource is also technology friendly! It can be utilized in classrooms where computers or tablets are central to instruction because the resource has been adapted for digital completion. The resource includes links for students to complete the student pages in Google Slides™. For instance, students can work with the documents in Google Drive™ or via Google Classroom. With these links, you can have students complete their work online. There are links for every student work page, making the format friendly not only for technology but also trees.
 
Answer Key: The key provides potential answers for all informational texts and rubrics are provided for applicable extension activities. Of course, not all analytic questions have just one answer, especially when based on research. Part of the strength of the analysis question is the room they leave for students to demonstrate their unique thinking and use textual evidence to support their stance. Therefore, use the answers at your discretion but know they provide a solid foundation for the type of performance that makes for quality work. 
The entire resource and its inclusive set of questions allow for multiple potential uses based on your determination about when and where it would be most helpful. All aspects of the assignments, though, are aligned to the Common Core State Standards in order for students to have ample opportunities to practice and demonstrate their knowledge across numerous, essential literary skills.
 
This resource is NOT EDITABLE. It is intended to be comprehensive, but if you have particular needs for your classroom, please contact me! (lauren@lit-lessons.com)
  • ZIP file (PDFs and Word Docs for Digital Links)
  • Non-Editable
  • 10.91 MB
  • 79 Pages
  • Links for Student Pages in Google Slides™
  • This downloadable resource supplies one single-teacher license for use in your classroom. 
  • Photocopying of this product is allowed only for the classroom use of the purchaser. 
  • Replication of this product, in whole or in part, for commercial sale or broader distribution is strictly prohibited. 
  • This product also may NOT be shared electronically, digitally, or otherwise in a manner that violates the Terms of Use detailed by LIT Lessons. 
  • For explicit information on permissions, please see the Terms of Use document included with this resource. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Contents

Starfish Nonfiction Connections – Snapshot of Included Resources:

  • 6 Informational Texts
  • Variety of Text Features
  • A & B Response Formats
  • 7 Extension Activities & Final Project
  • Pair Texts with Informational Texts
  • Topics cover subjectiveness of beauty standards, history of beauty, self-acceptance, and more
  • Google Slides™ Links for Google Drive™
  • Standards-Aligned Resources
  • Answer Keys for Informational Texts
Description
The informational texts will build your students’ knowledge about the subjective way beauty standards developed in history and their evolution and impact to this day. More importantly, they build knowledge about self-acceptance and affirm all body types. As they do, the articles explain the factors, such as media, that shape perceptions of beauty. Combined with a reading of Starfish, the informational texts will provide students with numerous opportunities to synthesize these topics through close readings and analysis. By the end of this unit of study, students will have developed their ability to think critically, make connections between texts, and expanded their understanding not just of how popular society defines beauty but – more powerfully – how people can redefine it in healthier ways.
 
Informational Texts: The 6 informational texts about beauty and self-acceptance include two sets of questions – one comprehension set and one analysis set – that will develop essential skills aligned to the reading of informational and historical texts under the Common Core State Standards. The readings also allow for differentiation, accommodation, and flexible implementation. After working with these texts over the course of a unit, you can be confident your students will have mastered numerous skills and built their background knowledge on numerous topics, including:
  • Weightism
  • Ideals of Beauty
  • What Drives Ideals of Beauty?
  • The “Beauty” of Social Media
  • Concepts of Self
  • Change the Channel
 
The 7 extension activities and final project will engage learners and deepen their understanding about the development of beauty standards in history and topics related to self-acceptance. Students will critically examine definitions of beauty and their development, conduct research, analyze media messages, debate, apply self-acceptance strategies, and create their own bulletin board display promoting positivity and self-acceptance. As they do so, they will sharpen their critical thinking abilities and practice essential skills aligned to the reading of informational and historical texts under the Common Core State Standards.
 
  • Power of Words: Offensive words or hurtful language about body size and weight can be found in Starfish. It is critical students understand that words have the power to do harm. This activity will help them understand the power of words and help prepare them to thoughtfully treat them whenever they are encountered.
 
  • What Is Beauty?: The beauty lesson engages students in a reflection about the characteristics of beauty. They will think about their own personal definition of beauty. Then, the class will develop a common definition of beauty. Finally, students will reflect on the definition of beauty and how their understanding of this concept changes as they engage with Starfish.
 
  • Ancient Beauty: As students learn about the history of beauty, they will apply their learning through the Ancient Beauty Activity. Students will research an ancient civilization, learning about its standards and ideals of beauty, the role beauty played in that civilization, and create a presentation to teach others about their new knowledge. Then, students will present their research and learning to their peers.
 
  • Media Messages: Students will collect data on the beauty/health-focused advertisements or stories they see over the course of an evening. Then, they reflect on these advertisements or stories and revise the message they send into a more positive one focused on self-acceptance.
 
  • A Critical Debate: For this activity, students will consider the three primary causes of low self-acceptance in individuals. Then, they will debate which one they think is the most influential in a person’s life.
 
  • Flip the Script: In this activity, students will apply the concept of self-acceptance to Ellie’s story. Students will select an important moment in the story and “flip the script” for Ellie, rewriting the moment to reflect a self-acceptance strategy.
 
  • Text Connections: The text connections resource sees students making cross-curricular connections through the informational texts and activities and the novel, Starfish. Students consider how their new knowledge about beauty and self-acceptance intersects with Ellie’s story.
 
  • Build Up Bulletin Project: For the final project, students will apply their new understanding of self-acceptance to create a unique bulletin board that encourages self-acceptance for others. Similar to Ellie’s display in her school, students will design an interactive visual to help others build self-acceptance or promote a positive message in the school community.
 
Digital Links: This resource is also technology friendly! It can be utilized in classrooms where computers or tablets are central to instruction because the resource has been adapted for digital completion. The resource includes links for students to complete the student pages in Google Slides™. For instance, students can work with the documents in Google Drive™ or via Google Classroom. With these links, you can have students complete their work online. There are links for every student work page, making the format friendly not only for technology but also trees.
 
Answer Key: The key provides potential answers for all informational texts and rubrics are provided for applicable extension activities. Of course, not all analytic questions have just one answer, especially when based on research. Part of the strength of the analysis question is the room they leave for students to demonstrate their unique thinking and use textual evidence to support their stance. Therefore, use the answers at your discretion but know they provide a solid foundation for the type of performance that makes for quality work. 
The entire resource and its inclusive set of questions allow for multiple potential uses based on your determination about when and where it would be most helpful. All aspects of the assignments, though, are aligned to the Common Core State Standards in order for students to have ample opportunities to practice and demonstrate their knowledge across numerous, essential literary skills.
 
This resource is NOT EDITABLE. It is intended to be comprehensive, but if you have particular needs for your classroom, please contact me! (lauren@lit-lessons.com)
Format
  • ZIP file (PDFs and Word Docs for Digital Links)
  • Non-Editable
  • 10.91 MB
  • 79 Pages
  • Links for Student Pages in Google Slides™
Rights
  • This downloadable resource supplies one single-teacher license for use in your classroom. 
  • Photocopying of this product is allowed only for the classroom use of the purchaser. 
  • Replication of this product, in whole or in part, for commercial sale or broader distribution is strictly prohibited. 
  • This product also may NOT be shared electronically, digitally, or otherwise in a manner that violates the Terms of Use detailed by LIT Lessons. 
  • For explicit information on permissions, please see the Terms of Use document included with this resource. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
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