Reflections: Past to Present (Quarter 1: September 5 - November 10)
Students explore the power of reflecting on the past as a tool that helps them make sense of the present. By reading an autobiography or memoir that recounts the challenges and opportunities faced by a protagonist as he or she grows up, students gain the understanding that reflecting on the past is essential to the growth and development of a society and its individual members.
Dramatist as Social Commentator (Quarter 2: November 13 - January 26)
In this unit, as students study social commentary as presented through the medium of drama, they learn to analyze how social issues are represented in literature. They analyze the impact on audiences in the historical period in which the work was written as well as the continuing impact in our contemporary time period. Students examine the reasons why directors continue to produce these plays and discuss how audiences relate to their universal and timeless themes.
Imaginary Worlds (Quarter 3: January 29 - April 13)
Speculative fiction traditionally encompasses such genres as science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, utopian and dystopian literature, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history. In this unit, students analyze how authors comment on the world around them by presenting realities that are very different from the contemporary world.
Coming of Age (Quarter 4: April 16 - June 14)
In Grade 9, students continue examining the theme of Coming of Age that was introduced in the 6th grade curriculum, with a focus on literary fiction as opposed to nonfiction. Students read novels and short stories that reflect the Coming of Age theme, and they examine the changes that occur as the protagonist faces events that shape his/her life. By and large, students will recognize that often the hardships in life are more defining than the joy.
Students explore the power of reflecting on the past as a tool that helps them make sense of the present. By reading an autobiography or memoir that recounts the challenges and opportunities faced by a protagonist as he or she grows up, students gain the understanding that reflecting on the past is essential to the growth and development of a society and its individual members.
Dramatist as Social Commentator (Quarter 2: November 13 - January 26)
In this unit, as students study social commentary as presented through the medium of drama, they learn to analyze how social issues are represented in literature. They analyze the impact on audiences in the historical period in which the work was written as well as the continuing impact in our contemporary time period. Students examine the reasons why directors continue to produce these plays and discuss how audiences relate to their universal and timeless themes.
Imaginary Worlds (Quarter 3: January 29 - April 13)
Speculative fiction traditionally encompasses such genres as science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, utopian and dystopian literature, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history. In this unit, students analyze how authors comment on the world around them by presenting realities that are very different from the contemporary world.
Coming of Age (Quarter 4: April 16 - June 14)
In Grade 9, students continue examining the theme of Coming of Age that was introduced in the 6th grade curriculum, with a focus on literary fiction as opposed to nonfiction. Students read novels and short stories that reflect the Coming of Age theme, and they examine the changes that occur as the protagonist faces events that shape his/her life. By and large, students will recognize that often the hardships in life are more defining than the joy.