WTL newsletter

Writing to Learn Activities

Sixth Grade Social StudWieritsing-Stephanie Hayes

The unit we are studying is based on Immigration in the
United States. As a class we will read a diverse series of texts,
articles, and watch a movie based on the topic. We will use the
following Writing to Learn Activities to enhance
comprehension and retention. The unit will end with each student
providing a written report about Immigration in the United States.

Idea Exchange: “Writing is like breathing, it’s
possible to do it well, but the
As a class we will read the book Ellis Island:
Coming to the Land of Liberty which gives point is to do it no matter
historical context to the establishment of Ellis what.” Julia Cameron
Island in 1890 and provides many historical
documents and photographs. This book shows Reading Log:
the role that Ellis Island has played in the lives
of countless immigrants. After reading, Students will read the book The Weight
students will write a concept or short passage of Water a novel in-verse that tells the
from the text that stands out to them at the story of a Russian girl’s experience as she
top of a sheet of paper. Students will then navigates immigrant life in America. Each
exchange papers and respond to the concept student will keep a reading log to deepen
written by the first student. The exchange will their understanding of the book.
continue up to six times and students will then Students will be asked to record their
get back their original papers. This exercise responses to the reading as it is assigned
will give students an understanding of multiple in their journals. They will focus on their
perspectives of the text. thoughts, connections to other unit
material and what the reading inspires
D2.Civ.3.6-8. Examine the origins, purposes, and them to write about.
impact of constitutions, laws, treaties, and
international agreements. D2.Geo.10.6-8. Analyze the ways in which
cultural and environmental characteristics
The challenge of expressing ideas in vary among various regions of the world.
writing places students at the center
of their own learning, enabling them

to master content and to improve
their skill at expressing ideas. Writing
helps students discover connections,
discern processes, raise questions, and

discover solutions.

Reader-Response Writing Group Writing Activity:

Chart: Students will work in groups to research
current event articles based on the topic of
Students will read the book Denied, Detained, Immigration in the United States. The
Deported: Stories from the Dark Side of groups will work together to research articles
American Immigration. This book explores and decide which sources to use. As a group
United States immigration policy throughout they will brainstorm on the theme and
history and shows what immigrants have had to direction of their paper. Then each student
endure to enter and stay in the country. As they in the group will write their own draft of the
are reading the book each student will use the results from articles. The groups will read
Reader-Response strategy to understand the each student’s draft and then work
author’s perspective and their own as they learn collaboratively to synthesize, organize, and
about the changes in immigration policy. They revise the drafts into one cohesive report on
will use a chart in which they record the author’s current issues in immigration in the United
point-of-view or prejudices on the left and their States. Group reports will be shared with the
own on the right. This activity will help students class.
develop their own angle of vision which informs
their response to the material. This strengthens D2.Civ.12.6-8. Assess specific rules and laws
the student’s voice when developing written (both actual and proposed) as means of
materials on the topic. addressing public problems.
D3.1.6-8. Gather relevant information from
D2.His.6.6-8. Analyze how people’s perspectives multiple sources while using the origin, authority,
influenced what information is available in the structure, context, and corroborative value of the
historical sources they created. sources to guide the selection.

Review Letters: References:

As a finishing activity for the unit we will watch Baussam, Anne. (2009). Denied, Detained, Deported:
the documentary, “Which Way Home” which Stories from the Dark Side of American
shows the personal side of immigration through Immigration. National Geographic Children’s
the eyes of children. After watching the movie Books.
students will consider this new viewpoint on
immigration and, working in pairs, write a letter Bial, Raymond. (2009). Ellis Island: Coming to the Land of
to a classmate discussing their views on the unit Liberty. HMH books for Young Readers.
and asking questions they may need further
clarification on. The students will exchange Cammissa, Rebecca (Producer and Director). 2009. Which
letters and answer the letter they receive from Way Home. United States: HBO Films.
their partner. The pairs will work together to
review information, develop their view on the Crossan, Sarah. (2013). The Weight of Water. Bloomsbury
topic, and to help clarify anything they are unsure Publishing.
of.
Essid, Joe. “Learning to Write Activities”. retrieved from
D4.2.6-8. Construct explanations using reasoning, www.writing2.richmond.edu.
correct sequence, examples, and details with relevant
information and data, while acknowledging the
strengths and weaknesses of the explanations.