English Language Arts, Grade 6

Unit 1: Understanding the Conventions of Written Language

Grammar, usage, mechanics and spelling in the child's own reading and writing.

• Use: In simple and compound sentences

• Use: Selects words that convey the intended meaning and create a…
• Use: Uses literal and figurative language in a variety of ways

• Use: Uses quotation marks to punctuate dialogue

Unit 2: Producing and Interpreting Media Texts

Reading and making media texts — images, sound, and media conventions (a genuine QEP strand).

• Use: Uses and interprets the visual element of color
• Use: Uses and interprets the visual element of perspective in…
• Use: Uses and interprets camera techniques, such as camera…
• Use: Sound—in television, movies, some commercials
• Use: Visuals that convey information and/or ideas, such as…

Unit 3: Response Process

How a reader connects with, understands and responds to texts.

• Use: Uses knowledge of the genre/text type to be viewed/read:…
• Use: Builds needed background knowledge and experiences

• Use: Relies on common structures and features of media texts to…

• Use: Cause- effect

• Use: Uses evidence to distinguish between own thinking, values…
• Use: Uses other readers’ interpretations to clarify and extend…
• Use: Understands that all spoken, written and media texts are…

• Use: Determines the specific or target audience by selecting…
• Use: Identifies and locates information about who wrote the text
• Use: Examines how the message attracts and holds the…
• Use: Distinguishes fact from opinion, and real from imaginary
• Use: Considers who/what has been left out of the text and why…
• Use: Identifies some of the ways that the author/producer has…

Unit 4: Writing Process

The stages of writing — planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing.

• Use: Examines models of text type through immersion into the text

• Use: Adjusts writing decisions to purpose and audience
• Use: Connects needs and expectations of a specific audience to…

• Use: Deletes unnecessary details and/or information

• Use: Rearranges sentences and paragraphs for clarity and effect

Unit 5: Production Process (Media)

The stages of making a media text, from planning to sharing (a genuine QEP strand).

• Use: Determines criteria for production of a familiar text type
• Use: Uses appropriate technology resources for the specific…
• Use: Reviews images, records narration, adds titles or text,…
• Use: Edits, depending on technology resources
• Use: Considers feedback from peers and others

Unit 6: Self-Expressive: Reflective Texts

Texts that reflect on the child's own thoughts, feelings and experiences.

• Use: Synthesis of ideas and feelings to focus on what is most…

Unit 7: Narrative and Literary Texts

Stories and literary texts — their features, genres and required reading.

• Use: Illustrated wordless and picture books written for older…

• Use: Memoir in a variety of text types

• Use: Foreshadowing

• Use: Examples would include man against man, man against nature,…
• Use: Resolution of conflict
• Notice: Theme

• Use: Stock and/or flat characters

• Use: Dialogue
• Use: Point of view

• Use: Use of music and/or sound to create suspense, mood, humor,…
• Use: Use of colour to suggest emotion, to create mood, etc.
• Use: Use of different scenes or episodes to move the story…
• Use: Use of body language and gesture to convey character…
• Use: Use of music and/or sound to signal or stress some aspect…
• Use: Repetition of symbols, or motifs, to create mood, suspense,…

• Use: Use of light and dark
• Use: Clothing and other details that create a sense of time and…

Unit 8: Information-Based: Planning Texts

Texts that organise and plan information.

• Use: Webbing and mapping texts, such as story mapping, to…
• Use: Graphic organizers, outlines, timelines, graphs and…

• Use: Visuals such as graphic organizers used to articulate…
• Use: Hierarchy of ideas/ information
• Use: Visuals/images for organizing or planning a text

Unit 9: Information-Based: Explanatory Texts

Texts that explain how or why.

• Use: Web sites (Reading and Viewing only)

• Use: Navigational aids such as table of contents or alphabetical…
• Use: Bibliography (if needed)

Unit 10: Information-Based: Descriptive Reports

Texts that describe and report on a topic.

• Use: Local and national radio and television news reports that…
• Use: Web pages, blogs and Internet sites appropriate and…

• Use: Subheadings and paragraphs to group and/or categorize…
• Use: Use of comparison and contrast
• Use: Visuals and/or graphic organizers to extend content of…
• Use: Summary of events, observations, impressions to highlight…
• Use: Specific features of different formats depending on topics…

Unit 11: Information-Based: Persuasive Texts

Texts that try to persuade a reader.

• Use: Public Service Ads and posters created for children

• Use: TV and/or movie reviews for peers or younger children

• Use: Use of persuasive images, words or phrases to promote a…
• Use: Strategic placement of images (photo or drawing) to attract…
• Use: Music/sound to promote a product and/or appeal to the…