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English Language Arts 6
Curriculum English Language Arts Grade 6
PDF Grade-Set: k-9
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Big Ideas
Grandes idées
Language and text can be a source of creativity and joy.
text
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world.
stories
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers. texts
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Exploring and sharing multiple perspectives extends our thinking.
Developing our understanding of how language works allows us to use it purposefully.
Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
Learning Standards
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Curricular Competencies
Using oral, written, visual, and digital texts, students are expected individually and collaboratively to be able to:
Comprehend and connect (reading, listening, viewing)
Access information and ideas for diverse purposes and from a variety of sources and evaluate their relevance, accuracy, and reliability
diverse purposes
may include to inquire, to explore, to inform, to interpret, to explain, to take a position, to propose a solution, to entertain variety of sources
includes digital sources; students need to develop the language and tools to successfully navigate digital media (e.g., be familiar with terms and concepts such as browser, cookie, browsing history, hyperlinked text, thread, URL, posting etiquette, privacy) relevance
Students should be prompted to ask: Does it meet the purpose? Is it current? Does it add new information? accuracy
Students should be prompted to distinguish fact from opinion and to consider the source of the information. reliability
Students should be prompted to consider the credibility of the source Apply appropriate strategies to comprehend written, oral, and visual texts, guide inquiry, and extend thinking
texts
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
inquiry
asking creative and critical questions supported and inspired by texts extend thinking
may include questioning and speculating, acquiring new ideas, analyzing and evaluating ideas, developing explanations, considering alternative points of view, summarizing, synthesizing, problem solving Synthesize ideas from a variety of sources to build understanding
Recognize and appreciate how different features, forms, and genres of texts reflect various purposes, audiences, and messages
different features, forms, and genres of texts
vary depending on the purpose and audience of the text; students should be encouraged to consider the role of elements used in various texts (e.g., illustration in graphic novels, advertisements on websites, use of music, paragraph length, pause and pace in spoken word, use of colour) Think critically, creatively, and reflectively to explore ideas within, between, and beyond texts
Think critically, creatively, and reflectively
questioning, interpreting, comparing, and contrasting a range of texts (e.g., narrative, poetry, visual texts); useful strategies for students include “exit slips,” “one star, one wish,” and quick activities to identify thinking texts
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Recognize and identify the role of personal, social, and cultural contexts, values, and perspectives in texts
personal, social, and cultural contexts, values, and perspectives
Students should be prompted to consider the influence of family, friends, activities, religion, gender, and place on texts, and the relationship between text and context. texts
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Recognize how language constructs personal, social, and cultural identity
how language constructs personal, social, and cultural identity
Our sense of individuality and belonging is a product of, for example, the language we use; oral tradition, story, and recorded history; cultural aspects; and formal and informal language use. Students should be prompted to consider the impact of language in their lives. Construct meaningful personal connections between self, text, and world
text
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Respond to text in personal, creative, and critical ways
text
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
personal, creative, and critical ways
Students should be prompted to analyze their personal connection to text, explain their responses (rational and emotional), and consider texts from different points of view. Understand how literary elements, techniques, and devices enhance and shape meaning
literary elements, techniques, and devices
may include characterization, mood, foreshadowing, conflict, protagonist/antagonist, theme, imagery, sound devices Recognize an increasing range of text structures and how they contribute to meaning
text
Text and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Recognize and appreciate the role of story, narrative, and oral tradition in expressing First Peoples perspectives, values, beliefs, and points of view
story
narrative texts, whether real or imagined, that teach us about human nature, motivation, and experience, and often reflect a personal journey or strengthen a sense of identity. They may also be considered the embodiment of collective wisdom. Stories can be oral, written, or visual, and used to instruct, inspire, and entertain listeners and readers. oral tradition
the means by which culture is transmitted over generations other than through written records- Among First Peoples, oral tradition may consist of told stories, songs, and other types of distilled wisdom or information, often complemented by dance or various forms of visual representation, such as carvings or masks.
- In addition to expressing spiritual and emotional truth (e.g., by symbol and metaphor), it provides a record of literal truth (e.g., about events and situations).
- The oral tradition was once integrated into every facet of life of First Peoples and was the basis of the education system.
Create and communicate (writing, speaking, representing)
Exchange ideas and viewpoints to build shared understanding and extend thinking
Use writing and design processes to plan, develop, and create engaging and meaningful literary and informational texts for a variety of purposes and audiences
literary and informational texts
may include opinion pieces; poetry; short stories; narrative; slams; spoken word; storyboards and comic strips; masks; multimedia and multimodal forms. audiences
students at this level expand their understanding of the range of audiences to include peers and authorities, and use formal and informal language according to audience Assess and refine texts to improve their clarity, effectiveness, and impact according to purpose, audience, and message
refine texts
using techniques such as using verbs effectively, using repetition and substitution for effect, adding modifiers, varying sentence types, using precise diction audience
students at this level expand their understanding of the range of audiences to include peers and authorities, and use formal and informal language according to audience Use an increasing repertoire of conventions of Canadian spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Use and experiment with oral storytelling processes
oral storytelling processes
creating an original story or finding an existing story (with permission), sharing the story from memory with others, using vocal expression to clarify the meaning of the text, using non-verbal communication expressively to clarify the meaning, attending to stage presence, differentiating the storyteller’s natural voice from the characters’ voices, presenting the story efficiently, keeping the listener’s interest throughout Select and use appropriate features, forms, and genres according to audience, purpose, and message
Transform ideas and information to create original texts
Content
Students are expected to know the following:
Story/text
- forms, functionsformssuch as narrative, exposition, report, and genresfunctionspurposes of textof textgenresliterary or thematic categories such as fantasy, humour, adventure, biographytextText and texts are generic terms referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communication:
- Oral texts include speeches, poems, plays, and oral stories.
- Written texts include novels, articles, and short stories.
- Visual texts include posters, photographs, and other images.
- Digital texts include electronic forms of all the above.
- Oral, written, and visual elements can be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
- text featurestext featureshow text and visuals are displayed
- literary elementsliterary elementsnarrative structures, characterization, and setting
- literary devicesliterary devicessensory detail (e.g., imagery, sound devices), and figurative language (e.g., metaphor, simile)
- techniques of persuasiontechniques of persuasionthe use of emotional and logical appeals to persuade
Strategies and processes
- reading strategiesreading strategiesusing contextual clues; using phonics and word structure; visualizing; questioning; predicting; previewing text; summarizing; making inferences
- oral language strategiesoral language strategiesfocusing on the speaker, asking questions to clarify, listening for specifics, expressing opinions, speaking with expression, staying on topic, taking turns
- metacognitive strategiesmetacognitive strategiestalking and thinking about learning (e.g., through reflecting, questioning, goal setting, self-evaluating) to develop one’s awareness of self as a reader and as a writer
- writing processeswriting processesmay include revising, editing, considering audience
Language features, structures, and conventions
- features of oral languagefeatures of oral languageincluding tone, volume, inflection, pace, gestures
- paragraphingparagraphingdeveloping paragraphs that are characterized by unity, development, and coherence
- language varietieslanguage varietiesregional dialects and varieties of English, standard Canadian English versus American English, formal versus informal registers, and situational varieties (e.g., texting versus essay writing)
- sentence structure and grammarsentence structure and grammarvaried sentence structure, pronoun use, subject-verb agreement, use of transitional words, awareness of run-on sentences and sentence fragments
- conventionsconventionscommon practices in all standard punctuation use, in capitalization, and in Canadian spelling
- presentation techniquespresentation techniquesAny presentation (in written, oral, or digital form) should reflect an appropriate choice of medium for the purpose and audience, and demonstrate thought and care in organization.
Note: Some of the learning standards in the PHE curriculum address topics that some students and their parents or guardians may feel more comfortable addressing at home. Refer to ministry policy regarding opting for alternative delivery.