ELA Curriculum Syllabus, Grade 6
Scituate Public Schools – Updated 7/22/08
DESCRIPTION : UNIT 5 - Types of Drama
This unit focuses on drama. Students will read and respond to narrative text. Teachers will introduce concepts
of plot, characters, setting and conflict. The main focus of this unit will be on Phantom Tollboth by Susan
Nanus. This story is about a boy who is not very interested in anything. Like some young people, the main
character Milo does not care much for words or numbers.
Time- 3 to 4 weeks
READING – Prentice Hall Literature Textbook
Instructional Focus
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Identify correct mechanics & sentence structure
Write formal letters to authors, newspapers and government officials
Write a brief research report with clear focus and support
Revise writing to improve detail and precision of language
Required Reading
Prentice Hall Literature textbook
Suggested Trade Book- Devil’s Bridge
Part I: The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I – Susan Nanus - p.654
Part II: The Phantom Tollbooth, Act II – Susan Nanus - p.706
Alternative Story Choices Prentice, Hall Literature textbook
Gluskabe and Old Man Winter – Joseph Bruchac; p.641
WRITING
Instructional Focus
Cause and Effect/Letter
Prentice, Hall Writing and Grammar textbook, Chapter 4 & 9
Prentice, Hall Literature textbook, pp. 696
Cause & Effect Essay
Prentice, Hall Writing and Grammar textbook, Chapter 4
Prentice, Hall Literature textbook, pp. 383
Six Traits- emphasis - Ideas & Organization
Required Writing Assignment: Cause and Effect (non-fiction)
The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I
Cause and Effect
Literature p. 696
Students will write a letter to their favorite author to share their response to the work
1. Example - The Mathemagician thinks that numbers are more important than words; King Azaz believes
the opposite. Do you believe that one is more important than the other? Or do you agree with Rhyme
and Reason that they are of equal importance?
Suggested writing assignments
The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I
1. Journal Entry – Compare the book to one or both of these classic fantasy tales (The Wizards of
Oz or Alice in Wonderland). How are they similar? Different? Which did you like the most?
The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I
1. Character Description – The author has played on words and made puns throughout the book
(take, for example, the Wicked Which and the awful DYNNE). Pick several words or names
from The Phantom Tollbooth and explain what the author has done to make a joke.
The Phantom Tollbooth, Act II
Cause and Effect Essay
Literature p. 742
Students will write a cause and effect essay to explain the reasons leading to an event or situation
Example - How would you respond to the tollbooth appearing in your room? Knowing what you know about
the Kingdom of Wisdom, would you want to go there? How do you think you would react differently than Milo
to the situations he faced?
LANGUAGE
Instructional Focus
Students will show understanding through a variety of methods. They will identify and analyze author’s use of
description and dialogue. Students will be able to identify and analyze supporting ideas, and supporting details.
The Phantom Tollbooth is written in conversational style. Its simplicity and the level of its diction make it easy
to read, although the author occasionally presents more advanced vocabulary that may require the students to
use their dictionaries. Challenges readers with a difficult word that may send them scurrying for the dictionary.
1. Preview Text
a. Make Predictions – Pg.650
2. Reading the Selection
a. Whole class, orally with teacher modeling think alouds
b. Act 1 – Pgs. 654 – 677
c. Act 2 – Pgs. 706 -732
3. Responding
a. Discussion questions as initiated by students during oral reading
b. Teachers will develop questions in order to best assess each chapter
c. c. Pgs. 681, 694, 737, 738
4. Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
5. Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
Grammar:
Literature textbook
Writing/Grammar textbook
Prepositions & Prepositional Phrases
p. 680
Ch.17 p. 350 - 359
Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
p. 736
p. 778
Vocabulary
Literature textbook
From The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I
pp. 650 & 702
Additional Elements: There are several interdisciplinary links.
1.Science – Measuring Time – Pg.661 - Literature textbook
2. Math – Have a debate about what are more important, words or numbers - Pg.735 - Literature textbook
Media Links
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_Tollbooth
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~bcohen/phantom_tollbooth/
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~bcohen/phantom_tollbooth/excerpts.html