IB MYP English Grade 6

Foundation

In Grade 6 of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for English Language and Literature, students are introduced to foundational literary concepts, genres, and language skills that will be built upon in subsequent years. The focus is on developing a basic understanding of literature and language through engaging and age-appropriate activities. Here’s an overview of what Grade 6 students typically learn:

1. Literary Concepts:

• Elements of a Story: Students learn about fundamental elements of storytelling, such as plot, setting, character, conflict, and resolution. They analyze how these elements contribute to the overall narrative.
• Theme: Introduction to the concept of theme, helping students identify the central ideas or messages in a story or text.
• Characterization: Understanding how characters are developed through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with other characters.
• Point of View: Exploring different perspectives in literature, such as first-person and third-person narration, and how these perspectives influence the reader’s understanding of the story.

2. Genres:

• Fiction: Exposure to different types of fiction, including realistic fiction, fantasy, and adventure. Students read and analyze age-appropriate novels and short stories that exemplify these genres.
• Non-Fiction: Introduction to non-fiction genres such as biographies, informational texts, and articles. Students learn to identify main ideas and supporting details in these texts.
• Poetry: Basic exploration of poetry, including simple forms like limericks, acrostic poems, and free verse. Students learn to recognize poetic devices such as rhyme, rhythm, and simile.
• Drama: Introduction to plays and scripts, focusing on dialogue, stage directions, and the basic structure of a play.

3. Language Skills:

• Vocabulary Development: Building a strong vocabulary through reading and context. Students learn to use new words in their writing and understand their meanings.
• Reading Comprehension: Developing strategies for understanding and interpreting texts, such as summarizing, questioning, and making inferences.
• Writing Skills: Introduction to different types of writing, including narrative, descriptive, and informative writing. Students practice writing clear and coherent sentences and paragraphs.
• Grammar and Punctuation: Basic instruction in grammar and punctuation rules, including sentence structure, parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives), and proper use of punctuation marks.
• Listening and Speaking: Enhancing oral communication skills through activities such as group discussions, presentations, and read-alouds. Students practice articulating their thoughts and responding to others.

Sample Activities:

• Reading Journals: Students keep journals where they record their thoughts, summaries, and analyses of the books they read.
• Creative Writing Prompts: Engaging in creative writing exercises to explore different genres and styles.
• Genre Studies: Reading and comparing texts from different genres to understand their unique characteristics.
• Poetry Analysis: Analyzing simple poems to identify poetic devices and themes.
• Drama Performances: Participating in short skits or plays to understand the elements of drama and practice expressive reading.

These foundational skills and concepts lay the groundwork for more advanced literary studies in subsequent years of the MYP. The approach is designed to be interactive and engaging, encouraging students to develop a love for reading and writing while building essential language skills.

Fundamental Elements of Story Telling

In Grade 6 MYP English, students explore the fundamental elements of storytelling by examining various texts and identifying how these elements work together to create a coherent narrative. Here’s a more detailed look at each element with examples:

1. Plot

Definition: The sequence of events that make up the story. It typically includes an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Example:

• Story: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
  • Introduction: The story begins with a pig named Wilbur, who is the runt of the litter and is taken in by a girl named Fern.
  • Rising Action: Wilbur is sold to a farm, where he befriends a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte starts spinning words into her web to save Wilbur from being slaughtered.
  • Climax: The climax occurs when Charlotte’s web, which says “Some Pig,” attracts attention and saves Wilbur.
  • Falling Action: Wilbur wins a special prize at the county fair, but Charlotte is dying.
  • Resolution: Charlotte’s eggs hatch, and the story ends with Wilbur’s new friends, continuing her legacy.

Activity: Students could map out the plot of Charlotte’s Web using a story arc diagram to visualize the sequence of events.

2. Setting

Definition: The time and place where the story occurs. It includes the physical environment, historical context, and social circumstances.

Example:

• Story: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  • Setting: The story is set in the fictional land of Narnia, which is an enchanted world with magical creatures and a perpetual winter caused by the White Witch. The setting shifts between Narnia and the real world, where the Pevensie children live during World War II.

Activity: Students could create a visual representation of Narnia and its key locations, such as the Professor’s house and the land of Narnia, discussing how the setting influences the story.

3. Character

Definition: The individuals who take part in the action of the story. Characters are often analyzed based on their traits, motivations, and development throughout the narrative.

Example:

• Story: Matilda by Roald Dahl
  • Main Character: Matilda Wormwood is a bright and gifted girl who loves reading and possesses telekinetic powers.
  • Antagonist: Miss Trunchbull, the cruel headmistress of the school who mistreats the students.

Activity: Students could create character profiles for Matilda and Miss Trunchbull, listing their traits, motivations, and how they influence the story’s events.

4. Conflict

Definition: The central struggle or problem that drives the story. It can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters or between a character and an outside force).

Example:

• Story: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
  • External Conflict: Harry Potter’s struggle against the dark wizard Voldemort, who is trying to return to power.
  • Internal Conflict: Harry’s struggle to understand his own identity and his place in the magical world.

Activity: Students could identify and discuss different conflicts in the story, creating a chart that separates internal and external conflicts and showing how they affect the plot.

5. Resolution

Definition: The part of the story where the conflict is resolved, and the story concludes. It provides closure and reflects the outcome of the characters’ actions.

Example:

• Story: The Lion King by Disney (adapted from Shakespeare’s Hamlet)
  • Resolution: Simba defeats Scar and takes his rightful place as king, restoring balance to the kingdom. The story ends with the renewal of the Circle of Life.

Activity: Students could write a brief summary of the resolution of The Lion King, explaining how the resolution addresses the main conflicts and what it reveals about the characters.

Classroom Activities:

1. Story Mapping: Students create story maps for various texts, identifying and illustrating the plot, setting, characters, conflict, and resolution.
2. Character Diaries: Students write diary entries from the perspective of different characters, reflecting on key events and their impact.
3. Conflict Charts: Create charts that break down the types of conflict in a story and how they are resolved.
4. Setting Descriptions: Students write detailed descriptions of the setting for their own stories or for a given story, discussing how it shapes the narrative.

By analyzing these elements, Grade 6 students gain a deeper understanding of how stories are constructed and how each element contributes to the overall narrative.

Theme

Understanding the theme of a story is a critical part of literary analysis, and introducing this concept to Grade 6 students helps them grasp the deeper meanings behind texts. Here’s how you can elaborate on the theme with examples and activities:

What is a Theme?

Definition: The theme of a story is its central idea or message—the underlying concept or lesson that the author is trying to convey. Themes are often universal and can relate to various aspects of human experience, such as love, friendship, courage, or justice.

Examples of Themes in Literature:

1. Friendship and LoyaltyExample: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
   • Theme: True friendship and loyalty
   • Explanation: In Charlotte’s Web, the theme of friendship is highlighted through the relationship between Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the pig. Charlotte’s unwavering loyalty to Wilbur, demonstrated by her efforts to save him from being slaughtered, shows the depth and selflessness of true friendship.

   Activity: Students could create a “Friendship Tree” where each branch represents an act of friendship between characters in the book, and discuss how these acts contribute to the theme.

2. Courage and Overcoming AdversityExample: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
   • Theme: Courage and the importance of facing fears
   • Explanation: The theme of courage is evident in Harry Potter’s journey throughout the story. Despite his fears and the challenges he faces, Harry consistently demonstrates bravery, whether it’s standing up to bullies or confronting dark forces. This theme resonates as Harry learns that courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act despite it.

   Activity: Students could write a short essay or create a presentation about a character from the book who displays courage, explaining how this contributes to the overall theme.

3. The Power of ImaginationExample: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
   • Theme: The power and importance of imagination
   • Explanation: Alice’s journey through Wonderland showcases the theme of imagination. The fantastical world she encounters represents the boundless nature of creativity and the importance of exploring one’s imagination. The story suggests that imagination can open new possibilities and perspectives.

   Activity: Students could draw or write about their own imaginative world, inspired by Alice’s adventures, and discuss how imagination helps them solve problems or understand the world.

4. Justice and EqualityExample: The Giver by Lois Lowry
   • Theme: The value of individuality and the quest for equality
   • Explanation: In The Giver, the theme of justice and equality is explored through the society’s controlled environment, where emotions and individuality are suppressed for the sake of uniformity. The protagonist, Jonas, learns about the importance of personal freedom and the consequences of living in a society that values conformity over individual rights.

   Activity: Students could engage in a debate or write a reflection on how the theme of justice and equality is relevant to their own lives or current societal issues.

Classroom Activities for Exploring Theme:

1. Theme Mapping:
   • Activity: Students create a “Theme Map” for a story, identifying key events, characters, and quotes that illustrate the central theme. For example, in Charlotte’s Web, students could map out how different scenes and characters contribute to the theme of friendship.
2. Theme Statements:
   • Activity: After reading a story, students write a clear theme statement that captures the central idea of the text. For instance, for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, students might write, “The theme of courage is explored through the Pevensie children’s adventures as they face and overcome various challenges to restore peace to Narnia.”
3. Comparative Analysis:
   • Activity: Students compare and contrast the themes of two different texts. For example, they might compare the theme of bravery in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Matilda, discussing how different characters demonstrate courage and what lessons they learn.
4. Theme Discussions:
   • Activity: Hold a class discussion where students share their interpretations of the theme in a story and provide evidence from the text to support their views. Encourage students to explore how the theme resonates with their own experiences or other stories they know.

By focusing on these activities and examples, Grade 6 students can develop a deeper understanding of how themes function in literature and how they can be identified and analyzed in various texts.

More Themes

By engaging with these themes through examples and activities, students can develop a deeper understanding of how literature reflects and explores various aspects of human experience.

1. Friendship

• Explanation: The significance of forming bonds and the value of companionship.
• Example: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White—The friendship between Charlotte and Wilbur shows the power of loyalty and selflessness.

2. Courage

• Explanation: Facing fears and challenges with bravery.
• Example: The Lion King by Disney—Simba’s journey to reclaim his kingdom demonstrates courage in overcoming personal fears and adversities.

3. Identity

• Explanation: The exploration of self and personal growth.
• Example: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling—Harry’s journey to discover his identity and role in the magical world.

4. Justice

• Explanation: The pursuit of fairness and equality.
• Example: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee—Atticus Finch’s defense of Tom Robinson highlights the struggle for racial justice.

5. Love

• Explanation: The complexities and power of love in various forms.
• Example: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare—The passionate love between Romeo and Juliet drives the story and explores themes of love and fate.

6. Good vs. Evil

• Explanation: The conflict between opposing forces and the nature of morality.
• Example: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis—The battle between Aslan (good) and the White Witch (evil) represents this classic theme.

7. Power and Corruption

• Explanation: How the pursuit of power can lead to moral decline.
• Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell—The pigs’ rise to power and subsequent corruption illustrate the corrupting influence of power.

8. Freedom

• Explanation: The desire for liberation and autonomy.
• Example: The Giver by Lois Lowry—Jonas’s quest for freedom from a controlled society highlights the importance of individual choice.

9. Family

• Explanation: The dynamics and relationships within a family unit.
• Example: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick—The story emphasizes the importance of family through Hugo’s relationship with his father and later with his uncle and Isabelle.

10. Isolation

• Explanation: The impact of loneliness or separation from others.
• Example: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger—Holden Caulfield’s feelings of isolation and alienation from society are central to the story.

11. Coming of Age

• Explanation: The transition from childhood to adulthood and the experiences that shape growth.
• Example: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee—Scout Finch’s maturation through her experiences with prejudice and moral challenges.

12. Sacrifice

• Explanation: Giving up something for the benefit of others.
• Example: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins—Katniss Everdeen’s willingness to sacrifice herself for her sister represents the theme of selflessness.

13. Prejudice

• Explanation: Bias and discrimination based on race, gender, or other factors.
• Example: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank—Anne Frank’s experiences during the Holocaust highlight the devastating effects of prejudice and discrimination.

14. Survival

• Explanation: The struggle to overcome adversity and stay alive.
• Example: Life of Pi by Yann Martel—Pi Patel’s fight for survival at sea demonstrates human resilience and resourcefulness.

15. Revenge

• Explanation: The desire to seek retribution for perceived wrongs.
• Example: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas—Edmond Dantès’s quest for revenge against those who wronged him drives the plot.

16. Guilt and Redemption

• Explanation: The struggle with remorse and the pursuit of forgiveness.
• Example: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo—Jean Valjean’s journey from a life of crime to redemption illustrates the theme of guilt and the possibility of forgiveness.

17. Hope

• Explanation: The optimistic belief in a positive outcome despite difficulties.
• Example: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry—The theme of hope is seen through the Little Prince’s optimism and love for his rose.

18. Deception

• Explanation: The use of lies or misleading information and its consequences.
• Example: Othello by William Shakespeare—Iago’s deception leads to tragic misunderstandings and ultimately, the downfall of Othello.

19. Fate and Destiny

• Explanation: The idea that events are predetermined and beyond individual control.
• Example: Macbeth by William Shakespeare—Macbeth’s belief in his destiny as foretold by the witches drives his actions and leads to his downfall.

20. The Journey

• Explanation: The physical or metaphorical journey a character undertakes, leading to self-discovery and transformation.
• Example: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien—Bilbo Baggins’s adventure from a comfort-seeking hobbit to a courageous hero represents the theme of the journey and personal growth.

Classroom Activities to Explore Themes:

1. Theme Identification: Students read various texts and identify the central theme, providing evidence from the text to support their conclusions.
2. Theme Essays: Write essays analyzing how a particular theme is developed in a story, using specific examples and quotes.
3. Theme Comparisons: Compare and contrast how different texts explore similar themes, discussing the differences in treatment and presentation.
4. Creative Projects: Create posters, skits, or multimedia presentations that illustrate a theme from a story, demonstrating how it is represented through different elements of the text.