Grade 12

Unit Title: What’s Next?
Essential Question: How can we transform the future?
Literary Focus: N/A
Genre Focus: Informational

For high school seniors, the future seems closer than ever. In a matter of months, these students will make major decisions about their lives. Will they go to college or get a job? Will they move away or stay close to home? Will they stay close to their friends or will they branch out and meet new people? Every choice they make will affect their future in ways they cannot yet imagine.

How can we make sure that we make the right choices? How much do a person’s individual choices affect his or her future? Can we make sure our choices have a positive impact on ourselves and on society?

This unit offers a wide variety of literature that will encourage students to consider these questions and more while also exploring texts in the unit’s genre focus, informational text.

 

Unit Title: Uncovering Truth
Essential Question: How do challenges cause us to reveal our true selves?
Literary Focus: The Medieval Period and the English Renaissance
Genre Focus: Fiction

Everybody loves a good hero story. From Beowulf to the Avengers, audiences clamor for these tales of good versus evil. It’s exhilarating to follow along as a hero saves the day, and it’s a comfort to know that someone is always there to protect us.

How do challenges shape the people we become? How and why do leaders face challenges? What do readers learn by reading about heroes, characters, and leaders and what they do in moments of challenge? What do these stories teach us about ourselves and our society?

In this unit, students will think about the theme and essential question as they focus on the medieval period and English renaissance literature.

 

Unit Title: Against the Wind
Essential Question: How do leaders fight for their ideas?
Literary Focus: The Enlightenment
Genre Focus: Argumentative

History is filled with great leaders. These people inspire us, educate us, and challenge us. But history is also filled with conflict, and troubled times can give rise to the best and the worst in all of us.

What turns a regular person into an effective leader? What ideas have people fought for throughout history? What do readers learn by reading historical speeches, documents, novels, and poems? What do these texts teach us about ourselves, our country, and our role in a global society?

In this unit, students will think about the theme and essential questions as they focus on the Enlightenment.

 

Unit Title: Sculpting Reality
Essential Question: What is the power of story?
Literary Focus: Romanticism and Victorianism
Genre Focus: Poetry

From Cinderella to Harry Potter, everyone has a favorite story. Stories have the power to sweep audiences into fantasy worlds as well as bring a sense of clarity as we struggle with our own mundane problems. We connect with storytellers as they create cherished heroes and heroines, unravel surprising plots, and guide us through unforgettable settings.

How can stories teach us important lessons? How can stories change our hearts and minds? What do readers learn by reading about fictional characters and events? What do stories teach us about ourselves and our society?

In this unit, students will think about the theme and essential questions as they focus on Romanticism and Victorianism.