Longing to Belong_ Poems, Essays, and Short Stories.pptx

This unit explores the universal human experience of longing to belong and the impact of belonging—or the lack thereof—on individuals and communities. Through a variety of texts, students will examine themes of identity, acceptance, and the desire for connection. They will engage in both analytical and creative activities to deepen their understanding of how belonging shapes personal experiences and how exclusion can affect self-esteem and behavior.

1. Longing to Belong: Poems, Essays, and Short Stories Grade 7 English

2. Essential Questions

3. Write these down How is the need to belong universal? What does it mean to belong to a culture or community? How does an individual contribute to a larger collective? Discuss

4. Literary Terms structure the way authors organize information in text central idea an essential idea that the writer is communicating to the reader in a nonfiction text TASK : Explain how the structure of the article conveys the central ideas - due next Wednesday 4th Sept

5. Key questions Why does the author include the introduction? How does the diagram of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs help the reader understand belonging? How does this diagram help to develop the central idea? According to the section, "Self-esteem and Belonging," what is the connection between self-esteem and belonging? Interpret the graphs in the section, "The Current State of Belonging in America." Why does the author include these graphs? How do the graphs work to develop the central idea?

6. Sample Response The author divides the text into sections to convey the central idea that belonging is a universal experience. People need to feel a sense of belonging and always have. Scientists have studied the need to belong in different ways throughout history, but the need to belong and its connection to positive impacts have not changed. First, the author introduces why belonging research has been challenging to define and conceptualize. Then the author explains that belonging is relevant to all of our lives because it is a universal human experience. The author explains the state of belonging in schools since the intended audience of the text is students. The author explains the history of belonging research and details Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to explain that people have been researching belonging and the connection to developing positive self-esteem for close to a century. Lastly, the author connects the history of belonging research to the present day. The author explains that the initial findings in belonging research are still relevant today: people need to feel a sense of belonging. The author details the current state of belonging in America and states that feeling a positive sense of belonging has a measurable positive impact on people's lives such as health, workplace satisfaction, and academic achievement. Lastly, the author explains where researchers could pursue further research since individuals feel a different need to belong.

7. Literary terms and vocabulary Figurative Language language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words and phrases and is used with the intention of creating an image, feeling, or deeper understanding for the reader Hyperbole exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally Extended metaphor a comparison of two unlike things that continues and is developed over the course of a poem or text Trepidation A feeling of fear or hesitation about something that might happen or is about to happen

8. Based on ‘Popularity’ by Adam Bagdasarian answer the following: What is the setting of the story? What does the narrator want more than anything? How does the narrator feel about Sean Owens? Support your answer with evidence from the text. Does the narrator accomplish his goal? Why or why not?

9. Key questions: What does the reader learn about the narrator in the first two paragraphs of the story? How are the narrator's experiences universal? How does Adam Bagdasharian use figurative language to develop the narrator's perspective on page 2? How does Adam Bagdasharian use an extended metaphor to reveal the narrator's motivations? How does Adam Bagdasharian share his commentary on popularity through the narrator's experience?

10. LO: Analyze how the podcast and the delivery of the lines adds a layered meaning to the words in the transcript. While reading this transcript from a podcast, answer the following questions. Who is Diane Wu and who is Gwyn? Describe Gwyn. Provide examples to support your answer. What does Gwyn want to learn how to do? Describe what happens when Gwyn goes to the skate park.

11. You wil l listen to the podcast episode, and stop throughout to answer the Key Questions regarding how the delivery affects the meaning of the words in the transcript. Discussion & Writing Prompt How does the delivery of Gwyn's lines in the podcast reveal her perspective and motivation? Key Questions How does the delivery of Gwyn's lines on page 1 of the transcript reveal her perspective? (46:47–48:07) What does the difference in Gwyn's perspective and the interviewer's perspective reveal about Gwyn on pages 4–5? (53:45–54:19) How does the interviewer bring the scenes to life for the listener? (53:45–54:19) How does the extended metaphor reveal Gwyn's desire to belong? (58:50–59:20)

12. Sign up for Edpuzzle Go to edpuzzle.com and then click ‘Sign up’ in top right hand corner Click ‘I’m a student’ and enter the relevant code Grade 7 V class code : gejebga

13. Video: ‘Mining Literature for Deeper Meanings’ and answer the question as you go along

14. Enduring Understandings The need to belong is an intrinsic human desire, and it has been throughout human history. Individuals can feel a strong connection to their culture or community. These relationships strengthen the individual and help them develop their identity and who they want to become. Feeling a positive sense of belonging has a measurable positive impact on people's lives and academic achievement. The strong desire to belong can cause individuals to intentionally or unintentionally harm people who are outside of that group.