What Are You Using for Literature Curriculum?

What are your plans for literature curriculum for the coming school year?

If you’ve ever thought about combining literature with history or other academic subjects, give unit studies a try. Literature and history go hand in hand, as Susan Wise Bauer of The Well-Trained Mind reminds us. It’s nearly impossible to study a piece of literature without at least wondering about the time period it’s set in, and if you really dive in, you can explore all kinds of facets of the historical period.

Take Number the Stars, for example. This Newbery-winning novel by Lois Lowry is set in Europe during World War II. Readers learn about key facts surrounding the war just by reading the book. But the novel does more than explain facts. It also serves as an invitation to learn more, and this is one of the great benefits of teaching literature via unit studies.

A student might learn while reading Number the Stars that she’s very interested in the Holocaust, and given the time and freedom necessary, she might expand her knowledge by reading Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, watching a documentary or interview on YouTube, or even writing a story of her own. You could have your students work on timelines of the events leading up to the war or maps of the many parts of the world involved in the war.

When a unit study is approached from multiple facets, students gain a greater understanding of the material and have a better chance of placing the newly gained information in a cohesive framework in their brains. This will help them next time they encounter information about Europe, World War II, or the Holocaust. They’ll already have some key information at the ready, and they’ll be able to build on this information and use it to think thoroughly and critically.

When considering unit studies for your curriculum, look for unit studies that include the following items:

Reading Comprehension
Does the unit study have reading quizzes so you can quickly assess the depth of students’ comprehension? Reading quizzes give you feedback regarding students’ understanding. If you notice misunderstandings or gaps, you can address them before moving on.

Writing
Any good literature unit should include opportunities to write. Students will learn more when writing prompts are meaningful and thought-provoking. Also, it’s helpful if unit studies offer different kinds of writing assignments: short and long essays, creative writing, and even research projects.

Vocabulary and Spelling
The study of literature should lead to a larger vocabulary and a solid understanding of grammar and spelling. Does your unit study give lists of words that students may not already be familiar with? Explain these words and offer spelling tests to help students improve their understanding of the English language.

Projects
Science class is fun because it’s easy to create hands-on labs for students to “do science.” But science doesn’t have anything on literature when you incorporate projects into your unit studies.

Tolman Hall unit studies include projects that reach into science, history, cartography, art, quilting, creative writing, film-making, and more. Tap into your students’ creativity with projects that allow them to spread their wings and own literature.

Learn more about Tolman Hall unit studies by visiting the website or by picking up a copy at Amazon or other retailers. You can find them in paperback and ebook formats.