Unit Plan

ELA 7 Medieval II: Total War Unit Plan

Overview: The Medieval II unit will bring a cross-curricular approach to the ELA classroom. This unit is designed for a Grade 7 ELA
class which is 50 minutes long, but it could be adapted to other ages, and even other classes. Designed for a class of around 30
students, a teacher would need access to 15 laptops. The game runs through the platform Steam, so it would need to be downloaded on
to 15 laptops (alternatively it could be downloaded unto the desktops in the computer lab. Steam can have multiple offline users on
one account. For simplicity, I assume the class has daily access a laptop cart) and the teacher would need to make sure the program is
running appropriately. Please see the website for detailed information on learning outcomes.

Rationale: This unit is intended to incorporate technology into the classroom while also utilizing a cross-curricular approach. This
unit will provide a different form of instruction for ELA students, but it will still incorporate all six strands of ELA. This unit is
intended to be enjoyable for students, and the teacher, and it should be a nice change of pace from typical English classes. Importantly.
the unit encourages collaboration, but it also demands individual thinking skills.
Objectives / Learner Outcomes:
1.1 Discover and Explore
Set goals
-use appropriate terminology to discuss developing abilities in personal language learning and use
2.1 Use Strategies and Cues
Generate ideas
choose appropriate strategies for generating ideas and focusing topics for oral, print and other media texts
2.2 Respond to Texts
Appreciate the artistry of texts
-discuss how techniques, such as colour, shape, composition, suspense, foreshadowing and flashback, are used to communicate
meaning and enhance effects in oral, print and other media texts
2.4 Create Original Text
Generate ideas
-choose appropriate strategies for generating ideas and focusing topics for oral, print and other media texts
2.4 Create Original Text
Generate ideas
-choose appropriate strategies for generating ideas and focusing topics for oral, print and other media texts
3.1 Plan and Focus
Focus attention
-consider audience, purpose, point of view and form when focusing topics for investigation
-use note-taking, outlining or representing to summarize important ideas and information in oral, print and other media texts
Determine information needs
-discuss the types and sources of information appropriate for topic, audience, form, purpose and point of view
3.2 Select and Process
Use a variety of sources
-obtain information from a variety of sources, such as adults, peers, advertisements, magazines, lyrics, formal interviews, almanacs,
broadcasts and videos, to explore research questions
Evaluate sources
-use pre-established criteria to evaluate
3.4 Share and Review
Share ideas and information
-communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral, print and other media texts, such as reports, autobiographies, brochures and
video presentations
-use appropriate visual, print and/or other media effectively to inform and engage the audience
4.1 Enhance and Improve
Revise and edit
-revise introductions, conclusions and the order of ideas and information to add coherence and clarify meaning
-revise to eliminate unnecessary repetition of words and ideas
-use paragraphs, appropriately, to organize narrative and expository texts
4.2 Attend to Conventions
Attend to grammar and usage
4.2 Attend to Conventions
Attend to spelling
-use reference materials to confirm spellings and to solve spelling problems when editing and proofreading
4.3 Present and Share
Present information
-present ideas and opinions confidently, but without dominating the discussion, during small group activities and short, whole class
sessions
Enhance presentation
-clarify and support ideas or opinions with details, visuals or media techniques
Use effective oral and visual communication
-identify and use explicit techniques to arouse and maintain interest and to convince the audience
Demonstrate attentive listening and viewing
-listen and view attentively to organize and classify information and to carry out multistep instructions ask questions or make
comments that elicit additional information; probe different aspects of ideas, and clarify understanding
5.2 Work within a Group
Cooperate with others
-contribute collaboratively in group situations, by asking questions and building on the ideas of others
-take responsibility for assuming a variety of roles in a group, depending on changing contexts and needs
Work in groups
-contribute ideas, knowledge and questions to establish an information base for research or investigations

Key Teaching and Learning Activities:

-Powerpoint Presentation
-Gameplay overview lesson
-Playing the game with a partner for class periods
-Strategy Plan Assignment
-Research Assignment
-Final Project
-Formative Checks by teacher to see where students are at
-Discussion time at the end of some classes
Resources: Planning for Diversity: Assessment and
-Laptops -Students will require either 15 or 6 laptops with the Evaluation:
-Powerpoint Presentation game downloaded
-Medieval II Game (Steam) -Students will be aware they are receiving a grade Summative:
- Journals relative to how hard they work and if they are on task -Strategy Plan
-Library Access -Students will be able to choose their own partners Assignment: 20%
-Assignment Sheets copied and given to students -If possible, students will be able to work by
themselves if they wish -Research Your
-Formative Checks to ensure students are not wasting Country Presentation
their time 20%
-Students can come in during lunch in the last week if
they need more time to finish up to turn 60 -Final Cumulative
-May use a point based system (in groups) to manage Project 50%
classroom noise level, or have a reward/punishment
system of the teacher’s choice -Participation 10%
-If a student refuses to participate, or is not allowed to
play, then the student will be responsible for a larger Formative:
research project. -Progress Checks by
teacher
- Exit Slips
-Discussion time
 Assessment/Evaluati
on
Day Outcomes Teaching and Learning Activities Resources
(Formative &
Summative)
-1.1 Discover and Introduce the Unit -Powerpoint
Explore -Medieval II downloaded to
Set goals
-Go through an introductory PowerPoint as a your laptop
1 -1.2 Clarify and class. Explain how to play the game, and
Monday Extend what the assignments will be (35 minutes)
Extend
understanding -Show the actual gameplay to the students
on your laptop (15 minutes)
-1.2 Clarify and -Review Gameplay Expectations (20 -Powerpoint
Extend minutes) -Laptops
-1.1 Discover and
-List to write down groups and
Explore: -Form Partners (10 minutes) their factions
Set goals -List to write down what
-Sign-out a laptop/ find a computer. laptops students have
2 Students will load the game and read over
Tuesday the different factions (10 minutes)

-Choose a Faction and sign-up on chart (10

minutes)

Do Not Start Playing Today

-2.1 Use Play the Game for the entire class -Laptops Formative
Strategies and -Journals Assessment:
Cues
3 -Exit Slips -Students will do an
Wednesday -5.2 Work within Exit Slip where they
a Group will be able to voice
concerns and reflect
 -1.1 Discover and -Give out Strategy Plan Assignment -Laptops
Explore -Assignment Sheet
-2.4 Create
4 -Rest of class for work on the assignment
Original Text
Thursday -3.1 Plan and
Focus

-1.1 Discover and -Work on Strategy Plan assignment (Due -Laptops

Explore next Tuesday) -Assignment Sheet
-2.4 Create
5 Original Text
Friday -3.1 Plan and
Focus

-2.1 Use Play the Game for the entire class -Laptops Formative
Strategies and -Journals Assessment:
Cues
*Students should be past turn 10
6 -5.2 Work within
-Teacher will check
Monday a Group off each group to
ensure they are past
turn 10 at the end of
the class
-2.1 Use Play the game for the Entire Class -Laptops Summative
Strategies and -Journals Assessment:
Cues

7 -5.2 Work within

-Strategy Plan
Tuesday a Group Assignment due

-1.1 Discover and -Hand-out Research Your Country -Assignment Sheet

Explore Presentation Assignment -Laptops
8
-Library access
Wednesday -2.1 Use
Strategies and -Students will have the rest of the class to -Powerpoint
Cues begin
 -2.4 Create
Original Text

-3.2 Select and

Process

-4.2 Attend to
Conventions

-4.3 Present and

Share

-5.2 Work within

a Group
-1.1 Discover and -Assignment Sheet
Explore -Work Period for Research Your Country -Laptops
-2.1 Use
Presentation -Library access
Strategies and -Powerpoint
Cues
-2.4 Create
Original Text

9 -3.2 Select and

Thursday Process

-4.2 Attend to
Conventions

-4.3 Present and

Share

-5.2 Work within

a Group
-2.1 Use Play the Game for the entire class -Laptops
Strategies and -Journals
10 Cues
*Students should be around turn 20
Friday
-5.2 Work within
a Group
 -2.1 Use Play the Game for the entire class -Laptops
Strategies and -Journals
11 Cues
Monday
-5.2 Work within
a Group
-1.1 Discover and Work Period for Research Your Country -Assignment Sheet
Explore Presentation -Laptops
-2.1 Use
-Library access
Strategies and -Powerpoint
Cues
-2.4 Create
Original Text

12 -3.2 Select and

Tuesday Process

-4.2 Attend to
Conventions

-4.3 Present and

Share

-5.2 Work within

a Group
-2.1 Use Play the game for the entire class -Laptops
Strategies and -Journals
Cues
*Students should be past turn 30
13 -5.2 Work within
Wednesday a Group

-4.3 Present and Presentations -Teacher will take notes on Summative

14 Share presentations Assessment: Research
Thursday
 Your Country
Presentations
-4.3 Present and Presentations -Teacher will take notes on Summative
Share presentations Assessment:
15
Anytime left will be used for Gameplay
Friday
-Research Your
Country Presentations
-2.1 Use Play the game for the entire class -Laptops
Strategies and -Journals
16 Cues
Monday
-5.2 Work within
a Group

-2.1 Use Play the game for the entire class -Laptops
Strategies and -Journals
Cues
17 -Explain the Final Project -Assignmnet Sheet
Tuesday -5.2 Work within
a Group

-2.1 Use -Laptops

Strategies and Play the game for the entire class -Journals
Cues
18
Wednesday -5.2 Work within Students should be past turn 50
a Group

-1.1 Discover and -Work Period on the Final Project -Assignment Sheet
Explore -Laptops
19 -2.2 Respond to
-Journals
Thursday Texts -Powerpoint/Website

-3.1 Plan and

Focus
 -4.1 Enhance and
Improve

-5.2 Work within

a Group

1.1 Discover and -Work Period on the Final Project -Assignment Sheet
Explore -Laptops
-2.2 Respond to
-Journals
Texts -Powerpoint/Website
20 -3.1 Plan and
Friday Focus
-4.1 Enhance and
Improve

-5.2 Work within

a Group
-2.1 Use -Play the game for the entire class -Laptops
Strategies and -Journals
Cues
21 *Game ends at turn 60. If students are done
Monday -5.2 Work within
they can work on the Final Project
a Group

-2.1 Use Play the game for the entire class -Laptops
Strategies and -Journals
Cues
22
Tuesday -5.2 Work within
a Group

1.1 Discover and Work Period for the Final Project -Assignment Sheet
Explore -Laptops
23
-Journals
Wednesday -2.2 Respond to
Texts -Powerpoint/Website
 -3.1 Plan and
Focus
-4.1 Enhance and
Improve

-5.2 Work within

a Group
1.1 Discover and Work Period on the Final Project -Assignment Sheet
Explore -Laptops
-2.2 Respond to
-Journals
Texts -Powerpoint/Website
24
Thursday -3.1 Plan and
Focus
-4.1 Enhance and
Improve

-5.2 Work within

a Group
-Final Period to either finish up to turn 60, -Laptops Summative
or work on Final Project -Journals Assessment:
Friday
25
-Final Project due on
Monday