Grade 5 ELA Unit 2

Theme, Central Idea and Point of View

Unit description: Students will apply their knowledge of key details to identify theme, central idea, and point of view across literary and informational texts. Students will then analyze and discuss how an author uses key details to develop their theme or central idea.

Download the complete Grade 5 ELA Unit 2 framework to customize for your own planning.

Essential Outcomes

Reading

5R2 Determine a theme or central idea and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize a text.
5R4 Determine the meaning of words, phrases, figurative language, academic, and content-specific words and analyze their effect on meaning, tone, or mood.
5R6 In literary texts, explain how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described. (RL) In informational texts, analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent. (RI)

Reading Foundations – Fluency

5RF4 Read grade-level text with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

Language

5L1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of academic English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
5L2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of academic English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
5L4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Writing

5W5: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to respond and support analysis, reflection, and research by applying the Grade 5 Reading Standards.
5W7: Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from multiple sources; summarize or paraphrase; avoid plagiarism and provide a list of sources.

Speaking and Listening

5SL1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others.

All Standards Addressed in this Unit

5R1, 5R3, 5R4, 5R6, 5R7, 5R9
5RF3, 5RF4
5L1 , 5L2, 5L3, 5L4, 5L5, 5L6
5W2, 5W5, 5W6, 5W7
5SL1 -5SL6

Essential Questions and Big Ideas

Does the theme of a story always impact the reader?
- Authors of literary texts include details that help readers determine the theme or central idea.
- The theme of a story is designed to teach the reader a lesson, typically about life.
What is the purpose of knowing the viewpoint of a story?
- Readers recognize that there are some similarities and differences between first and third person point of view to help with comprehension.
- The POV impacts the depth of understanding of a text/passage.
- The POV also impacts readers’ understanding of characters feelings and actions and also their overall opinion of characters and events in the text.
Is it important to determine the meaning of an unknown word?
- Readers actively seek the meaning of unknown words/phrases to clarify understanding of text.
- Understanding and using figurative language may help readers form mental images and draw readers into their work to further understanding.

Prerequisite Skills

4R2 Determine a theme or central idea of text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize a text.
4R6 In literary texts, compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations. (RL) In informational texts, compare and contrast a primary and secondary source on the same event or topic.
4W5 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to respond and support analysis, reflection, and research by applying the grade 4 Reading Standards