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Browse by Grade: 5th Class

Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications

5th Class Voices and Visions: Advanced Literacy for 5th Class

This course develops sophisticated communication skills through critical analysis of diverse texts and creative expression. Students explore the power of language to influence, entertain, and inform while refining their technical proficiency in writing and oral presentation.

6 units·48 topics·Ages 10-11

01The Art of Narrative and Character

9 topics·Autumn Term

Students analyze how authors build complex characters and immersive worlds through specific linguistic choices and structural techniques.

Character Motivation and Development

Exploring how internal desires and external conflicts drive character growth throughout a novel or short story.

Hot SeatRole PlayThink-Pair-Share
Setting and Atmosphere

Investigating how sensory details and figurative language establish the mood and physical reality of a story.

Gallery WalkChalk Talk
Crafting Original Fiction

Applying narrative techniques to draft, edit, and publish original stories with a focus on pacing and voice.

RAFT WritingPeer TeachingSave the Last Word
Plot Structure and Conflict

Examining the elements of plot, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, and types of conflict.

Concept MappingTimeline Challenge
Point of View and Narrative Voice

Exploring different narrative perspectives (first, second, third person) and how they shape the reader's understanding.

Fishbowl DiscussionRole Play
Theme and Symbolism

Identifying overarching messages and symbolic elements within a narrative and their contribution to meaning.

Hexagonal ThinkingSocratic Seminar
Dialogue and Subtext

Examining how dialogue reveals character, advances plot, and conveys unspoken meanings.

Role PlayHot Seat
Literary Devices in Narrative

Identifying and analyzing the use of literary devices such as foreshadowing, irony, and imagery in fiction.

Gallery WalkConcept Mapping
Narrative Arc and Pacing

Understanding how authors control the speed and flow of a story to build tension and engage readers.

Case Study AnalysisThink-Pair-Share

02Persuasion, Power, and Public Speaking

8 topics·Autumn Term

An exploration of rhetorical devices and the ethics of persuasion in both written and spoken formats.

The Mechanics of Argument

Identifying and using logos, ethos, and pathos to construct convincing arguments on contemporary issues.

Formal DebateFour CornersSocratic Seminar
Advertising and Media Literacy

Deconstructing the visual and linguistic strategies used in modern marketing to influence consumer behavior.

Case Study AnalysisGallery Walk
Formal Presentation Skills

Developing confidence and clarity in public speaking through the use of body language, tone, and visual aids.

Expert PanelRole Play
Analyzing Rhetorical Devices

Identifying and understanding the impact of rhetorical devices such as analogy, hyperbole, and rhetorical questions.

Document MysteryChalk Talk
Debate and Counter-Argument

Learning to construct and present a coherent argument while anticipating and refuting counter-arguments.

Formal DebatePhilosophical ChairsMock Trial
Propaganda Techniques

Identifying common propaganda techniques (e.g., bandwagon, glittering generalities, testimonials) and their use in media.

Case Study AnalysisDocument Mystery
Ethical Persuasion

Discussing the ethical responsibilities of speakers and writers when attempting to persuade an audience.

Socratic SeminarPhilosophical Chairs
Audience Analysis

Learning to tailor persuasive messages to specific audiences based on their demographics, beliefs, and values.

World CaféRole Play

03Informational Texts and Research

8 topics·Spring Term

Focusing on the synthesis of information from multiple sources and the clear communication of complex facts.

Structural Features of Non-Fiction

Analyzing how headings, glossaries, and diagrams help readers navigate and comprehend technical information.

JigsawStations Rotation
Synthesizing Multiple Sources

Learning to combine information from various texts to create a comprehensive report on a specific topic.

Concept MappingStations RotationCase Study Analysis
Report Writing and Technical Accuracy

Drafting objective reports that use precise vocabulary and a formal tone to convey findings.

Peer TeachingCase Study Analysis
Evaluating Source Credibility

Developing skills to assess the reliability, authority, and bias of various informational sources.

Document MysteryDecision Matrix
Note-Taking and Summarization

Practicing effective note-taking strategies and summarizing complex informational texts concisely.

Concept MappingThink-Pair-Share
Research Question Formulation

Learning to formulate clear, focused, and answerable research questions to guide inquiry.

Inquiry CircleCarousel Brainstorm
Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

Understanding the importance of proper citation and learning basic methods for referencing sources.

Peer TeachingCase Study Analysis
Explanatory Writing

Developing skills in writing clear, concise explanations of processes, concepts, or events.

RAFT WritingPeer Teaching

04Poetry, Rhythm, and Imagery

8 topics·Spring Term

Examining the economy of language in poetry and the use of sound patterns to evoke emotion.

The Power of Metaphor

Deepening understanding of how figurative language creates vivid mental images and connects abstract ideas.

Chalk TalkGallery Walk
Sound Patterns and Oral Tradition

Exploring alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia and their impact when poetry is read aloud.

Role PlayFishbowl Discussion
Poetic Forms and Constraints

Experimenting with different structures such as haiku, sonnets, and free verse to express complex themes.

Trading CardsGallery Walk
Imagery and Sensory Language

Focusing on how poets use vivid descriptions to appeal to the five senses and create mental pictures.

Chalk TalkGallery Walk
Rhythm and Meter

Understanding the basic concepts of poetic rhythm, meter, and their effect on a poem's musicality.

Role PlayThink-Pair-Share
Symbolism in Poetry

Identifying and interpreting symbolic elements within poems and their contribution to deeper meaning.

Hexagonal ThinkingSocratic Seminar
Theme in Poetry

Exploring how poets convey complex themes through various literary devices and structures.

Concept MappingWorld Café
Analyzing Poetic Language

Deconstructing poetic language to understand word choice, connotation, and denotation.

Chalk TalkThink-Pair-Share

05Language Conventions and Etymology

9 topics·Summer Term

Mastering the mechanics of the English language through the study of word origins and complex grammar.

Word Roots and Affixes

Decoding unfamiliar vocabulary by analyzing Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Concept MappingJigsaw
Advanced Punctuation and Syntax

Using colons, semi-colons, and complex sentence structures to enhance writing sophistication.

Chalk TalkPeer TeachingSave the Last Word
The Evolution of Language

Investigating how English changes over time through technology, slang, and cultural exchange.

World CaféCase Study Analysis
Parts of Speech Review and Application

Reinforcing understanding of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Stations RotationTrading Cards
Sentence Structure: Simple, Compound, Complex

Understanding and constructing different sentence types to add variety and sophistication to writing.

Peer TeachingChalk Talk
Subject-Verb Agreement

Mastering the rules of subject-verb agreement, including tricky cases with collective nouns and indefinite pronouns.

Stations RotationThink-Pair-Share
Active and Passive Voice

Understanding the difference between active and passive voice and when to use each effectively.

Peer TeachingRAFT Writing
Figurative Language in Everyday Use

Identifying and analyzing metaphors, similes, idioms, and personification in common speech and writing.

Gallery WalkTrading Cards
Conventions of Standard English

Reviewing and applying standard English conventions in grammar, spelling, and punctuation for formal writing.

Peer TeachingSave the Last Word

06Drama and Performance

6 topics·Summer Term

Exploring dramatic texts, understanding stagecraft, and developing performance skills.

Elements of Drama

Identifying key dramatic elements: plot, character, setting, theme, dialogue, and stage directions.

Role PlayThink-Pair-Share
Reading a Play Script

Learning to interpret stage directions, character cues, and subtext within a play script.

Fishbowl DiscussionRole Play
Character Portrayal

Developing techniques for bringing a character to life through voice, movement, and emotional expression.

Role PlayHot Seat
Stagecraft and Technical Elements

Understanding the role of sets, costumes, lighting, and sound in enhancing a dramatic performance.

Museum ExhibitProject-Based Learning
Improvisation and Scene Work

Practicing spontaneous dialogue and action to develop quick thinking and collaborative performance skills.

Role PlayCollaborative Problem-Solving
Adapting Narrative to Script

Transforming a short story or excerpt into a dramatic script, focusing on dialogue and action.

RAFT WritingProject-Based Learning