A Review
Build Background
As a group, discuss the following:
How can knowing another language create understanding?
Think about European settlers who misunderstood Native American ways of life. How might knowing Native American languages have changed the history of European settlement in North America?
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 1
A Activity
Leveled Reader: The Navajo Code Talkers
Before Reading
Recall the Read Aloud “Silent Debate.” Silent, or nonverbal, communication can be a powerful way to share ideas. Why couldn’t the scholar and the boatman communicate with each other? Today you will read about people who could talk in code because they agreed in advance what certain code words meant.
During Reading
Read the book and answer the question: Why was the Dine language a good language upon which to base a code?
Look at the Code Talkers’ Dictionary on p. 15. Choose three of the code words and tell why they are appropriate code words for the English terms given.
After Reading
Review the concept map and explain how this book helps answer the weekly question How can knowing another language create understanding?
How does learning about the code talkers help you understand the Navajo people and their culture? How do codes help people communicate?
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 1
A Review
Graphic Sources
Review the definitions of graphic sources. Graphic sources can help you check, clarify, or extend understanding of what you read. Look again at the book The Navajo Code Talkers. How does the Code Talkers Dictionary on p. 15 clarify the text on p. 14?
You can create your own graphic sources as study tools.
Predict and Set Purposes
Review the definitions of predicting and setting a purpose. Confirm or revise your predictions as you read Seeker of Knowledge.
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 2
A Activity
Reading Street Book: Seeker of Knowledge
Revisit
Read Seeker of Knowledge pp. 118-125 and use the comprehension skill and strategy as you read.
Pause periodically to study the graphic features and think critically.
Critical Thinking:
What kind of information do you think someone would need to break a picture code like this?
Problem Solving:
Think about the strong curiosity Jean-Francois had about Egypt and his dream of solving the mysteries of the past. If you had the same kinds of feelings about a topic, how would you go about making sure you could study it?
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 2
A Review
Greek and Latin Roots/Word Structure
Read this partial sentence from p. 9 of The Navajo Code Talkers: “During World War I, the United States set up its first office especially for cryptography…”
This word contains graph, a Greek root meaning “write.” Crypto is another Greek root, meaning “hidden.” Based on those two Greek roots, what does cryptography mean?
Use the Greek roots crypto and graph to tell what you think these words mean: crypt and discography.
Knowing Greek and Latin roots can help you figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words.
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 3
A Activity
Reading Street Book: Seeker of Knowledge
Revisit:
Read Seeker of Knowledge on pp. 126-129. Recall what has happened in the reading so far.
Critical Thinking:
What quality of the Rosetta Stone convinced scholars that it could be the key to translating Egyptian hieroglyphics?
What object finally allowed Jean-Francois to unlock the secret of hieroglyphics?
CreativeThinking:
Create a hieroglyph for Jean-Francois Champollion. Like the hieroglyph for Thothmes’s name, it should consist of more than one symbol. Draw and explain your hieroglyph.
If you were creating your own hieroglyphics, what pictures-like the crocodile meaning “trouble” or the wavy lines meaning “Nile River”-would you use to represent certain common words? List some words and draw pictures for them.
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 3
A Activity
Reading Street Book: Making Mummies
Before Reading
Read the information about search engines. Preview Making Mummies on pp. 134-137. Set a purpose for reading.
During Reading
Describe the different ways in which the article tells and shows information.
Which graphic sources do you think are most useful in this article? Why?
After Reading
Discuss with your teacher Reading Across Texts. Then do Writing Across Texts independently.
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 4
A Activity
Leveled Reader: The Navajo Code Talkers
Reread for Fluency
Silently reread passages from The Navajo Code Talkers
Then reread them aloud with a partner or individually.
Match your expression to the content.
Retell
Summarize the main idea and key supporting details of The Navajo Code Talkers
What are the most important ideas in this selection?
What did you learn from reading this selection?
After Reading
Complete any unfinished projects. You may share them with your classmates with the teacher’s permission.
Unit 4 Week 4 Day 5