Find out what is being read at the Eighth Grade level at MSAD 71!
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Core Titles (will be covered)
Romeo and Juliet
Curriculum Area
English Literature (Classics)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A10. Adjust viewing and listening strategies in order to comprehend materials viewed and heard. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B5. Demonstrate an understanding of lengthy, complex dialogues. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
Flowers for Algernon
Author
Fiction
Curriculum Area
Teen Issues
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A10. Adjust viewing and listening strategies in order to comprehend materials viewed and heard. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B5. Demonstrate an understanding of lengthy, complex dialogues. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
Lexile
910
Extended Titles (Reserved for grade level)
An Acquaintance with Darkness
Curriculum Area
History/Language Arts (Civil War)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
SS/History: A1. Describe the effects of historical changes on daily life. B1. Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and effects of major events in United States history and the connection to Maine history with an emphasis on events up to 1877, including but not limited to: Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, Westward Expansion, Industrialization, Civil War. C3. Use information from a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify and support a point of view on a controversial historical topic.
Lexile
520
Beyond the Burning Time
Curriculum Area
History/Language Arts Colonial Salem
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
A Break with Charity
Curriculum Area
History/Language Arts (Salem)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A., Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements
SS/History: A1. Describe the effects of historical changes on daily life. B1. Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and effects of major events in United States history and the connection to Maine history with an emphasis on events up to 1877, including but not limited to: Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, Westward Expansion, Industrialization, Civil War. C3. Use information from a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify and support a point of view on a controversial historical topic.
Lexile
730
Author
Historical Fiction
Curriculum Area
History/Language Arts (Civil War)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
SS/History: A1. Describe the effects of historical changes on daily life. A2. Identify the sequence of major events and people in the history of Maine, the United States, and selected world civilization. B1. Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and effects of major events in United States history and the connection to Maine history with an emphasis on events up to 1877, including the Civil War, etc. B2. Demonstrate an understanding of selected themes in Maine, United States, and World History (.e.g., revolution, technological innovation, migration). B3. Demonstrate an understanding of selected turning points in ancient and medieval world history and the continuing influence of major civilizations of the past. C2, Explain why historical accounts of the same event sometimes differ and relate this explanation to the evidence presented by the author or the point of view of the author. C3. Use information from a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify and support a point of view on a controversial historical topic.
Lexile
810
Cry "Witch": The Salem Witchcraft Trials- 1692
Curriculum Area
English Language Arts
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A5. Understand stories/texts from perspective of soc/cultural context. A6. Identify author's purpose and point of view. B9. Strategies of reading and using nonfiction texts. H9. Importance of primary sources in evaluating the validity and reliability of collected information H8. Use of primary sources when researching topics
Social History C1. Judge accuracy of historical fiction by comparing with primary sources. C2. Explain difference in historical accounts due to point of view.
Lexile
1310
The Dark is Rising
Curriculum Area
Language Arts, Science, Art
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A2. Reflect on what has been discovered and learned while reading, and formulate additional questions. A3 Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6 Identify accurately both the author's purpose and the author's point of view. A9 Explain orally and defend opinions formed while reading and viewing. B1 Demonstrate an understanding that people respond to literature in different and individual ways. B3 Identify the main and subordinate characters in literary works. B4. Explain how the motives of characters or the causes of complex events in texts are similar to and distinct from those in their own experience. B6 recognize the complex elements of plot( e.g., setting, major events, problems, conflicts, resolutions.) B8 Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using texts that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and the use of literary devices. B12 Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms. B13 Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
M1. Research and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological developments, M2. Describe the historical and cultural conditions at the time of an invention or discovery, and analyze the societal impacts of that invention. M3. Discuss the ethical issues surrounding a specific scientific or technological invention.
Lexile
920
Deadly Game of Magic
Curriculum Area
Language Arts (Mystery)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3, Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6, Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11, Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8, Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12, Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13, Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements
Lexile
670
Fahrenheit 451
Curriculum Area
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3, Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
Science: K4. Analyze means of slanting information. K5. Identify stereotypes. M6.Give examples of actions which may have expected or unexpected consequences that may be positive, negative, or both.
Lexile
890
The Giver
Curriculum Area
Language Arts (Sci-Fi/ Mystery)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B.. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
Science: K4. Analyze means of slanting information. K5. Identify stereotypes. M6. Give examples of actions which may have expected or unexpected consequences that may be positive, negative, or both
Lexile
760
The Killer Angels
Curriculum Area
Language Arts, History, Art
Maine Learning Results
Connections for Reading and Reading Response only given. Further connections exist for the extension projects connected to this unit and other curricular links.
E/LA A1. Formulate questions to be answered while reading. A2. Reflect on what has been discovered and learned while reading, and formulate additional questions. A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A4. Use specific strategies (e.g., rereading, consultation) to clear up confusing parts of a text. A5. Understand stories and expository texts from the perspective of the social and cultural context in which they were created. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A7. Summarize whole texts by selecting and summarizing important and representative passages. A8. Read for a wide variety of purposes (e.g., to gain knowledge, to aid in making decisions, to receive instructions, to follow an argument, to enjoy). A9. Explain orally and defend opinions formed while reading and viewing. A10. Adjust viewing and listening strategies in order to comprehend materials viewed and heard. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B4. Explain how the motives of characters or the causes of complex events in texts are similar to and distinct from those in their own experience. B7. Recognize complex elements of plot (e.g., setting, major events, problems, conflicts, resolutions). B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using texts that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B9. Apply effective strategies to the reading and use of moderately long nonfiction texts (e.g., autobiographies, etc.) which have an appropriate complexity of content and sophistication of style.
Lexile
610
The Outsiders
Curriculum Area
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11 Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements
Lexile
750
Curriculum Area
Teen Issues
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3, Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6, Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11, Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing.B8, Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12, Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13, Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements
Lexile
950
Seaward
Curriculum Area
Language Arts, Science, Art
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A2. Reflect on what has been discovered and learned while reading, and formulate additional questions. A3. Identify specific devices and author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author's purpose and the author's point of view. A9. Explain orally and defend opinions formed while reading and viewing. B1. Demonstrate an understanding that people respond to literature in different and individual ways. B3. Identify the main and subordinate characters in literary works. B4. Explain how the motives of characters or the causes of complex events in texts are similar to and distinct from those in their own experience. B6. Recognize the use of specific literary devices (e.g. foreshadowing, flashback, different time frames such as the future or the past.) B7. Recognize complex elements of plot (e.g., setting, major events, problems, conflicts, resolutions.) B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using texts that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and the use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
Science/Tech M1. Research and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological developments, M2. Describe the historical and cultural conditions at the time of an invention or discovery, and analyze the societal impacts of that invention. M3. Discuss the ethical issues surrounding a specific scientific or technological invention.
Lexile
1100
Soldier’s Heart
Curriculum Area
Language Arts/History (Civil War)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
Tituba of Salem Village
Curriculum Area
Language Arts/History (Colonial Salem)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
SS/History: A1. Describe the effects of historical changes on daily life. A2. Identify the sequence of major events and people in the history of Maine, the United States, and selected world civilization. B1. Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and effects of major events in United States history and the connection to Maine history with an emphasis on events up to 1877, including but not limited to: Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, Westward Expansion, Industrialization, Civil War. B2. Demonstrate an understanding of selected themes in Maine, United States, and World History (.e.g., revolution, technological innovation, migration). B., Demonstrate an understanding of selected turning points in ancient and medieval world history and the continuing influence of major civilizations of the past. C2. Explain why historical accounts of the same event sometimes differ and relate this explanation to the evidence presented by the author or the point of view of the author. C3. Use information from a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify and support a point of view on a controversial historical topic.
Lexile
840
Treasure Island
Curriculum Area
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A10. Adjust viewing and listening strategies in order to comprehend materials viewed and heard. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course-related reading, listening, and viewing. B5. Demonstrate an understanding of lengthy, complex dialogues and how they relate to a story. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
SS/History: A1. Describe the effects of historical changes on daily life. B., Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and effects of major events in United States history and the connection to Maine history with an emphasis on events up to 1877, including but not limited to: Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, Westward Expansion, Industrialization, Civil War. C. Use information from a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify and support a point of view on a controversial historical topic.
With Every Drop of Blood
Historical Fiction
Curriculum Area
Language Arts/History (Civil War)
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements
SS/History: A1. Describe the effects of historical changes on daily life. A2. Identify the sequence of major events and people in the history of Maine, the United States, and selected world civilization. B1. Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and effects of major events in United States history and the connection to Maine history with an emphasis on events up to 1877, including but not limited to: Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, Westward Expansion, Industrialization, Civil War. B2. Demonstrate an understanding of selected themes in Maine, United States, and World History (.e.g., revolution, technological innovation, migration). B3. Demonstrate an understanding of selected turning points in ancient and medieval world history and the continuing influence of major civilizations of the past. C2. Explain why historical accounts of the same event sometimes differ and relate this explanation to the evidence presented by the author or the point of view of the author. C3. Use information from a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify and support a point of view on a controversial historical topic.
Lexile
820
Within Reach: My Everest Story
Autobiography
Curriculum Area
Language Arts
Maine Learning Results
A6. Identify accurately both the author's purpose and the author's point of view. A7. Summarize whole texts by selecting and summarizing important and representative passages. A8. Read for a wide variety of purposes. B4. Explain how the motives of characters or the causes of complex events in texts are similar to and distinct from those in their own experience. B9. Apply effective strategies to the reading and use of moderately long nonfiction texts (e.g., autobiographies, etc.) which have an appropriate complexity of content and sophistication of style. E1. Identify specific personal strategies, strengths, and weaknesses in writing, and use direct feedback from peers and teachers to revise and polish the content of their finished pieces. E2. Use planning, drafting, and revising to produce, on demand, a well-developed, organized piece that demonstrates effective language use, voice, and command of mechanics. F1. Edit written work for standard English spelling and usage.
Lexile
970
Z for Zachariah
Curriculum Area
Maine Learning Results
E/LA A3. Identify specific devices an author uses to involve readers. A6. Identify accurately both the author’s purpose and the author’s point of view. A11. Generate and evaluate the notes they have taken from course related reading, listening, and viewing. B8. Apply effective strategies to the reading and interpretation of fiction. (e.g., science fiction, myths, mysteries, realistic and historical fiction, poems, adventure stories, and humorous tales), using text that are appropriately complex in terms of character, plot, theme, structure, and dialogue and appropriately sophisticated in style, point of view, and use of literary devices. B12. Identify the universality of themes and examine the connections among various expressive forms (e.g., films, fiction, drama) by drawing on their broad base of prior knowledge. B13. Demonstrate understanding of enduring themes of literature by differentiating between main ideas and themes after they study story elements.
Science: K4. Analyze means of slanting information. K5. Identify stereotypes. M6.Give examples of actions which may have expected or unexpected consequences that may be positive, negative, or both
Lexile
820