WHS ESL 1B Curriculum Guide

Grades 9-12 College Prep  7.5 credits

This course is designed for students at the entering English language proficiency level who may have completed ESL 1A.  Students enrolled in ESL IB are also enrolled in English for the Workplace and ESL Comp I. ESL 1A focuses on systematic, explicit, and sustained language development aligned to Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and WIDA, with a focus on writing to inform. Students build on their cultural and linguistic knowledge during daily academic conversations. Students will also research meaningful topics and give individual and group presentations. In line with the school’s focus on Project Based Learning, there will be curriculum embedded performance assessments and a final project.  

Unit

Timeframe

Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)

Major Learning Experiences from Unit 

School Expectations

Quarter 1

  • What information is important to share at school? 

  • What language do I need to communicate around school?

  • How are my experiences similar and different to those of my classmates?

Students review how to introduce themselves. They practice using academic language for school and identify how their experiences compare to those of a classmate. 


Students will be able to 

  • Introduce themselves to others.

  • Name classes and explain what they do in each class.

  • Write a narrative describing the first day at school in the USA. 

  • Compare themselves to a classmate (explain similarities and differences). 

Information Everywhere

Quarter 1

  • How do I explain directions?

  • What language is important to use when giving instructions? 

  • How do I explain and describe when I’m not sure of a word? 

Students will review and practice the language necessary to give and receive instructions in a variety of academic contexts. 


Students will be able to 

  • Express needs and wants

  • Give and follow directions (commands/imperatives) 

  • Explain how to do something (“how to” writing - explain a process) using sequence words 

  • Describe location using prepositions of location

Medical and Health Issues

Quarter 2

  • What health and medical vocabulary is necessary in everyday and academic contexts?

  • How do I explain a medical issue? 

  • What are some issues in medicine and health that concern me? 

Students will identify key medical and health terms. They will use these to describe common problems and will read texts explaining different problems.


Students will be able to 

  • Describe people with adjectives of appearance 

  • Explain an illness/injury.

  • Describe how someone feels / express feelings 

  • Read informational texts on medical and health issues.

Weather and the Environment

Quarter 2

  • How do I describe and explain weather events?

  • What environmental issues affect me? 

  • How do different cultures interact with and  tell stories about the environment? 

Students examine weather and environmental vocabulary. They explain weather events and read texts about environmental issues. 


Students will be able to

  • Describe items of clothing (color, size, texture) 

  • Describe weather conditions

  • Explain which items of clothing are needed based on the weather 

  • Read informational texts on the weather and climate

  • Read fiction texts on cultural perspectives if the environment

Communities

Quarter 3

  • How do I communicate with people in my community?

  • How does my community now compare with places I lived before? 

Students create and present a detailed map on a place in their community. They compare and contrast this to their home countries. 


Students will be able to 

  • Describe different places in a community.

  • Explain directions to a location using specific details.

  • Compare and contrast locations.

  • Inform others about a place in the community. 

Cultural Events

Quarter 4

  • What cultural events are important to me?

  • How do I explain different things from my culture to others?

  • What is the history/origin of these events? 

Students will write about a holiday, event or celebration important to them and present this information to the class. 


Students will be able to 

  • Inform others about an event or celebration.

  • Make and respond to polite requests.