Thesis-09.18_6.8Di/6.5G/6.2B

HISD 6th Grade ELA

★ Text Structure - Controlling Idea
★ Key Ideas
★ Using Context

September 18, 2024

Open Ended

DO NOW!!!

Read paragraph 1 of “Climate And Social Activist: An Interview With Jerome Foster II” from your Student Activity pages.

Then, Use Context Clues -What does “causes” mean?

- Enter your answer in the box. 

3

LO: SWBAT analyze characteristics and structural
elements of informational text, including the
controlling idea or thesis with supporting evidence.

DOL: Given a text, students will analyze characteristics and
structural elements of informational text, including the
controlling idea or thesis with supporting evidence by correctly
answering with at least 80% accuracy (Additional TEKS: 6.2.B,
6.5.G)

Objectives

4

Academic Vocabulary Support for ELA 6.5.G & 6.8.Di

is a type of nonfiction writing that provides factual information on a particular topic. These

texts are designed to inform, explain, or teach the reader about a specific subject.

Informational texts are common in textbooks, articles, reports, and other educational

materials.

Informational Text

5

Controlling Idea or Thesis

key idea & details

Informational Text

key idea & details

key idea & details

key idea & details

Think Aloud

6

“Climate And Social Activist: An

Interview With Jerome Foster II” is an

example of an informational text

from an interview.

● What elements are in an

informational text?

● What do you expect to

encounter in this type of text?

Climate And Social Activist: An Interview

With Jerome Foster II

By Cricket Media, adapted by Newsela staff on 04.29.21

retrieved from Newsela with permission.

7

Read and annotate key ideas and the
important details that support them.

Student Activity

Page

Climate And Social Activist: An Interview With Jerome Foster II

1Jerome Foster II is an 18-year-old climate and social activist.
He's in his first year of college in New York City, but he's been
organizing young people for many years. He's also the executive
director of OneMillionOfUs, a group that helps young people
organize around causes such as climate change and gender
equality.

2Question: How did you get started as an activist?

3Jerome Foster: I started young. My parents were always very
involved in activism in general. I grew up in Washington, D.C., so
I think there was some of that in the air, too. I was definitely
affected by it as I got older, especially when it came to
environmental organizing. I'd spend hours exploring the forest
that extended beyond my backyard, just having that unique
connection with nature.

What does "climate and
social activist" mean?
What other words in the
text help you understand

this concept?

8

What does 'organizing'
mean in the context of

Jerome Foster's

activities?"

Why does Jerome

mention his connection
with nature? How does

it relate to his later

activism?

"How does the format of

this interview help us
understand Jerome
Foster’s perspective?

4As I got older, many of my classmates didn't know about climate change. I
thought, what can I do to raise awareness of it? At the time I wasn't a big
social media person, but my friends said, "Hey, start an Instagram page!" I
built that throughout my middle school years. In high school, things totally
changed. The high school I went to focused primarily on technology. I'm
really a technology person. I like to code different websites and platforms.
I started coding virtual reality programs, beginning with a story of
migrants traveling from Guatemala to southern Texas. The player was a
girl traveling that arduous journey across Central America to reach the
United States.

5I kept building virtual environments and slowly that technology turned
into journalism. Journalism turned into website development for
nonprofits, then organizing a bunch of different marches over the
internet. And over the span of three or four years, I transitioned into
general activism—the organizing and the logistics of how to talk about
issues and how to work with politicians to get policies introduced in the
government.

9

How did Jerome's skills

in technology evolve
into broader activism

How did Jerome's
skills in technology
evolve into broader

activism?"

"Why was it significant

that Jerome started
with social media to
raise awareness?"

What does Jerome’s
journey from coding to

organizing marches

tell us about his
development as a

leader?

“Jerome leveraged his tech skills to

spread awareness, linking his passion for

technology to his emerging role as an

activist, reinforcing the controlling idea of

his leadership.”

“Jerome’s technological skills evolved into
tools for broader activism, illustrating his

growth into a leader capable of organizing and

influencing policy.”

Knowledge Check

10

What does Jerome
Foster II’s role as the
executive director of

OneMillionOfUs suggest
about his involvement in

activism?

We know that…
This seems important
because…

Reading/Annotation Focus:
●

What key ideas support the
controlling idea?

Partner Read

Paragraphs 6 through 9

11

12

What key idea about Jerome Foster is
reinforced by his success in organizing a
climate strike?

A.

He is hesitant to take risks and prefers
to work behind the scenes.

B.

He is capable of leading large-scale
efforts and inspiring widespread
participation.

C.

He focuses more on local issues rather
than global ones.

D.

He relies solely on his personal
achievements without involving others.

Multiple Choice

What key idea about Jerome Foster is reinforced by his success in organizing a climate strike?

• He is hesitant to take risks and prefers to work behind the scenes.

• He is capable of leading large-scale efforts and inspiring widespread participation.

• He focuses more on local issues rather than global ones.

• He relies solely on his personal achievements without involving others.

Reading/Annotation Focus:
●

Notice and annotate key ideas
relating to the controlling idea.

●

What is the importance of youth
involvement at raising
awareness to climate change?

●

Are there any key ideas that do
not support controlling idea?

Independently Read

Paragraphs 10-17:

13

14

How does Jerome Foster describe a
climate strike in the text?

A.

A classroom discussion on
environmental issues.

B.

A petition signed by students to
demand action on climate
change.

C.

A social media campaign to raise
awareness about climate change.

D.

A rally at local government
buildings to advocate for climate
policies.

Multiple Choice

How does Jerome Foster describe a climate strike in the text?

• A classroom discussion on environmental issues.

• A petition signed by students to demand action on climate change.

• A social media campaign to raise awareness about climate change.

• A rally at local government buildings to advocate for climate policies.

15

How does Jerome Foster suggest
young people can effectively
participate in climate activism through
climate strikes? Use evidence from
the text to support your answer.

Jerome Foster suggests that young
people can effectively participate in
climate activism through…

Knowledge Check

Use this word!

16

Q10. SCR - Describe the advice Jerome Foster gives to young people who want to get involved
in climate activism. How does this advice support the controlling idea of youth leadership in
activism?

Answer

the

question.

Cite

evidence
from the

text.

Explain

your

answer.

Jerome Foster advises young people to start by ..

He recommends, “...”

This advice supports the controlling idea by …

Open Ended

Describe the advice Jerome Foster gives to young people who want to get involved in climate activism. How does this advice support the controlling idea of youth leadership in activism?

18

DOL: Given a text,
students will analyze
characteristics and
structural elements of
informational text, including
the controlling idea or
thesis with supporting
evidence by correctly
answering with at least
80% accuracy (Additional
TEKS: 6.2.B, 6.5.G)

Demonstration of Learning