Glastonbury Foreign Language Program
Curricular Unit: Russian Immersion Day
Grade: 12
Subject/Topic Area(s): Russian Language and Culture
Key Words: beginning alphabet, beginning numbers, basic greetings and salutations, paskha, pysanky, Faberge, Kalinka, matrioshki, Tchaikovsky
Standards:
Major standards— 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
Supporting standards— 3.2
Brief Summary of Unit (including curricular context and unit goals):
This is a unit on Russian language and culture to be shared with younger students for enrichment, or to stir up interest in the study of the Russian language in your school system.
Number of days for activity: 16 (1 day of prep & 1 on-site visit per month)
Materials and resources (including technology and multimedia):
Alphabet and number flashcards
Map of Russia
Teacher slides of visits to Russia
Wooden eggs, illustrated childrens' books, and matrioshki
Faberge books, calendar, and figurine
Lyrics to "Kalinka" and CD
Bookmark art project featuring egg and matrioshka illustrations
Written rules for Cossack games
Russian dessert recipes
Samovar, tray, tablecloths, napkins, and Russian tea
Student volunteer musicians
Identifying Desired Results
• What essential questions will guide this unit and focus teaching/learning?
How are we transformed by our study of Russian language and culture?
• What enduring understandings are desired?
Student will understand...
the abundance of knowledge about Russian language and culture that they have acquired over their six year study of Russian and how interesting it is to share this with receptive and enthusiastic younger students.
• What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit?
Students will know…
how the younger students look up to the high school students, not just for knowledge but as role models.
Students will be able to…
design a lesson on a given topic with younger students in mind, and make it both fun and informative.
work with a prearranged class for the school year and make a monthly presentation to these students.
use and demonstrate their knowledge of Russian language and culture and provide an Immersion Day as a culminating activity.
Vocabulary:
Grammar:
• What do they already know that will help them learn new information? Where and when did they learn it?
These students are in the sixth year of a Russian 1-6 program. They have extensive knowledge of Russian language and culture that they have acquired over this period of time.
Determining acceptable evidence
• What evidence will show that students understand?
Performance Tasks:
Monthly lesson plan and classroom lesson
Lesson plan for Russian Immersion Day
Russian Immersion Day
Quizzes, Tests, Prompts, Work Samples:
journal entry after each classroom visit
oral participation grade
Unprompted Evidence (observations, dialogues):
Hugs and kisses, small gifts, thank-you notes, requests to visit again from 3rd graders
Birthday cards from 12th graders to 3rd graders
Student Self-Assessment:
The multitude of unprompted evidence (above) makes the success of this project obvious
Lessons:
• Lesson 1:Oct -pen pal letters to Russia; GHS Russian 6 translating
• Lesson 2:Nov-Russian language and culture lessons (alphabet,numbers, and greetings)
• Lesson 3:Dec-Russian language and culture lessons (same)
• Lesson 4:Jan-slides of recent exchange
• Lesson 5:Feb-slides of recent exchange
• Lesson 6:Mar-guest speaker presentation
• Lesson 7:Apr-childrens'story books highlighting Spring and Easter celebrations
• Lesson 8:May-Immersion Day Program 10:00-12:15
• 3 group rotation including Kalinka song, bookmark project, and Show & Tell table
• ALL- lunch w/ Russian desserts and Russian cartoon
• ALL- relay races (Cossack games)
• ALL- concert of Russian music (student string performers)
Links to Relevant Web Sites:
www.russianinternet.com/kids/ (listen to kids stories)
www.apa.org/monitor/jun00/howtolearn.html
www.multilingualbooks.com/russian.html#childrens
www.languageadvantage.com/languagelist/russian.htm
www.languagelearning.org/inthewoods.htm (basic immersion activities)
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/TIL_3.html (sample immersion program)
Assessment Blueprint (Performance Tasks)
Task Title:
Approximate Time Frame:
Standards:
Purpose: check those that apply Formative – Summative –
Description of Task:
Evidence of desired understanding:Criteria of judgment:
Evaluative Tools: check those that apply
Analytic Rubric –
Holistic Rubric –
Criterion (performance) list –
Checklist –
Assessment Blueprint (Other Evidence)
• What is being assessed?
• Describe the assessment.
• What is the purpose of the assessment?
• Criteria of judgment/evaluative tools: