Classroom Resource

Character Change: The Diary of Anne Frank

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8

Overview

In this interactive lesson supporting literacy skills, students examine what Anne Frank’s writing and a video dramatization of her diary reveal about her character and how it changed while she was in hiding. Students develop their literacy skills as they explore an English language arts focus on character change. During this process, they read informational text, learn and practice vocabulary words, and explore content through videos and interactive activities.

This resource also includes two informative essay prompts to which students can respond. Be sure to look at the Support Materails for additiaonl resources.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

ELA21.6.3

Explain how authors use setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view to contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.6.3

Vocabulary

  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Characters
  • Theme
  • Conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Point of view
  • Prose
  • Poetry
  • Textual evidence

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and drive the plot.
  • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.
  • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view in prose and poetry.
  • Explain how literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry.
  • Support their explanations of literary elements with textual evidence.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
  • Literary elements contribute to the meaning of poetry and prose.
  • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

ELA21.6.7

Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.6.7

Vocabulary

  • Narrative writing
  • Argument writing
  • Informative/explanatory writing
  • Writing development
  • Writing organization
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Task
  • Purpose
  • Audience
  • Command of language

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
  • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
  • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
  • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
    • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Demonstrate command of the written language.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
    • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

    ELA21.7.3

    Explain how the author’s choice of setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.7.3

    Vocabulary

    • Setting
    • Plot
    • Characters
    • Theme
    • Conflict
    • Dialogue
    • Point of view
    • Author's purpose
    • Prose
    • Poetry
    • Textual evidence

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and/or enhance the meaning of the text.
    • An author's use of literary elements can indicate the author's purpose for writing the text.
    • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.
    • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view in prose and poetry.
    • Explain how literary elements contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry.
    • Support their explanations of literary elements with textual evidence.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
    • Literary elements contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of poetry and prose.
    • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

    ELA21.7.7

    Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.7.7

    Vocabulary

    • Narrative writing
    • Argument writing
    • Informative/explanatory writing
    • Writing development
    • Writing organization
    • Style
    • Tone
    • Task
    • Purpose
    • Audience
    • Command of language

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
    • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
    • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
    • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
    • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Demonstrate command of the written language.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
    • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

    ELA21.7.32

    Apply vocabulary in writing to convey and enhance meaning.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.7.32

    Vocabulary

    • Vocabulary

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Word choice can convey a message and enhance the meaning of written communication.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Strategically use vocabulary to convey meaning and enhance meaning when writing.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Vocabulary plays an important role in conveying clear meaning and in enhancing the intended meaning in writing.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

    ELA21.8.3

    Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.8.3

    Vocabulary

    • Literary elements
    • Setting
    • Plot
    • Theme
    • Characters
    • Internal conflict
    • External conflict
    • Dialogue
    • Points of view
    • Text evidence

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and/or enhance the meaning of the text.
    • An author's use of literary elements can indicate the author's purpose for writing the text.
    • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view in literary text.
    • Analyze how literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of literary text.
    • Support their analysis of literary elements with textual evidence.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
    • Literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of literary text.
    • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

    ELA21.8.8

    Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.8.8

    Vocabulary

    • Narrative writing
    • Argument writing
    • Informative/explanatory writing
    • Writing development
    • Writing organization
    • Style
    • Tone
    • Task
    • Purpose
    • Audience
    • Command of language

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
    • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
    • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
    • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
      • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Demonstrate command of the written language.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
      • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
      • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
      English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

      ELA21.8.31

      Integrate effective vocabulary into writing to create specific effects and communicate purposefully.

      Unpacked Content

      UP:ELA21.8.31

      Vocabulary

      • Effective vocabulary

      Knowledge

      Students know:
      • Purposeful word choice can create specific effects written communication.

      Skills

      Students are able to:
      • Strategically use vocabulary to create specific effects in writing.
      • Strategically use vocabulary to communicate purposefully.

      Understanding

      Students understand that:
      • Vocabulary plays an important role in clearly communicating and creating effects in writing.
      Link to Resource
      https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/midlit11.ela.splafrank/character-cha…

      CR Resource Type

      Interactive/Game

      Resource Provider

      PBS
      Accessibility

      Accessibility

      Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
      License

      License Type

      Custom

      Custom License Type (URL)

      https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/midlit11.ela.splafrank/character-cha…

      Comments or Notes

      This resource includes supporting materials for teachers and students.

      Approved Date

      ALSDE LOGO

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