Perspectives of Power

<p><strong>Winner of the 2015 NAGC Curriculum Studies Award</strong></p><p><i>Perspectives of Power</i> explores the nature of power in literature historical documents poetry and art. Lessons include a major focus on rigorous evidence-based discourse through the study of common themes and content-rich challenging nonfiction and fictional texts. This unit developed by Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth and aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) guides students to explore the power of oppression; the power of the past present and future; and the power of personal response by engaging in simulations skits creative projects literary analyses Socratic seminars and debates.</p><p>Texts illuminate content extensions that interest many high-ability students including bystander effect social class structure game theory the use and abuse of technology cultural conflict the butterfly effect women's suffrage and surrealism as each relates to power. Lessons include close readings with text-dependent questions choice-based differentiated products rubrics formative assessments and ELA writing tasks that require students to analyze texts for rhetorical features literary elements and themes through argument explanatory and/or prose-constructed writing.</p><p>Ideal for pre-AP and honors courses the unit features texts from Emily Dickinson William B. Yeats and Charles Perrault; art from Moyo Okediji and Salvador Dali; and speeches by Elie Wiesel Susan B. Anthony and John F. Kennedy. As a result from the learning in the unit students will be able to examine powerful influences in their own lives and identify their own power in personal responsibility.</p><p><em>Grades 6-8</em></p>