Help your gifted and high-ability students explore the universal theme of Change through literature with this ready-to-use unit! Students will dive into eight different types of change—internal, external, environmental, relational, perspective/understanding, values/beliefs, fortune/circumstances, and role/identity—to analyze how characters grow, transform, and adapt in stories.
This unit includes clear definitions, teacher directions, student-friendly examples, discussion questions, and response activities designed to spark critical thinking. With engaging prompts, Depth and Complexity connections, and opportunities for Socratic dialogue, students will learn to identify and evaluate the many forms of change that drive characters and plots forward. Perfect for grades 4–6 gifted ELA, literature circles, or as an enrichment add-on for any story unit!
What’s Included:
One-page definitions of each type of change in literature
Student-friendly examples and scenarios for each type
Printable short stories for each lesson
Discussion questions and journal prompts
Depth & Complexity question stems for higher-level thinking
Graphic organizers and response sheets
Reflection and synthesis opportunities that help students internalize what they’ve learned
Culminating Socratic seminar guide
This unit is more than just reading and responding—it’s about thinking deeply and critically. Using strategies from Harvard’s Making Thinking Visible routines and the Depth & Complexity Framework, students will build interpretive skills, engage in rich discussions, and reflect on the human experience through the lens of change.
Whether you’re launching a literature unit, introducing the building blocks of narrative, or providing enrichment for advanced learners, this curriculum is a powerful way to help students understand not just what happens in a story, but why it matters.
Perfect for gifted classrooms, reading groups, or upper elementary students ready for a challenge. Exploring CHANGE in Literature: A CRITICAL THINKING THEME UNIT uses character changes as powerful tools for inquiry, empathy, and insight.
Help your gifted and high-ability students explore the universal theme of Change through literature with this ready-to-use unit! Students will dive into eight different types of change—internal, external, environmental, relational, perspective/understanding, values/beliefs, fortune/circumstances, and role/identity—to analyze how characters grow, transform, and adapt in stories.
This unit includes clear definitions, teacher directions, student-friendly examples, discussion questions, and response activities designed to spark critical thinking. With engaging prompts, Depth and Complexity connections, and opportunities for Socratic dialogue, students will learn to identify and evaluate the many forms of change that drive characters and plots forward. Perfect for grades 4–6 gifted ELA, literature circles, or as an enrichment add-on for any story unit!
What’s Included:
One-page definitions of each type of change in literature
Student-friendly examples and scenarios for each type
Printable short stories for each lesson
Discussion questions and journal prompts
Depth & Complexity question stems for higher-level thinking
Graphic organizers and response sheets
Reflection and synthesis opportunities that help students internalize what they’ve learned
Culminating Socratic seminar guide
This unit is more than just reading and responding—it’s about thinking deeply and critically. Using strategies from Harvard’s Making Thinking Visible routines and the Depth & Complexity Framework, students will build interpretive skills, engage in rich discussions, and reflect on the human experience through the lens of change.
Whether you’re launching a literature unit, introducing the building blocks of narrative, or providing enrichment for advanced learners, this curriculum is a powerful way to help students understand not just what happens in a story, but why it matters.
Perfect for gifted classrooms, reading groups, or upper elementary students ready for a challenge. Exploring CHANGE in Literature: A CRITICAL THINKING THEME UNIT uses character changes as powerful tools for inquiry, empathy, and insight.
