Unit Summary:

In the fifth and final unit of Intro to Critical Literacy: Constructing an Intersectional Worldview, scholars engage with rigorous readings to internalize a deep understanding of intersectionality.  Scholars begin this unit by reading why Kimberlé Crenshaw created the term in the 1970’s. The unit then goes on to define intersectionality as an analytic sensibility, a way of thinking about identity and its relationship to power, with emphasis on race plus other identities. This is followed by scholars exploring the intersections of their personal identities and creativity in the Self Portrait project. Next scholars have 8 close reading lessons that each explore different facets of intersectionality – requiring scholars to relate class, gender, pay gaps, homosexuality, being transgender, sex trafficking, feminism and Black Lives Matter to intersectionality. Finally, scholars are given the opportunity to demonstrate deep understandings of intersectionality on their analysis paper connecting the intersections of race, class and gender to the treatment of coal miners in America, final assessment and closing circle.

Overall, this unit consists of 15 lessons. The first lesson is an introductory teacher lead presentation, 10 lessons are close readings where scholars read to apply central topics with extension activities that can be either homework or in class activities, there is 1 larger creative project, 1 analysis essay, 1 final assessment and 1 closing circle. This unit is meant to give scholars several examples to practice applying intersectional analytic sensibility to different social justice topics. This unit requires scholars to both read to learn and apply terms from past units, given space to practice the skills to be critical of their world. Extension activities and the final assessment also require scholars to apply content to their own lives – deepening their personal worldview. The rigor of readings and questioning in this unit is the highest of the 5 units to continue to build upon scholars reading skills.

Enduring Understandings:

• Scholars will deeply understand what the term intersectionality means.

• Scholars will understand that social justice requires intersectionality to inform our world view.

• Scholars will understand how intersectionality relates to race, class, gender, pay gaps, homosexuality, being transgender, sex trafficking, feminism and Black Lives Matter.

• Scholars will understand how their personal identities relate to intersectionality, privilege and oppression.

• Scholars will understand how to use their sharpened worldview to take actions to make their communities better.

What’s in This Purchase?

• A Detailed Unit Overview

• The Re-Imagine Education Lesson Plan Template

• PowerPoint Presentations for Presentation Lessons

• 15 Lesson Packets (both Student copies and Teacher Copies with Exemplar Answers) including: 1 Introduction packet, 11 Close Reading packets, 2 project packets, 1 final assessment packet, and 1 closing circle packet. Note: All Introductory and Close Reading lesson packets contain a Do First activity, a Close Reading or Presentation with Guided Notes and Questions, an Extension Activity and an Exit Ticket.

Unit Scope & Sequence:

1. Presentation Lesson: Introduction & Guided Notes

2. Close Reading Lesson: Kimberlé Crenshaw

3. Close Reading Lesson: Defining Intersectionality

4. Project: Intersectional Self-Portrait

5. Close Reading Lesson: Pay Gap by Race & Gender

6. Close Reading Lesson: "White" Trash

7. Close Reading Lesson: Broke on Broke Crime

8. Close Reading Lesson: How Gay Stays White

9. Close Reading Lesson: Transgender People of Color

10. Close Reading Lesson: Sex Trafficking and Native Women

11. Close Reading Lesson: bell hooks and Feminism

12. Close Reading Lesson: Alicia Garza and Blacks Lives Matter

13. Analysis Essay: Coal Mining & Lost Jobs

14. Assessment Lesson: Intersectionality Unit Final Test

15. Discussion Lesson: Intersectionality Unit Closing Circle Questions

Standards Alignment:

Common Core Standard Alignment

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.5: Analyze in detail how an author's ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.6: Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.10: By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

 AP U.S. History Alignment

• NAT-4.0 Analyze relationships among different regional, social, ethnic, and racial groups, and explain how these groups’ experiences have related to U.S. national identity.

• CUL-3.0: Explain how ideas about women’s rights and gender roles have affected society and politics.