Global Read Aloud Unit Overview 

 
 
Introduction: 
This year’s OES Global Read Aloud novel will be Alan Gratz’s R ​ efugee​. We will be 
reading the novel together in home bases, discussing it, and doing activities along the 
way that will help to prepare you for the final project at the end. Part of our work will 
be done while collaborating with students at Winslow Junior High School in Maine. We 
will have opportunities to connect with our partner classroom as we read the novel! 
 
Purpose: 
We have four goals as we read ​Refugee​: 
1. To better understand the experiences of those who are forced to leave their 
homes and relocate as a result of violence, war, persecution, or other hardships. 
2. To define literary theme and better understand how authors develop themes in 
their work. 
3. To investigate the i​ njustices​ in historical and modern examples of conflicts that 
have caused people to become refugees. 
 
 
 
 
Unit Calendar: 
Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday 
10/1  10/2  10/3  10/4  10/5 
P. 1-17  P. 18-33  P. 34-55 

10/8  10/9  10/10  10/11  10/12 

P. 56-73  P. 74-92 

10/15  10/16  10/17  10/18  10/19 

P. 93-109  P. 110-128  P. 129-146 

10/22  10/23  10/24  10/25  10/26 

  P. 147-163  P. 164-182  P. 183-196 

10/29  10/30  10/31  11/1  11/2 

  P. 197-215  P. 216-235  P. 236-252   

11/5  11/6  11/7  11/8  11/9 

  P. 253-269  P. 270-284  P. 285-317   

 
 
Ongoing Activity: 
While reading the novel, each of us will choose one of the three stories (Josef, Isabel or 
Mahmoud) from the novel to focus on. Each day, after reading a section of the novel, 
we will be practicing our narrative writing skills by writing first-person journal 
entries from the perspective of our chosen character. The design of the journals 
themselves will be chosen based on our individual preferences. 
 
 
Unit Project: 
Our final project was designed by Miss Gratton and Mr. Chadburn with the support and 
guidance of the OES Learning Team. The project will feature three components: a 
description of what it means to be a refugee, an adaptation of your journal entries, and 
a short analysis of the novel’s theme. You will need to use the skills that we practiced 
and the work you completed throughout the unit.  
 
 
 
 
 
 There will be opportunities for you to personalize your process and product in two 
different ways: 
1. Writing Style -- How do you want to adapt your journals?  
2. Publishing Type -- How do you want to share your writing with the world? 
 
Writing Choices: A) Memoir B) Graphic Novel C) Verse 
 
Product Choices: A) Website B)Slideshow C) E-book/Audiobook  
D) Blog/Vlog E) Physical handmade book 
 
 
Global Read Aloud Unit Learning Scales 
  Getting Started  Making Progress  Proficient 
HU 1.2:​​ Determine a theme I can define theme. I can determine the I can explain how characters,
or central idea of a text and theme (fiction) or central setting, plot (fiction), or
analyze its development idea (nonfiction) of a supporting ideas (nonfiction)
over the course of the text, text. support and develop the
including its relationship to theme or central idea.
the characters, setting, and
plot or supporting ideas.

HU ​5.2:​​ ​Write
informative/explanatory
texts to examine and
convey complex ideas and
information clearly and
accurately through the
effective ​selection​​ of
content.
I can write to inform I can make clearly I can explain complex ideas
or explain. informed choices about in my writing by choosing
what information to relevant information and
include and exclude elaborating about why the
when writing to inform or chosen information is
explain. important.

HU 5.3:​​ ​Write
informative/explanatory
texts to examine and
convey complex ideas and
information clearly and
accurately through the
effective ​organization​​ of
content.
I can organize my I can organize the ideas I can organize my ideas and
ideas into presented in my paragraphs logically, and
paragraphs based paragraphs logically. consistently integrate
on topic. transitional words or
phrases.
I can organize the
paragraphs in my writing
logically.

HU 6.2:​​ ​Develop and
strengthen writing as
needed by planning,
revising, editing, rewriting,
or trying a new approach. 
I can discuss ways I can make changes to I can improve my writing by
to improve a piece improve my writing while revising and editing over
of writing. composing a draft. multiple drafts.