The Cay
This MDU is designed for 6th graders reading the novel The Cay. It will be approximately two weeks in length and include lessons in Math, Science, Language Arts, and Reading.
Rationale:
Our interdisciplinary unit, centered around the book The Cay
by Theodore Taylor, is set in the Caribbean. This main geographical area is
addressed in our sixth grade curriculum and text book. The Cay provides discussion
on similarities and differences between the Caribbean and that of the United States.
It also touches on social issues such as prejudice, which provides for the
opportunity to discuss these issues in a fictional context. The book and the
Caribbean lend themselves well to be taught in conjunction with Science and the study of
land forms and weather patterns, Math with distance and measuring, and Music with the
discovery of different musical styles.
Unit Objectives:
Help students make connections between the language arts, social studies,
science, and math curriculum
Address issues in prejudice through the use of literature
Instruct student on the elements of survival theory
Expose students to the geography and culture of the Caribbean