The Explorers' Guild · Case 01Key Language Use: ExplainELD-SI · Social & Instructional LanguageAbout 18 minutes · Recommended grades 3-5
The Beacon on Gull Ridge
Students follow multi-step spatial directions and explain an ordered route using sequence and place connectors.
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Standards Architecture
WIDA alignment for practice
Aligned for classroom practice to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. This is not an official WIDA score, ACCESS score, or proficiency level.
- Standard: Language for Social and Instructional Purposes
- Key Language Use: explain
- Discourse: An ordered route explanation that names landmarks in sequence and justifies why a blocked path is avoided.
- Sentence: Imperative and declarative clauses linked with first, next, after that, and because.
- Word and phrase: route, landmark, sequence, ridge, detour, compass, north, east.
Instructional Guidance
Teaching notes
About 18 minutes. Recommended grades 3-5. Content area: social-instructional.
Lesson Objectives
- Follow and restate multi-step spatial directions accurately.
- Explain a route trade-off using sequence markers and causal clauses.
Pathway ScaffoldingGuided pathway provides sequence starters and a spatial word bank. Developing pathway offers on-demand starters. Independent pathway adds a tide-table notice.
Likely language demands
- Students may list landmarks without showing which turn comes first or second.
- Students may omit why the shorter cliff stairs cannot be used.
What independent performance looks like
Independent performance is an oral recording and written route note that order all landmarks and explain the rockslide detour without opening frames.
Follow-up
- Five-minute speaking practice on giving directions to a new student, then Explorers' Guild case 2.