Lesson 1: Cluster 1 - Creativity At Work Vocabulary
Duration of Days: 2
Lesson Objective
Determine the meaning of words and phrases
Use new words in writing
Does Creativity Matter?
What kind of career did you dream of having when you were a kid?
Do you prefer to work alone or collaborate with a group?
What is one commitment you’ve made to yourself this year?
How do you evaluate whether a movie was actually good or not?
How do you handle it when someone's expectations are too high?
Have you ever had a sudden insight that solved a hard problem?
What is a hidden talent of yours that most people don't know about?
If you could transform one thing about your daily routine, what would it be?
Career
Collaborate
Commitment
Evaluate
Expectation
Insight
Talent
Transform
9.12.8 determine the meaning of words and phrases in oral presentations and literary and informational text.
Reading for comprehension
Writing for comprehension
Understanding and applying vocabulary
DOK 1-2
Recall information
Immigrant Success Stories (Rassan's Narrative): Rassan Charles's profile directly connects to the lived experiences of many ESOL students, highlighting his journey from Haiti, his dreams of higher education, and the contrast between economic opportunities in different nations.
Graffiti vs. Fine Art: The dialogue between Michael and Massiel regarding "graffiti-influenced style" versus "high-contrast realism" bridges the gap between urban street culture (highly visible to youth worldwide) and institutional art.
Eco-Friendly/Sustainable Practices: The description of the EpiCenter utilizing recycled goods (like five-gallon water jugs and old windshields) connects directly to global conversations about climate change and localized, creative recycling practices.
Youth Entrepreneurship: The concept of getting paid a fair market value for creative labor resonates with students from cultures where street vending, familial trades, or entrepreneurial side-hustles are common survival mechanisms
"F Minus" Grading Culture: Students from countries without A–F grading scales may not understand that an "F Minus" is a humorous, hyperbolic play on a failing school grade. They might assume it refers to a mathematical or specific technical term.
The Term "Loser": Tony Carrillo uses "loser" in a lighthearted, self-deprecating Western comedic context. ESOL students might interpret this literally as a severe personal insult or assume his work targets actual social outcasts.
"Clock in, Clock out": This idiomatic phrase for hourly wage labor might puzzle students unfamiliar with American corporate/retail punch-cards, leading them to think it relates to literal clocks or time-telling.
"Off the Sidewalk": The phrase "come in off the sidewalk" is a figurative way to say beginners with no prior training. Students may take it literally, thinking the program only recruits unhoused youth or people literally sitting on the sidewalk.
Crown Victorias as "Fancy" Cars: The text glosses "Crown Victorias" as "fancy old cars." Students might misinterpret this to mean luxury vintage sports cars, missing the cultural context of a standard, retired American police cruiser or taxicab.
Sentence starters
Visual aids
Small group instruction
Classwork
Participation
Exit ticket