A 5-day ELAR unit for 7th grade students centered on Rudyard Kipling's classic 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi'. Students will analyze plot elements (foreshadowing/suspense), character influences, author's purpose, and complete STAAR-aligned short constructed responses and revising/editing practices.
| Curious and 1. ________ | His curiosity makes him explore, and his bravery helps him save 2. ________. | He chases Nagaina underground and makes the garden 3. ________. |
|
Nag THE AGGRESSOR
| Mean and 4. ________ | He sneaks into the bathroom to 5. ________ the father. | His defeat shows that evil will not 6. ________. |
|
Nagaina THE STRATEGIST
| Sneaky and 7. ________ | She tries to bite Teddy to get 8. ________ for Nag's death. | She is chased down her hole, which ends the 9. ________. |
|
Teddy THE PROTECTED
| Kind and 10. ________ | His family rescues Rikki, which makes Rikki want to 11. ________ them. | He lives happily with Rikki, who is now his 12. ________. |
CHARACTER MATRIX WORD BANK:
• brave
• Teddy
• safe
• scary
• bite / attack
• win / rule
• angry / revengeful
• revenge
• snake threat
• loving
• protect
• pet / protector
Course: Grade 7 ELAR IEP Page 2 of 2 IEP Support Pack
Course: Grade 7 ELAR IEP Page 2 of 2 IEP Support Pack
C. These tiny predators possess lightning-fast reflexes although they can dodge a striking cobra's fangs with ease.
D. These tiny predators possess lightning-fast reflexes; they can dodge a striking cobra's fangs with ease.
QUESTION 2 • EDITING (7.10D)
Sentence 2 in Passage A is currently a fragment. What is the correct way to rewrite this sentence?
A. Because they have thick fur and specialized acetylcholine receptors, these biological traits make them highly resistant to snake venom.
B. They have thick fur and specialized acetylcholine receptors. Which makes them highly resistant to snake venom.
C. They have thick fur and specialized acetylcholine receptors, making them highly resistant to snake venom.
D. Having thick fur and specialized acetylcholine receptors, and they are highly resistant to snake venom.
QUESTION 3 • EDITING (7.10D)
What is the correct way to rewrite sentence 3 in Passage A to correct the run-on sentence?
A. A mongoose will often provoke a cobra into striking repeatedly. This exhausting tactical maneuver drains the snake's energy until the mongoose can secure a decisive victory.
B. A mongoose will often provoke a cobra into striking repeatedly, because this exhausting tactical maneuver drains the snake's energy, until victory is secured.
C. A mongoose will often provoke a cobra into striking repeatedly, this exhausting tactical maneuver drains the snake's energy, so they secure a decisive victory.
D. A mongoose will often provoke a cobra into striking repeatedly; and this exhausting tactical maneuver drains energy.
QUESTION 4 • REVISING (7.10C)
In sentence 4 of Passage A, the student wants to replace the word "happy" with a more precise and academic word. Which word best fits this context?
A. excited
B. relieved
C. emotional
D. friendly
QUESTION 5 • EDITING (7.10D)
What is the best way to correct sentence 5 in Passage B to fix the run-on sentence?
A. In contrast to the agile mongoose, Indian cobras are silent and stealthy predators. They occupy the dark, damp corners of houses and gardens.
B. In contrast to the agile mongoose, Indian cobras are silent and stealthy predators who occupy the dark damp corners of houses, and gardens.
C. In contrast to the agile mongoose. Indian cobras are silent and stealthy predators that occupy dark damp corners.
D. Indian cobras are silent and stealthy predators; they occupy dark, damp corners, in contrast to the agile mongoose.
QUESTION 6 • REVISING (7.10C)
The transition word "Likewise" in sentence 6 of Passage B does not create a logical connection. Which word or phrase should replace "Likewise"?
CLAIM: Rudyard Kipling's primary purpose for writing "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" is to convey a central message that true courage, rather than size or background, secures protection and triumph over fear. EVIDENCE: When facing Nag, Kipling writes that Rikki "was very grass-growingly afraid" but knew that if he did not fight, the family would die. EXPLANATION: By showcasing a tiny, trembling mongoose standing firm against giant cobras, Kipling emphasizes that bravery is defined by a dedication to protecting others, teaching young readers that heroism is an act of will rather than physical superiority.
PROMPT 2 KEY • Plot Elements & Suspense (7.7C) • Standard / IEP
CLAIM: Kipling uses suspense and foreshadowing during Rikki's confrontation with Karait to establish the lethal stakes and advance the narrative toward larger snake battles. EVIDENCE: Kipling describes Karait as a "dusty brown snakeling" whose bite is as deadly as a cobra's, noting Rikki's "eyes grew red" as he danced in for the kill. EXPLANATION: This scene creates intense suspense because Teddy is in immediate, mortal danger. By demonstrating Rikki's victory over a minor yet highly lethal opponent, Kipling foreshadows Rikki's capabilities, priming the reader for the inevitable, higher-stakes clashes with Nag and Nagaina.
PROMPT 3 KEY • Character Qualities (7.7B) • Standard / IEP
CLAIM: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi’s unique qualities of tireless curiosity and unyielding bravery directly initiate critical plot actions and drive the conflict's final resolution. EVIDENCE: His curiosity leads him to explore the bungalow garden and discover the cobras' plans, while his courage is demonstrated when he "grasped Nagaina's tail" and followed her down into her dark hole. EXPLANATION: Without Rikki's curiosity, the cobras' bathroom ambush would have succeeded. Furthermore, his raw bravery in chasing Nagaina underground—a boundary where mongooses usually refuse to hunt—directly resolves the garden conflict, ensuring the cobras are defeated forever and the home is made permanently safe.
To award full credit (Score Point 2) on the IEP SCR, students must complete each of the three isolated fields correctly using the guiding prompts. Spelling, capitalization, and minor mechanical errors should be ignored unless they completely obscure meaning.
Score Point
Execution Criteria
Scaffold Evidence Required
Score Point 2
(Mastery)
All three boxes (Claim, Evidence, Explanation) are completed. The Claim answers the prompt, the Evidence is a relevant quote/detail, and the Explanation logically connects the two.
Must utilize sentence stems appropriately and provide a coherent textual reference.
Score Point 1
(Partial)
The Claim is correct and established, but the Evidence or Explanation is either missing, inaccurate, or fails to connect back to the claim.
Claim box completed correctly; other boxes may be incomplete or vague.
Score Point 0
(No Credit)
Response is completely off-topic, blank, or simply rewrites the prompt without establishing an original claim or citing text.
Fails to make an accurate claim.
Isolated IEP Answer Solutions & Rationales
Lesson 2: Character Matrix Fill-Ins
Rikki-Tikki: Trait: brave | Story Influence: He keeps Teddy and his family safe.
Nag: Trait: scary | Story Influence: He tries to bite/attack the family to win/rule the garden.
Nagaina: Trait: vengeful | Story Influence: She seeks revenge for Nag's death, creating a major threat.
Teddy: Trait: loving | Story Influence: He helps protect Rikki and treats him as a pet/companion.
Accept synonymous terms (e.g., "fearless" for brave; "scared" for scary) that demonstrate context understanding.
Lesson 4: Revising & Editing IEP Key
Q1: Option B
Combines short sentences using "Since." Simple layout isolates the correct causal connector.
Q2: Option A
Corrects a fragment. Modified options omit convoluted choices, isolating the target subject-verb link.
Q3: Option A
Resolves a run-on. The isolated sentence makes the comma splice visibly distinct for the student.
Q4: Option B
Word choice modification. Student selects "relieved." Standard distractor "content" is omitted.
Q5: Option A
Identifies run-on correction. IEP text has shortened sentence lengths to emphasize capitalization.
Q6: Option A
Transition choice "For example." Distractors are restricted to highly contrastive, non-causal transitions.
