Learning Through Literacy
Learning Through Literacy > Grade 6 > The Convention on the Rights of the Child

Grade 6 – Unit 1

The Convention on the Rights of the Child

Unit 1 introduces students to children’s rights through an exploration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The unit is anchored in a clear, accessible mentor text that explains the purpose of the Convention, the rights it protects, and the responsibilities governments hold in upholding those rights. As students engage with this text, they examine how writing communicates complex ideas, organizes key information, and connects global frameworks to students’ lived experiences in Ontario and beyond. This unit supports both literacy development and civic understanding, helping students build knowledge about systems that promote equity, protection, and well-being for children.

Fluency in Perspective – Who Speaks Up for Children’s Rights?

The fluency passage in unit 1 deepens students’ understanding of how children’s rights are protected in practice, with a particular focus on the role of non-governmental organizations. Through repeated reading across the week, students build oral reading fluency while strengthening comprehension, academic vocabulary and cause-and-effect relationships. The passage supports knowledge building by connecting the Convention on the Rights of the Child to real-world examples of advocacy, community action, and global responsibility, reinforcing the idea that children’s rights are supported through coordinated efforts at local, national, and international levels.

Structured Writing – The Conventions on the Rights of the Child

The structured writing component of Unit 1 focuses on writing as a tool for explaining important social and civic concepts. Using the mentor text on the Conventions on the Rights of the Child, students analyze how writers introduce a topic, group related ideas, and use precise language to communicate meaning clearly for an audience.

Through the structured writing cycle, students are supported in generating ideas, organizing information, and writing a response that explains children’s rights and the systems that protect them. With the use of exemplars, explicit vocabulary instruction, and guided practice, educators support students in developing clarity, cohesion, and accuracy in their writing, while also deepening students’ understanding of rights, responsibilities, and social systems.