1 The best teachers are artists who

know the science of teaching.

Richard Bankert, 8th Grade Science Teacher
Pawleys Island, SC

UNITPLAN
Building rich experiences into a unit plan is complicated. As an aid for
tweaking or overhauling the big elements of a unit plan, weve created
a checklist, broken into planning steps. You cannot do it all, so make
your curriculum choices count.

STEP ONE
Describe...

O The units central focus Whole to parts Identify Students...

O Target concepts within the disci- Parts to whole
O Level of content mastery &
pline(s) that the unit is intended to Known to unknown
prior knowledge
address
O The objectives (targeting skills
O Learning needs / potential
O Your personal mission, vision, & & content knowledge)
learning obstacles
goals for students
O Learning theories & models
O Cultural assets
O The culminating performance task of instruction:
(CPT), final project, final perfor- Activity-based curriculum O Learning goals & motivations
mance, or portfolio Workshop
O Major standards that the unit will Inquiry
address: CCSS, state level, grade Integrated studies STEP TWO
level, departmental level Process Identify Resources...
O The essential questions Developmental
Deductive / inductive O Guest speakers
O The units scope
Centers O Team-teaching partners
O How you will sequence the Learner centered
curriculum. Here are 10 ways O Available technologies & software
Ecological
suggested by Michael Stephen O Community resources: museums,
Experience-centered
Schiro: parks, professional societies,
Student-designed
Simple to complex businesses, & organizations
Simulation
Chronological
Blended learning
Problem-based learning (PBL)
Developmental Continue...
Prerequisite knowledge & skills O Themes & topics that address
big questions
Close at hand to far away

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 The art comes from the teachers
personality, experience, and talents.
The science comes from knowledge of
child development and the structure
of the curriculum.
Dr. David Elkind, Child Psychologist

STEP THREE STEP FIVE STEP SEVEN

Develop Experiences that Meet Lock Down... Create...
Objectives & Support...
O Hours to complete the unit O Descriptions & directions for
O 21st Century skills assessments: authentic, formative,
O Break unit into 3-5 Major self-, & summative
O Critical Thinking Curriculum Segments:
Debate
O Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 1. Include major concepts & skills Oral presentation
that build toward the CPT
Quiz
O English-Language Learners (ELL) & 2. Concludes with interim
English as Second Language (ESL) Problem-solving activity
performance tasks (formative
Role play
O assessment) that build compe-
tencies toward successfully Essay
O Enrichment completing the CPT Checklist
3. Self-assessment Observation forms
O Collaboration
O Mechanisms that provide the O Task-specific rubrics
O Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
teacher with feedback about the O Opportunities for feedback on
O Motivation instruction instruction
O Authentic learning tasks O General outline in calendar O Routines
O Learning experiences

O Extension activities
O Opportunites for students choice STEP SIX STEP EIGHT
Develop... Go Time...

O Build flex time into the unit for O Teach!

STEP FOUR re-teaching or makeup work O Review & chart students
Collect & Devise... O A specific timetable performance on assessments

O Introductory teaser lesson / The O Lesson plans, handouts, materials, O Review students feedback about
final day of instruction for the unit routines, & homework the unit & instructor

O Handouts O How key ideas will spiral through O Reflect & redesign
the curriculum

O Outline when students will engage

in active learning

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