Steps in Designing a Unit Plan

How do you choose a unit topic?

 

• State Standards (for example: North Carolina Standard Course of Study)

• Textbook

• Pacing guide

• Other teachers

• Personal interests

• Other

 

What do you do next?

 

1. Decide concepts/skills/content that you want students to learn (CP)

 

• Textbook

• Standard course of study

• Material covered in the end of grade test

• Other

 

2. Think about what question(s) you want the students to be able to answer

(This is often called the Essential Question) (P)

• Does a story have to have a beginning, middle and end?

• Is water always a liquid?

• Are all the planets alike?

• Are all wars fought for the same reasons?

• Other

 

3. Decide what the student outcomes should be (P, A)

See Bloom's Taxonomy

• Recall

• List

• Analyze

• Differentiate

• Compare

• Write a paragraph

• Make a map, etc

• Evaluate something

• Other

 

4. Consider what kinds of things you will do to find out what your students already know about the material in your unit (CP, MIS)

• KWL charts

• Class discussion

• Surveys

• Pre-test

• Anticipation guides
• Concept Maps
• Brainstorming

 

4. Decide what strategies/activities you will use to help students be successful (DL, MIS, MM, CT, SD)

(What do you know about the students in your class and how they learn best?)

Review the NETS for Students

• Small group

• Large Group

• Discussions

• Presentations 

• Projects

• Posters (Glogster) 

• Essays

• Manipulatives

• Art

• WebQuests
• Educational Games (traditional or digital)
• Field Trips (on-site or virtual)
• Software Applications
• Learning Centers
• Role Play
• Simulations

 

6. Consider how you might connect to/bring in other disciplines (P, MIS)

 

7. Decide what resources and materials you will need to find or develop (CP)

 

8. Decide how you will assess your students to see if they have learned (SD, A, RP)

     Make sure your assessments align with your instructional strategies; think through criteria for grades 

     Include formative as well as summative assessments  (Review NET-S)

• Tests

• Quizzes

• Projects

• Discussions

• Rubrics

• Class presentations

• Class Assessment Techniques (CATs) 
• Surveys
• Other

 

 

Content Pedagogy = CP Student Development = SD Diverse Learners = DL Multiple Instructional Strategies = MIS Motivation and Management = MM Communication and Technology = CT Planning = P Assessment = A Reflective Practice: Professional Development = RP School and Community Involvement = SCI

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Angelo, T. A. & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom assessment techniques: A handbook for college teachers  (2nd ed). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.