Unit 1.3 Planning for Instruction - Unit Planning

Unit Planning

A unit plan is an integrated series of lessons, organized around a single theme, topic or mode, developed over several days or even weeks.

Often, units are developed within a discipline, and lessons are organized to build on knowledge acquired in previous lessons.

·         Unit plans generally include:

§  Purposes/Aims/Goals

§  Objectives

§  Content Outlines

§  Activities

§  Instructional Resources and Materials

§  Evaluation Methods

·         Units may even be: Interdisciplinary units described under the entry called Thematic Approach/Thematic Unit, or may be about a specific topic, Topical Approach/Topical Unit.

·         Unit plans are particularly good for documenting your ability to use a variety of instructional strategies and instructional planning skills.

Components of a Unit Plan

General Components are:

o   Subject Area

o   Grade Level

o   Duration

o   Rationale

o   General Instructional Goals (Standards)

o   Unit Name

o   Unit Topic

o   Objectives (Broad)

o   Objectives (Specific)

o   Concepts/Facts/Rules/Generalizations/Principle

o   Content Learning/Learning Material

o   Activities Strategies

o   Teaching Aids/ Materials and Resources

o   Evaluation (Methods and Tools)

SUBJECT AREA
A course of study to be taught, at the Primary School Level the

core subjects are: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Language

Arts. In addition to these core subjects may be Music, Art, Information

Technology, etc. However, they vary in the Secondary School Level.

GRADE LEVEL

As it pertains to the Primary School Level it may vary depending on the

educational system K-6 or K-9. At the Secondary School Level 7-11. 

DURATION

A unit normal time frame may be two to three weeks, however

keeping in mind that there should be room for flexibility it may

incorporate one to six weeks depending on the topics and subtopics

that are to be covered for a particular theme.

RATIONALE

A broad descriptive statement that gives the basic reasons for

teaching this particular unit as well as the major results expected

from the unit.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

Statements should answer the question, "What are the major goals of

the unit?" These are not as specific as the instructional objectives that

appear in lesson plans and can follow an outline form. In this section

you are basically concerned with establishing broad expectations about

what you anticipate your students will gain from the unit.

UNIT NAME

What is the name of the unit of instruction?

UNIT TOPIC

A unit topic is basic list of skills, concepts and/or activities that closely

relate to the unit being studied. What are the possible topics on which

lessons can be grouped?

OBJECTIVES (BROAD/GENERAL) LEARNING OUTCOMES
o   Describe broad aspects of behaviour which incorporate a wide range of knowledge and skills
o   Accomplished over time in several learning experiences
o   Refer to demonstrations of performance

OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC) LEARNING OBJECTIVES
o    Tend to describe specific, discrete units of knowledge and skill
o    Can be accomplished within a short time frame - still may be  relevant for a class period
o    Tend to be statements of intent; do not necessarily suggest that the behaviour has been demonstrated

CONCEPTS/FACTS/RULES/GENERALIZATIONS/PRINCIPLE
o    Concepts – ideas that refer to a class or category in which all the members share some common characteristics. They can be in the form of a definition and may also be related to other larger or subordinate concepts.
o Facts – statements about the world that are directly observable, an occurrence from in the past or present
o   Generalizations – statements about patterns in the world that are either correlational or suggest a causal relationship: rules, principle or law.
o Rules – statements of what can or must be done. Methods or procedures to follow.
o Principles – are relational rules that show relationship between two or more concepts. They are often described in the form of if-then, cause-effect, or “rule of thumb” relationships.

CONTENT LEARNING/LEARNING MATERIAL

The content describes the specific subject matter to be learned. 

ACTIVITIES STRATEGIES

Teaching strategies are the different ways in which one may

conduct the various lessons. 

TEACHING AIDS/MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

A section identifying all of the materials, resources and/or people

used in creating the unit as well as those appropriate to teaching

it. 

EVALUATION (GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS)

Unit evaluation should be a summative measure of the general

and specific objectives from both the unit and the daily lesson

plans. 

References:

Hurwitz, A. & Day, M. (2007). Children and their art: Methods

     for the elementary school. Eighth Edition. Belmont, CA:

     Thomson Wadsworth.

Montanan State University. (2011). Appendix A. Components

     of a Unit Plan. Retrieved 31/1/11 from www.montana.edu.

Price, K. and Nelson, K. (2003). Daily Planning For 
  Today´s Classroom. (2^nd Ed.). Canada: Thompson.

Activity
Visit a school/teacher and ask to see some examples of Unit and Lesson Plans.
Discuss your findings here by posting comments. 
Share samples by uploading them to your Google Drive and then share the link of the samples by posting it as a comment.