UBD+Unit

Screencast Overview of UBD Unit Project
 * Home | Course Overview | Week #1 | Week #2 | Week #3 | Week #4 | Week #5**

Option #2 Create a Unit of Study - 30 Points
Project Evaluation Rubric This choice asks you to plan a differentiated unit (a total of 4 lessons between this week and next week) from the "big idea" perspective that integrates student technology use. If you are interested in creating a group of lessons around one topic or theme, this would be a good option for you. This can be a brand new idea, adapted from lessons you have taught in the past or adapted from something you've seen from our work together in the course.

Week #4 - Unit Plan - Begin with the End in Mind
XU Unit Form Template

What are the core understandings your students will have as a result of your unit or set of related lessons? What questions are essential for your students to answer? With backwards design, starting with the end in mind will help simplify and clarify your planning. Not sure how to identify a big idea or craft an essential question? Check out the readings in Week 4 for examples.

I have attached the Xavier Unit Planning Form. Start here. While you probably won't know what to fill in for all of the boxes by the end of Week #4, I thought it would be helpful for you to have it now as you begin your planning. The completed form is due @ the end of Week #5. In your **edmodo**, please post the following: Respond to the big ideas and essential questions for two other participants in our course in their respective discussion areas.
 * One or two "big ideas" to serve as a focus for your unit.
 * Three to five "essential questions" to help students get to the big idea(s)
 * The main national and/or state standards that best support your big idea(s). Think 5, not 50!
 * The main gifted student outcomes your unit will address

** Week #4 - A Note on Lesson Plans ** XU Lesson Plan Template You will be writing at least 2 lesson plans for this week and at least 2 lessons for next week. People have different expectations for what goes into a formal lesson plan. I want for this to be as practical as possible for you while still encouraging you to incorporate the best of what you have learned/remembered as a part of this class. I have attached the [|Xavier lesson plan model] as an option. Feel free to use it to use your own format. Be sure to include the following components:
 * Big Idea (Should be the same for the whole unit)
 * Essential Questions to be addressed/explored with this lesson
 * Related content standards
 * Lesson objectives
 * Procedure
 * Intro Activity/ies
 * Teaching Strategies
 * Learning Activities
 * Grouping Strategies


 * Assessment
 * Student Products


 * List of supporting materials including technology tools & resources, if appropriate
 * Differentiation options/strategies

** Week #4 - Knowledge & Comprehension Lesson ** What introductory lesson or lessons will your students need to gain the content knowledge for understanding your "big ideas" in your unit? Consider whether a constructivist or didactic approach would make the most sense for your student population. Create a lesson with a brief introduction supporting your choices of method and procedure with students. Use the Xavier template or your own planning tool. Post your lesson in edmodo.

Be sure to read over lessons from two other participants and share comments about their work.

** Week #4 - Application Lesson **

How will your students apply what they have learned from your previous lesson(s)? What will they need to do with the information to get them to your "big idea"? What additional knowledge might they need to go further with the topic? Create a lesson with a brief introduction supporting your choices of method and procedure with students. Use the Xavier template or your own planning tool. Post your lesson in edmodo.

Be sure to read over lessons from two other participants and share comments about their work in their discussion board "space".

It's time for your students to apply their new learning in different ways.
** ANALYSIS ** [] Create a lesson with a brief introduction supporting your choices of method and procedure with students. Use the Xavier template or your own planning tool. Post your lesson in edmodo. Be sure to read over lessons from two other participants and share comments about their work.
 * subdividing something to show how it is put together;
 * finding the underlying structure of a communication;
 * identifying motives;
 * separation of a whole into component parts
 * What are the parts or features of...?
 * Classify...according to...
 * Outline/diagram...
 * How does...compare/contrast with...?
 * What evidence can you list for...?

In my classroom, I usually combine the stages of synthesis and evaluation. You can choose to do the same or to create a separate lesson for each level.

 * ** SYNTHESIS **
 * creating a unique, original product that may be in verbal form or may be a physical object;
 * combination of ideas to form a new whole
 * What would you predict/infer from...?
 * What ideas can you add to...?
 * How would you create/design a new...?
 * What might happen if you combined...?
 * What solutions would you suggest for...?


 * ** EVALUATION **
 * making value decisions about issues;
 * resolving controversies or differences of opinion;
 * development of opinions, judgements or decisions
 * Do you agree...?
 * What do you think about...?
 * What is the most important...?
 * Place the following in order of priority...
 * How would you decide about...?
 * What criteria would you use to assess...?

Create a lesson with a brief introduction supporting your choices of method and procedure with students. Use the Xavier template or your own planning tool. Post your lesson in edmodo. Be sure to read over lessons from two other participants and share comments about their work in their discussion board "space".