UNIT CONCEPTSEnduring Understandings (McTighe & Wiggins)

Unit Concepts:

A Summary• Based on standards that typically require 2-4 weeks to

accomplish• Each is the basis for a Unit Goal that articulates the level of critical

thinking students will engage with the Unit Concept

• “Chunk” information in useful ways

• Identify the core concepts for a subject/course that will lead to “enduring understandings”

• Sequenced in order to form a “story” or course narrative

• Opening Unit ought to be engaging

Unit Concepts:

“Enduring Understanding”

Unit Concepts:

The Big Picture

Unit Concepts:

Components• 8-10 Unit Concepts for each course/subject

• Elementary subjects with less academic time (e.g. science, social studies) or electives may only have 4-6 for the year

• Not in SWBAT form• Wind, Water, and Shape of the Land NGSS 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1• River Valley Societies: Harnessing Nature (6th Grade Soc. Stud.)• Systems of Linear Equations (HS Algebra)

• May be phrased in terms of an essential question• The American Revolution: What were the reasons for and against the

colonists’ revolt from England? (7th Grade Soc. Stud.)

• Sequenced in order to form a course narrative

Unit Concept:

Examples

5th Grade Language Arts1.Lessons from the Past (Mythology)

2.Our American Ambition (Tall Tales)

3.Characters and Their Words (Drama)

4. Themes of our Lives (Short Stories)

5.Distinguishing between Fact & Fiction (Historical Fiction)

6.The World Today Matters (Nonfiction)

7. The People Who Have Shaped Us (Autobiographies)

Unit Concept:

Examples7th Grade Language Arts1. Finding our Place in the World (Poetry)

2. The Journey and its Struggles (Short Stories)

3. Characters on the Journey

4. Pushing the Boundaries of Youth (The Outsiders)

5. Learning from our Peers in the Past (Diary of Anne Frank)

6. Our Place in the Modern World

7. Completing the Narrative: Coming of Age (Annie Between the State)

Unit Concepts:

Examples11th Grade American Literature1.The Child’s Voice: How can poetry condense the American experience into so few words? (Poetry)

2. The Ambitious Young Writer: What role does short fiction play in a country historically dominated by novels? (Short Stories)

3. The Adolescent Entering a Diverse World: Why are stories about race so essential to the American Experience? (Huck Finn)

4. The Working Woman: How have Americans transformed gender roles in narrative? (O Pioneers!)

5. The Modern American Dreamer: How does the American Dream influence America today? (The Great Gatsby)

6. The Angsty Teenager: What happens to an American who doesn’t want to live the American Dream? (The Catcher in the Rye)

7. The Soldier Returning Home, Searching for Meaning: What can war teach us about the meaning of life? (Slaughterhouse Five)

8. The Father Lighting the Way for his Son: How can we make America better for future generations? (The Road)

Unit Concepts:

Your Turn6th Grade Reading1.Biographies

2.The Short Story

3.Novel (Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi)

4.Novel (Holes by Louis Sachar)

5.Reading Strategies

6.Drama (The Miracle Worker by William Gibson)

7.Informational Media

Unit Concepts:

Examples

Good• Living Organisms

• Organism Traits

• Weather

• Forces

• Magnets

Better• Organisms and Habitats

NGSS 3-LS4-3,3-LS2-1• Origin and Influences on

Traits NGSS 3-LS3-1,2• Weather Seasons and

Minimizing Hazards NGSS 3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS3-1

• Effect of Forces on Motion NGSS 3-PS2-2

• Effect of Electric and Magnetic Forces NGSS 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4

3rd Grade Science