Follow up on Curriculum Map and Overview on UBD

Information adapted from “Curriculum Map Overview.ppt” and “Refining-Maps-Essential-Questions.pdf”. Both are found at the LAUSD District 6 Curriculum Website on http://sites.google.com/site/curriculummapld6/curriculum-map-resources/what-is-a-curriculum-map

Sample Curriculum Map

Essential Questions

(more later)

Content

(noun)

Skills

(verb)

Assessment Activities

August

September

October

November

December

Content

• Content is the essential concepts and topics covered during a month.  

• Content is written beginning with a noun.

ContentExamples

• Cultural diversity

• Water cycle

• Bridge to Terabithia

• Local Government Systems

• Fire Safety

Skills

• Skills are key abilities and processes students will develop related to specific content.

•  Skills are written beginning with a verb.

Skills Examples

• Reading a map

• Writing a play

• Analyzing non-fiction text

• Writing persuasive essays

• Matching words and pictures

Assessment

• Assessments are the products or performances that demonstrate student learning.

• Assessments are what the student does (the actual product or performance), not the evaluation tool used to assess the product.

Assessment Examples

• Group presentation

• Brochure

• Research Paper

• Essay exam

• Puppet show

• Debate

Activities

• Key activities that lead to acquisition of knowledge and skills.

• Describe the "how" for the knowledge and skills.

Activities Examples

• Writing persuasive letters to local government

• Water analysis of local river

• Critique a work of art

• Create a 50 states quilt

Essential Questions

• Focus on a broad topic of study (think “concept-based big ideas”).

• Set direction for curriculum mapping and unit planning.

• Have multiple answers and perspectives. They address “why” or “how”.

• Are the “enduring understandings” or “mental Velcro” that helps ideas stick in students’ minds.

• Create depth rather than breadth.

Essential QuestionsExamples

• Which is more important – water or air?

• What is change?

• What if Shakespeare were a woman?

An Exercise to IllustrateEssential Questions

What are the simple tools found in the kitchen?

An Exercise to IllustrateEssential Questions

What are the simple toolsused to solve problems?

An Exercise to IllustrateEssential Questions

Fact/Topic Based QuestionsWhat are the simple tools

found in the kitchen?

An Exercise to IllustrateEssential Questions

Fact/Topic Based QuestionsWhat are the simple tools

found in the kitchen?

Concept-Based QuestionsWhat are the simple toolsused to solve problems?

Formula for Designing Essential Questions

Think of the following sentence structure…

In-Class Group Activity

• Go into same subject area groups.• As a group, make a poster that lists (a) Establish

Goals, (b) Essential Questions, and if time, (c) Understandings.

• To help you get started, there is a list of sample Establish Goals are listed on the next slide .

• Work in your groups for about 20 minutes (I may let you know if we need more time) before sharing your posters with the class.

Excerpts from Common Core Standardshttp://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/

• MTH (7th Grade): “Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.” (p. 29)

• ELA-Lit (8th Grade): “Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text…” (p.27)

• HSS (10th Grade): “Students relate the moral and ethical principles in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, in Judaism, and in Christianity to the development of Western political thought. “ (p. 43)

• SCI (6th Grade): “Plate tectonics accounts for important features of Earth’s surface and major geologic events.” (p. 27)

• PE (High School, Course 1): “Combine and apply movement patterns, simple to complex, in aquatic, rhythms/dance, and individual and dual activities.” (p. 36)