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MakingConnections

Unit planning

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Unit planning

Facilitator/s:

Date:

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Workshop purpose

You are here to develop your knowledge and

understanding of unit planning using the

PrimaryConnections 5Es teaching and learning model.

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Workshop outline (90 minutes)

INTRO: Purpose, outline, outcomes(5 mins)

ENGAGE: Capture participants’ interest and elicit ideas and beliefs about unit(15 mins) planning

EXPLORE: Explore the PrimaryConnections approach and plan a mini-unit(25 mins) using backward design

EXPLAIN: Explain the importance of the backward design process (20 mins)

ELABORATE: Conduct a planned investigation from the mini-unit(20 mins)

EVALUATE: Summarise, reflect and evaluate(5 mins)

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Outcomes

On completion of this module participants will be able to:

• plan a sequence of lessons using the backward design process

• link the design of curriculum units to specified curriculum outcomes

• work collaboratively to develop effective curriculum units

• include appropriate, embedded cooperative learning strategies, literacy focuses and assessment processes.

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Statements of Learning for Sciencewww.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/Science_SOL06.pdf

Statements which ‘all

education jurisdictions

agree should be

consistent across

Australia.’

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Statements of Learning for Science Year 5 Science as a body of knowledge – Matter

Students compare properties of an object with

those of the material from which it is made. They

consider how and why materials are chosen for

particular purposes.

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Outcome

Students will be able to

explain why the

properties of a material

make it suitable for a

particular purpose.

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Three major steps in backward design

1. Identify the desired results.

2. Determine acceptable evidence.

3. Plan learning experiences and instructions.

(The Backward Design Process, a model designed by Wiggins and McTighe, 2001)

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PrimaryConnections backward design process

• Identify desired results/outcomes

• Determine acceptable evidence of learning

• Design evaluation activities and summative assessment tasks

• Plan and develop learning experiences, including strategies and activities for the 5Es phases.

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Tips for unit planning

• Collaborate with colleagues to maximise the generation of effective ideas.

• Don’t try to cover too much content.• Begin at the end.• Pay close attention to the purpose of each phase of the 5Es by

using the PrimaryConnections 5Es teaching and learning model.

• Remember Explore before Explain.• Brainstorm a variety of modes for students to represent their

ideas.• Limit the number of concepts for the unit.

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Advantages of backward design

Backward design helps you to:• decide what is worth knowing, understanding and doing• know clearly what you want the students to achieve• decide what is acceptable evidence of understanding• plan the most effective learning experiences to achieve the

outcome• avoid planning from activity-to-activity or day-to-day• avoid getting off track• avoid deciding on the assessment tasks at the end.

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Review of mini-unit

Phase Focus

ENGAGE Engage students and elicit prior knowledge Diagnostic assessment

EXPLORE Provide hands-on experience of the phenomenon Formative assessment

EXPLAIN Develop scientific explanations for observations and represent developing conceptual understanding Consider current scientific explanationFormative assessment

What do you want them to not know?

ELABORATE Extend understanding to a new context or make connections to additional concepts through a student-planned investigationSummative assessment of the investigating outcomes

What do you want them to do?Absorbency investigation: measure the absorbency of paper towel

EVALUATE Students re-represent understanding and reflect on their learning journey and teachers collect evidence about the achievement of outcomesSummative assessment of the conceptual outcomes

Identify outcomes: Desired resultsWhat do you want them to know? What do you want them to do?

Students will be able to explain why the properties of a material make it suitable for a particular purpose.

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In summary

PrimaryConnections develops knowledge and understanding of

curriculum unit planning using the PrimaryConnections 5Es teaching

and learning model by supporting teachers to:

• plan a sequence of lessons using the backward design process

• link the design of curriculum units to specified curriculum outcomes

• work collaboratively to develop effective curriculum units

• include appropriate, embedded cooperative learning strategies, investigations, literacy focuses and assessment processes.