Running head: UNIT RATIONALE
Unit Rationale
Maleea Burden
Murray State University
Unit Rationale
UNIT RATIONALE
My unit plan was designed for middle school students, grades six through eighth. Middle
school students range from the ages of 11 to 13. My unit plan is directed for males and females
of middle school students in the calloway county area. I knew I wanted my lesson plan to be
real for students. In order to make the lesson real for students I had to think of lessons that
would be within the standards for middle school students from the aspect of Family and
Consumer Sciences. My unit focuses on healthy and responsible choices, healthy snacks, stress
management, and self-esteem. All of which fall under the unit plan title of healthy lifestyles.
Middle school students have certain developmental needs such as puberty. When we
address the subject of young adolescentswith their mood swings, their impulsivity, their
rebelliousness, their irritability, and their other troubleswe must always keep in the back of our
minds the knowledge that the hormonal, neurological, and physical changes that give rise to
these problems in puberty take place because the body, emotions, and mind are being prepared
biologically for this incredibly complex, delicate, and all-important evolutionary task (ASCD,
2016). When designing my lesson, I kept this in mind. Middle schoolers go through a lot of
changes within the three years they attend middle school. I then looked at the appropriate
standards that would correspond with what I wanted to teach.
I looked on the NASAFACS (national association of state administrators of family and
consumer sciences) website to find the standards that would correspond with my unit plan. When
searching for standards I found several that would work with my unit plan. Since the unit plan is
broad and not specific to each of my individual lessons I decided to go with five that I thought
were the most appropriate. Each of the standards I chose related to the unit plan theme of healthy
life styles. The standards would include analyzing healthy and unhealthy relationships,
UNIT RATIONALE
demonstrating stress management, analyzing the effects of self-esteem, applying the roles of the
decision making process, and applying critical and ethical standards when making judgements
and taking action (NASAFACS, 2016). Since middle schoolers are going through puberty and
their bodies are changing drastically they need guidance on all of the standards that are listed
above. As a family and consumer science teacher it will be my responsibility to educate them on
how their bodies are reacting and how they can control them during puberty.
According to the 21st century skills students should be able to analyze, use critical
thinking, and have Health and wellness literacy, including nutrition, diet, exercise, and public
health and safety (education reform, 2014). The list of skills that the students will have to have in
todays society which is why it was named the 21st century skills. Throughout their middle,
high and college career students will have to use those set of skills on an everyday basis. By
achieving those skills early on in their education it will benefit them down the road in their
education since they are expected to be able to perform those skills throughout their schooling.
The relationship between my unit plan and family and consumer science classes are
directly related since I will be teaching family and consumer sciences. All of my standards came
directly from the NASAFACS website which is the family and consumer science standards for
the united states. The relationship between my unit plan and the school is that students will get
an education and they will better understand how to deal with their lives since they are rapidly
changing.
References
UNIT RATIONALE
(2014). 21st Century Skills Definition. Retrieved October 19, 2016, from
[Link]
A. (n.d.). Chapter 5. Middle Schools: Social, Emotional, and Metacognitive Growth. Retrieved
October 19, 2016, from
[Link]
National Standards and Competencies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2016, from
[Link]
