Foundations II

Adapted from D. Petrarca

Planning a Mini-Unit
Where do we start when planning a unit?

 Plan with the end in mind – follow the “design-down” or backwards design
process that you would in lesson planning

 Consider what you want your students to be able to know and do by the end
of the unit.

Suggested steps of unit planning:

1) Select the a) BIG IDEAS and b) overall expectation to address in this

mini-unit (in “real” world scenarios, you might address more!)

2) Select specific expectations that are related to the overall expectation

that you have selected to focus upon (i.e., What specific expectations feed
into your overall expectation?)

3) Cluster expectations (organize expectations in conjunction with

achievement chart together in ways that make sense) based on:
i) concepts
ii) skills
iii) meaningful connections between/to other subject areas/expectations
for integration

4) Develop a culminating task or tasks for the unit (i.e., What is the
final task(s) your s t u d e n t s w i l l c omplete to demonstrate all key
learnings?)

5) How will you assess this culminating task? (e.g., Rubric? Checklist?) (In
real life you would create this assessment tool. )

6) Now, plan with the end in mind or from the culminating task by sequencing
your lessons from beginning to end. You may need to do an initial pre-
assessment lesson.

7) As you plan individual lessons to build up to the culminating task, incorporate

a variety of:
i) teaching/learning strategies
ii) student groupings
iii) application activities where students are provided with opportunities
to demonstrate their knowledge/skills independently and
cooperatively
iv) develop a range of assessment strategies and recording devices
to ensure that students are assessed for grade level expectations
v) incorporate remediation, accommodations and extensions as required
vi) gather resources, materials for lessons and culminating task
 Foundations II
Adapted from D. Petrarca

Use the description on previous page to fill in this graphic organizer.

#1a/1b
#2
#2

#2 #2.
#2

#3. Now cluster expectations by drawing connectors or highlighting specific expectations—i.e., link them
together!

#5
#4

#6 & #7