Understanding by Design (UbD) Unit Plan

Title: Earth and Its Moons Subject/Course: Science

Topic: Earth and Its Moons Grade: 3 Designers: Farah

Stage 1 – Desired Results (PLAN)

Established Goals: (What do students need to learn and be able to do?)

● Describe the various phases of the moon including new moon, first-quarter, full moon, and third-quarter
moon.
● Explain how the moon causes the tides.

Understandings: Essential Question/Big Idea:

Students will understand that…

I can describe the various phases of the moon including How can we model the moon phases?
new moon, first-quarter, full moon, and third-quarter
moon.

Students will know…. Students will be able to….

I can explain how the moon causes the tides. I can model the various phases of the moon including
new moon, first-quarter, full moon, and third-quarter
moon.

Be sure to include both language and content objectives.

Source for decoding information: Based on the UbD template © Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe Page 1
Source for decoding information: Based on the UbD template © Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe Page 2
 Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence (STUDY)
Performance Task (How will we know if they learned it?)

Key Criteria: to reflect Performance Tasks: Examples: Rubric, Checklist, etc.

Students solve end of lesson questions to check understanding.

Exit ticket.
Project based learning activity

Other Evidence (How will we know if they learned it?)

Solve Checkpoints
Sum it up, Brain Check, and Apply Concepts in Science pack.

Source for decoding information: Based on the UbD template © Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe Page 3
 Stage 3 – Learning Plan (DO)
Learning Activities (How will students learn it?)

The motion of Earth and the moon causes repeating patterns that can be seen in nature, including day and night,
seasons, and other cycles.
Earth is always spinning around. As it turns, one part of Earth is in the sun’s light while the other part of Earth is in
dark shadow.
During this lesson, students will understand the phases of the Moon, and why they occur.
Students watch a YouTube video about The Phases of the Moon to have an idea about the topic they will be covering.
Students brainstorm Q&A about the lesson.
Teacher displays interactive lesson on Think Central, and walk the students through the lesson by explaining new
terms, watching explanatory videos for each term and concept, and solving interactive practice accompanied by the
interactive lesson.
Teacher goes over lesson book pages with students to read and analyze information and opens discussion with
students about topic.
Worksheets:
 Phases of the Moon word puzzle
 Phases of the Moon matching 1
 Phases of the Moon matching 2
 Exploring the phases of the moon
 Moon Phases
 The Moon: A Natural Satellite
 Learning the Moon’s Phases
 Identifying the Moon’s Phases
Finally, students will model Phases of the Moon using Oreo biscuits.

Resources

Worksheets:
 Phases of the Moon word puzzle
 Phases of the Moon matching 1
 Phases of the Moon matching 2
 Exploring the phases of the moon
 Moon Phases
 The Moon: A Natural Satellite
 Learning the Moon’s Phases
 Identifying the Moon’s Phases

Source for decoding information: Based on the UbD template © Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe Page 4
 Reflection (ACT)
Were the lessons successful? How do you know? What would you do differently next time?

Intervention (What will we do if students don’t learn it?)

Display pictures of new vocabulary to support B.L. students understand their meanings.

Enrichment (What will we do if students don’t learn it?)

Early finishers solve lesson check

Source for decoding information: Based on the UbD template © Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe Page 5