 I have many years experience in developing curriculum across disciplines, and I have learned that most teachers need a framework to help unit planning and addressing statewide objectives. Scripted lessons or units are often too limiting, and difficult to adapt to a particular school or jurisdictions needs. Yet most Social Studies and Science unit frameworks list content objectives, and do not address reading, writing, and process skills essential to both the subject and improved test scores. It becomes the teachers’ responsibility to weave it all together – a very daunting task.
I have developed a method and template for planning science units that emphasizes finding the best balance of addressing reading, writing, and science process skills within common content units. Used by my school for the past three years, this way of planning has encouraged K-8 teachers to actually teach science, even when their own background is not strong, and, more importantly, helped our school address critical reading and writing skills that are tested. Our school has been removed from "reconstitution eligible" lists, and has met "adequate yearly progress" goals for the past two years.
In my workshop, “Everything Under The Sun,” I will be sharing a unit-planning template by demonstrating lessons from a sample unit plan. I will also share methods for creating simple simulation activities that encourage critical thinking, and engage students. These activities are excellent for lessons in all three areas of a balanced unit.
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