UNIT CONCEPTSEnduring Understandings (McTighe & Wiggins)

Unit Concepts:

A Summary• Based on standards that typically require 2-4 weeks to

accomplish• Each is the basis for a Unit Goal that articulates the level of critical

thinking students will engage with the Unit Concept

• “Chunk” information in useful ways

• Identify the core concepts for a subject/course that will lead to “enduring understandings”

• Sequenced in order to form a “story” or course narrative

• Opening Unit ought to be engaging

Unit Concepts:

“Enduring Understanding”

Unit Concepts:

The Big Picture

Unit Concepts:

Components• 8-10 Unit Concepts for each course/subject

• Elementary subjects with less academic time (e.g. science, social studies) or electives may only have 4-6 for the year

• Not in SWBAT form• Plants And Their Parts (2nd Grade Science)• River Valley Societies: Harnessing Nature (6th Grade Soc. Stud.)• Systems of Linear Equations (HS Algebra)

• May be phrased in terms of an essential question• The American Revolution: What were the reasons for and against the

colonists’ revolt from England? (7th Grade Soc. Stud.)

• Sequenced in order to form a course narrative

Unit Concept:

Examples2nd Grade Math1. Place value through 10002. Addition and subtraction within 1003. Two-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping4. Determining the value of money5. Measuring time and temperature6. Dimensional shapes and their attributes7. Modeling fractions8. Geometry and spatial reasoning9. Modeling multiplication and division10. Measuring length and area

Unit Concept:

ExamplesPre-Algebra (8th Grade)1.Variables, Expressions, and Integers in the Rational Number System

2.One-Step Equations and Inequalities

3.Multi-Step Equations and Inequalities

4.Comparisons and Uses of Fractions as Coefficients

5.Decimals and Percents in Equations

6.Ratios and Proportions in Equations

7.Factors, Exponents, and Roots

8.Linear Functions and Graphing

9.Basics of 2-D Geometry

10.Measurement, Area, and Volume

11.Bi-variable Data Analysis and Probability

Unit Concepts:

ExamplesHS Geometry (10th Grade)

1.Construction of Geometric Figures

2.Parallel lines and their Properties

3.Triangles and Congruence

4.Right Triangle Trigonometry and its Applications

5.Quadrilaterals

6.Geometric Transformations

7.Similarity

8.Measurement and Tesselations

9.Geometric Properties and Algebraic Equations

Unit Concepts:

Your Turn4th Grade Math

1.Adding and Multiplying Fractions

2.Multi-digit Arithmetic

3.Addition and Subtraction of 3-digit numbers with Regrouping

4.Geometric Shapes and Properties

5.Measurement: Data Interpretation

6.Fractions to Decimals

7.Comparison of Fractions

Unit Rationale:

Components• Describes the Course Narrative in segments• Explains why each Unit Concept (Enduring Understanding)

occurs at this point in the Course Narrative• Typically 2-3 sentences in length• Example:

• Unit Concept: Mesopotamia: Birthplace of Civilization• Unit Rationale: Following a unit on basic geographic skills, students

will study the birth of civilization – Mesopotamia – through its geographic features and cultural characteristics. Focusing on the development of civilization and reasons for it sustainability, students will connect those same factors to other early civilizations and modern day societal growth and sustainability.