Follow up on Curriculum Map
and Overview on UBD
Information adapted from “Curriculum Map
Overview.ppt” and “Refining-Maps-EssentialQuestions.pdf”. Both are found at the LAUSD District 6
Curriculum Website on
http://sites.google.com/site/curriculummapld6/curric
ulum-map-resources/what-is-a-curriculum-map
Sample Curriculum Map
Essential
Questions
(more later)
August
Septemb
er
October
Novemb
er
Decemb
er
Content
(noun)
Skills
(verb)
Assessment
Activities
Content
• Content is the essential concepts
and topics covered during a month.
• Content is written beginning with a
noun.
Content
Examples
•
•
•
•
•
Cultural diversity
Water cycle
Bridge to Terabithia
Local Government Systems
Fire Safety
Skills
• Skills are key abilities and processes
students will develop related to
specific content.
• Skills are written beginning with a
verb.
Skills Examples
•
•
•
•
•
Reading a map
Writing a play
Analyzing non-fiction text
Writing persuasive essays
Matching words and pictures
Assessment
• Assessments are the products or
performances that demonstrate
student learning.
• Assessments are what the student
does (the actual product or
performance), not the evaluation tool
used to assess the product.
Assessment Examples
•
•
•
•
•
•
Group presentation
Brochure
Research Paper
Essay exam
Puppet show
Debate
Activities
• Key activities that lead to
acquisition of knowledge and
skills.
• Describe the "how" for the
knowledge and skills.
Activities Examples
• Writing persuasive letters to local
government
• Water analysis of local river
• Critique a work of art
• Create a 50 states quilt
Essential Questions
• Focus on a broad topic of study (think
“concept-based big ideas”).
• Set direction for curriculum mapping and
unit planning.
• Have multiple answers and perspectives.
They address “why” or “how”.
• Are the “enduring understandings” or
“mental Velcro” that helps ideas stick in
students’ minds.
• Create depth rather than breadth.
Essential Questions
Examples
• Which is more important – water or air?
• What is change?
• What if Shakespeare were a woman?
An Exercise to Illustrate
Essential Questions
What are the simple tools
found in the kitchen?
An Exercise to Illustrate
Essential Questions
What are the simple tools
used to solve problems?
An Exercise to Illustrate
Essential Questions
Fact/Topic Based Questions
What are the simple tools
found in the kitchen?
An Exercise to Illustrate
Essential Questions
Fact/Topic Based Questions
What are the simple tools
found in the kitchen?
Concept-Based Questions
What are the simple tools
used to solve problems?
Formula for Designing Essential
Questions
Think of the following sentence structure…
How do…
__________
__________
__________?
Conceptual
Noun/Phrase
Relational
Verb
Conceptual
Noun/Phrase
Why do…
In-Class Group Activity
• Go into same subject area groups.
• As a group, make a poster that lists (a) Establish
Goals, (b) Essential Questions, and if time, (c)
Understandings.
• To help you get started, there is a list of sample
Establish Goals are listed on the next slide .
• Work in your groups for about 20 minutes (I may
let you know if we need more time) before
sharing your posters with the class.
Excerpts from Common Core Standards
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/
• MTH (7th Grade): “Solve real-life and mathematical problems using
numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.” (p. 29)
• ELA-Lit (8th Grade): “Determine a theme or central idea of a text
and analyze its development over the course of the text…” (p.27)
• HSS (10th Grade): “Students relate the moral and ethical principles
in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, in Judaism, and in
Christianity to the development of Western political thought. “ (p.
43)
• SCI (6th Grade): “Plate tectonics accounts for important features of
Earth’s surface and major geologic events.” (p. 27)
• PE (High School, Course 1): “Combine and apply movement
patterns, simple to complex, in aquatic, rhythms/dance, and
individual and dual activities.” (p. 36)