Countdown to High School: 9th Grade Curriculum Unit
Part 1: Essential Questions and Enduring Understandings
1
2
Why does making a smooth
transition to high school
matter?
What are the challenges of
transitioning to high school?
Making a smooth transition to high
school matters because it impacts my
post-secondary opportunities.
Some challenges I can expect to face in
making the transition to high school
are: Transportation, Attendance,
Change in Academic Expectations, Lack
of Structure Around After-School Time,
Reduced Communication with Families,
and Appropriate School-Student Match.
3
What are the actions I can
take to overcome these
challenges?
In order to overcome these challenges,
I need to develop strategies for each
challenge.
4
What separates students who
are successful high school
graduates from students who
leave without their diploma?
There are known steps that successful
students take to make sure they
graduate, including: attending school
90% of the time, not getting suspended
from school, and passing all of their
classes.
5
Who are the people in and
out of school who can
support me in successfully
transitioning to, and through,
high school?
No one makes it through high school
alone. It's important to have teachers,
family members, friends, and people in
your community who can help you
navigate high school.
Part 2: Scope and Sequence
Objective
Activities
Products
SWBAT describe the challenges high
school students face in making the
transition to high school.
1. Watch video of student interviews
2. Concentric circles focusing on questions of the
transition
Journal reflection
1
2
SWBAT identify the fastest route to
school
1. Identifying routes to school on mbta.com and
choosing the fastest one
Text message of the
fastest route to school
3
SWBAT calculate year-by-year and
1. Mini-lesson on what is GPA and why it matters
Completed GPA
cumulative GPA, and understand why 2. Calculating an unidentified student’s year-by-year and worksheet
GPA matters.
cumulative GPA
4
SWBAT explain the correlation
between attendance and grades
5
SWBAT learn the names of the adults 1. Scavenger hunt to learn who works at the school and Completed scavenger
in the building, and their roles
how they can help you
hunt worksheet.
6
SWBAT reflect on how they manage
time and make a weekly schedule
1. Examine a student schedule, identify the positives
and negatives of each, identify how they currently
manage time, and create a schedule for themselves
Completed
schedules—current
and ideal
Journal entry.
7
SWBAT identify a positive and
negative relationship in their own life
1. Read a relevant selection from literature about
relationships
2. Identify and write in a journal about a positive and
negative relationship
3. Group discussion/share about characteristics of a
positive and negative relationship
8
SWBAT learn about the
extracurricular activities that are
available and how to sign up
1. Option 1: Packet explaining clubs, sports, activities
2. Option 2: Fair where students can learn about
opportunities
Individual student
sign-up sheet.
9
SWBAT identify the components of a
successful college application.
1. Students will evaluate sample college applications as
part of a mock admissions committee
Application rating
form.
SWBAT write interview questions
about applying to college and ask
them to a panel of seniors
1. Write questions they have about the college
application process and succeeding in high school
2. Ask questions to a panel of seniors
Interview questions.
10
1. Analyze actual data to find connection between
attendance and grades
Completed chart
visually representing
the data.