The Unit Organizer Routine
The Content Enhancement Series
1999
The University of Kansas
Center for Research on Learning
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
Content Enhancement
A way of teaching an academically diverse
group of students in which:
– Both group and individual needs are valued and
met;
– The integrity of the content is maintained;
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 2
Content Enhancement
A way of teaching an academically diverse
group of students in which:
– Critical features of the content are selected and
transformed in a manner that promotes student
learning; and
– Instruction is carried out in a partnership with
students.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 3
Guidebooks in the Content
Enhancement Series
Routines to help students organize information
and tasks:
– The Course Organizer Routine
– The Unit Organizer Routine
– The Survey Routine
– The Lesson Organizer Routine
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 4
The Challenge
Many students have difficulty:
– Relating new information to known information.
– Seeing the "big ideas" among the details.
– Translating the "big ideas" into words, phrases,
and concepts that make sense to them.
– Identifying the structure of information.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 5
The Challenge
Many students have difficulty:
– Seeing the relationships between different sets of
information.
– Generating questions to help them focus their
learning.
– Projecting and managing time in order to
complete tasks.
– Keeping the "big ideas" and structure of a unit in
mind as they progress through the unit.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 6
Responding to the Challenge
The Unit Organizer Routine helps students to:
– Relate unit content to previous and future units
and to bigger course ideas.
– Understand the main idea of the content through
the use of a meaningful paraphrase of the "big
idea" of the unit.
– See the structure of the unit's content.
– Focus attention on important relationships in the
content of the unit.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 7
Responding to the Challenge
The Unit Organizer Routine helps students to:
– Generate questions that relate to learning the big
ideas of the unit.
– Build a schedule to plan time and task
completion.
– Keep the "big ideas" and structure of the unit in
mind as unit content is learned.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 8
Supporting Research
• Field tests took place in 7th-12th grade
classes.
• Teachers learned the routine easily.
• Students gained an average of at least 10 to
20 percentage points on unit tests.
• Teachers continued using the routine after
the studies were completed.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 9
Supporting Research
• Positive results were achieved when
teachers:
– received 2-3 hours of instruction in the routine
– discussed the routine with colleagues
– spent the necessary time to plan use of the
routine
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 10
Supporting Research
• Positive results were achieved when
teachers:
– taught students how to participate in and use the
routine
– used the routine regularly over time
– held the highest expectations for student learning
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 11
Components of
The Unit Organizer Routine
The
Unit Organizer
Teaching Device
The
Craft
Linking Steps
The
Cue-Do-Review
Sequence
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 12
The Unit Organizer
Teaching Device
Is a visual device that:
– is used under teacher guidance
– focuses attention on critical outcomes
– identifies critical unit content
– prompts elaboration on critical points
– helps make relationships concrete
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 13
The Unit Organizer
Teaching Device
Is a visual device that:
– is designed to enhance student…
• ...organization
• ...understanding
• ...remembering
• ...responses
• ...belief in the value of the content
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 14
The Unit Organizer
4
NAME
DATE
BIGGER PICTURE
Elida Cordora
1/22
The roots and consequences of civil unrest.
2
LAST UNIT /Experience
Growth of the Nation
8
1/22
UNIT SCHEDULE
1/29
Cooperative groups over pp. 210-225
"Influential Personalities"
projectdue
1/30
Quiz
Cooperative groups over pp. 228-234
2/6
Review for test
2/7
Review for test
2/6
Test
3
NEXT UNIT /Experience
The Civil War
UNIT MAP
Sectionalism
was influenced by
pp. 201-236
Areas of
the U.S.
emerged because of became greater with
Differences
between
the areas
Events in
the U.S.
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860?
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the
start of the Civil War?
What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
Leaders
across the
U.S.
descriptive
compare/contrast
cause/effect
6
UNIT
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
The Causes of the Civil War
was based on
Quiz
7
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
CURRENT
Cooperative groups over pp. 201-210
1/28
2/2
5
1
UO Overhead # 15
The Unit Organizer
9
The Causes of the Civil War
Elida Cordora
1/22
Expanded Unit Map
was based on the
Areas of the
U.S.
Sectionalism
West
South
North
NEW
UNIT
SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
was influenced by
pp. 201-236
developed because of
became greater with
Leaders of
change
such as
-Henry Clay
-Stephen Douglas
-Zachary Taylor
-Harriet Beecher Stowe
-Douglas Filmore
and included
such as
and included and included
-John Brown
-1820
Missouri
Compromise
-Jefferson Davis
Social
Political Economic -1846 Mexican War
-Abraham Lincoln
Differences Differences Differences
-1850 Compromise of 1850
-1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
-1852Uncle Tom's Cabin
-1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
-1854 Republican Party formed
-1854 Bleeding Kansas
-1857 Dred Scott Case
-1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates
-1859 John Brown's Raid
-1860 Lincoln Elected
-1860 South Carolina Secedes
-1861 Confederacy formed
Differences
between the
areas
10
NAME
DATE
Events in the
U.S.
How did national events and leaders pull the different sections of the U.S. apart?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 16
The Unit Organizer
4
NAME
DATE
BIGGER PICTURE
Elida Cordora
1/22
The roots and consequences of civil unrest.
2
LAST UNIT /Experience
Growth of the Nation
8
UNIT SCHEDULE
1/22
Cooperative groups over pp. 201-210
1/28
Quiz
1/29
Cooperative groups over pp. 210-225
Cooperative groups over pp. 228-234
2/6
Review for test
2/7
Review for test
7
The Causes of the Civil War
3
NEXT UNIT /Experience
The Civil War
UNIT MAP
Sectionalism
was influenced by
pp. 201-236
Areas of
the U.S.
emerged because of became greater with
Leaders
across the
U.S.
1. CURRENT UNIT
Events in
UNIT
the U.S.
3. NEXT UNIT
4. BIGGER PICTURE
Differences
between
2. LAST
the areas
Information is listed to help
students see how the current
unit
descriptive
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860?
is related to other units
compare/contrast
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the
start of the Civil War?
an to course ideas.
cause/effect
Test
What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
6
UNIT
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
2/6
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
CURRENT
was based on
"Influential Personalities"
projectdue
1/30
Quiz
2/2
5
1
UO Overhead # 17
The Unit Organizer
4
NAME
DATE
BIGGER PICTURE
Elida Cordora
1/22
The roots and consequences of civil unrest.
2
LAST UNIT /Experience
Growth of the Nation
8
1/22
UNIT SCHEDULE
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
CURRENT
The Causes of the Civil War
was based on
Quiz
1/29
Cooperative groups over pp. 210-225
"Influential Personalities"
projectdue
1/30
Quiz
Cooperative groups over pp. 228-234
2/6
Review for test
2/7
Review for test
3
NEXT UNIT /Experience
The Civil War
UNIT MAP
Cooperative groups over pp. 201-210
1/28
2/2
5
1
Sectionalism
was influenced by
pp. 201-236
Areas of
the U.S.
emerged because of became greater with
Differences
between
the areas
Leaders
across the
U.S.
Events in
the U.S.
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860?
descriptive
A Unit Paraphrase of the big idea of the unit and acompare/contrast
Content
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the
Map
are
used
to show students how to think about
and
start
of the
Civil War?
cause/effect
structure
the
What examples
of sectionalism
existinformation
in the world today? in the unit.
6
UNIT
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
5.
MAP
2/6 UNIT
Test
7
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 18
The Unit Organizer
4
BIGGER PICTURE
NAME
DATE
Elida Cordora
1/22
The roots and consequences of civil unrest.
2
LAST UNIT /Experience
1
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
CURRENT
of the RELATIONSHIPS
Nation
The Causes of the Civil War
6.Growth
UNIT
8
1/22
UNIT SCHEDULE
5
3
UNIT MAP
Cooperative groups over pp. 201-210
A list of relationships that reflect
Sectionalism
the central ideas of the unit are
pp. 201-236
Areasstudents
of
provided so that
can look for
the U.S.
these relationships as the
content Events
of in
Differences
between
the U.S.
the unit is learned.
the areas
was based on
1/28
Quiz
1/29
Cooperative groups over pp. 210-225
was influenced by
emerged because of became greater with
"Influential Personalities"
projectdue
1/30
Quiz
2/2
Review for test
2/7
Review for test
2/6
Test
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860?
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the
start of the Civil War?
What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
descriptive
compare/contrast
cause/effect
6
UNIT
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
Leaders
across the
U.S.
Cooperative groups over pp. 228-234
2/6
7
NEXT UNIT /Experience
The Civil War
UO Overhead # 19
The Unit Organizer
4
NAME
DATE
BIGGER PICTURE
Elida Cordora
1/22
The roots and consequences of civil unrest.
2
LAST UNIT /Experience
Growth of the Nation
8
UNIT SCHEDULE
1/22
Cooperative groups over pp. 201-210
1/28
Quiz
1/29
Cooperative groups over pp. 210-225
Cooperative groups over pp. 228-234
Review for test
2/7
Review for test
2/6
Test
3
NEXT UNIT /Experience
The Civil War
UNIT MAP
Sectionalism
was influenced by
pp. 201-236
Areas of
the U.S.
emerged because of became greater with
Leaders
across the
U.S.
Questions that students can use to
Differences
in
check understanding
ofEvents
the
between
the U.S.big ideas
the areas
and relationships in the unit are listed.
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860?
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the
start of the Civil War?
What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
descriptive
compare/contrast
cause/effect
6
UNIT
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
The Causes of the Civil War
was based on
2/6
7
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
CURRENT
7. UNIT SELF-TEST QUESTIONS
"Influential Personalities"
projectdue
1/30
Quiz
2/2
5
1
UO Overhead # 20
The Unit Organizer
4
BIGGER PICTURE
NAME
DATE
Elida Cordora
1/22
The roots and consequences of civil unrest.
2
LAST UNIT /Experience
Growth of the Nation
8
UNIT SCHEDULE
1/22
Cooperative groups over pp. 201-210
1/28
Quiz
1/29
Cooperative groups over pp. 210-225
5
1
8. UNIT SCHEDULE
The Civil War
The Causes of the Civil War
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
CURRENT
3
NEXT UNIT /Experience
UNIT MAP
To help students organize
task Sectionalism
management and
pp. 201-236
completion,
experiences
that
Leaders
Areas of
across the
the U.S. promote learning and show
U.S.
Differences what
Events
in have
students
they
between
the U.S.
thelearned
areas
are listed.
was based on
was influenced by
emerged because of became greater with
"Influential Personalities"
projectdue
1/30
Quiz
2/2
Cooperative groups over pp. 228-234
Review for test
2/7
Review for test
2/6
Test
7
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860?
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the
start of the Civil War?
What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
descriptive
compare/contrast
cause/effect
6
UNIT
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
2/6
UO Overhead # 21
The Unit Organizer
9
The Causes of the Civil War
Expanded Unit Map
was based on the
Areas of the
U.S.
Sectionalism
developed because of
South
Elida Cordora
1/22
was influenced by
pp. 201-236
became greater with
Leaders of
change
such as
-Henry Clay
-Stephen Douglas
-Zachary Taylor
-Harriet Beecher Stowe
-Douglas Filmore
and included
such as
and includedand included
-John Brown
-1820
Missouri
Compromise
-Jefferson Davis
Social
Economic
Political
-Abraham Lincoln
Differences Differences Differences -1846 Mexican War
-1850 Compromise of 1850
-1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
-1852Uncle Tom's Cabin
-1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
-1854 Republican Party formed
-1854 Bleeding Kansas
-1857 Dred Scott Case
-1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates
-1859 John Brown's Raid
-1860 Lincoln Elected
-1860 South Carolina Secedes
-1861 Confederacy formed
Differences
between the
areas
West
NAME
DATE
Events in the
U.S.
9. EXPANDED UNIT MAP
NEW
UNIT
SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
North
As
the unit progresses, the basic UNIT
MAP from the first page of the Unit
Organizer is expanded with key summary
10
information
about the
How did national events and leaders pull the different sections of the U.S. apart?
content of the unit.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 22
The Unit Organizer
9
Expanded Unit Map
The Causes of the Civil War
was based on the
Sectionalism
NAME
DATE
Elida Cordora
1/22
was influenced by
AreasNEW
of the UNIT SELF-TEST
of
pp. 201-236
10.
QUESTIONSLeaders
U.S.
change
developed because of
became greater with
such as
-Henry Clay
Differences
Eventsquestions
in the
-Stephen Douglas
As the unit progresses,
new
between the
-Zachary Taylor
U.S.
areas
-Harriet Beecher Stowe
that seem important
aboutsuchthe
content of
-Douglas Filmore
and included
as
and includedand included
-John Brown
-1820
Missouri
Compromise
-Jefferson Davis
the unit are Social
listedPolitical
or old
questions
can
be
Economic
-Abraham Lincoln
Differences Differences Differences -1846 Mexican War
-1850 Compromise of 1850
modified. -1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
West
South
NEW
UNIT
SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
North
10
-1852Uncle Tom's Cabin
-1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
-1854 Republican Party formed
-1854 Bleeding Kansas
-1857 Dred Scott Case
-1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates
-1859 John Brown's Raid
-1860 Lincoln Elected
-1860 South Carolina Secedes
-1861 Confederacy formed
How did national events and leaders pull the different sections of the U.S. apart?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 23
The Unit Organizer
4
NAME
DATE
BIGGER PICTURE
The Animal Kingdom
2
LAST UNIT/Experience
4/1
UNIT SCHEDULE
5
the most advanced and
Introduce vertebrates
intelligent animals on the
Fish/Amphibian
of choice report due
4/5
Fish/Amphibian quiz
such as the
fishes
earth
pp. 427-482
Reptile quiz
Trip report due
4/16
Bird/Mammal quiz
4/17
Lab report due
4/18
Review
4/19
Test
such as the
birds
reptiles
What are the basic differences among the major groups of
vertebrates?
In what ways is life on land more difficult than life in water?
What is mean by cold blooded and warm blooded?
Which of the major groups of vertebrates is the most successful
group? Why?
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
explanation
compare/contrast
6
UNIT
7
mammals
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
4/15
amphibians
such as the
such as the
such as the
4/12 Trip to natural history
museum
Ecology
UNIT MAP
4/4
4/10
NEXT UNIT/Experience
3
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
8
Interrelationships
CURRENT
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
1
Sharra Ti
4/1
UO Overhead # 24
The Unit Organizer
2
UNIT SCHEDULE
1
5
BIGGER PICTURE
CURRENT
CURRENT
UNIT UNIT
NAME
DATE
3
NEXT UNIT/Experience
UNIT MAP
6
7
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UNIT
RELATIONSHIPS
UNIT SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
8
LAST UNIT/Experience
4
UO Overhead # 25
The Unit Organizer
9
NAME
DATE
Expanded Unit Map
NEW
UNIT
SELF-TEST
QUESTIONS
10
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning 1/99
UO Overhead # 26