Micro & Macro Concepts
Concepts come at different levels of
generality, abstractness and complexity.
Macro-concepts are sometimes referred to as
“integrating concepts” because they integrate thinking
across different disciplines and are broad.
Micro-concepts are discipline-specific and are
critical for providing increasing depth and rigour to
curriculum and instruction.
MAcro-concepts give us breadth
MIcro-concepts give us depth
Examples of Subject Area Concepts
Science
Order
Organism
Population
System
Change
Evolution
Cycle
Interaction
Energy/Matter
Equilibrium
Habitat
Social Studies
Conflict/Cooperation
Patterns
Scarcity
System
Change/Continuity
Culture
Supply/Demand
Civilization
Migration/Immigration
Interdependence
Concepts in
Text
Prejudice
Perspective
Conflict
Cooperation
Power
Relationships
Envy
Emotions
Oppression
Influence
Writer’s Craft Reader’s Craft
Organization
Word Choice
Context
Conventions
Fluency
Voice
Presentation
Symbolism
Allegory
Metaphor
Protagonist
Antagonist
Inference
Context Clues
Meaning
Paraphrase
Summary
Text Structure
Reading Rate
Directionality
Self –
regulation
Imagery
Genre
Background
Knowledge
Which are “macro-concepts?” Which are “micro-concepts?”
Mathematics Concepts
Grade 3
Whole Numbers
Place Value
Number Representations
Patterns
Number Grids
Money Symbols
Decimal Point
Related Addition/Subtraction Facts
Fact Families
Mathematical Models
Standard Units
Non-Standard Units
Estimation
Converting Units
Units of Measure
Grade 6
Rational Numbers
Positive Integers
Common Factors
Common Multiples
Proper Factor
Factor Pair
Square Numbers
Prime
Composite
Expressions
Algebra 1
Independent/Dependent
Quantities
Functional Relationships
Domain/Range
Patterns and Sequences
Linear Functions
Variables and Symbols
Algebraic Expressions
Order of Operations
Distributive Property
Coordinate Plane
Graphs
Linear Parent Functions
Scatter Plots
Physical Education Concepts
Examples
Space
Movement
Angle
Action/Reaction
Energy
Flexibility
Endurance
Speed
Strength
Patterns
Cooperation
Agility
Motion
Force/Power
Behaviors
Development
Weight Transfer
World Language Concepts
Examples
Culture
Language and
Language families
Verbal and nonverbal communication
Pictographs, gestures,
symbols, sounds
Values, traditions, beliefs
Social etiquettes
Family structures
Geography; region...
Any concepts related to the
study of cultural
elements in the target
language:
- Family
- Religion
- Art, music, literature
- Architecture
- Government
- Recreation...
Family
Structures
DRAMA
Macro-Concepts
Character | Movement | Voice | Theme | Design
DRAMA
Micro-Concepts
Character
Physical
Personality
Background
Relationship
Conflict
Motivation
Change/Growth
Obstacle
Wants/Needs
Habits
Feeling/Emotion
Type/Role
Purpose
Movement
Body Position
Action/Reaction
Purpose
Order
Influence
Angle
Line
Balance
Timing
Space
Logic
Physical
Expression
Direction
Drama: Micro-Concepts Continued
Voice
Tone
Pitch
Size
Quality
Dialect
Patterns
Expression
Articulation
Pronunciation
Beat/Pause
Breathing
Diction
Emphasis
Theme
Culture
Conflict
Time
Perspective
Beliefs/Values
Choices
Influence
Diversity
Identity
Power
Destruction
Innocence
Isolation
Design
Style
Meaning
Mood
Structure
Function
Expression
Feeling
Symbol
Realism
Selective Realism
Setting
Costume
Lighting
Social Studies Concepts
General Macro-concepts:
• Interdependence/Dependence/Independence
• Systems
• Change and Continuity
• Order
• Conflict and Cooperation
Social Studies Concepts
Geography Concepts
Macro-concepts:
• Place
• Space
• Region
• Location
• Human/environmental interaction
Specific Concepts:
• Physical environment
• Landforms
• Geographical Patterns
• Natural Processes
• Migration
• Population density
• Growth rates
• Cultural landscapes
• Urbanization
• Settlement patterns
• Geographical locations
• Rural/urban
• Natural resources
• Technology
• Natural disasters
• Spatial organization
Social Studies Concepts
Government Concepts
• Civic life
• Politics
• Limited Government
• Unlimited Government
• Individual Rights
• Common Good
• Citizenship
• Authority
• Power
• Rule of Law
• Constitution
• Shared powers
• Governmental systems
• Constitutional government
• Ideals
• General Welfare
• Society
• Voluntarism
• Diversity
• Political culture
• Values and principles
• National identity
• Political conflict
• Political action
• Interest groups
• Distributed, shared and limited powers
• Domestic and foreign policy
• Taxation
• Laws, rules, regulations
• Public Agenda
• Nation-states
• Roles, rights and responsibilities
Social Studies Concepts
Economics Concepts
• Needs/wants
• Scarcity
• Goods/Services
• Choice
• Resources
• Value
• Opportunity costs
• Costs/benefits
• Market economy; markets
• Command economy
• Consumers/producers
• Incentives
• Production, consumption
and distribution
• Exchange
• Trade
• Imports/exports
• Labor and labor productivity
• Wages/income
• Money
• Banks; financial institutions
• Specialization
• Supply and demand
• Competition
• Price
• Exchange rate
• Standard of living
• Productivity
Examples of Subject Area Concepts
Social Studies
Conflict/Cooperation
Patterns
Populations
System
Change/Continuity
Culture
Evolution
Civilization
Migration/Immigration
Interdependence
Examples of Subject Area Concepts
Economics
Markets
Supply and Demand
Cost
Interdependence
Beliefs/Values
Goods/Services
Conflict
Cooperation
Perceptions
Patterns
Power
Systems