Unit Planning
Unit Plan vs. Lesson Plan
Planning is an essential element of effective teaching. Lesson and unit plans are considered to be the foundation of instruction. Each day a student has a learning experience that is not part of a larger context is a day that relates neither to the past nor to the future; making connections is essential to enhancing student knowledge. Research suggests that in order for learning to be optimized the content must be relevant and meaningful to the learner. Therefore effective unit planning is vital to effective instruction and successful learning outcomes.
In short, a unit plan is comprised of multiple lesson plans. Unit plans are created to address the subtopics within the curriculum. Whereas, a lesson plan addresses the topics within a unit and targets specific learning objectives. The unit plan is comprised of multiple lesson plans that span a broad range of topics.
The figure to the left lists the components and the specific purpose of each component to a unit. This image can serve as a resource to support you when developing a unit plan. When developing a lesson plan, consider including the 6 major elements listed below. A good lesson plan results in focused, dynamic learning experiences wherein students are thoroughly engaged. These key elements will help you maximize student time on learning.
Element 1: Content to Be Taught: Identify What You Want Students to Learn
Element 2: Identify Misconceptions Commonly Held about the Core Idea
Element 3: Performance Objectives (clear, explicit statement of behaviors to exhibit)
Element 4: Concept Development (5 E Model)
- Engagement
- Exploration
- Explanation
- Elaboration
Element 5: Evaluation (Assessment)
Element 6: Accommodations (Universal Design for Learning)
For more information on the 5E model, click the image below:
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The figure to the left lists the components and the specific purpose of each component to a unit. This image can serve as a resource to support you when developing a unit plan. When developing a lesson plan, consider including the 6 major elements listed below. A good lesson plan results in focused, dynamic learning experiences wherein students are thoroughly engaged. These key elements will help you maximize student time on learning.
Element 1: Content to Be Taught: Identify What You Want Students to Learn
Element 2: Identify Misconceptions Commonly Held about the Core Idea
Element 3: Performance Objectives (clear, explicit statement of behaviors to exhibit)
Element 4: Concept Development (5 E Model)
- Engagement
- Exploration
- Explanation
- Elaboration
Element 5: Evaluation (Assessment)
Element 6: Accommodations (Universal Design for Learning)
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Brief example:
Unit = Life Cyles
Lesson = The 4 Stages of a Butterfly Life Cycle.
A unit plan is essentially a road map of the year. It is comprised of carefully designed lessons that can span days or weeks. The unit plan allows teachers to strategically plan how lessons should progress throughout the year and provides students with opportunities to discover relationships between concepts being taught.
The lesson plan is a more specific, standards-based plan. These plans outline the purpose and the activities of what will be done on a specific day or across several days.
The lesson plan is a more specific, standards-based plan. These plans outline the purpose and the activities of what will be done on a specific day or across several days.
I like to think of lesson plans and unit plans in comparison to a textbook. A textbook is divided into a number of chapters. Those chapters would be considered a Unit. Whereas the subtopics within those chapters are equivalent to a potential lesson. Either way, standards should always be used to guide and inform instructional plans.
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I love your explanation of the unit plan being the road map of the year. It makes a lot of sense to think of it in that way.
ReplyDeleteCourtney,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love your spongebob meme!! Second, I agree that the unit and lesson plans scaffold instuction. Without some type of plan, the instructor will not accomplish anything, and therefore the students will not meet the grade curriculum and state standards.