When is it time to call it "quits"
on a topic, unit, or project?
Although I have left this for last to write
about, it is in fact the first question I answer before I plan
a unit. On my planning sheets, I outline the skills and knowledge
that I want incorporated in this unit.
- Terrestrial Succession & Interpreting
Land History requires the students to present their findings using
a scientific "Poster Session" format.
- Symbiosis requires that the students learn
how to do active research using on-line technologies and presentation
software culminating in a technology presentation.
- Winter Adaptations is designed
around the learning log and requires students to problem solve,
interpret data, while taking annotated notes on references that
they are reading.
Once I have identified what skills and knowledge
I want the students to be working on (and this includes the reasons
for why I want them to be included in this unit....what does this
connect to?), I use as a resource an action verb list to get me
thinking of ways of both presenting to and assessing students.
I put the action verb (such as: evaluates, distinguishes, contrasts,
connects,distinguishes, etc.) in front of or after a specific
skill or piece of knowledge to help me think of activities for
presenting, getting kids to "do it", or for how to
assess students' work.
This really does not take that much time and
has helped me create curriculum. The curriculum is NEVER perfect
but it pushes me and I hope my students to go a bit deeper into
the substance.
E.O. Wilson, a Harvard University entomologist
(and a hero of mine), likens the deforestation of tropical regions
as; "for lack of knowing, burning forests for cattle to graze
is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook dinner." My
hope is to help kids from 'lack of knowing'.
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