Planning a lesson starts with understanding what students are expected to know, understand, and be able to do once they master that standard.
Watch this video that shows the process for unpacking a middle school English Language Arts standard. Examples for other course areas are also provided below. Check them out and then move on to the section on Essential Questions.
2. Review these examples of unpacking standards for your own content area.
Essential Questions and Understandings help students make connections to other content grades, grade levels, and real life. They also intrigue students and motivate learning.
3. Watch this video that defines Essential Questions.
3. Watch this video for activities that can help you better understand Essential Questions.
4. Watch this video that asks, "What does it mean to Understand?" in order to learn more about Understandings in the Understanding by Design curriculum.
5. Watch this video that defines Understandings and how they are used in the HCS written curriculum.
Want to know even more? Check out the resources below.
Essential Questions Intro ARTICLE
5 Quick and Easy Techniques for Using Essential Questions With Students ARTICLE
3 Ways Students Can Use Classroom Technology to Explore Essential Questions ARTICLE
Essential Questions in the Primary Classroom: Grade 1 Whole Group VIDEO
Teacher Talk: Real Ways HCS Teachers Use Essential Questions in the Classroom
Understandings Intro ARTICLE
5 Quick and Easy Techniques For Using Understandings with Students ARTICLE