May I suggest that you print a hard copy of the Unit Authoring Template now, so as to facilitate making your own notes as you review the material below. Just click here for a WORD version.

Unit Elements	Essentials	Sources & References	Notes & Examples
A- Academic Standards	Aim at mastery of a few worthy (important & difficult to teach) instructional objectives - including arts and character standards, and interdisciplinary understandings.	Common Core Standards - good to see these emerging as 'fewer, clearer, higher'   21st Century Curriculum - All of the Common Core plus Imagination, Creative Problem Solving, Innovation and the 'Cognitive Skills' (Analyzing & Utilizing Information, Addressing Complex Problems & Issues, Creating Patterns & Mental Models)  and 'Conative skill' (Understanding & Controlling Oneself, Understanding and Interacting with Others)   Marano 2012 Teaching and Assessing 21st Century Skills.
B - Concept
C- Focus Statement	What is to be learned so deeply as to be remembered forever?
D - Significant/Essential Question......and related deepening questions
E - Work of Art / Masterwork / Third Thing
F - Engagement / Accommodation Strategies	Carefully chosen and modified to address deepening knowledge of the actual students, both to demonstrate/model respect for each student, and also to provide maximum 'voice & choice' for all students.	Engagement
G - Original Creation
H - Reflection	Individual and group opportunities to reflect and self-assess, built into the unit at frequent intervals.
I - Inquiry Centers	Usually 3-4 small group or individual activities, organized by 'deepening questions' which invite 'hands-on' collaboration to more independently carry out a task which usually results in a product which could not have been completed without mastery of a standard and/or achieving a satisfactory answer to a deepening question.  The product is to be initially self-assessed and improved if needed using a rubric for the Inquiry Center.
J - Partners / Contributions
K - Relationship to the System / School Improvement or Action Plan
L - Academic Service Learning	Planned opportunities for the students to prepare related mini-lessons and teach them to other students - in the same class, or to other classes in the same school or in other schools.  The focus is on learning at a deeper level by teaching related, appropriate, academic standards to others, and, on the development of character by providing 'opportunities for moral action' by helping others.
M - Materials and Resources	Brief, helpful, listing of needed materials and important references.

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