Unit Plan:Frequently Asked Questions
For courses taught by more than one teacher, do my unit plans need to be different from my colleagues?
They do not need to be different. The skills taught in a shared course should be similar, but the resources and strategies used to teach those skills could be different. For example, if all the Algebra I teachers share the same unit plans, the units and skills will be the same but the slides, projects, and practice problems could be different (resources).
Do I need electronic copies of all my resources?
Yes. Any resource that you use in your classes should be compiled digitally. If you have resources that do not have a digital copy, you can scan them in the library. Laurie Pierce can help you.
How do I move documents or folders into a Resource Folder?
If the document or folder is already in Google Drive, there are two options:
- You can drag the document into the correct Resource Folder
- You can right-click on the document and choose “Move to.” Google will then open a small menu allowing you to choose the correct folder.
- Open the correct Resource Folder on Google Drive.
- Click “New” (blue button on left) then “File Upload.” Select the document(s) to be uploaded.
How do I link resources to my Unit Plans?
Resources should be uploaded to the Resource Folder.
Can units run concurrently?
Yes, it depends on how you organize your units. Here is an example from social studies:
I have one unit that focuses on Historical Thinking Skills such as corroboration, contextualization, point of view, etc. This unit runs all year long alongside more content specific units such as WWI & The Russian Revolution, or WWII & The Holocaust. I have resources and assessments that work for both my Historical Thinking Skills unit and my content-specific units, so those resources and assessments can be placed in each applicable unit plan.
Can units run for a year?
Yes, the time for each unit will vary. Some units may only last a few weeks, whereas some units may last months. See the example in the previous question.
Who is the audience I am writing Unit Plans for?
To serve our mission to develop Trinity graduates who are confident thinkers and creators, deeply engaged in the life of their communities, the most important audience is us. Best practice research shows that thoughtful, well-communicated instructional planning is essential to good learning. As an independent school that must attract 25% of our student body each year, the next most important audience is prospective families that want to know what we teach. Our final audience is VAIS and IBO. For accreditation and authorization, we must provide evidence that we have a comprehensive curriculum that shows what we teach, how we teach it and how we measure student learning.
How should I include skills that cross over multiple units?
Many skills are taught over the course of multiple units; therefore, you would simply check the box in each appropriate unit plan.
What goes in the resource box on the unit planner versus what goes in the resources folder?
The Resource Folder should be the treasure trove of your documents, articles, slides, projects, assessments, lesson plans, etc. These documents are now easily accessible for the following year or by colleagues teaching the same course. The resource box on the unit planner can be used in a variety of ways. Some people may choose to simply say “See Resource Folder.” Others may want to include links to YouTube videos or write the titles of textbooks. Some may want to link digital lesson plan sites or teacher websites.
How is a unit plan different from a lesson plan?
Thinking of unit plans as more macro and lesson plans as more micro might be helpful. The purpose of a unit plan is to show what is being learned (ideas, concepts, content, skills, etc), how it is being learned (labs, projects, papers, speaking exercises, etc.) and how that learning is measured (tests, quizzes, papers, presentations, etc). The purpose of a lesson plan is to guide you in what you are doing day to day in the classroom (what are you doing on what day).