STEM units provide students with an opportunity to problem-solve and connect to real-world scenarios. This type of instruction and learning generates ingenuity, builds persistence, and encourages teamwork and experimentation. When developing a STEM unit, early childhood educators must plan meaningful and creative ways for students to demonstrate their learning of the STEM concepts, while still considering standards, objectives, and rigor.
Using the “3-Day Unit Plan Template,” outline a unit to include the lesson plan created in Topic 4. Your unit plan should include the following:
Section 1: Lesson Preparation
Title of Unit, Brief Summary, and Classroom Factors: Create a title for your lessons and write a brief summary of your lessons based on the selected standards. Identify the classroom factors and their effect on planning, teaching, and assessing students.
Content Standards for math, science, and at least one ISTE-S standard.
Specific Learning Targets/Objectives: Aligned to the selected content standards.
Academic Language: Key terms for this lesson.
Unit Resources, Materials, Equipment, and Technology needed for this lesson.
Depth of Knowledge Lesson Questions: One developmentally appropriate question for each level of understanding that supports IBL (inquiry-based learning).
Section 2: Instructional Planning
Anticipatory Set: Explain how you will introduce the lesson and activate prior knowledge to trigger studentscuriosity and engagement in the lesson.
Multiple Means of Representation: Explain the strategies and resources, including the equitable and appropriate use of technology, to present STEM content in a way that meets the needs and engages young learners in investigating the theme/question.
Multiple Means of Engagement: Explain how you will apply in-depth content knowledge and learning resources to facilitate and guide engaging activities that will allow students to learn, practice, and master the STEM content.
Multiple Means of Expression: Describe formative and summative assessment methods that will be used to monitor student progress during the lesson and modify instruction and/or teacher guidance while students engage in the IBL process.
Differentiation: Use knowledge of your field experience class or the information in the selected class profile to develop meaningful, developmentally appropriate learning progressions to meet the needs of all students.
Extension Activity and/or Homework: Create a meaningful extension activity that can be completed in the classroom or at home that will allow students to further explore the objectives and/or theme/question.
In addition, write a 150-300 word reflection addressing the following:
Describe how your unit plan includes meaningful, developmentally appropriate learning progressions adapted to meet the needs of all students based on central concepts, methods, and tools of inquiry of the academic disciplines.
Discuss how your multiple means of engagement applies in-depth content knowledge and learning resources in the academic disciplines to create meaningful and engaging opportunities for students to learn, practice, and master content.
Support your reflection with 2-3 scholarly resources.
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