Assessment Description

Backward design is a planning process that focuses first on developing the learning goals/outcomes and ways for students to demonstrate mastery of the learning outcomes (assessments). Planning of teaching methods and activities is done to support the outcomes/goals and to scaffold student learning toward demonstrating mastery of the evaluations. This planning process is referred to as “planning with the end in mind.”

Using the science standards from Mississippi (MDE), select a K-8 grade level to create a weeklong inquiry-based unit that will integrate multiple content areas, including health, technology, math, and literacy. For assignments 2, 3, and 4, you will complete a portion of the Science Unit Plan template.

Note: Use the same standards and learning objectives for assignments 2-4, as well as the benchmark assignment in assignment 5. Review these assignments before writing your learning activity, so you are familiar with the upcoming expectations.

Part 1: Standards, Learning Objectives, and Assessments

For this assignment, complete the following components in the “Science Unit Plan” template:

· Lesson Title and Brief Summary: Include a daily lesson title and summarize the scope/intent of the lesson.

· National/State Standard(s): List the specific grade-level standards that will be taught throughout the week. Include the standards, along with the performance indicators and the standard language, in their entirety.

· Learning Objectives: Write daily, measurable learning objectives that align with the national/state standards and specify what will be assessed after the lesson. Note: This should not be a summary of the lesson, but a measurable statement demonstrating what the student will be evaluated on after the lesson. For instance, “understand” is not measurable, but “describe” and “identify” are.

· Three-Dimensional Learning: Describe the crosscutting concepts and the science and engineering practices that support the learning objectives. Include a brief description of how these will be integrated throughout the weekly plan.

· Formative Assessments: Describe how you will formatively assess the learning objectives for the lessons. These should be designed to provide data on student performance for monitoring and adjusting instruction, and provide students with feedback so they can evaluate and adjust their learning.

· Summative Assessment: Describe a summative assessment that measures the learning for the unit. This should provide the student with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the standards.

· Differentiation of Assessments: Describe how the formative and summative assessments will be differentiated to support students with disabilities, students with gifted abilities, ELLs, and early finishers.

Part 2: Reflection

In 250-500 words, summarize and reflect on the process of beginning your unit plan. Include the following in your reflection:

· Discuss your experience so far with the process of backward design in planning your science unit and describe how it compares with other planning experiences you have had throughout your coursework.

· Describe how the assessments chosen for your unit plan support the three dimensions of science learning.

· Explain the factors you considered when designing assessments that are aligned to learning objectives and state standards. Additionally, discuss how you will ensure all students are prepared for the evaluations by making appropriate modifications and accommodations for students with disabilities and language learning needs.

Support your assignment with a minimum of two scholarly resources.

While APA Style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric before beginning the assignment to familiarize yourself with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite Technical Support Articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.