I primarily work with the MYP so sections of the resources below are set up specifically for that framework, but other sections are applicable for any curriculum. The exception is the tab called 'Standards Met' in the Unit Plan file, which draws on the Framework for K-12 Science Education (NGSS).
The Common Planner - For collaboration between teachers on the same grade level team. This is where the essential information for the unit is entered. It is also possible to categorise learning outcomes by type of knowledge or skill, as well as the traditional subject area they fall under. This information is then imported into the Curriculum Overview to help generate an overview of the skills being taught over the five year course. There is a section for documenting common learning activities, but individual teachers can make changes to these using the individual unit planner.
The Individual Unit Planner - If you add the common planner share link to the first sheet in this document it will import the essential information and common learning activities. Individual teachers can then change those learning activities to suit their preference or the needs of their students.
The Curriculum Overview Document - If unit plans have been generated for every unit in every grade level, by adding the links to the first tab in this document you can generate an overview of the entire curriculum.
The Common Planner - For collaboration between teachers on the same grade level team. This is where the essential information for the unit is entered. It is also possible to categorise learning outcomes by type of knowledge or skill, as well as the traditional subject area they fall under. This information is then imported into the Curriculum Overview to help generate an overview of the skills being taught over the five year course. There is a section for documenting common learning activities, but individual teachers can make changes to these using the individual unit planner.
The Individual Unit Planner - If you add the common planner share link to the first sheet in this document it will import the essential information and common learning activities. Individual teachers can then change those learning activities to suit their preference or the needs of their students.
The Curriculum Overview Document - If unit plans have been generated for every unit in every grade level, by adding the links to the first tab in this document you can generate an overview of the entire curriculum.
I primarily work in the MYP format, so the documents below have some aspects that were specifically designed to meet the needs of that program. However, the basic concept has universal applications for student-directed investigations. I hope you find them useful.
This first one is a digital version of a task sheet that the students fill in before starting an assignment. I've used this with some success with my grade 8 class.
Self Directed Unit Task Sheet
These are Doc versions of the same idea, but with fewer bells and whistles.
Laboratory Investigation Grade 8
Laboratory Investigation Grade 6
Product Design Grade 6
This first one is a digital version of a task sheet that the students fill in before starting an assignment. I've used this with some success with my grade 8 class.
Self Directed Unit Task Sheet
These are Doc versions of the same idea, but with fewer bells and whistles.
Laboratory Investigation Grade 8
Laboratory Investigation Grade 6
Product Design Grade 6
I was finding it hard to write criterion A assessments in a way that flowed intuitively, while still covering all of the strands of the criteria. I originally built this tool so that I could simply write a test in a way that felt organic, then check to see that I had covered all strands and achievement levels. I then realised that if I used Google Classroom to distribute a copy to each student, I could also use it as a grading tool to improve consistency in my decision of final grades.
Criterion A Grading Tool
Here is a link to a blog post with some more information on the tool.
Criterion A Grading Tool
Here is a link to a blog post with some more information on the tool.
When I was in teacher's college my professor used to love using this 'Mixer Upperer' to make sure that students got to work with everyone in the class at least once without working with anyone twice. I really admired the elegance and the intention of it, but thought it could be improved slightly to allow flexibility in the number of students in a class as well as the number in a group. This is what I came up with:
Here is a link to a blog post with more information.