Eryn Yeske

February 26, 2018

Unit Plan

The unit plan I have created, titled Counting Methods, is for Foundations of Mathematics

30 and covers the outcome FM30.6: Demonstrate understanding of combinatorics including: the

fundamental counting principle, permutations (excluding circular permutations), and

combinations. This unit plan incorporates both student- and teacher-led activities to help engage

the students throughout the entirety of the unit. For more difficult concepts, students will be

given the opportunity to work in partners or groups to gain ideas from their peers. The goal of

this unit is to allow students to develop their critical thinking skills and understand why

permutations and combinations work rather than only relying on the formulas provided.

The unit encompasses aspects of formative and summative assessment. Working with

partners or groups during the unit will allow the students to gain an understanding of where they

are at with the material. There will be plenty of opportunity for the students to discuss concepts

and share what they have discovered which will help to formatively assess them. Having the

students share during the class allows me to assess what areas most students are showing

excellence in and which areas may need to be readdressed in following classes. As well, the mid-

unit review and unit exam will serve as forms of summative assessment to determine what

knowledge the students have gained throughout the unit. It is important to ensure that every

student has met the outcomes covered in the unit and that they would be able to use them in

real-world situations.

The final assessment for my unit involves both a connection project and a unit exam. The

connection project incorporates FNMI content into the course by using an alternate version of a

traditional Aboriginal hand and stick game. This project builds the bridge for students to connect
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February 26, 2018
counting principles, permutations, and combinations to real-world situations and incorporates

all of the concepts taught in the entirety of the unit. This project is used to prepare students for

their unit exam. The unit exam also incorporates all of the concepts taught throughout the unit

but provides the students the opportunity to explain their thinking. Students will be able to create

their own problem providing the solution to their problem while explaining why they solved it

the way they did. This ensures that the students understand why the formulas they have been

taught work. From the review provided in class, students will understand what is expected of

them for the exam and what kinds of questions they will be asked to solve. The questions that

are included on the exam are relevant questions that are real life situations.

At the beginning of each class, the learning outcome will be posted on the board so that

the students know what they are aiming to understand for the end of the lesson. It is important

for the students to be able to set goals based on the curriculum and push to learn the objective

by the end of the class. As well, the learning objective will lay out the expectations of the class,

so the students know what should be accomplished. Each lesson goal is an indicator of the

curriculum that helps to achieve the overall outcome of the unit.

For this unit, I have two major goals that I wish to accomplish. The first is to incorporate

technology into the lessons. Considering students have grown up using technology, using it

throughout the unit may promote student engagement. Changing up the way that lessons are

taught by using nearpod, interactive smartboard instruction, etc. challenges students to learn in

different ways and understand that they can use technology to their benefit. My second goal for

this unit is to check in with each student during every class. I realize that some students may be

struggling but will not ask for help, so I will ensure that I am asking each student how they are
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February 26, 2018
doing. Creating a safe learning environment can encourage students to speak up in class sharing

their answers and asking questions when they need clarifications. As well, I will occasionally use

exit slips to assess what is understood and what needs to be taught again. This will help students

who still may not feel comfortable to speak up in class to reach out for extra help.