Grade and Subjects: 3rd , ELA and Science focus.

1. I am capable of influencing change in my community.

Overarching
Understanding 2. My personal experiences are valuable sources of knowledge.
Goals:
3. I will understand the concept of fact and opinion in writing, speaking, and in real life.

4. Speech, writing and art are all credible ways to express oneself.

Generative Community Parks and Playgrounds

Topic:

1. Land is a valuable 2. Urban design can 3. Powerful persuasive 4. Personal experiences

resource for cause positive and writing uses personal and surroundings
Unit-Long communities, negative effects on experiences and facts impact individual
Understanding especially in cities. specific communities. to support strong point of view.
Goals: opinions.

Sequence of UGs Understanding Performances Ongoing Assessments

Understanding
Performances ↓

Introductory 1,2,3 - The Nature Conservancy: Urban
Performances: Parks Video
- Landscape Architect Presentation
- The Little House: ​Cause and Effect
of Urbanization
- What Do You Do with a Problem? -
Design Challenge
- Vocabulary introduction:
urbanization, green space,
community resource
- Morning Journal Questions - “What
is your favorite part about the
outdoor space at PAS? Your least
favorite part?” “What is your
favorite part about your
neighborhood?”
- Guided inquiry performances will be
mainly assessed by participation and
completion of tasks -- are they truly
engaging with the content in a
meaningful way? Does this “make
sense” to them? What is clear that
they need further explanation on?
- Group discussion - student response
to questions
- Morning Journal Answers
- Written responses and persuasive
writing drafts
 Guided Inquiry 1,2,3 - Compare and Contrast: Current and
Performances: ,4 Historical Parks/Playgrounds
- Aerial Maps of Philadelphia and the
Community Activity
- Outdoor Observation Design and
Presentation
- Brainstorming - Problems and
Noteworthy Areas of the PAS
Outdoor Space
Culminating 1,3,4 - Persuasive Letter to Principal Farrell
Performances: about what they want to change or
keep the same about the outdoor
space. An outdoor design drawing
will accompany the letter to support
the design aspect of the project and
have students practice expressing
their ideas in multiple formats.
Skill Strands:
X ▢ 1. Fact vs. Opinion
X ▢ 2. Cause and Effect
✓▢ 3. Informational reading and writing
✓▢ 4. Map skills
X▢ 5. Persuasive writing and texts
X - Major Focus ✓ - Reinforced
- Semantic Vocabulary Map for
“Urbanization” - Write a phrase or
sentence that shares what
“urbanization” means and draw a
picture to represent that phrase
- Persuasive Letter Brainstorming and
Drafting Conferences
- Review of unit long understanding
goals prior to lessons
- Exit Slips
- Individual Conferences/informal
feedback
- Self-Assessment: Opinion Writing
Rubric
- Culminating performance will be
shared with the class and/or
Principal to practice public speaking
and hear feedback from classmates.
● - Unsupported/Required