This document provides examples of learning targets, assignments, and activities that are poorly written and do not clearly articulate what students will learn, as well as revised versions that better define the cognitive demand and can be measured. Effective learning targets use verbs from Bloom's Taxonomy, specify what students will learn or be able to do, and how their learning will be assessed within a single lesson/period.

1. Learning Targets
Guiding Question: Can you assess the Learning Target by the end of the period? How?
Content Non-Examples:
• Multiplication
• Order of Operations
• Rounding
Re-Written Example:
• Apply the order of operations to
solve two digit multiplication
problems.
• Use rounding to determine the
reasonableness of your answers.
Annotation:
• This is a list of topics
• No action verb identifying cognitive demand
• What will the student learn or be able to do today?
• How will the learning be measured?
Annotation:
• Includes a verb from Bloom’s Taxonomy
• It is measurable
• It is a learning target that can be accomplished in
one lesson/period
Assignment Non-Example:
• The letter ‘S’ worksheet
• Read “The Fire Builders” p. 86-95
• Take notes on Ch. 6: Needs/Wants
Re-Written Example:
• Recognize upper case ‘S’ and lower
case ‘s’
• Know the sound ‘S’ as in snake
• Analyze the story to determine
author’s purpose
• Use Cornell notes to identify the
main ideas and supporting details of
Needs/Wants
Annotation:
• These are examples of assignments
• No action verb identifying cognitive demand
• What will the student learn or be able to do today?
• How will the learning be measured?
Annotation:
• Includes a verb from Bloom’s Taxonomy
• It is measurable
• It is a learning target that can be accomplished in
one lesson/period
Activity Non-Example:
• Look at rocks
• We’re playing the drums today
• Perform a pantomime
Re-Written Example:
• Examine the luster of 12 unlabeled
minerals under bright light and
record your results
• Compose basic rhythmic patterns in
4/4 and 3/4 meter using drums
• Demonstrate location, objects, and
character traits through a narrative
pantomime
Annotation:
• These are examples of activities
• No action verb identifying cognitive demand
• What will the student learn or be able to do today?
• How will the learning be measured?
Annotation:
• Includes a verb from Bloom’s Taxonomy
• It is measurable
• It is a learning target that can be accomplished in
one lesson/period