This document discusses the backward design process of understanding by design for planning lessons and units. It emphasizes starting with the desired results or transfer goals and assessing student mastery of essential skills and questions. The document provides examples of planning learning activities, feedback, and assessments for a music unit on melody making using chord permutations. It suggests students will improvise and compose melodies using the 1235 permutation technique over known pieces to demonstrate their understanding and transfer of the skill.