1) This document provides a template for curriculum units using the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, with sections for describing the overall topics, enduring understandings, essential questions, desired student outcomes, and teacher resources. 2) The template guides teachers to identify the big ideas and universal truths that students should understand from the unit, as well as formulate questions to guide student inquiry. 3) Sections are also included to outline what students will know and be able to do, such as locate places on a map, explain why Spain designed communities in a certain way, and explain the significance of important dates.

1. New and Improved UbD Curriculum Unit Template
MISD Grade Level/Course Social Studies Pacing Guide
Department of
History and
Social Sciences Unit # _ Developed 2011 Revision Date
Timeframe:
Step I
The Big Picture
Hook- This is your universal generalization.
Examples: Where people live effects how they live. Groups of people can achieve great things when
pursuing goals they think are important. Do we bring our culture with us as we move about the
country, continent, world?
• Can be written as a statement or a question
• Will be used by students before, during and at the conclusion of a lesson
• Can be used by all grade levels
• You may have more than one statement or question
• Refer to Alief ISD for ideas, here is the link- Alief ISD Pacing Guide
Topics/ Content: This is a summary of the unit or unit topic.
It can be written as a statement of summary.
Example- Spain established colonies in the Southwest in search of wealth, to spread
Christianity, and to compete for power with France and England.
Or you may want to list out the major concepts presented in the unit. Example-
• European Colonization of the Americas,
• Religion,
• Search for Wealth,
• Competition between France, England and Spain
Step II
Desired Results
Enduring Understandings: Essential Questions…
Students will understand that…
Spain was motivated by gold, God and glory Example:
to colonize the new world. Why did European countries begin
exploring the new world? (7.2B)
Early Spanish colonization influenced the
architecture, food, clothing and other cultural To what extent were the French
aspects of life in Texas. responsible for renewing Spain’s
interest in Texas? (7.2B)
You may want to refer to your hook
statement or questions to help you get What impact did geography have on
started. the settlement patterns of European
colonies?
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2. New and Improved UbD Curriculum Unit Template
Step III
Student Understanding
Student will be able to:
This is where you are going to write out the most important student actions or skills a student
needs to accomplish in order to demonstrate understanding of the “desired results” for a unit.
While most of your statements will be directly from the TEKS, some will be based on your
professional judgment. For those statements that are from the TEKS, insert the TEKS number at
the end of the statement.
Using a map, locate the areas claimed by European countries in Texas.(7.2B)
Explain why Spain designed communities that included missions, presidios and townships. This
is a concept that I think is an important part of student understanding that is not covered by the
TEKS.
Explain the significance of 1519 and 1718. (7.2B)
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3. New and Improved UbD Curriculum Unit Template
Step III
Student Understanding
The student will know:
Unit Dates/Places Historical Figures Documents Significant
Vocabulary Events/Ideas
Look over the TEKS and pull out the important vocabulary, dates, places, people, documents
and events. List the information in the appropriate column. Using your own professional
knowledge, you may want to add information that is not included in the TEKS.
Please feel free to change the headings of any of these columns to match the needs of your
content.
Additional Vocabulary for ELL Students
List words your feel may be difficult for English language learners. Sometimes we
take for granted that language is part of our cultures.
Example- Independence – most children growing up in the United States are familiar
with this word because they celebrate The Fourth of July. Not all cultures see the
word independence the way we do.
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4. New and Improved UbD Curriculum Unit Template
Step IV
Teacher Resources
Suggested Activities
If you have any ideas or suggestions on activities teachers may want to use, then put those here.
You are not required to complete this box. We will be adding to the box throughout the year.
Examples of suggested activities-
Design a Spanish colony including a mission, presidio and town. Label your design with the
purpose of each of the areas. (7.2F)
Complete a compare contrast chart of reasons for European colonization of Texas. (7.2A)
Resources
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5. New and Improved UbD Curriculum Unit Template
Unit TEKS
TEKS Common to ALL UNITS
Created on 6/27/2011 1:57:00 PM