Signature Assignment: Integrated unit

Assignment Content

Designing an integrated unit may feel overwhelming as it incorporates different subject areas that complement each other in one unit of study. For this reason, it’s important to find the right connections between the subject areas so that you can effectively address multiple standards in the lessons. To practice this important skill, you will begin by developing an outline and overview for a literacy-integrated social studies unit.

Review your state’s social studies standards for the grade level you wish to teach and choose the discipline(s) and 2–3 closely related standards to address in your unit:

Civics
Economics
Geography
History

Review your state’s English language arts (ELA) standards for the same grade level and choose the literacy discipline(s) and 2–3 closely related standards to address in your unit:

Reading
Writing
Speaking and listening
Language

Review the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students and choose 2–3 technology standards that you plan to address in your unit.

Create a 1-page outline for a literacy-integrated social studies unit that includes the following:

Unit summary, to include:
Grade level and overarching theme for unit
Selected social studies and ELA disciplines and content standards
Selected ISTE standards
Lesson summaries for 3 separate lessons, to include:
Topic
Brief description of learning
Standards alignment
Assessment summary, to include:
Formative assessment options for each lesson (must vary in delivery and assess both content and technology standards)
Summative assessment options for the unit

Write a 2-page unit overview for your literacy-integrated social studies unit that includes the following:

Unit statement that describes the following:
Connection between the social studies and ELA standards
Relevance of each lesson to the overarching unit theme
Unit plan for incorporating technology tools and other resources, such as:
Current events
Community resources
Simulations
Unit strategy for using the following instructional practices:
Student-centered learning
Inquiry-based learning
Culturally responsive instruction
Unit justification that explains why this is an elementary grade level appropriate unit of study