How to Plan a Math Study Unit

Careful planning can help to ensure an effectively taught math unit.

A math unit commonly refers to an area of study within the math curriculum. For example, a teacher can teach a math unit on measurement, addition or geometry. Within the unit, the student is introduced to the concept, acquires knowledge, uses the knowledge and is assessed formally or informally. Planning is key to a successful math unit.

Instructions

1. Establish the goals of the math unit. This includes the "big ideas" or main objectives broken down into standards-based descriptions of what students need to know by the end of the unit. In a measurement unit, a big idea might be converting measurements and the specific standard might state that the student must know how to convert feet to inches.

2. Prepare an overview of the skills to be taught, along with an approximate time frame for each. Skills should be listed in a logical order that will be efficient and effective for teaching and learning. Logical order in a place value unit would involve teaching the ones first, followed by the tens and the hundreds.

3. Plan to start the unit in a way that incorporates students' prior knowledge and generates excitement and interest. One method of using prior knowledge is creating a three-column KWL chart. In the first column, list what students know about the topic. In the second column, list what students want to know about the it. After the unit is complete, use the third column to list what students have learned.

4. Determine how to integrate the subject matter with other subject areas or themes being studied. For example, if you are teaching a unit on healthy eating in health, create math story problems for the unit that focus on the theme of healthy foods.

5. Plan to use a variety of teaching and learning strategies including learning centers, partner-based learning and cooperative learning.

6. Establish assessment strategies to use throughout the unit. These should involve informal assessment, such as observation and interview, and formal assessment, such as an end-of-unit project or test.

7. Determine which resources you will need to teach the unit, perhaps including manipulatives, books or videos. Manipulatives include base 10 blocks, geometric shapes or pattern blocks. Determine where you can find each resource before you begin the unit.

References

• Annennberg Learner: Planning a Math Unit--Launch-Explore-Summarize Teaching Model
• Government of Saskatchewan: How Do I Get Started?