Section II.

Classroom
Instruction In The Academic
Disciplines:
Unit Organizer

Note: Unlike the slides for the other sections of the

DVD User’s Guide, the slides for this section are
organized by the three instructional methods
presented Unit Organizer, Concept Mastery, and
Paraphrasing. Please edit these to meet your
needs.
Unit Organizer Critical Questions

What are the purpose and benefits of

“The Unit Organizer” in content area
classes?

What makes the Unit Organizer

effective for diverse groups of
learners?

How does the Unit Organizer support

the development of literacy?
Essential Background Points
• The Unit Organizer Routine is used to
plan units; introduce and maintain
the big ideas in units; and show how
units, critical information, and
concepts are related.
Content Enhancement Routines
Content Enhancement Routines are
designed to help teachers think about,
adapt, and present their critical content
in a “learner-friendly” fashion and
include inclusive teaching practices that
help teachers organize and present
critical information in such a way that
students identify, organize,
comprehend, and recall it.
Critical Characteristics of
Content Enhancement
• Both group and individual needs are
valued and met
• The integrity of the content is
maintained
• Critical features of the content are
selected and transformed in a manner
that promotes student learning;
• Instruction is carried out in a
partnership with students
 The Unit Organizer
Is a visual device that:

– is used under teacher guidance

– focuses attention on critical outcomes

– identifies critical unit content

– prompts elaboration on critical points

– helps make relationships concrete

– is designed to enhance student…

• ...organization

• ...understanding

• ...remembering

• ...responses

• ...belief in the value of the content

The Unit Organizer 4 BIGGER PICTURE
NAME
DATE

2 LAST UNIT /Experience 1 CURRENT UNIT UNIT 3 NEXT UNIT /Experience

CURRENT

8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP

6
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTIONS

UNIT
7
 KNOWLEDGE
ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE GUIDING
QUESTIONS
Elida Cordora
The Unit Organizer 4 BIGGER PICTURE
NAME
DATE 1/22

The roots and consequences of civil unrest.

2 LAST UNIT /Experience 1 CURRENT UNIT UNIT 3 NEXT UNIT /Experience
CURRENT
Growth of the Nation The Causes of the Civil War The Civil War
is ab
8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP ou t...

1/22 Cooperative groups -

over pp. 201-210

was based on
Sectionalism was influenced by
1/28 Quiz
1/29 Cooperative groups - pp. 201-236
over pp. 210-225 Leaders
Areas of emerged because ofbecame greater with across the
"Influential Personalities"
the U.S. U.S.
projectdue
1/30 Quiz
Differences Events in
between the U.S.
2/2 Cooperative groups - the areas
over pp. 228-234

2/6 Review for test

2/7 Review for test

2/6 Test

6
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860? descriptive
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTIONS

compare/contrast
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to

UNIT
the start of the Civil War? cause/effect
7 What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?
The Unit Organizer NAME Elida Cordora
4 BIGGER PICTURE DATE 1/22

The roots and consequences of civil unrest.

2 LAST UNIT /Experience 1 CURRENT UNIT UNIT 3 NEXT UNIT /Experience
CURRENT
Growth of the Nation The Causes of the Civil War The Civil War
i s ab
8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP out .
..
1/22 Cooperative groups -
over pp. 201-210

was based on
Sectionalism was influenced by
1/28 Quiz
1/29 Cooperative groups - pp. 201-236
over pp. 210-225 Leaders
Areas of emerged because of became greater with across the
"Influential Personalities"
the U.S. U.S.
projectdue
1/30 Quiz
Differences Events in
between the U.S.
2/2 Cooperative groups - the areas
over pp. 228-234

2/6 Review for test

2/7 Review for test

2/6 Test

6
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860? descriptive
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTIONS

compare/contrast
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the

UNIT
start of the Civil War? cause/effect

7 What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?

 NAME Elida Cordora
The Unit Organizer The Causes of the Civil War DATE 1/22

9 Expanded Unit Map is ab

out.
..

was based on the

Sectionalism was influenced by

Areas of the pp. 201-236 Leaders of

U.S. change
developed because of became greater with
such as
ded the -Henry Clay
Differences Events in the -Stephen Douglas
between the U.S. -Zachary Taylor
areas
the
ed the

-Harriet Beecher Stowe

which inclu

and included such as -Douglas Filmore

ded

and included and included -John Brown

includ
inclu

Social -1820 Missouri Compromise-Jefferson Davis

Political Economic -1846 Mexican War
Differences Differences Differences -Abraham Lincoln
h

-1850 Compromise of 1850

which
whic

-1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

West -1852Uncle Tom's Cabin
-1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
-1854 Republican Party formed
-1854 Bleeding Kansas
South -1857 Dred Scott Case
-1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates
-1859 John Brown's Raid
-1860 Lincoln Elected
North -1860 South Carolina Secedes
-1861 Confederacy formed

10
QUESTIONS
SELF-TEST

How did national events and leaders pull the different sections of the U.S. apart?
UNIT
NEW
The Unit Organizer NAME Elida Cordora
4 BIGGER PICTURE DATE 1/22

The roots and consequences of civil unrest.

2 LAST UNIT /Experience 1 CURRENT UNIT UNIT 3 NEXT UNIT /Experience
CURRENT
Growth of the Nation The Causes of the Civil War The Civil War
is ab
8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP ou t .
..
1/22 Cooperative groups -
over pp. 201-210

was based on
Sectionalism was influenced by
1/28 Quiz
1/29 Cooperative groups - pp. 201-236
over pp. 210-225 Leaders
Areas of emerged because of became greater with across the
the U.S. U.S.
"Influential Personalities"
projectdue 1. CURRENT UNIT
Differences
1/30 Quiz Events in
2/2 Cooperative groups -
2. LAST
between
the areas
UNIT
the U.S.
over pp. 228-234
3. NEXT UNIT
4. BIGGER PICTURE
2/6 Review for test

2/7 Review for test

2/6 Test Information is listed to help

students see how the current
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860?
unit
descriptive
6
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
is related to other units
QUESTIONS

compare/contrast
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the

UNIT
start of the Civil War? an to course ideas. cause/effect

7 What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?

 The Unit Organizer NAME Elida Cordora
4 BIGGER PICTURE DATE 1/22

The roots and consequences of civil unrest.

2 LAST UNIT /Experience 1 CURRENT UNIT UNIT 3 NEXT UNIT /Experience
CURRENT
Growth of the Nation The Causes of the Civil War The Civil War
is ab
8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP ou t .
..
1/22 Cooperative groups -
over pp. 201-210

was based on
Sectionalism was influenced by
1/28 Quiz
1/29 Cooperative groups - pp. 201-236
over pp. 210-225 Leaders
Areas of emerged because of became greater with across the
"Influential Personalities"
the U.S. U.S.
projectdue
1/30 Quiz
Differences Events in
between the U.S.
2/2 Cooperative groups - the areas
over pp. 228-234

2/6 Review for test

2/7 Review for test

5.
2/6 UNIT
Test MAP
6
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860? descriptive
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
A Unit Paraphrase of the big idea of the unit and acompare/contrast Content
QUESTIONS

How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the

UNIT
Map are
start used
of the to show students how to think about
Civil War? and
cause/effect
structure
What examples
7
the
of sectionalism information
exist in the world today? in the unit.
The Unit Organizer NAME Elida Cordora
4 BIGGER PICTURE DATE 1/22

The roots and consequences of civil unrest.

2 LAST UNIT /Experience 1 CURRENT UNIT UNIT 3 NEXT UNIT /Experience
CURRENT
The Civil War
6.Growth
UNITof the RELATIONSHIPS
Nation The Causes of the Civil War
is ab
8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP ou t .
..
1/22 Cooperative groups -
over pp. 201-210
A list of relationships that reflect
Sectionalism was based on was influenced by
1/28 Quiz
1/29 the central ideas of the unit are
Cooperative groups - pp. 201-236
over pp. 210-225 Leaders
provided so thatAreasstudents
of
the U.S.
can look for emerged because of became greater with across the
"Influential Personalities" U.S.
these relationships as the
projectdue
1/30 Quiz
content Events
Differences of in
between the U.S.
2/2the unit is learned. the areas
Cooperative groups -
over pp. 228-234

2/6 Review for test

2/7 Review for test

2/6 Test

6
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860? descriptive
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTIONS

compare/contrast
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the

UNIT
start of the Civil War? cause/effect

7 What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?

The Unit Organizer NAME Elida Cordora
4 BIGGER PICTURE DATE 1/22

The roots and consequences of civil unrest.

2 LAST UNIT /Experience 1 CURRENT UNIT UNIT 3 NEXT UNIT /Experience
CURRENT
Growth of the Nation The Causes of the Civil War The Civil War
is ab
8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP ou t .
..
1/22 Cooperative groups -
over pp. 201-210

was based on
Sectionalism
1/28 Quiz 7. UNIT SELF-TEST QUESTIONS was influenced by

1/29 Cooperative groups - pp. 201-236

over pp. 210-225 Leaders
Areas of emerged because of became greater with across the
"Influential Personalities"
the U.S.
Questions that students can use to U.S.
projectdue
Differences
1/30 Quiz
check understanding
between ofEvents in
the U.S.big ideas
the
2/2 Cooperative groups - the areas
over pp. 228-234
and relationships in the unit are listed.
2/6 Review for test

2/7 Review for test

2/6 Test

6
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860? descriptive
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTIONS

compare/contrast
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the

UNIT
start of the Civil War? cause/effect

7 What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?

The Unit Organizer NAME Elida Cordora
4 BIGGER PICTURE DATE 1/22

The roots and consequences of civil unrest.

2 LAST UNIT /Experience

Growth of the Nation

1
8. UNIT SCHEDULE
CURRENT UNIT UNIT
CURRENT
The Causes of the Civil War The Civil War
3 NEXT UNIT /Experience

is ab
8 UNIT SCHEDULE 5 UNIT MAP ou t .
..
1/22 Cooperative groups -
over pp. 201-210 To help students organize
1/28 Quiz
task Sectionalism
was based onmanagement and was influenced by

1/29 Cooperative groups -

over pp. 210-225 completion, experiences
pp. 201-236
that
Leaders
Areas of across the
"Influential Personalities"
the U.S. promote learning and show
emerged because of became greater with
U.S.
projectdue
1/30 Quiz students
Differences what
between
they
Events in
the U.S.
have
2/2 Cooperative groups - thelearned
areas are listed.
over pp. 228-234

2/6 Review for test

2/7 Review for test

2/6 Test

6
What was sectionalism as it existed in the U. S. of 1860? descriptive
UNIT SELF-TEST

RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTIONS

compare/contrast
How did the differences in the sections of the U.S. in 1860 contribute to the

UNIT
start of the Civil War? cause/effect

7 What examples of sectionalism exist in the world today?

 NAME Elida Cordora
The Unit Organizer The Causes of the Civil War DATE 1/22
9 Expanded Unit Map is a b
out.
..

was based on the Sectionalism was influenced by

Areas of the pp. 201-236 Leaders of

U.S. change
developed because of became greater with
such as
ded the Differences -Henry Clay
Events in the -Stephen Douglas
between the U.S. -Zachary Taylor
e
ed the

areas
which inclu
d th

-Harriet Beecher Stowe

and included such as -Douglas Filmore
lude

and includedand included -John Brown

includ

Social Political Economic -1820 Missouri Compromise-Jefferson Davis

h inc

Differences Differences Differences -1846 Mexican War -Abraham Lincoln

which

-1850 Compromise of 1850

whic

-1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

West -1852Uncle Tom's Cabin
-1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
-1854 Republican Party formed
-1854 Bleeding Kansas
South -1857 Dred Scott Case
9. EXPANDED UNIT MAP -1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates
-1859 John Brown's Raid
-1860 Lincoln Elected
North
As the unit progresses, the basic UNIT -1860 South Carolina Secedes
-1861 Confederacy formed
MAP from the first page of the Unit
Organizer is expanded with key summary
10 information about the
QUESTIONS
SELF-TEST

How did national events and leaders pull the different sections of the U.S. apart?
UNIT
NEW

content of the unit.

 NAME Elida Cordora
The Unit Organizer The Causes of the Civil War DATE 1/22
9 Expanded Unit Map is a b
out.
..

was based on the Sectionalism was influenced by

10.
AreasNEW
U.S.
of the UNIT SELF-TEST
pp. 201-236 QUESTIONSLeaders
change
of
developed because of became greater with
such as

ded the
-Henry Clay
As the unit progresses, new questions Differences
between the
Events in the
U.S.
-Stephen Douglas
-Zachary Taylor
e
ed the

areas
that seem important about the content of
which inclu
d th

-Harriet Beecher Stowe

and included such as -Douglas Filmore
lude

and includedand included -John Brown

includ

the unit are listed or old questions can be Social Political Economic -1820 Missouri Compromise-Jefferson Davis
h inc

Differences Differences Differences -1846 Mexican War -Abraham Lincoln

modified.
which

-1850 Compromise of 1850

whic

-1850 Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

West -1852Uncle Tom's Cabin
-1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
-1854 Republican Party formed
-1854 Bleeding Kansas
South -1857 Dred Scott Case
-1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates
-1859 John Brown's Raid
-1860 Lincoln Elected
North -1860 South Carolina Secedes
-1861 Confederacy formed

10
QUESTIONS
SELF-TEST

How did national events and leaders pull the different sections of the U.S. apart?
UNIT
NEW
Activity: Consider the following
while viewing the video(s):
• How did the Unit Organizer help the teacher provide
the type of instruction required to reach each
student?
• What instructional principles did the teacher employ
when using the Unit Organizer with her students?
• How did the teacher’s use of the Unit Organizer
increase the likelihood that she was promoting the
development of literacy for each student in her class?
• What suggestions would you make to improve both
the learning of critical content and the literacy
development of each student?
 Discussion
• In what ways can the instructional methods
illustrated help students to become active and
independent learners?
• How might the instructional methods
illustrated help students manage the
information in your content area?
• How could you use the instructional methods
illustrated to give students practice on note
taking in an organized and logical way?
• How can the instructional methods illustrated
give vulnerable students greater access to the
curriculum?