This unit can be adapted to teach many types of students ranging from special needs to regular education. One can increase the difficulty level by providing more detailed information and experimentation in regards to the solar system. In addition, the students could be required to write laboratory reports and observation reports during the experimentation lessons. The amount of detail required in the reports could be adapted to the level of writing ability of the students. The teaching methodology used in this unit would be appropriate for any student in the primary level of education. Exploration, questioning, and hands on lessons are always appropriate for any student as it addresses the need for multi-modality teaching.
ASSESSMENT
Assessments are a vital tool in education. However, due to the severe nature of my class, my assessments look different. I observe behaviors and skills using checklists. I assign projects using cooperative learning techniques. Cooperative learning places different students with differing abilities together to work on a project. Each student contributes what he or she is able to in the completion of the project. All students in the group share the grade of the project. With this technique, many students can be included in the lessons. Cooperative learning also provides students with opportunities for practicing social skills, sharing, resolving conflicts, etc. In addition, verbal questioning strategies can also be used to address assessment. With careful preparation, picture boards can be created to provide a forum of potential answers to choose from with either pointing or naming.
I often use a "Jeopardy" game to assess the knowledge my students have gained during an instructional unit. I gather the information presented to my students and create categories and questions for my students to answer. (In my "Jeopardy" game, I ask the questions and the students point to a picture or verbally respond to the question with an answer.) For example, I may assess vocabulary by creating a category of heavenly bodies. Each question would include a picture of some body in space (i.e. moon, planet, sun, star, earth, etc). I would then ask the question, "What is this called?" My students always enjoy playing this game because is a fun and painless may to do work in the classroom. It is also a way to the students actively involved in the learning and assessing process.