This unit is written for children in the elementary classroom. I plan to use as a model to write the lessons the one adopted by Library Power for the City of New Haven which is based on the work by Mike Hibard from District 15, in Southbury, Connecticut: a performance base learning assessment task model. I follow the universal planning tool that uses content standards as the core of the performance task to be performed and where the assessments are built throughout the completion of the task and as part of the learning process. The list of all the content standards in the areas of language and visual arts, mathematics, social studies, and library media and technology targeted are refered by number in Appendix A.
This unit is being written with the content standards for the visual and language arts, social studies and social development which are content specific to the elementary grades (Kindergarten to grade 4). For example, some of the tasks the child should be able to perform are: create an artwork using diverse mediums and techniques; design a physical structure; identify mountains, lakes and rivers; retell personal stories through the use of the writing process. The students will make special projects requiring a hands-on art project and an oral presentation. Because the main topic is art, the social development standards will be worked in through the use of how to provide feedback, expressing feelings through the arts, etc.
The work habits that the unit will focus on will be attending to details and accuracy. This will be accomplished through questioning techniques, retellings, oral and written reports, as well as through the use of games. The thinking skills that will be focused on the area of initial understanding will be to sequence, and list different passages of their personal stories which will end being depicted through the use of the arts.