Overarching Understanding Goals "The thing I most want my students to understand after this course or year are..." Become an excellent observer by using the sixth sense (emotions) as well as the basic five senses. (Observations are the foundation of science.) Look for and attempt to understand connections in the world. (Everything is influenced by other things, everything is somehow connected.) Consider and assess how she/he personally connects to the world. (Understanding personal connections helps one understand themself and his/her environment.) Record, contemplate and communicate her/his findings to others. (Sharing is an essential human trait.)
Generative Topic Study of Genetics (classical and modern) with a student Family Tree.	Unit-Long Understanding Goals "Students will understand..." Mendel's basic rules/laws How to apply rules to probability Modern Genetics including working of DNA How to construct a Pedigree Application of Genetic Rules to real data (from family)
Performances of Understanding "Students will build toward achieving the understanding goals by..." Traditionally studying two or three chapters of Genetics in a Life Science book. Doing Punnett Squares and probability analysis. Building a family Tree/Pedigree. Collecting genetic trait data from the family. Making predictions and explaining data with application of genetic rules. Think about it for your work: 1. How might you connect your students' families to their school work? Perhaps family histories as well as genetics could become part of your curriculum.	Ongoing Assessment "Students will get feedback on their performances by ..." Peer checks of homework assignments Teacher evaluation of notebooks A test on traditional Genetic Rules Teacher check of Family Tree building Final evaluation of Family Tree with a 5x5 rubric Think about it for your work: 1. How do/could peer evaluations play a role in your curricula?

Pictures of Practice Contents Introduction The Colonial Biography Unit (7th Grade History) A Year of Seventh Grade English A Year of Eighth Grade Science The Jazz Unit Snapshot Using the CCDT to Develop Generative Topics