Unit Structure Overview
Each unit or theme should be carefully designed to integrate learning across developmental domains. A unit may span several days or weeks; duration should follow children’s engagement, learning goals, and opportunities to deepen inquiry. Units are one planning option, not a requirement for every age group or program.
Unit/Theme Title and Duration
Choose themes that are:
- Meaningful and relevant to children's lives and communities
- Rich enough to support extended investigation
- Connected to real-world experiences and phenomena
- Culturally responsive and inclusive
Essential Questions
Frame each unit with 2-4 essential questions that:
- Guide inquiry and exploration
- Have multiple possible answers and interpretations
- Promote higher-order thinking
- Can be revisited throughout the unit with deepening understanding
Example for a "Growing Things" unit: "How do living things change over time? What do plants and animals need to grow and be healthy?"
Key Vocabulary
Select a manageable set of useful words for repeated, meaningful use; adjust the number to children’s ages, languages, and learning goals. Include:
- Content-specific academic vocabulary
- Process words (observe, compare, predict, measure)
- Translations for dual language learners
- Visual representations and real objects to support understanding
Domain Integration Points
Plan meaningful connections across developmental domains; review overall coverage across experiences and time rather than forcing every domain into every unit. Create an integration web showing how activities connect mathematics, literacy, science, social-emotional learning, and other areas within the theme's context.
Activities Calendar
Develop a weekly or daily activities calendar that features a balance of:
- Small group focused instruction
- Large group community experiences
- Individual exploration and practice
- Indoor and outdoor learning
- Active and quiet activities
- Teacher-guided and child-initiated experiences
Materials and Resources Guidance
For each unit, provide recommendations that balance:
- Open-ended materials: Items with multiple uses that support creativity (blocks, loose parts, natural materials)
- Closed materials: Tools with specific purposes that teach particular skills (puzzles, measuring tools, specific manipulatives)
- Sustainable resources: Reusable, natural, or recycled materials that model environmental responsibility
- Natural materials: Items from nature that connect children to the environment
- Culturally relevant resources: Books, artifacts, and materials that authentically represent diverse cultures and experiences