Designing Lessons based on the Sunshine State Standards

The goal of the standards movement is to improve the learning opportunities for all students. In today’s standards-driven system, student learning is the measure of success. The following is a three-step process for designing standards-based lessons.

Step 1. Identify the Standard – Standards are developed by the state of Florida and are intended to identify what all students need to know and be able to do. When designing a lesson write specific, measurable objectives that focus on the standard. Construct the lesson around verbs that describe the actions students must perform to demonstrate mastery of the standard.

An example of a Florida Sunshine State Standard is
SS.D.2.4.1 understand how wages and prices are determined in market, command traditional-based, an mixed economic systems and how economic systems can be evaluated by their ability to achieve broad social goals such as freedom, efficiency, equity, security, and growth.

The following are two student objectives related to the standard: Students will:
a. List five factors that influence an individual’s income
b. Write an essay comparing any two of the three economic systems
Note: Although these objectives were designed to focus on standard SS.D.2.4.1, the objectives also address other standards, for example LA.A.2.4.4/LA.A.2.4.6 synthesis, inference and conclusion/gathering, analyzing, and evaluation information.

Step 2. Select or create an assessment – Students need to know up front how their performance will be measured. It is recommended that only two or three questions be asked for each objective. This will avoid the creation of trick questions, and it will help students develop confidence in their study and test taking skills because the assessment addresses the objectives.

Step 3. Select or create instructional strategies – Selected learning activities should directly address the objectives identified in step one. The following are some of the issues that should be considered when developing leaning activities:
a. Learning styles and readiness levels of your students
b. Logical sequencing
c. Depth vs. Breath
d. Learning vs. Teaching
e. Student as worker vs. Teacher as worker

Important note: When creating a lesson plan always complete the steps in sequence. This creates continuity, consistency, and a strong connection between the Standards, objectives, the assessment, and the learning activities.

Source: Dr. Doug Miller, NESS Program Facilitator