Teaching for Understanding (TFU) Framework

Source: http://learnweb.harvard.edu/alps/tfu/pop1e.cfm

Grade and Subject: Our Colonial Past (7th Grade)
Overarching Understanding Goals (Throughlines) How do we find out the truth about things that happened long ago or far away? How can you connect your personal ideals, interests and passions to your school work? How can we learn from the study of history? Why does it matter? What are the strengths and limitations of different genres of writing?
Generative Topic: People in Colonial History
Unit-Long Understanding Goals Students will understand and appreciate the strengths and limits of the genre of biography for studying colonial history. Students will understand how the values of those who founded our country shape it today. Students will understand how sources shape the picture we get of historical figures and times. Students will understand how individuals and their positions in society contribute to and are shaped by the times they lived.
	UGs	Understanding Performances	Ongoing Assessment
Introductory Performance(s)	#1 #4	The biography of personal interest.	Feedback: Informal and oral, by peers and teachers, written reflections by students Criteria: Developed collaboratively by students and teacher.
Guided Inquiry Perfomance(s)	#1 #2 #3 #4	The founding fathers project.	Feedback: Informal and oral, by peers and teachers, written reflections by students Criteria: Developed collaboratively by students and teacher. synthesized as assessment sheet by teacher.
Culminating Performance(s)	#1 #2 #3 #4	A colonial life album	Feedback: Informal and oral, by peers and teachers, written reflections by students. Formal written evaluation by student and teacher. Criteria: Described on assessment sheet. used to guide process by students, peers, teachers. Used to evaluate final product by student and teacher.