Unit Plans

Unit Plans are detailed documents for each strand in math.  The specific Ontario Curriculum Expectations that are to be taught are addressed in each unit plan, as well as a detailed listing of applicable resources to help guide your instruction.  Appropriate learning tools (i.e. manipulative's) are also listed for teacher reference along with sample problems.  These plans usually highlight key pages from a students text which correspond to the concepts/skills being taught during said unit.

An example of a Unit Plan for Grade 4 Geometry & Spatial Sense, courtesy of the Simcoe County District School board, is outlined below:

Unit 6: Geometry & Spatial Sense

Overall Expectations: 

4m58 identify quadrilaterals and classify them by their geometric properties, and compare various angles to benchmarks;

4m59 construct three-dimensional figures, using two-dimensional shapes

Key Principles Making Math Meaningful pg 283-315, 455-460	Specific Expectations (ie is a ‘must’)	Examples Sample Problems (optional)	Learning Tools	Resources Effective Guides 4-6: Geometry pg. 14-30, 39-52
Many of the same properties and attributes that apply to 2-D shapes apply to 3-D shapes.  The fact that every shape can be “cut-up” and rearranged into other shapes is a fundamental part. Many geometric properties and attributes are related to measurements. Children’s ability to conceptualize shape develops through different stages.   Level 0: Visualization    “What individual shapes look like”   Level 1: Analysis Shapes are a part of a group of similar shapes, and begin to take note of the properties.   Level 2: Informal Deduction Apply “if-then” reasoning and are ready to consider simple logical arguments about shape properties.   Level 3 and 4 involve more formal work. Using concrete materials to model angles is important at this stage, to help students develop a definition of what an angle is.	4m61: draw the lines of symmetry of two-dimensional shapes, through investigation using a variety of tools and strategies	e.g. Mira, grid paper Use paper folding to compare the symmetry of a rectangle with the symmetry of a square.	Cuisenaire rods geoboard Geometer’s Sketchpad Grid paper Linking cubes Mira pattern blocks protractors sorting circles straws tangrams variety of regular and irregular polygons variety of irregular 2-D shapes 3-D solids (everyday objects such as cereal boxes, soup cans, water bottles etc.) Venn Diagram	Effective Guides 4-6: Geometry pg 79-90 Two-Dimensional Shapes: Comparing Angles Nelson Ch 7 Lesson 7 Super Source (5-6 All Manip Geometry): Place the Mirror, Symmetry All Around, Finding Shapes With Symmetry, Looking for Symmetry
	4m62: identify and compare different types of quadrilaterals (i.e., rectangle, square, trapezoid, parallelogram, rhombus) and sort and classify them by their geometric properties	e.g., sides of equal length; parallel sides; symmetry; number of right angles		Nelson Ch 7 Lesson 1, Ch 7 Supplement A: Comparing Angles Super Source (5-6 All Manip Geometry) What is a Quadrilateral?
	4m63: identify benchmark angles (i.e., straight angle, right angle, half a right angle), using a reference tool, and compare other angles to these benchmarks	“The angle the door makes with the wall is smaller than a right angle but greater than half a right angle.”     Use paper folding to create benchmarks for a straight angle, a right angle, and half a right angle, and use these benchmarks to describe angles found in pattern blocks.		Effective Guides 4-6: Geometry pg 79-90 Two-Dimensional Shapes: Comparing Angles Nelson Ch 7 Supplement A: Comparing Angles
	4m64: relate the names of the benchmark angles to their measures in degrees	e.g., a right angle is 90 degrees		Effective Guides 4-6: Geometry pg 79-90 Two-Dimensional Shapes: Comparing Angles
	4m65: identify and describe prisms and pyramids, and classify them by their geometric properties (i.e., shape of faces, number of edges, number of vertices), using concrete materials			Effective Guides 4-6: Geometry pg 91-107 Three-Dimensional Figures: Construction Challenge  Nelson Ch 11 Lesson 1
	4m66: construct a three-dimensional figure from a picture or model of the figure, using connecting cubes	e.g., use connecting cubes to construct a rectangular prism		Nelson Ch 11 Lesson 2 Super Source (5-6 All Manip Geometry) Master Builder
	4m67: construct skeletons of three-dimensional figures, using a variety of tools, and sketch the skeletons	e.g., straws and modeling clay, toothpicks and marshmallows, Polydrons		Nelson Ch 11 Lesson 3, Supplement Lesson B: Sketching Models
	4m68: draw and describe nets of rectangular and triangular prisms	Create as many different nets for a cube as you can, and share your results with a partner.		Nelson Ch 11 Supplement Lesson A: Using Nets
	4m69: construct prisms and pyramids from given nets;			Nelson Ch 11 Supplement Lesson A: Using Nets Super Source (5-6 All Manip Geometry): Building Pyramids, Penta Nets
	4m70: construct three-dimensional figures, using only congruent shapes	e.g., cube, tetrahedron		Effective Guides 4-6: Geometry pg 91-107 Three-Dimensional figures: Construction Challenge

A great website to utilize for detailed Unit Plans is Illuminations - Resources for Teaching Mathematics.  The link is below:
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Unit.aspx?id=6528