Transcript Big Ideas

How do we get from here
… to here?
BIG IDEAS
What is a Big Idea?
What makes it a Big
Idea?
A big idea…
(From Grant Wiggins, Understanding by Design)
 Is
a focusing lens
 Provides great breadth, connections
 Lies at the heart of expert understanding of
the subject
 Requires uncoverage because its
meaning/value – not obvious, is counterintuitive, prone to misunderstanding
Big Ideas Typically appear as:
(From Grant Wiggins, Understanding by Design)
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Concept (migration, function, quantum)
Theme (“Coming of Age,” “Go West…”
Debate (“nature vs. nurture”, conservatives vs. liberals)
Point of view (deconstruction, vegetarianism)
Paradox (Freedom must have limits, imaginary numbers)
Theory (evolution, Manifest Destiny)
Principle (“All men are created equal”, F=ma)
Underlying assumption (fair play, texts have meaning)
Question (Why leave home? Can we prove it?)
Some questions for identifying
“big ideas”
(From Grant Wiggins, Understanding by Design)
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Does it have many layers and nuances, not obvious to the
naïve or inexperienced person?
Do you have to dig deep to really understand its meanings
and implications – beyond a surface grasp?
Is it prone to misunderstanding and/or disagreement?
Are you likely to change your mind about its meaning and
importance over a lifetime?
Does it yield optimal depth and breadth of insight into the
subject?
Does it reflect the core ideas as judged by experts?
Big Ideas. . .
Sample Big Ideas
From National Boards
Teacher Units
Our Local Native People
Big Ideas:
People will adapt to their environment in
order to survive.
• People have historically formulated myths
and legends to explain occurrences in their
environments.
• Communities create ceremonies to solidify the
major events of their culture.
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Master Artist Tribute Series
Lori Emmington
Big Ideas
Art is a reflection of the culture and time it was made.
 Throughout history, artists have been influenced by artists and
artistic movements that have preceded them.
 A Master Artist is one whose creative ideas, discoveries and
techniques influenced the historical course of art styles and
movements.
 One way that we grow as an artist is to look at other artists'
work, try to understand it aesthetically and then use this
knowledge to continue to improve as an artist.
 A clear understanding of the sensory components (elements of
art) and the organization of these components (principles of
design) is necessary for the creation and the evaluation of
artworks
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Human Systems
(Digestive, Respiratory, Circulatory, and
Excretory)
By Amber
Fontaine
THE BIG IDEAS!
the human body needs systems in order to
function
without one of these systems the human body
would not function on its own
scientists use graphs to show data they collected
in an experiment
the medical profession was developed out of a
need to understand how the body works
Unlocking the Key to the Solar
System
 What
are the “Big Ideas” for this
unit?
Systems operate and move in
an orderly pattern.
Gravity influences the paths,
orbits and processes of
celestial bodies.
The Sun directly affects the
possibility of life and/or
Soaring through
The Solar System
Planet Earth is just a small part of our solar system.
Looking outside of one’s self and surroundings awakens
curiosity and the formulation of new ideas.
Knowing the process of how to solve a mathematical problem
will give one the ability to solve similar problems in different
contexts.
Accumulating knowledge is a never ending process, especially
with the advancement in technology.
Mrs. Kat Bahry
BIG IDEAS
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Authors often provide insights about human experiences
through fiction.
Everybody is entitled to an opinion about what text means, but
the text supports some interpretations more than others.
Might does not make right.
QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
f  x   ax 2  bx  c
BIG IDEAS
 Content: Any quadratic equation can be
solved using the quadratic formula
 Inquiry: Projectile motion can be modeled
with a quadratic equation
 Nature of Math: The Fundamental
Theorem of Algebra determines the
possible number of solutions to an equation
Big Ideas
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Political conflict can lead to
revolution
Historical interpretation is
influenced by one’s perspective
(Loyalists vs. Patriots or North vs.
South)
Compromise is an essential
element in the creation of
historical documents and the
shaping of new governments
The role revolution plays in
shaping new governments and
influencing other nations to
change their governments.
(battles, success and
failure/resources)
Geography played an important
role in the American Revolution
Writing Big Ideas
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Writing is a persuasive, political and powerful act—authors write
to offer their commentary on social, political, religious, and
governmental norms of the age. Critical thinking skills are
necessary to interpret and analyze an author’s views.
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Authors use rhetorical strategies to create characters, plot, and
setting in order to get ideas across. By analyzing how characters
interact with each other and their environment, we can infer what
the author thinks of a particular topic. These topics and how they
are developed in a piece act as the theme(s) of a piece. Readers
can interact with and analyze an author’s themes.
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Students can incorporate their awareness of an author’s writing
techniques into their own writing, and recognize the power in
writing and communication through this process.
THE BIG IDEAS
 Writers
use specific tools (elements) to
communicate to the reader.
 Writers write from and are impacted by
what they know or what has happened in
their life.
 There is structure to good writing.
 Our own perspective impacts our
understanding.
Unit Plan
Sarah Kirby
Big Ideas:
● Weathering, erosion, and deposition act together in a
cycle to wear down and build up the earth’s surface,
consequently these forces shape our landscape.
● Understanding science is often a hands-on process.
● Scientist use their knowledge of math and statistics to
represent their findings.
Fishing for Big Ideas . . .
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Since a big idea has many layers and nuances, how can you
peel your way through the layers of misunderstandings,
disagreements, and/or confusion?
You may not necessarily know what the “big” idea is yet, but
how can you keep probing to break through the surface, to peel
away through the layers of inconsistency until patterns and
answers begin to emerge?
What are some possible big ideas that emerge from your
standards?
What are some big ideas that emerge from the pile of resources
related to your unit topic? –student resource materials, internet,
textbooks, conversations with your colleagues, etc.
Narrow in on the big ideas that you feel most aptly characterize
the nature of your unit. Write these as succinct but meaty
statements – one liners that convey the essence of your topic.
Strategies to arrive at “Big Ideas”
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Concept Mapping
Look for Themes or Patterns
Identify different points of view (“nature vs.
nurture”, conservatives vs. liberals)
Look for Paradoxes (Freedom must have limits,
imaginary numbers)
Look for the subtext in underlying assumptions,
principles, or theories
Misunderstandings
Look for Themes or Patterns
Identify different points of view
Look for Paradoxes
Look for the subtext in underlying
assumptions, principles, or
theories
Misunderstandings