Two Thumbs Up:
Academic Award for Best Use of Literacy Part II: The Lesson
by Jerry Stemach and Carol Seibert
A Revolutionary Approach to Teaching:
Universal Design for Learning
Want to engage ALL of your learners in motivating, meaningful and effective learning?
Universal Design for Learning is a “revolutionary” approach that helps your diverse learners
activate and build background knowledge that supports the acquisition of new knowledge
make connections between new knowledge and themselves, their world and other information they encounter
express their thoughts, feelings and opinions about a topic
engage in ongoing exploration and acquisition of new knowledge
Check out this “revolutionary” UDL approach to introducing a unit on the American Revolution. This sample lesson can quickly and easily be adapted and applied to any area of your curriculum. The lesson offers the following instructional strategies:
multiple means of representation (video, text, discussion)
multiple ways for learners to apply, express and demonstrate learning
multiple methods of engaging learners and helping them to make personal and meaningful connections to their learning.
Remember…
The goal of designing a UDL lesson is to meet the needs of the widest range of learners possible. This doesn’t mean that you will address every need every time. It does ensure that more of your diverse learners will be engaged and successful as they make connections, acquire knowledge and reflect upon the topic at hand.
Getting Ready
Everything you need for this lesson is available here. Simply click on the links provided below.
Download and Print the chapter from the PDF file, For Liberty
(Start-to-Finish Blue Library, 4-5 readability) (2 sided so it matches
the audio).
Download the MP3 audio file to an MP3 player such as an iPod®. The MP3 file is a fluent reading of the passage by a professional narrator.
Here's how: On a PC, RIGHT CLICK on the MP3 link, choose SAVE TARGET AS... On a Mac, press CTRL key, click the MP3 link, then SAVE LINK AS....
Browse to the location where you want the file saved. Click OK.
If you prefer, play the MP3 from here over your computer speakers.
At the appropriate point in the lesson, you and your students will
view theIncite! video American Revolution: Causes of the War over the
web.
If you want to make the entire book, audio recording and Incite DVD
available, order them before you begin the lesson. Call
800.999.4660, option 2 and request Code H04MWB for the paperback, Code H04AWB for the Audio Book and Code IN04WB for the Incite Learning Series.
The Lesson
Hook and Anchor Time: 10 minutes
Engage learners and build background knowledge with the 5-minute Incite! video on the American Revolution—Causes of the War. The video begins with a timeline that takes the viewer to the 1770s.
View the video. Tip: If the image 'jerks', restart the video
Have learners work in pairs to brainstorm the following:
a. The problem(s) between the Patriots and Great Britain
(e.g. taxation without representation, Great Britain wouldn’t let
Patriots have a voice/vote in decisions about their own lives, etc.)
b. The learners’ thoughts and opinions about the Patriots and the
actions they took to communicate their feelings and issues to the
British Parliament. (e.g., What would learners have done differently, etc.)
c.
The learners’ thoughts and ideas about people TODAY and the action they
take to communicate their feelings, opinions and needs to our
government. (e.g. peace/anti-war marches, letters to members of Congress, the president, etc.)
Connect with Text Time: 5 minutes
Give learners an opportunity to apply their background knowledge to considerately-written text while reading and/or listening to the first chapter of For Liberty (Start-to-Finish Blue Library, Don Johnston Incorporated).
Distribute print copies of chapter one, For Liberty.
Have learners listen to the audio for the chapter as they follow along in the text.
As they read/listen, direct learners to visualize the scene (make a mental movie) that parallels the text.
Practice, Apply and Demonstrate Knowledge Time: 25-30 minutes
Offer a variety of opportunities for learners to work alone, in pairs, or small groups to apply, demonstrate and express their knowledge, thoughts and opinions. For example:
Act out an interview of a Boston Tea Party participant or a Loyalist responding to this event.
Create an advertisement to recruit participants for the Boston Tea Party (billboard, newspaper ad, or TV/radio commercial).
Make a list of creative ideas that Patriots can use to get the British government to hear and respond to their grievances.
Survey the learners to determine how many agree that the Boston Tea Party was a good idea. Share the results with the class.
Encourage Learners to Expand and Build Upon Their New Knowledge
Build on the interest generated by the lesson. Provide a variety of engaging resources to choose from, including:
Web sites
eText (with or without a text reader)
Trade books and text books (multiple readability levels, multiple genres)
Magazine articles
Music of the time
Art and graphics
Personal letters, journals, and diaries
Newspaper articles
Their homework assignment: Have learners explore at least one new resource, then share what they learned — and how they felt about what they learned — with a small group (3-4 learners) the next day.
Jerry Stemach and Carol Seibert invite you to email them with questions or comments about considerate text, UDL and reading and writing strategies.
