Source: Easthampton Public Schools

Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS AND ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

In 2007 district curriculum committee members began a study of Understanding by Design (Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins). In 2008 committee members brought this work to the ongoing process of refining the district curriculum by adding enduring understandings and essential questions. Enduring understandings and essential questions are the thread that links units, lessons, and year to year teaching. They provide powerful tools for focusing daily classroom activity on meaningful goals. They are a way to think about our curriculum that helps us answer the question: Why does it matter? We include these samples of enduring understandings and essential questions as a model for what we strive to incorporate in all curricula throughout the district. Enduring Understandings are important ideas that have lasting value beyond the classroom. Essential Questions are questions that probe for deeper meaning and promote inquiry.

History Enduring Understandings Students will understand that Events and actions of the past affect the present and the future. Different perspectives affect the interpretation of history. Culture affects ones individual identity and belief system. Essential Questions

 How has the world changed and how might it change in the future? What has happened in the past and how am I connected to those in the past? How can studying the past help us understand the present world and the future? How does the legacy of earlier groups and individuals influence subsequent generations? In what ways do multiple perspectives better inform our understanding of history? How can looking at multiple points of view help us explain the ideas and actions of individuals and groups? How can examining viewpoints that are different from our own help us explain the actions of others? How can differing points of view affect relations between and within societies? What influences the ways that people learn, perceive the events around them, and make decisions? How does the culture change to accommodate different ideas and beliefs? How and why do beliefs change? What is the role of the individual in their community and as a member of the world community?

Geography Enduring Understandings

Students will understand that People adapt to and modify their environment. Movement and migration of people and ideas affects the past, present, and future. Geography, climate, and natural resources affect the way people live and work. Where can be measured in many different ways. Essential Questions

How does the environment affect us? How do we affect the environment? Why do people move? How does movement affect an existing community? How does movement affect a new community? What makes places unique and different? How does where people live influence how they live? How do maps and globes describe our world? What determines a region?

Civics and Government Enduring Understandings Students will understand that The actions of individuals, groups, and/or institutions affect society through intended and unintended consequences. The distribution of power is a product of existing documents and laws combined with contemporary values and beliefs. Rules provide order, security, and safety. Essential Questions What are the roles and responsibilities of citizens? Can an individual make a difference? How do the rights and responsibilities of citizens reflect their national identity? How do citizens (both individually and collectively) influence government policy? What is power and how is it gained, used, and justified? How are governments created, structured, maintained, and changed? When should society control individuals? Why do we have rules and laws? Whose responsibility is it to make the rules/laws? Who is responsible for enforcing the rules/laws? What happens when rules and laws are broken?

Economics Enduring Understandings Students will understand that Economic systems are structured to meet the needs and wants of different societies. Economics affects all aspects of life. Economic ideas and decisions made in the past have influenced the present. Essential Questions How does something acquire value? What impact does scarcity have on goods and services (production, distribution, and consumption)? Why do people work? Why do we have money? How can the choices we make affect the economy? How does control of land and resources motivate peoples actions? How do economic needs and wants affect decisions of individuals, groups, and institutions (political and social)?