Backward Design Activity

What will our final project look like?

What do we need to know?
What activities, sequence, and resources are best suited to accomplish our goals?
Whether you are planning a wedding, party or presentation, it is valuable to develop a plan that will help give vision to your project. Understanding by
Design (UBD) or BACKWARDS DESIGN is best described as PLANNING WITH THE END IN MIND. We begin by first clarifying the learning we seek—the final
results (Stage 1). Then, we think about the assessment evidence needed to show that we have achieved that desired learning (Stage 2). Finally, plan the
means to the end—the activities and resources we must complete to achieve our goals (Stage 3). We have found that backward design, whether applied
by individuals or committees, helps avoid the twin sins of creative freedom-inefficiency and lack of purpose. Begin by completing the activities in this
package.
- Modified from: https://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/publications/UbD_WhitePaper0312.pdf

Stage 1—Identify Desired Results

What should we know & understand? What should we be able to do? What will it look like?

TASK 1: What is your vision/mission statement?

AS a group, develop a vision/mission statement that identifies the intent/purpose of your presentation. Inquiry activity:

AS you work on your project, revisit your mission statement and revise as you wish. What is a mission /vision statement?
Go online and explore more than 2 understandings of
 Our mission statement on ______________: these terms. tHen complete the following sentences:
enter date here

A vision statement is…

A mission statement is…

 Our mission statement on ______________:
enter date here

 Our mission statement on ______________:

enter date here

 Our FINAL mission statement on ______________:

enter date here

1
TASK 2: What will your final project “look” like?
Imagine it is SHOWCASE DAY. You are about to “have a conversation” about your presentation with the mayor of Lethbridge. What will this conversation
look like? To prepare, answer the questions below:

What should we know & understand?

1. Begin by “wondering” about your topic and recording any questions you have.
I WONDER….

What is the project going to be like

What will the people be like
Who are we presenting to
Are they youth like us

2. Using your questions for inspiration, IDEATE an exhaustive list of possible information you should know. Then narrow your ideas down
into ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS in the space below.
ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS you think you should know:

2
What should we be able to do?

What will our presentation look like? (HOW will you present it?)

3
Stage 2—Determine Assessment Evidence
How will we know if we have achieved our desired results? Complete the sentence below by identifying the criteria you will use to measure if your
presentation matches your vision. (you should have more than one criteria…)

Our presentation is successful if:

Are there any of your REQURED SKILL activities that can help you with Stage 2? If so, list them below, then complete the activities you’ve identified.

4
 Stage 3—Plan Activities & Resources
Scope & Sequence Time Management Activity
What activities, sequence, and resources are best suited to accomplish our goals?
Outline a SCOPE & SEQUENCE of how you will complete your project. SCOPE is a reference to WHAT activities you will do, SEQUENCE identifies
WHEN you will do it. In order to help you complete your SCOPE & SEQUENCE, complete the activities below:

TASK 1: What tasks need to be completed and in what order will you complete them?
As a group, identify ALL of the TASKS/activities that will have to be completed by your group. Then, number them in the sequence or order in which you
will complete them. Finally, assign each task to a group member.

SEQUENCE SCOPE: Project Task Member SEQUENCE SCOPE: Project Task Member
________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________
________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________
________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________
________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________
________ ________________________________________ _________ ________ ________________________________________ _________

TASK 2: In what order will you complete your skills?

As a group, discuss when you will complete each activity identified below and number them in the sequence or order in which you will complete them.

SEQUENCE SCOPE: Skill Activities

_________ Collaboration What does it mean to be an “active listener”?

What is the value of “listening for potential?”
_________ Working with Purpose: What will your final project look like?
Backward Design & What do you need to know?
Time Management What activities, sequence, and resources are best suited to accomplish our goals?
_________ Presentation: What medium will you present it in?
_________ Develop Empathy: Who are the stakeholders in your community?
_________ Collaboration: What makes a great team mate?
_________ Presentation: What makes an engaging (or interactive) presentation?
_________ Presentation: How do you engage an audience in a discussion?

5
TASK 3: What resources will you need to complete your project?
Using the prompts below, create a list of resources you will need to access as you complete your presentation.
 Books

 Websites

 Media

 Technology

 People

 Materials

 Other

Now that you’ve considered the resources you’ll need, are there any TASKS you need to add in TASK 1 on page 5?

6
TASK 4: WHEN will you complete your tasks and activities? When will you access your resources
Using the calendar below, create a TIMELINE of what you will do each day to ensure you complete your project on time.

Creative Design 9-Long Term Project Plan

March 2019
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
4 5 6 7 8

11 12 13 14 15

18 19 20 21 22

21 Classes Left
25 26 27 28 29

20 Classes Left 19 Classes Left

7
 April 2019
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1 2 3 4 5

NO SCHOOL

18 Classes Left 17 Classes Left

8 9 10 11 12

16 Classes Left 15 Classes Left

15 16 17 18 19

NO SCHOOL

14 Classes Left 13 Classes Left

22 23 24 25 26

NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL

29 30
PEER REVIEW ACTIVITY

12 Classes Left

8
 May 2019
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1 2 3

11 Classes Left 10 Classes Left

6 7 8 9 10

9 Classes Left 8 Classes Left

13 14 15 16 17

7 Classes Left 6 Classes Left 5 Classes Left

20 21 22 23 24

NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL

4 Classes Left

27 28 29 30 31

Building Community Inquiry

Presentation DUE
(end of period)

3 Classes Left 2 Classes Left

1 Class Left

9
 June 2019
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
3 4 5 6 7

Showcase Trial Run Showcase Trial Reflection

10 11 12 13 14

Showcase Debrief
SHOWCASE FINAL COURSE REFLECTION
DUE

17 18 19 20 21

Last Day of Classes / Yote

Day

24 25 26 27 28

10