Iowa History the UbD Way!
by Sue McCracken
Taylor's totally hand-crafted log cabin made from sticks, bark, and other materials he gathered from his yard, is as historically accurate as it is charming! This was one of the many projects students had the choice of making in Mrs. Eeling's fifth grade Iowa History class as part of their UbD unit.
UbD? Understanding by Design. Remember all those late starts this year? Many of them were spent in teacher grade level teams looking at what needs to be taught in unique ways. Instead of asking students to memorize a time line of the important events in Iowa's road to becoming a state, for example, students explored the question, "Once explorers arrived in Iowa, why did it take so long for it to become a state?" This type of "essential question" (and the answer, or "enduring understanding") is the heart of planning a UbD unit. Teachers decide exactly what they want students to be able to know and do when the unit is complete, and then write questions that help students explore the 'whys' rather than just learning the facts. Then activities are designed which allow students to choose learning projects based on their interests that will help answer those questions.
As for Taylor and his cabin, the fifth grade trip to Living History Farms gave him the real-life example of what pioneer life was like when visiting the 1860's cabin. His replica is authentic and will be something that will help him remember Iowa History long after he leaves the fifth grade classroom for the last time!
