Planning Day 1

The school released the teachers on each stage for a session by engaging several casual teachers and they worked with a facilitator at each step. The teacher-librarian and support teacher were also released for the day.

Working in stage groups, the teachers listed all the units currently taught in unit form (generally over a two-year period) in Human Society and Its Environment, Science and Technology, English, Personal Development and Health.

• A framework for the two-year cycle

Grouping the units

The units were then grouped together under an overarching idea or concept (these are often referred to as 'big ideas' or 'rich concepts' in planning resources). The discussion provided opportunities for the staff to clarify the content of the units and some units were placed under two concepts.

• Chart of possible overlapping concepts

• Identifying overlapping concepts

• Mapping units currently taught

• Grouping of units

Identifying links

The next step was to identify links from the outcomes in the other key learning areas and add these to the planning sheet.

• Possible integration of units