Potential activities should emerge from the list of learning outcomes that you have developed. One way to look at the activities you select for your mini-unit is to use the concept of "instructional foci." Instructional foci are the means with which you will facilitate students to attain the objectives you have created. For example, "understanding the nature of wave movement," is not an example of an instructional foci. It's an objective. However, using a toy slinky to design experiments through which wave movement might be observed is an example of an instructional foci. Instructional foci can be reading textbooks, field trips and experiences, case studies, debates, role play/simulations, cooperative group activities, hands-on experiences, guest speakers. Each serves as focal points for a type of classroom experience designed to facilitate learning of science objectives. Let's look at an example instructional foci for a mini-unit on human genetics.
Mini-Unit:
Human genetics Objectives: 1. The students will
understand the patterns of inheritance for several genetic
diseases. (cognition) 2. The students will
be able to construct pedigrees and use them to determine
inheritance patterns. (cognitive skill) 3. The students will
be inclined to express ethical and moral positions with
regard to genetic diseases. (affect) Potential
Instructional Foci
Each of these instructional foci has an integrity of its own. Each can be used to achieve one or more different outcomes.
List potential instructional foci (activities) for the intended learning outcomes that you developed. Realize that some of the your instructional foci may score low on a feasibility scale (e.g. field trip); however, it is important to investigate all possibilities at this stage before you actually write your lesson plans. And that's the next step.