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Occupation Planning

The document outlines objectives and plans for an occupation focused on caring for sheep. It includes goals related to developing comfort with and responsibility for the sheep, as well as mastery of relevant scientific concepts. A three-period lesson cycle is proposed: 1) introducing concepts and problems; 2) student exploration, research, and activities; 3) demonstrating understanding through presentations and written work. Student choice is emphasized to promote individual interests and meaningful contributions to caring for the farm's sheep.

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delia atena
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21 views5 pages

Occupation Planning

The document outlines objectives and plans for an occupation focused on caring for sheep. It includes goals related to developing comfort with and responsibility for the sheep, as well as mastery of relevant scientific concepts. A three-period lesson cycle is proposed: 1) introducing concepts and problems; 2) student exploration, research, and activities; 3) demonstrating understanding through presentations and written work. Student choice is emphasized to promote individual interests and meaningful contributions to caring for the farm's sheep.

Uploaded by

delia atena
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Occupation Planning: Objectives for Evaluation

Objectives:

Engagement Goals:

• To feel comfortable with sheep


• To gain a sense of ownership, responsibility, care
• To acquire motivation to manage sheep and wool as part of farm economy

Kay Concept Mastery Goals:

To know the vocabulary and be able to explain the following structures, functions,
and processes:

• cell structure and function


• cell types, tissue types, organs and systems
• systems of the mammal
• characteristics of mammals
• classification and evolution of sheep
• basics of genetics and reproductive process

Skill Goals:

• Note-taking on factual readings


• Note-taking from presentations
• Research strategies: finding relevant sources, taking notes, crediting sources in
bibliography
• Writing skills: brief factual report writing; proposal writing (considering purpose,
audience, organization for effect, editing)
• Oral Presentation skills: confidence, accuracy, use of visual aids

Work Management Skills:

• Keeping a productive pace: working a little every day towards goals and deadlines
• Meeting deadlines for reading and writing assignments
• Collaborating with group members:
Contributing fair share
Allowing others to contribute; listening to others; respecting others’ ideas
• Revising to improve the quality of work

1
Humanities Connections:

• Awareness of history of sheep in human civilization


• Awareness of economic value of wool and meat in various cultures

Mathematics Connections:

• Measurement: sheep anatomy and habitat


• Calculation of costs to maintain sheep vs. potential profit of sheep products

Creative Expressions Connections:

• Sketching
• Poetry writing
• Sheep anatomy in art project
• Cell model art installation
• Fiber art

2
Occupation Planning: Pedagogical Consideration of Learning Cycle
(3 Period Lesson)

1st Period:
• introduce concepts
• provide vocabulary
• initiate challenge
• elicit interest and problem-solving ideas
• connect to whole farm/ whole community enterprise

• Initiate group goal setting for real problem-solving and purposeful tasks that are
important to the community:

What should we do with the sheep? How can we improve their quality of life? How
can we increase their economic value at the farm?

• Offer a sensorial or experiential introduction to the focus of the project:

Measure, photograph, sketch sheep; clean stall; make repairs

• Present key concepts (should be brief):

What are Key Concepts?


Fundamental concepts for expansion and extension of knowledge
The framework (backbone) of knowledge on which the details depend or around
which the details are organized and understood; the framework allows us to
classify and connect ideas.
Essential vocabulary that is an aid to memory; classified nomenclature
Scaffolding for structures of the mind

Lessons on:
cell structure and function; organelles
Osmosis / diffusion
systems of mammal: sheep vs. human
types of cells and tissues
introduction to genetics: dominant / recessive traits, genotype / phenotype, Punnett
Square, mitosis / meiosis

• Reading material on key concepts (linguistic follow-up to keys and to experiential /


social / economic aspects)

Cell structure and function


Classification of animals
Characteristics of mammals
History of sheep / role in human civilization
Systems of mammals

3
The Role of Choice:
Students are offered choices in many facets of the second period (exploration). Choice
provides individual motivation, a sense of unique identity in the group and unique
contribution to the project, and an opportunity for individual interests to be pursued and
nurtured

It is important to recognize individual interest and guide students in making productive


choices:

• Recognize interest expressed in student questions or a particular line of questioning


• Recognize interest expressed by students wanting to “do” something concrete
• Offer opportunities for unique roles in the group or unique contributions by group
members that will be valued by the rest of the community (not necessarily intellectual
contributions)
• Build from the familiar to the unfamiliar if the student demonstrates a need to repeat
familiar concepts before moving on or is not ready for a higher level of difficulty
• Offer novel choices and higher levels of challenge for students ready to move on
(Remember that the best balance is support and challenge).
• Choice may be spontaneous, but may also need more experience, exploration, and
reflecting. (Students can make quick choices that are not productive choices for
them). They may need to be stimulated by more possibilities and experiential
activities.
.

2nd Period:
Student engagement in:
Exploration
Discovery
Inquiry
Dialogue
Research
Experimentation
Activities
Visits
Production
Composition

• sketch, measure, photograph sheep


• clean / repair stall
• visit Tony Paskevitch, Molly Bartlett
• research, write, and illustrate concepts
• research cost of maintenance vs. economic value of sheep products
• draw anatomy of sheep charts
• incorporate anatomy charts in art piece
• create cell model art installation in barn or multi-purpose room
4
• discuss pros and cons of domestication of sheep / dependence on humans
• discuss economic value of sheep products
• read about general care of sheep (nutrition, behavior, environment, health)—probably
split up by topic and have individuals report on their topic
• research individually for proposal of sheep care, maintenance, and economic plan

Adult interaction during second period: Students need many interactive check points to
keep them exploring and to elicit further understanding:
Ask questions
Ask for explanations
Ask for brief summaries of research so far
Facilitate discussion of issues
Redirect research
Check in on individual student progress and offer guidance
Give feedback on drafts of concept and proposal writing
Give feedback on oral explanations
Coach oral presentations
Have lots of mini-conferences with individual students on their work
Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.
Listen. Clarify. Reinforce.

3rd Period: Student demonstration of understanding and mastery


Students must be accountable for what they have learned by expressing knowledge,
understanding, and the accomplishment of their work. Individuals need to express such
understanding about all key concepts and about their own individual pursuits in the
project. The larger group is responsible for articulating the overall accomplishment of the
project to the rest of the community.

Ways of expressing mastery and understanding for the Sheep Occupation:

Written concept explanations and illustrations in binder


Vocabulary quizzes (should be minimal)
Anatomy illustrations and oral explanations of how systems function
Individual oral “quizzes” or brief factual reports explaining concepts
Written proposal for acquisition, breeding, and maintenance of sheep
Oral presentation to community on key concepts and/or proposal

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