Title: Unpacking the Common Core State Standards Activity
Intended Audience: Administrators, District Leaders, Curriculum Directors and Teachers
Description: This activity promotes a deeper analysis of the standards by asking participants to consider what students need to know and be able to do to demonstrate mastery of the standard.The template provides an opportunity for reflection by comparing and contrasting the expectations of a standard with one’s current curriculum; It also allows for the identification of professional development/ resources needed to implement each standard.
Suggested Uses for this Activity:
Teachers use the unpacking tool for analyzing English Language Arts Common Core State Standards
Materials Necessary:
1. Unpacking template
2. Copies of Standards or online access to Standards
3. Bloom’s Taxonomy chart or Webb’s Depth of Knowledge chart
For further information/feedback: Contact—Katy Sykes:
Facilitator’s GuideAppendix A Activity /
Activity Description
This activity can be done with any size audience. Begin by dividing the participants into small groups of 5-8 persons in each group. These templates is ideal for those already familiar with the basic structure of the Common Core State Standards and are exploring teaching ideas, curriculum expectations and professional development needs. The time allotted for this activity will vary from one audience to the next but beginning needs should start at 60 minutes.
Goal of the Activity: Teachers will analyze standards and begin conversations about what the standards mean and how to implement them in the classroom.
Pre-session Preparation: Provide each participant with unpacking templates and Bloom’s Taxonomy/Webb’s Depth of Knowledge Chart.
TIME / CONTENT/ACTIVITIES / MATERIALS /5 min. / Introduction/Purposes/Outcomes:
Present slides 1-4 (see notes) / Powerpoint
15 minutes / Unpacking the Standards
Present slide 5 (see notes) / Powerpoint
Handout of the Standards to show progression such as on the www.corestandards.org site.
Independent Practice – Small Group Discussion
5 min. / Presentation: Sample Unpacking Template(s)
Present slide 6 (see notes) and/or 7 (see notes)
The presenter should talk through the sample before participants complete the activity independently or in small groups. / Powerpoint
5-10 min. / Presentation: Higher Level Thinking/Questioning Skills
Present slides 8 and 9(see notes) / Powerpoint
Questioning Handout(s)
20 min. / Presentation: Unpacking
Present slide 10 and 11 (see notes)
This unpacking exercise can be used with any standard at any grade level. Select a standard and identify key terms within that standard which describe the knowledge and task required of students. Underlining the nouns and circling the verbs which describe such tasks is one option. Use of Bloom’s Taxonomy or Webb’s Depth of Knowledge Chart may be helpful during this process. / Handout – Blank Unpacking template
5-10 min. / Presentation: Unpacking Discoveries!
Present slide 12 (see notes) / Powerpoint