STEM Centric Lesson and Unit Checklist

Maryland STEM: Innovation Today to Meet Tomorrows Global Challenges.

STEM Education
STEM education is an approach to teaching and learning that integrates the content and skills of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics. STEM Standards of Practice guide STEM instruction by defining the combination of behaviors, integrated with STEM
content, which is expected of a proficient STEM student. These behaviors include engagement in inquiry, logical reasoning,
collaboration, and investigation. The goal of STEM education is to prepare students for post-secondary study and the 21
st
century
workforce.

STEM Centric Lesson and Unit Checklist Overview
The STEM Centric Lesson and Unit Checklist was created to provide support for educators in the development or modification of
lessons and units. A STEM centric lesson or unit incorporates the STEM Standards of Practice and reflects the definition of STEM
education. The attached checklist describes four components to consider when developing or modifying a lesson or unit content
standards and the STEM Standards of Practice, real world connection, development of deep conceptual understandings, and diverse
learners. Each component contains criteria represented in a fully developed STEM centric lesson or unit. Criterion should only be
checked if the lesson or unit contains evidence of the criterions descriptor. All criteria should be checked in a fully developed STEM
centric lesson or unit.

Using the STEM Centric Lesson and Unit Checklist
The STEM Centric Lesson and Unit Checklist should be used as a tool to aid in the development or modification of units and lessons to
reflect the definition of STEM Education and incorporate the STEM Standards of Practice. This document should be used as a self-
reflection tool and a resource to help guide STEM instruction. Further, educators can use the checklist to identify areas of improvement
and sustainability in a lesson or unit. This document is not intended to be used for the purposes of teacher evaluation or a look for
when conducting classroom visits.









STEM Centric Lesson and Unit Checklist


Maryland STEM: Innovation Today to Meet Tomorrows Global Challenges.

Lesson or Unit Title:
Course(s):
Content Standards and the
STEM Standards of Practice
Real World Connection
Development of Deep
Conceptual Understandings
Diverse Learners
The lesson or unit:
Aligns to a target set of rigorous
course content standards.
Identify content standards below:



Aligns to the STEM Standards of
Practice.
Identify Practices below:



Integrates content standards from
science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics courses as
appropriate to address the real
world connection.
Identify standards below:



Focuses teaching and learning on
developing content mastery and
STEM proficiency.
The lesson or unit:
Presents the real world connection
in the form of a complex question,
global issue, challenge, or problem.
Provides opportunities for students
to apply content knowledge from
multiple courses as appropriate to
answer complex questions, to
investigate global issues, or to
develop solutions for challenges
and real world problems.
Provides opportunities for students
to develop or use a systematic
approach (e.g.: engineering design
process, scientific and engineering
practices) to investigate and
develop solutions or answers to the
real world connection.
Provides opportunities for students
to understand the relationship
between the real world connection,
course content, and the work
performed by STEM professionals.
The lesson or unit:
Requires students to employ higher
order thinking skills in the
application of content knowledge.
Provides opportunities for students
to adapt or extend concepts,
activities, or projects to enhance
their understanding.
Provides opportunities for students
to develop understanding of content
through questioning, problem
solving, collaboration, and hands-on
activities.
Provides opportunities for students
to demonstrate their understanding
of content and the application of the
STEM Standards of Practice
independently (this check box is for
a unit containing multiple lessons).

The lesson or unit
incorporates the following
as appropriate to meet the
needs of diverse learners:
Universal Design for
Learning Principals
http://marylandlearninglinks.
org/950
WIDA Performance
Definitions and CAN
DO Descriptors
http://www.wida.us/standards/
CAN_DOs/
Accelerations or
enhancements for
gifted and talented
students.

Note about assessments: Assessments should be given regularly throughout a lesson or unit to collect evidence of student learning and raise the
quality of teaching. Assessments should be varied, aligned to instructional outcomes, designed to measure progress towards mastery of content
and STEM proficiency, and include rubric-based performance tasks that are relevant to the real world of work. The unit or lesson should provide
students multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery of content and STEM proficiency.
STEM Centric Lesson and Unit Checklist


Maryland STEM: Innovation Today to Meet Tomorrows Global Challenges.



Works Consulted:

Danielson, C. Enhancing Professional Practice, A Framework for Teaching. Association for Supervision & Curriculum
Development, 2009.

Rowley, James, and Margy Stevens. STEMed Quality Framework. The Dayton Regional STEM Center, 2011. Web. Sep 2011.
<http://www.daytonregionalstemcenter.org/uploads/documents/Final Framework copyrighted.pdf>.

Teacher and Principal Practice Rubrics . NYSED.gov, 2011. Web. Feb 2012.
<http://usny.nysed.gov/rttt/teachers-leaders/practicerubrics/>.

Tri-State Quality Review Rubric. Engage NY. Web. April 2012. <http://engageny.org/resource/tri-state-quality-review-rubric-and-rating-
process/>