The instructional units that are developed and shared will meet the following criteria.

Authentic:
Defn: Real-life. Experiential. Meaningful to the students. They have some choice in the design of the unit (such as the form of the product or outcome).
Reflective questions:
Does the unit deal with a real issue or need?
Does the unit provide students with some choice?

Integrative:
Defn: Crosses at least three disciplines. Unit has real world application.
Reflective question:
Does the unit cross at least three disciplines?

Aligned:
Defn: Meets curriculum goals.
Reflective question:
Does the unit allow students to meet curriculum goals (content standards)?
Does the unit allow students to develop an understanding of concepts?

Community-based:
Defn: Actively involves community members, resources, issues?
Reflective questions:
Does the unit require making contact with and using community members?
Does the unit involve accessing or referring to a community resource (marsh, uplands, sites in the community)?
Does the unit involve addressing a community issue/need?

Organized and Structured:
Defn: Unit provides opportunity for in-depth, inquiry-based investigations. Unit is appropriate for all students at the appropriate grade level. Unit involves students in a connected sequence of activities to explore and investigate in-depth major concept. Unit includes varied assessment tasks that are embedded.
Reflective questions:
Does the unit involve students in a connected sequence of activities?
Does the unit involve students in an in-depth inquiry-based investigation?
Are the activities appropriate for all students at that grade level?
Do the activities involve using manipulatives and technology to explore ideas?
Are there varied means of assessment?
Are the assessments embedded in the unit along the way?

Supportive:
Defn: Unit includes information for teachers to implement the unit.
Reflective questions:
Does the unit include teacher information such as how to implement, how to assist students, how to pose questions to prompt thinking, how to structure time, how to access materials needed, and how to access additional information?