K-12 Curriculum Development

Journalism students are taught to answer six questions in the articles they submit for publication.  The Five W’s and One H are well known to journalism students and educators.  Using this strategy, educators can clarify what they want to teach in a lesson or unit of study.  The questions below will assist educators as they develop lesson or unit plans. 

The Five W’s and One H for K-12 Curriculum Development:

1.        Who is the target audience?

2.       What state standards, skills and concepts will be taught?

3.       When will the unit/lesson be introduced to students (Dates/Pacing)?

4.       Where will the students be when they begin the unit/lesson
       (Prior Understandings/Misunderstandings)?

5.       Why do students need to learn the skills and concepts identified in #2?
       (Purpose/Relevance)

6a.       How will I teach this unit/lesson?
        (Instruction style, materials needed, technology needed, guest speakers,
         and other resources)


6b.  How will I assess student understanding of skills, concepts and identified
       enduring understandings?


This strategy is also an effective way for teachers to develop differentiated lesson plans and units.  This tool will support teachers as they identify ‘what’ students should know and be able to do, prior understandings and misunderstandings, and ‘how’ the lesson will be taught.  For additional resources on Differentiated Instruction, visit Differentiated Instruction – Tomlinson.

The attached chart will assist teachers and administrators in using the 5W’s and One H to develop and revise curriculum.