Curriculum Planning and Design Flashcards

Differentiated instruction in curriculum design means:

Answer: Modifying content, process, product, or environment to meet diverse learner needs

Differentiation adjusts curriculum elements—what is taught, how it is taught, how students demonstrate learning, and the learning environment—to address learner variability.

Which type of curriculum refers to what is actually taught in the classroom versus what is officially prescribed?

Answer: Taught curriculum

The taught curriculum reflects the actual instructional decisions teachers make day-to-day, which may differ from the formally written or intended curriculum.

The 'hidden curriculum' refers to:

Answer: Unintended lessons about values, norms, and social roles communicated through school culture

The hidden curriculum encompasses implicit lessons—such as obedience, competition, or gender roles—that students absorb through everyday school routines and culture.

Vertical alignment in curriculum planning ensures that:

Answer: Learning progressively builds from one grade level to the next

Vertical alignment connects content across grade levels so that prior learning supports future learning, creating coherent progression toward mastery.

A teacher uses essential questions in unit planning to:

Answer: Frame big, transferable ideas that anchor inquiry throughout a unit

Essential questions are open-ended, thought-provoking prompts that guide inquiry, promote critical thinking, and connect content to enduring understandings.

Which curriculum document typically outlines standards, pacing, units, and assessment recommendations for a course?

Answer: Curriculum map or pacing guide

Curriculum maps and pacing guides provide teachers with a structured plan that aligns standards, units, and assessments across a school year.