Implementing a high-quality instructional resource (HQIR) involves more than becoming familiar with individual lessons. Before educators can make thoughtful decisions about daily instruction, they need an opportunity to step back and understand the bigger picture of the learning students will experience across a unit.

Unit internalization is a core process of intellectual preparation that supports educators in developing a shared understanding of how standards, tasks, assessments and lessons work together across the arc of a unit. For science educators, this means looking closely at how the three dimensions of the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Science work together to support students in making sense of phenomena and solving problems.

Using the Science Unit Internalization Protocol, core teachers, special education teachers and support specialists collaboratively examine the unit before moving into lesson-level preparation. Through rich instructional conversations, educators develop a shared understanding of the unit’s “big picture.” Together, they identify where the learning is headed, how the standards, lessons and assessments work together, and how students will demonstrate their learning. This shared understanding positions educators to anticipate student needs and plan for appropriate support, enrichment and extension throughout the unit.

Unit internalization provides the foundation for the intellectual preparation that follows. With an understanding of the overall arc of learning, educators can move into lesson internalization with greater clarity about where each lesson fits and how it contributes to the larger learning progression.

This work continues through an ongoing cycle of unit internalization, lesson internalization, lesson rehearsal and student work analysis. When given dedicated time to engage in these processes collaboratively, educators learn with and from one another, deepen their understanding of the HQIR and strengthen their ability to bring HQIRs to life for all students.

Explore the Intellectual Preparation Guidance to learn more about the full intellectual preparation cycle and use the Science Unit Internalization Protocol to support collaborative preparation for an upcoming science unit.