Lesson Plan Deconstruction Protocol

Analyze a Real-World, Interdisciplinary Lesson



Analyze a Real-World, Interdisciplinary Lesson


The following protocol uses a model lesson from the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) as a discussion piece for educators to come together to deconstruct the lesson as a way to analyze its components—and to gain a critical understanding of how to construct a similar lesson plan that will match their own educational objectives.

CARLA developed a third grade model curriculum that links reading (bilingually, in English and Chinese), science, engineering (math), and social studies learning objectives. Students read a storybook in Chinese as a way to explore permeable membranes, bioengieering, as well as diverse organisms and their ecosystems. The thirteen-part lesson includes assessments that are integrated across Chinese, science, math, and social studies.

Prior to the exercise, ask participants to read through, as much as possible this lesson. (Enlist the help of a Chinese language teacher—if you have one—to translate the big ideas written in Chinese that drive the lesson.)


In this case, the lesson focuses on language and science at the elementary school level, but the ideas that drive it could be applied widely.

Give participants 30 minutes to read the Integrated Performance Design document and to think about the lesson as a whole. Working together or in small groups, educators should not rely on the author’s outline, but rather speak from their own perspective as science, literacy, foreign language, resource, etc. educators.


  1. What are some ways you would describe this lesson?
  3. How are the purpose statements connecte—or not connected—to academic disciplines?
  5. How does this lesson teach perspective building?
  9. How would you/a teacher assess students’ proficiency level in order to choose target vocabulary and grammar phrases?
  12. What are other ideas to extend this lesson?

During the debrief, discuss the following:
