Micro & Macro Concepts

Concepts come at different levels of generality, abstractness and complexity.

Macro-concepts are sometimes referred to as

“integrating concepts” because they integrate thinking

across different disciplines and are broad.

Micro-concepts are discipline-specific and are

critical for providing increasing depth and rigour to

curriculum and instruction.

Examples of Subject Area ConceptsScience Social Studies Concepts in

Text Writer’s Craft Reader’s Craft

OrderOrganismPopulationSystemChangeEvolutionCycleInteractionEnergy/MatterEquilibriumHabitat

Conflict/CooperationPatternsScarcitySystemChange/ContinuityCultureSupply/DemandCivilizationMigration/ImmigrationInterdependence

PrejudicePerspectiveConflict CooperationPower RelationshipsEnvyEmotionsOppressionInfluence

OrganizationWord ChoiceContextConventionsFluencyVoicePresentationSymbolismAllegoryMetaphorProtagonistAntagonist

InferenceContext CluesMeaningParaphraseSummaryText StructureReading RateDirectionalitySelf –regulationImageryGenreBackground Knowledge

Which are “macro-concepts?” Which are “micro-concepts?”

Mathematics Concepts

Grade 3 Grade 6 Algebra 1

Whole NumbersPlace ValueNumber RepresentationsPatternsNumber GridsMoney SymbolsDecimal PointRelated Addition/Subtraction FactsFact FamiliesMathematical ModelsStandard UnitsNon-Standard UnitsEstimationConverting UnitsUnits of Measure

Rational Numbers

Positive Integers

Common Factors

Common Multiples

Proper Factor

Factor Pair

Square Numbers

Prime

Composite

Expressions

Independent/Dependent QuantitiesFunctional RelationshipsDomain/RangePatterns and SequencesLinear FunctionsVariables and SymbolsAlgebraic ExpressionsOrder of OperationsDistributive PropertyCoordinate PlaneGraphsLinear Parent FunctionsScatter Plots

Physical Education ConceptsExamples

SpaceMovementAngleAction/ReactionEnergyFlexibilityEnduranceSpeedStrengthPatternsCooperationAgilityMotionForce/PowerBehaviorsDevelopmentWeight Transfer

World Language ConceptsExamples

CultureLanguage and Language familiesVerbal and non- verbal communicationPictographs, gestures, symbols, soundsValues, traditions, beliefsSocial etiquettesFamily structuresGeography; region...

Any concepts related to the study of culturalelements in the targetlanguage:

- Family - Religion - Art, music, literature - Architecture - Government - Recreation...

Family

Structures

DRAMA Macro-Concepts

Character | Movement | Voice | Theme | Design

Character MovementPhysicalPersonalityBackgroundRelationshipConflictMotivation

Change/GrowthObstacleWants/NeedsHabitsFeeling/EmotionType/RolePurpose

Body PositionAction/ReactionPurposeOrderInfluenceAngleLine

BalanceTimingSpaceLogicPhysical ExpressionDirection

DRAMA Micro-Concepts

Drama: Micro-Concepts Continued

Voice Theme DesignTonePitchSizeQualityDialectPatternsExpressionArticulationPronunciationBeat/PauseBreathingDictionEmphasis

CultureConflictTimePerspectiveBeliefs/ValuesChoicesInfluenceDiversityIdentityPowerDestructionInnocenceIsolation

StyleMeaningMoodStructureFunctionExpressionFeelingSymbolRealismSelective RealismSettingCostumeLighting

Social Studies Concepts

General Macro-concepts:• Interdependence/Dependence/Independence• Systems• Change and Continuity• Order• Conflict and Cooperation

Social Studies ConceptsGeography ConceptsMacro-concepts: • Place • Space • Region • Location • Human/environmental interaction

Specific Concepts:• Physical environment• Landforms• Geographical Patterns• Natural Processes• Migration• Population density• Growth rates• Cultural landscapes• Urbanization• Settlement patterns• Geographical locations• Rural/urban• Natural resources• Technology• Natural disasters• Spatial organization

Social Studies ConceptsGovernment Concepts• Civic life• Politics• Limited Government• Unlimited Government• Individual Rights• Common Good• Citizenship• Authority• Power• Rule of Law• Constitution• Shared powers• Governmental systems• Constitutional government• Ideals• General Welfare• Society

• Voluntarism• Diversity• Political culture• Values and principles• National identity • Political conflict• Political action• Interest groups• Distributed, shared and limited powers• Domestic and foreign policy• Taxation• Laws, rules, regulations• Public Agenda• Nation-states• Roles, rights and responsibilities

Social Studies ConceptsEconomics Concepts

• Needs/wants• Scarcity• Goods/Services• Choice• Resources• Value• Opportunity costs• Costs/benefits• Market economy; markets• Command economy• Consumers/producers• Incentives• Production, consumption and distribution• Exchange

• Trade• Imports/exports• Labor and labor productivity• Wages/income• Money• Banks; financial institutions• Specialization• Supply and demand• Competition• Price• Exchange rate• Standard of living• Productivity

Examples of Subject Area Concepts

Conflict/Cooperation

Patterns

Populations

System

Change/Continuity

Culture

Evolution

Civilization

Migration/Immigration

Interdependence

Social Studies

Examples of Subject Area Concepts

MarketsSupply and DemandCostInterdependenceBeliefs/ValuesGoods/ServicesConflictCooperationPerceptionsPatternsPowerSystems

Economics