You can start with what you want your students to know and do AND your WHY. Then, work your way through assessments, assignments, and activities that will get to your desired destination.

"But if I don't get all the way there by the time the semester starts, if I've really thought through the learning outcomes, and I’ve really thought their assessment [...] So I'm really thinking through those learning outcomes, I'm thinking through assessment, and if I don't have every single little mini thing done, I'm going to have the big milestones done and then I'll be able to just keep up a couple weeks ahead, maybe a day ahead." x -- Bonni Stachowiak (article citation here)

First, we’re going to start by aligning our WHYs with what we want the students to understand, or our overarching big picture learning goals. These are our Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions.

Write down your purpose and your goals. (Make available as downloadable worksheet too?)

Further Reading