Teacher Resources: Planning Frameworks

Planning Frameworks

This page provides Imaginative Education planning frameworks to help teachers with the process of rethinking how to approach a given curriculum topic. All of the frameworks draw on the same basic theory, but three different designs are offered; you may wish to experiment with each of them to find what works best for you. The frameworks cover Mythic Understanding (tools of oral language), Romantic Understanding (tools of written language), and Philosophic Understanding (tools of theoretical language). As you become more experienced in working with Imaginative Education, you will find it possible to integrate more than one kind of understanding within a unit plan, but we recommend keeping things simple to start with and only working with one kind of understanding and 1-3 cognitive tools at a time.

Most of the frameworks are presented both in outline form, with prompts for the teacher to consider and space to note ideas, and in a more explicit “guide” form which unpacks the intentions and thinking behind each prompt. The original planning frameworks were developed by Kieran Egan over a number of years. The circular frameworks designed by Tannis Calder offer an alternative approach to planning and can be particularly useful for brainstorming and initial access to topics. The parallel frameworks allow for a range of pedagogical issues to be considered simultaneously in the shaping of a unit.

To assist further in lesson and unit planning, examples of binary oppositions and heroic qualities are also provided. For additional information on any of the cognitive tools included in these frameworks see pages on Imagination in the classroom.