How to Write a Scope & Sequence for a Curriculum

Well-designed curricula begin with a defined and concrete scope and sequence. The scope and sequence statement describes what skills and content a student should have mastered by the end of the curriculum and the progressive order in which he encounters those skills and content objectives. Learning how to write a scope and sequence helps any educator -- whether a principal, classroom teacher or homeschool educator -- ensure that she knows what she expects her students to gain from the curriculum.

Think about your goals. Consider any state, local or organizational requirements and standards that you must meet. Ask yourself what specific skills your students should master and what content they should be familiar with by the end of your curriculum. Write those objectives out as bullet points.

Copy your objective bullet points onto individual note cards. Experiment with different arrangements for the objectives by changing the order of the note cards. Try ordering the objective note cards chronologically, thematically or by levels of complexity.

Write your scope and sequence statement. Tell the reader what skills and content objectives your curriculum aims to cover. Explain briefly how you arranged the content of the course. For example, if you are teaching a course on world history you could state that you arranged the content chronologically, according to region or by demographic, such as English-speaking or Muslim.