Unit day showcases commitment to advance Kentucky through education
For University of Kentucky students preparing to become teachers, connecting with students in area schools is a chance to learn while making a difference.
Last week, dozens of UK elementary education seniors went to Cardinal Valley and Breckinridge elementary schools in Fayette County where they taught interdisciplinary units of instruction to third graders for a project known as “unit day.”
Unit day is a small snapshot of what the UK College of Education helps make possible for aspiring teachers: hands-on experiences, research-backed instruction and a commitment to preparing teachers who advance education and strengthen communities. It’s a culminating activity that takes place during the end of the students’ practicum semester.
“I really think unit day is a great way to wrap it all up because we all go to different placements for 5 weeks and then (unit day) is one of our only days that we are all back together learning,” said UK senior Sarah Giuffre. “It’s fun to see how your peers have grown in their teaching.”
Giuffre and UK senior Erika Sanchez were part of a group that challenged students to identify a problem, then invent a solution and create a prototype.
“The idea was to connect it back to the curriculum that they’ve been doing,” Sanchez said. “So, the standards were given to us, and they were standards they have already focused on during the year.”
UK senior Bentley Fisher was part of a group that designed a project around the roots of Italian soccer, a theme that immediately captured students’ attention and enthusiasm. They built on students’ love of sports while weaving in cultural and historical elements, ensuring the lesson was both meaningful and engaging. Their intentional planning created a learning experience where students were excited, curious, and highly invested.
“The students really impressed me,” Fisher said. “They jumped right into the activity and stayed excited the whole time. I loved seeing how quickly they connected with the material.”
UK elementary education clinical instructor Joni Meade said the unit day experience highlights intentional alignment between instructional planning in literacy and social studies, guided by state civics and social studies standards.
“Teacher candidates skillfully incorporated district pacing guides and state standards to design cohesive units that addressed essential civic competencies, including understanding governmental structures, fostering civic engagement, and making historical connections,” Meade said. “These units also promoted meaningful, inquiry-based learning experiences for third grade students.”
The units developed in the literacy courses are thoughtfully connected to practicum social studies courses, designed by UK College of Education associate professor Laura Darolia, Ph.D. Students spend time in both literacy and social studies methods course designing these instructional units.
Following the civics units, the UK students, along with UK College of Education professor Cindy Jong, Ph.D., extended their instructional work by leading math centers for the same third-grade students. These centers focused on geometry and measurement, providing opportunities for hands-on, collaborative learning that reinforced key mathematical concepts while continuing to build students’ engagement and confidence across content areas.
For Ozge Yalciner, Ph.D., UK College of Education assistant professor of literacy, Unit Day was a valuable opportunity to observe teacher candidates translate their planning into real-time instruction and to offer targeted feedback. She noted that they thoughtfully integrated literacy practices with social studies content, creating lessons that were engaging and developmentally appropriate for third graders.
“The groups intentionally connected their topics to students’ lived experiences and community histories, strengthening both relevance and student engagement throughout the day,” Yalciner said.
Key to garnering opportunities for aspiring teachers to become immersed in their future roles in schools and communities are the school leaders who help make it possible.
"This Unit Day is an essential hands-on opportunity for future educators, allowing them to transform their planning into genuinely vibrant, relevant learning and joyful lessons for our kids. These immersive experiences are critical for developing the skill set and confidence needed to enter the classroom ready to make a significant and positive impact. We see immediate evidence as a result of this collaboration in the high level of engagement and achievement among our third graders,” said Breckinridge Elementary Principal Michael Price.
After successfully completing student teaching in Spring 2026, this group of UK seniors will graduate in May, ready to take on classrooms of their own. For Giuffre, it’s something she has known she wanted to do since her sophomore year of high school.
“I want to be there for my students and make school a fun and safe place for them,” she said.
Sanchez didn’t start college as an education major. She first focused on oncology and nursing, both with a pediatric focus. A friend, however, helped her see her true calling as a teacher. As she prepares to walk across the Commencement stage in May, she will do so knowing she made the right choice when changing her major.
“I will say, ever since I switched to this program, I’ve had so many moments where I’ve been like ‘wow, this is literally what I’ve been born to do,’” she said. “You get to see so many amazing kids and so you want to be there for them. So being able to give back every day and making a difference in kids’ lives, there’s no reason not to do it.”