Thinking Thematically

When I was in college, the big push was towards thematic teaching.  No longer were we to teach in isolated chunks of information, but we were to pull it all together under one big umbrella theme.  Because I learned that way, my brain is now wired to teach that way.   So when I approach a big unit of study, I not only am thinking about how my social studies (for example) will be taught, but I am trying to bring in literature, make a math connection, work out science experiments....all under the big umbrella of the unit.

As most of you know, I am in the midst of my most favorite unit, the American Revolution.  When I set about planning this, I broke out my trusty old organizer.  I use this when I am entering into any sort of planning.  It helps me to see what it is that I want to accomplish and how I am going to do that.  It also helps me to visualize how things are going to go, how I will keep it all tied together....everything. I left it at school though...so I can't show it to you. 

BUT...if you could see it, you would see that I don't go into great detail about exactly what I will do.  I just write basic notes and the standards I am covering.  I use this as my rough draft if you will.  Then, I get into more detail in my plan book.  However, just starting with this little organizer makes a world of difference for me.  Here it is for you.

Now, trust me when I say that it isn't always easy doing this.  With all of the mandates, I sometimes have to stretch to make my connections.  I honestly usually start with my language arts unit (since that is what is most "policed" for us) and work from there.  I am lucky that my math book is more of a tool instead of a strictly enforced program.  That gives me some leeway.

So I am going to leave you with some pictures of the past (pictures of pictures...so sorry about the quality).  You can see in each of these rooms that the theme dominates all that we do.  I honestly believe that if you make connections they kids learn better and more effectively.  So that is what I try to do.

This was when we studied the Oceans.  There is poetry, geography, compare and contrast, art, book reviews, science experiments, and much more (but that is what you can see in this picture)  And, yes, that is butcher paper painted to look like the ocean...we really went all out :)

This was a Civil War themed room.  There was a lot of research, fact and opinion, biography, art, geography, and much more that isn't visible in the picture. 

We had a Sports theme here (well Cooperation and Competition)  The students wrote about goals, did creative writing, poetry, baseball math and much more...again, you can't see it all in the picture.

This is my favorite room!  We actually turned the whole thing into a California Mission!  There was a lot of research, a science experiment in our "garden", art, poetry, biographies, creative writing, geography, book making....and SO much more!