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Chapter

Chapter
Connecting Curricula Through Themes and Units
DOI link for Connecting Curricula Through Themes and Units
Connecting Curricula Through Themes and Units book
Connecting Curricula Through Themes and Units
DOI link for Connecting Curricula Through Themes and Units
Connecting Curricula Through Themes and Units book
ABSTRACT
Three approaches to teaching curricular subjects are described and explained in this chapter. First, each individual subject offers its own special strength and therefore at times needs to be dealt with individually. The subjects that are addressed in this chapter include language and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, art, movement and drama, and music. Second, theme-based curriculum is designed to surround children with a unifying concept or broad topic for most of their study, and even play, for a predetermined period of time. In this case, all children in the class undertake the same thematic activities, which are planned in advance by the teacher. Finally, a curriculum unit is a teacher-designed body of study organized around a primary topic. A unit usually consists of preplanned lessons surrounding a topic that the teacher, curriculum guide, or school district deems worthy of study or of special interest to the students. Often, the activities in a unit are repeated every year without particular consideration of the variety of children in each subsequent class. The pros and cons of each of the three approaches to teaching are discussed, and a curriculum web is introduced for planning purposes.