ABSTRACT
A concept-based approach to curriculum and instruction emphasizes student engagement with reasoning and meaning-making around big ideas, and it lends itself well to rigor in disciplinary study as well as opportunities for rich interdisciplinary connections. For advanced learners in need of additional challenge, the degree of abstraction and depth offered by concept study is a valuable context for differentiation. This is particularly the case when a focus on concepts is coupled with higher-level questions and tasks and with materials that represent advanced content, as in curriculum developed under the Integrated Curriculum Model. This chapter explores the use of concepts as organizers for advanced curriculum. The chapter discusses the importance of a conceptual focus in the curriculum and outlines approaches for organizing curriculum around a central concept and engaging students in instructional activities designed to promote in-depth exploration of the concept under study.
