The Independent Cambridge Review of the Primary Curriculum [Alexander, R., M. Armstrong, J. Flutter, L. Hargreaves, D. Harrison, W. Harlen, and D. Utting. 2010. "Children, Their World, Their Education". London: Routledge] advocated 'Eight Domains' through which to organise the primary curriculum, with 'Place and Time' encompassing…

Thematic instruction offers flexible opportunities to engage students with real-world experiences in the technology and engineering community. Whether used in a broad unifying theme or specific project-based theme, research has proven that thematic instruction has the capacity to link cross-curricular subjects, facilitate active learning, and…

Contemporary educational debate in curriculum organisation and pedagogy has focused on the merits or otherwise of integrating disciplines for more effective learning. A wide range of terms is used to describe the various traditions associated with the presentation and structure of the curriculum and there are various perspectives on the purposes…

Background: It has been claimed that thematic or integrated approaches to curriculum delivery offer a range of advantages over subject-based modes of delivery including improved pupil motivation. Purpose: This study put claims regarding pupil motivation to the test, using the achievement goals framework. This contemporary approach to understanding…

This topical bibliography and commentary highlights the major points of the available literature on the value of using a "thematic organization" for the teaching of language arts classes in grades 6 through 8. It begins with a definition of the thematic organization approach, as culled from the literature. It then presents briefly a few examples…

Describes an interdisciplinary pilot program for ninth graders at Bronxville (New York) High School using three teachers (representing social studies, English, and art) to teach an ancient history unit. The varied learning activities were based on the Coalition for Essential Schools' driving forces: personalization, the student as worker,…

Discusses problems with existing social studies curriculum, including the dichotomy between in-depth studies and coverage studies, lack of correlation with other fields of instruction, and uncertainty about the appropriate sequential development of concepts. A master plan for social studies curriculum, focusing on grades five through eight, is…

Theme studies are worth doing if they support the study of universal ideas, broaden students' understanding of their world and human experience, are interdisciplinary, reflect students' genuine interests, and lead to student inquiry. Themes can be developed from students' common interests, adolescent literature, textbook topics, current events,…

Presents a model for developing theme-based, interdisciplinary, integrated curriculum. Model includes a theme-creation phase and an activity-refinement phase. The integrated continuum model is intended to be used by curriculum developers to facilitate the creation of powerful interdisciplinary lessons. (Author/SJR)

This report discusses some of the characteristics and benefits of an interdisciplinary curriculum, as well as practical considerations involving the introduction of such a curriculum in elementary and secondary schools. To successfully introduce an interdisciplinary curriculum, teachers and administrators need to: (1) integrate the curriculum; (2)…

Provides an annotated bibliography of 10 ERIC documents and journal articles that focus on the interdisciplinary approach to elementary school social studies curriculum development and instruction. Specifically includes information on integrating language arts, art education, and global education in social studies. (CFR)

As a substitute for what he sees as confusion of separate introductory courses in the different areas, the author proposes an interdisciplinary social science-humanities course organized around basic questions about man's individual and group needs and behaviors, group relationships and processes, value systems, and techniques for creating and…

Advocates a multidisciplinary approach to marine studies in which the sciences act as the core and the humanities as supplementary curricula. (CP)

Looks at the educational philosophy and goals of integrated thematic instruction (ITI) as used in the daily activity of a fifth-grade classroom. Shows how ITI employs research on how the human brain learns to provide students with a learning environment and an integrated curriculum that provides each student with multiple conduits of formative…