This compendium of articles from "Science and Children", the elementary school journal of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), aims to help teachers build connections in their students' minds. The articles describe lessons and units that are interdisciplinary, both integrated and interdisciplinary, or thematic. Each article is…

Examines the underlying rationale for using themes in contemporary classrooms. Examines guidelines for choosing and evaluating themes. Reviews what is meant by themes in various settings. Concludes that there are some issues that must be confronted by language arts professionals if the movement toward integrated thematic teaching is to result in…

The process of "webbing" is described as a valuable technique for organizing teaching activities around a theme. Two examples are illustrated using the broad topics of "change" and "fall." Suggestions are made for carrying out the fall theme by taking children on outdoor walks for the purpose of observing, examining,…

Suggests using themes of interest to integrate the curriculum and provide literacy activities instead of studying separate lessons on particular skills. (MG)

Presents basic guidelines with examples for developing interdisciplinary units grounded in social studies. Discusses the attributes of integrated curriculum and the benefits of interdisciplinary instruction. Discusses ways to use the book "Radio Man" in an interdisciplinary, thematic unit on migration. (SR)

Science, health and nutrition, cooking, and social studies activities on the subject of apples are described. (SJL)

Seventy-six Fort Lauderdale third, fourth, and fifth graders spent an entire day researching, measuring, comparing, and creating fantasies about feet. This article describes "Foot Day" and presents the activity sheets used by the students. (Author/SJL)

Describes a school math program instituted as a result of the efforts of a parent-student-teacher math coalition to update mathematics instruction. The goal was to encourage thinking that uses imagination while exploring mathematics. Program includes Family Math Night, a semiweekly newsletter containing math activities, mathematics speakers in the…

Centering around the theme of work, this book offers activity ideas based on children's literature from best-selling authors. Through learning extensions in the book, young readers in grades 1-6 will gain insight into a variety of occupations and work environments and, in a playful way, learn about the skills needed to succeed. The stories and…

This collection of teaching units developed in Australia arises from "Special Forever: An Environmental Communications Project," which enables students to develop critical awareness of their local environments and communicate this awareness effectively. The project also aims to encourage school-based action in support of the environment…

Teachers who use cooperative, integrated methods will produce students more competent in problem solving techniques, communicating effectively, and working cooperatively with others. Benefits of an integrated curriculum include: (1) reaching students with different learning types; (2) developing critical and divergent thinking skills in students;…

A useful framework for literature-based instruction is the curriculum related literature unit which provides a total resource for content area teaching. Such a unit could be based on the science curriculum, "Exploring the Solar System," and could be developed thematically through topics of space or the solar system. The teacher's initial…

This teacher's handbook, organized in two parts, gives theoretical support for integrating social studies and literature disciplines and serves as an instructional guide for classroom use. Part 1, "Children's Literature in the Social Studies Curriculum," provides a philosophical background for integrating social studies and whole language across…

Addresses two issues confronting teachers who use theme immersion in their classrooms: integration of content through theme, and inquiry-based curriculum. Discusses the challenge and justification for each issue. Notes that inquiry teaching means constantly searching for better ways to support children' s own inquiry processes. (BAC)

This paper presents a rationale for using an integrated thematic unit with elementary and middle level social studies classes and provides examples of working units. Steps in the developing the thematic unit are itemized with product outcomes to show for the process. Efficacy assignments allow the students to feel they have addressed a social…