What is Thematic Teaching?
Thematic education is an interdisciplinary adventure for children. Students participate in a rich core of interrelated learning experiences within a given topic area or theme, such as “Community,” “The Silk Route: Trading Goods, Inventions, Ideas, and Beliefs, ” or “Perspectives on Justice.” Teachers design a thematic program by interweaving children’s learning experiences into a conceptual whole. Activities are related and build upon one another, integrating language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, and the arts. The theme serves as the vehicle through which new ideas are synthesized with previous knowledge and thus learning is consolidated.
In a thematic classroom, children eagerly immerse themselves in their studies.
With opportunities to explore a wealth of materials and resources, as well as to collaborate with their peers, students are actively involved in their learning.
Students experience simulations of historical events and explore primary sources.
Students analyze authentic artifacts, reflect, hypothesize, question, discuss, and document their learning through writing and art.
Small Groups Encourage Collaboration and Connection
Working in a supportive context, students benefit from the exchange of ideas and involvement in the decision-making process. Moreover, each child gains respect and appreciation for his or her contribution to the group.
Thematic education enables children to cross boundaries from one skill area to another.
Within any activity, students are taught several skills simultaneously. They search for patterns and make connections between events and ideas. As a result, children become inquisitive learners who seek out relationships and take academic risks.
Supported by Educational Experts and Research
Research on brain growth reveals that the process of perceiving relationships not only develops thinking skills, it also stimulates neural connections. A thematic classroom invites learners with different styles to learn from one another and challenges them to extract and apply patterns in their own learning.
Students are active – working, thinking, creating, problem-solving – often in pairs or groups
When students are readily immersed in thematic content, the topic has breadth and depth.
Constructivist teachers…