By:Katherine Marquez

BSED 4

“Let the main ideas which are

introduced into a child’s

education be few and

important, and let them be

thrown into every combination

possible.”

-Alfred North Whitehead (1929)

To be able to:

define integration in the curriculum process.

Value integration of art in the curriculum

Present integration samples

It is important that teachers know how to

plan for activities that connect across the

curriculum.

Unify the activities around a big idea or

theme.

The use of themes enables teacher to

integrate many different competencies by

relating them to a carefully selected broad-

based theme.

SELECTING THEME

A successful meaningful theme must grow out

of the teacher’s knowledge of the interests and

experiences of the children and must represent a

significant element in their lives.

TIPS:

1. Consider the children’s need and interests

-observe the children as they interact with one

another.

-brought something to share that sparks the

children’s enthusiasm.

2. Decide whether the theme has rich possibilities for

expansion to the different curricula or growth

areas.

-will children be able to use a repertoire of skills

from the different growth areas to explore the

theme?

3. Survey resources

-are there needed supplies for certain

activities?

4. Analyze the time table

-the schedule should be orderly but flexible.

-theme should be open-ended enough that

when children are highly-interested or engaged

they do not have to be cut off to “move

on.”

The ff. themes reflect the interests of many young

children.

Animals Emotions

Moving things Shapes

Buildings Water

Families Nonliving things

Colors Sky and weather

Growing things Patterns

Textures Everyday life

Light People

Selecting Thematically-Related Activities

When planning a thematic unit, make sure that the activities are open- ended and can be used to relate other areas in many ways. “OPEN” as use in the book, means that a variety of carefully selected learning activities based on children’s needs and interest are offered.

Planning a Thematic Unit

A well-planned and well organized thematic unit plan includes:

1. Excellent literature (books, stories, poems)

2. Multidisciplinary activities

3. Opportunities to work with others

4. Visible and tangible displays that make the room different

Flexible Planning

Writing plans is well-worth the effort.

Writing a plan allows us to order our thoughts and to play with ideas.

Enables us to use our knowledge and experience more effectively

Having a plan enables us to visualize the possible directions a thematic unit may take so that teachers can be more proactive rather than reactive

Forces us on the specific goals we have set for the children across the curricular areas and leads to a program that is comprehensive and naturally engaging for children.

Graphic Organizers

There are several ways of creating a unit

that flows across the curriculum.

1. Organize what the children will be learning

based on the physical, social, emotional,

creative and cognitive goals of the program.

2. Identify subtopics that relate to the theme

and related activities for these topics.

Teaching a thematic unit has the following

components:

Setting the stage

Motivating and getting the children interested

Activity integration

Reflecting and rethinking

Taking time to celebrate and evaluate

Setting the Stage

explore the work place, know where to get and return

them.

explain what behaviors are expected to them.

Motivating and getting the children interested

plan an initial event that will hook the children’s interest.

Take a walk, read a new book or story, watch video, invite

visitors or even bring pet.

this activity should be stimulating and provocative, full of

images, ideas and feelings.

it focuses everyone’s attention to the theme and raises the

level of interest of as many children as possible.

Activity Integration

Be creative

Remember that thematic units should be integrated into

each of the learning areas, but it should not replace them.

Theme: BUGS

Sand Play: put out pictures of BUGS and hide them in the sand. Have the

children find the bugs and describe them

Block Play: put pictures or cutouts o BUGS in the block area.

Dramatic Play: put out BUG masks, plastic bugs.

Water Play: put plastic bugs in a water area.

Table Game: put concentration games/bug lotto.

Easel: put out paper and paint for blotting or painting.

Literature Area: put out books about bugs.

Movement Area: put out a bug obstacles course. Have the children mimic

how some bugs move.

Music Area: Play songs about bugs or Bug sounds

Reflecting and Rethinking

Give the children time to reflect and rethink what they have learned.

Allow them to work with a variety of materials and find out that the heft or heaviness of an object does not depend on size alone.

Ask probing questions that will help the child to discover answers on his own.

Taking time to celebrate and evaluate

The end of a thematic teaching unit is a time to celebrate success and to evaluate what has happened.

Have them share what they have learned with others.

Summary

Focusing in planning, it is important that

teachers know how to plan for activities that connect

across the curriculum. Thematic activities over a

week’s time ensures that something particular has

been planned for each of the children’s selves each

day, it is important that they specify the reason or

purpose of each activity; doing this will help clarify

the teacher’s purpose in including the activity so

that emphasis could be made in teaching that topic

or activity; this can also make it easier to explain to

parents and supervisors why some activities that look

like “just fun” are included in the curriculum.

Alcodia, Editha M., Creative Arts, Music and Drama for young children. Rex Bookstore, Inc.

Thank you…

Katherine MarquezBSED 4

INTEGRATING ART INTO THE CURRICULUM