- Select
and research topic:
Make sure the topic is of personal interest to you
and the children and that it is based on their needs and developmental levels.
Consult the state and local curriculum guides, teacher’s editions of textbooks,
and trade books on the topic. Involve the children in planning.
- Identify
concepts/brainstorm topic:
Identify key concepts or
subtopics related to the theme. A semantic map is an excellent way to visualize
and brainstorm content related to a theme. Use K-W-L with the children for
their input about what they want to know.
- Locate
materials and resources:
Locate diverse materials and
resources related to the topic, i.e., children’s literature, films,
manipulatives, music, arts/crafts, resources, and people from the community.
- Plan
learning experiences:
Develop a variety of learning
experiences related to the topic. Include hands-on activities using concrete
objects. Plan for small and large group activities, learning centers/stations,
independent research, exploration, problem-solving, using both
divergent/convergent learning activities.
- Use
Internet resources and models when gathering materials and planning
learning experiences. The five models are:
- Online
Correspondence and Exchanges. Involves setting up keypal (e-mail penpal)
connections between your students, their online peers, and subject matter
experts (SMEs) like scientists and engineers working in the field. Also
includes the formation of learning circles.
- Information
Gathering. These projects challenge students to use the Internet to
collect, analyze, compare, and reflect upon different sources of
information.
- Problem-Solving
and Competitions. Online competitions are projects through which students
must use the Internet and other sources to solve problems while competing
with other classrooms.
- WebQuests
and Treasure Hunts. A WebQuest is a learning activity in which students
explore and collect a body of online information and make sense of it –
usually by creating Web pages as the outcome. It’s also the newest type
of Internet project that’s making a big impact in wired K-12 schools.
- Online
Conferencing. Students use online chat rooms or audio or video
conferencing software to complete various project objectives.
Asynchronous and synchronous learning environments such as Ask an Expert,
mailing list, listserves, and facilitated learning all enhance curricular
objectives.
- Integrate
content areas:
Use a webbing approach to
organize concepts and activities into content areas: the arts, sciences, social
studies, mathematics, literature, and technology. The goal is seamless
integration of all content area learning within the planned activities.
- Organize
the learning environment:
Consider space, time, materials,
learning experiences, teacher/learner roles, methods of assessment and
evaluation.
- Initiate
integrated/interdisciplinary study:
Arouse students’ curiosity and
interest with stimulating introduction. Consider visual display of theme as
well as introductory activities.
- Culminating
activity:
Bring closure to the theme by
concluding with an event. Incorporate parent involvement, collaboration with
other classes, and allow students to use technology to highlight learning.
- Assessment
and authentic evaluation:
Use assessment and evaluation
which may include the following: “kidwatching,” observations, anecdotal
records, checklists, conferences, informal interviews, and digital portfolios.