PLANNING FOR CURRICULUM INTEGRATION

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PLANNING FOR CURRICULUM INTEGRATION

• Why would you want to integrate?

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Some reasons might include

• To help students make connections among ideas.
• To support the undertaking of large, time
  consuming culminating tasks.
• To save time.
• To create interest in expanding ideas.

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When do you integrate?

• This is your choice.
• It should be made with knowledge of where
  natural fits and opportunities exist in the
  curriculum.
• Fits need to be made at both the unit level and
  the expectation level.

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CAUTION AHEAD!!!

• When you choose to integrate, you still need to
  ensure that all expectations of all integrated
  units are met.

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What makes this easy to do?

• Achievement charts are designed to reflect the
  four categories of EXPECTATIONS in each unit in
  all guidelines in Ontario.
• SOevery unit will be focusing on some knowledge
  dependent on the unit topic
• BUTevery unit also has the categories of
  expectations that are cross-curricular (Thinking,
  Communication, Application)

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In the Early Grades

• Integration often is approached by use of
  activity centers to Consolidate and Apply new
  learning.
• Teachers need to decide on what types of centers
  to use when.

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An Unfortunate Trend

• Centers tend to be used less frequently in Grades
  3-8 than in the earlier grades.
• Space to set up centers is often cited as a
  reason ( e.g., bigger bodies in the classroom
  equals less space for movement and students need
  to move around to get to do center work.)

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TYPES OF CENTERS

• There are 4 main types of centers
• 1. Permanent ( e.g., computers, painting,
  reading)
• 2. Generic (e.g., cutting, tying,
  keyboarding, handwriting)
• 3. Thematic Integration ( e.g., designed to
  reflect expectations of an integrated unit
  Consolidation and Application of expectations)
• 4. Unit or Lesson ( e.g., designed to reflect
  the expectations of a single unit from a single
  guideline for Consolidation or Application
  purposes.

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How do you go about integration planning?

1. Pick your grade.
2. Identify the time of year.
3. Pick a theme ( e.g., Leaves, Heroes, Challenges,
   Family, Celebrations, etc.
4. Adjust the theme to reflect local and school
   culture.

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• 5. Survey guidelines to find grade units that fit
  your theme.
• 6. Record unit titles under subject headings.
• 7. Develop a concentric circle planning web
• Theme
• Expectations
• Activities
• Culminating Task(s)

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Then

• 8. Consult Blooms Taxonomy verb and product
  lists to guide activity design.
• 9. Plan a culminating task(s) that reflects
  overall expectations from all units.

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Setting Up Activities for Centers

• Maintaining centers will be your biggest
  challenge!
• Centers can be portable to save spacePlastic
  bins with lids will save you space, time and
  resources!