A simple question that I decided to research was: How can you integrate science across the curriculum?
What I found was that a key goal to integrating science with other subjects such as math, reading, writing, social studies, technology, and the arts is to reinforce other skills by engaging students in science investigations. For example, science projects that include reading build science knowledge while strengthening literacy skills.
Communicating is key. Make sure to talk with other teachers to find out more about the other skills being taught to incorporate these skills into the science activities. For example, a science project that asks students to measure, collect and analyze data, graph, and express scientific relationships also builds math skills. Another example of incorporating literacy and science togerher is to bring trade books and writing into the lesson.
There are many more differnt ways you can integrate science across the curriculum as long as you are creative!
Nicole, this is a great start. As you continue to research this question, you should include links to the resources that you find. It will help all of us have access to them!
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ReplyDeleteI think you have some great ideas. Often times other subjects can be included into your science lesson. Many times other reading and math are incorporated into our lessons with out even noticing. There are so many different things you can do to switch up your lessons while making them fun and educational.
I really like this topic and the general principle over integrating the content of all subjects across the curriculum. I believe that integration is important at modeling how learning crosses over multiple disciplines, which is how we experience life.
ReplyDeleteMy endorsement area is in reading and there are excellent children's literature that can extend concepts across all aspects of the curriculum. I will be interested in your findings about schools that involve the "specials" teachers and extend into art, music, and physical education. Most of the schools that I have spent time in do a good job of integration within their own classroom, but tend to leave out the "specials" teachers.
I think it is important as teachers for us to use our lessons to include other subjects. Life is not divided into categories by topic so school shouldn't be either. My focus is reading and early childhood so I think bringing in a variety of literature is important. They have books involving every subject and on virtually every topic. Like you said, a big part of it is taking the time to be creative. Lesson plans require thought, they can't just be thrown together if you want them to be quality
ReplyDeleteI think this is such a cool idea. I experienced this very minimally when I was growing up. The only time I can honestly remember it was one unit when I was in four grade. I think this is a great way to bridge the gaps between subject. This can be an awesome way to learn if the teacher(s) set it up appropriately. I look forward to reading more of your information on this subject.
ReplyDeleteFollowing are some books that I used as part of an arts integration course. The books have great integration ideas for science, math, social studies, and literacy and great activity ideas. I would highly recommend taking a look at them.
ReplyDeleteIntegrating the Arts: An Approach to Teaching and Learning in Multicultural and Multilingual Settings
http://www.amazon.com/Integrating-Arts-Approach-Multicultural-Multilingual/dp/0205433804/ref=pd_sim_b_2
Integrating the Arts Across the Elementary School Curriculum
http://www.amazon.com/Integrating-Across-Elementary-School-Curriculum/dp/0534611419/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286754299&sr=1-1
Integration is so important in our classrooms because it allows for a wide variety of learning in different ways. I am glad you talked about how important communication is. Some of the best ideas I feel come from others, and by sharing those and communicating ares we can create great integration.
ReplyDeleteI really like what you had to say. I was also researching the idea of integrating science into the other areas of the curriculum. I, like Kelsey, took that Art Integration class. There are lots of resources for incorporating art into other areas, such as science. However, I was not able to find a ton about integrating science into other areas. It is such an important concept though. Students need to learn things across subject areas to help establish lasting connections.
ReplyDeleteYou present a good point. We should help our students develop a more cohesive picture of learning by making connections between science content and other areas of study. Science tends to relate to all content areas in some way and these connections should be explicitly brought to our students awareness. Knowing how things relate to each other deepens student understanding.
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