At the middle school level, units of study that can be integrated across multiple subject areas can be an effective method for increasing student understanding. Integrated units allow students to think and process information in a manner that is consistent with how they will think and process information when they are done with school. Life does not present people with a series of math problems followed by a series of English questions. In life, subjects are an interwoven tapestry that we all have to navigate (Wormeli 137). When schools can emulate the challenges that students will face as they grow older, we are better preparing them for future success.
In the 7th grade social studies curriculum, the expedition of Meriwether Lewis …show more content…
From this discussion, students will be able to look for connections between their personal questions and questions that are generated about expedition. From the list of questions, we could look for common questions that we would like our unit to answer (139). For example, our class questions could be: 1. Why do people explore? 2. How did the Lewis and Clark expedition benefit the United States? 3. What characteristics did the expedition members possess that allowed them to overcome their fears, and how are these characteristics still important today (Humphrey, Haraway, Baschek, Munguia, …show more content…
Using stopwatches and the high school track students will calculate how long to takes themselves to move a measured distance. Each student will have a different time to calculate. Once a student has learned to manipulate for distance, time, and speed he or she will write their specific time from the walk on an exit slip. In order to make a real world connection the teacher could ask students to write down the time they leave school and to write the speed that a parent or bus driver drives home (Humphrey et al.).
At the end of the unit, classes should come together and share the projects that they completed. Social studies class will display their class timeline and final essays, ELA classes will share their bound narratives, and science will have oral presentations of the animals they researched. Parents and the community should be invited so that they can see the work that the students put into their projects. Also, knowing that work is going to be shared and displayed can be a motivating factor for some students (Humphrey et
In the 7th grade social studies curriculum, the expedition of Meriwether Lewis …show more content…
From this discussion, students will be able to look for connections between their personal questions and questions that are generated about expedition. From the list of questions, we could look for common questions that we would like our unit to answer (139). For example, our class questions could be: 1. Why do people explore? 2. How did the Lewis and Clark expedition benefit the United States? 3. What characteristics did the expedition members possess that allowed them to overcome their fears, and how are these characteristics still important today (Humphrey, Haraway, Baschek, Munguia, …show more content…
Using stopwatches and the high school track students will calculate how long to takes themselves to move a measured distance. Each student will have a different time to calculate. Once a student has learned to manipulate for distance, time, and speed he or she will write their specific time from the walk on an exit slip. In order to make a real world connection the teacher could ask students to write down the time they leave school and to write the speed that a parent or bus driver drives home (Humphrey et al.).
At the end of the unit, classes should come together and share the projects that they completed. Social studies class will display their class timeline and final essays, ELA classes will share their bound narratives, and science will have oral presentations of the animals they researched. Parents and the community should be invited so that they can see the work that the students put into their projects. Also, knowing that work is going to be shared and displayed can be a motivating factor for some students (Humphrey et