Engage Students in All Learning: Collaborate Across Subject Areas to Develop Multidisciplinary Projects
Cross-curricular approaches provide us with the best chances of including all children in successful learning
– Dr. Jonathan Barnes
INTRO
Create prep time for teachers to collaborate across subject areas to develop key multidisciplinary projects and assignments that show how subjects are connected to each other, and to real life.
KNOW skills and behaviors include classic content knowledge and skills in core subject areas such as reading, writing, and math. It is not enough to have students learn high-quality content, they need to understand that success at learning content is a function of their effort much more than aptitude.
OBJECTIVES
- Engage teachers in more diverse PLCs and project-based practices that also provide them opportunities to discuss and assess students they have in common
- Engage students more deeply in different content areas through relevant subject matter and real-world connections
ACTIVITY
- Create prep time for teachers to collaborate across subject areas to develop key multidisciplinary projects and assignments that show how subjects are connected to each other, and to real life.
- The provided articles can help inform, guide, and inspire discussions and planning.
Examples:
- Create a project on pandemics that engages students in social studies and science.
- An assignment on environmentally safe structures bridging math and science.
- Students write a short historical fiction narrative (English Language Arts) based on what they learn in history.
TIPS
- Key Moves are efforts that require a bit of planning, but can be implemented within the next 3-6 months.
- Remember, this is not a quick fix: You’re establishing schoolwide changes that should better serve all students for years to come
- Like this activity? Check out Inflexion’s full-page KNOW document for more ideas.
Responses