2. How to use Thematic Units……. The key to successful thematic unit development and teaching is careful and thoughtful planning, combined with a thorough understanding of how students learn. As you design a thematic unit, take the time to assess its structure based on a rubric. Following a rubric will help you produce quality instructional units designed to thoroughly integrate learning, meet learning outcomes, instructional objectives, and the needs of your students.

3. Planning Guide for Teaching a Thematic Unit

4. Top Ten Reasons to Use Thematic Units…. Increases the effective use of computers and technology. Compacts the curriculum. Demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of learning. Increases student interest in learning and time engaged. Expands your assessment strategies. Utilizes collaborative and cooperative learning. Focuses the learner on the mastery of objectives. Integrates word processing skills into creative activities. Models for students the resources used in research. Can safely control web access for students.

5. #1-Increases the effective use of computers and technology Everyday activities in the unit incorporate the class computer. Better use of the Computer Lab when you visit. Creates small group use of the computers in your room. Scheduling computer use revolves around the thematic unit, not “it’s your turn on the computer.” Incorporates a variety of technologies and media in your lesson strategies. Students learn to use these technologies.

6. #2-Compacts the Curriculum Two or more subjects are taught at the same time. You can schedule blocks of time for work. Not everyone is doing the same thing all the time.

7. # 3-Demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of learning. Subject matter is not taught in isolation, but related to a bigger idea. Demonstrates how scientists use math. Demonstrates how a historian keeps a journal. Searching for answers becomes the reading task. Appeals to the students who ask the questions, “why?”

8. #4-Increases student interest in learning and time engaged on task. Teachers use an instructional team when planning a thematic unit. Planning incorporates differentiation of learning styles. Teachers include multiple intelligences when planning lessons and outcomes. Active learning increases student time-on- task. Fewer transitions increases student time-on- task.

9. #5-Expands your assessment strategies. Final products usually involve authentic assessments with multi- step problems. Lower achieving students are involved in group work, but are not held accountable for every single task. Advanced students have more opportunities to do independent research and higher level thinking because they too are not tied to spending all of their time turning in the same assignments as everyone else. Assessments are built into all of the unit and not just with the final test. A variety of assessment tools are used which include journal keeping, observations, rubrics that students can help design, mini quizzes, final products, class tests.

10. #6-Utilizes collaborative and cooperative learning Thematic units involve research. Students can be given roles when completing research. Content skills, technology skills, and social skills are taught, modeled, and encouraged. The real world of adults expects collaboration for most work, so we need to give more emphasis to this strategy. In cooperative learning, strategies that assure individual accountability are built into the lessons.

11. #7-Focuses the learner on the mastery of objectives Clear curriculum objectives are displayed and described from the beginning of the unit. Skills are modeled and students are expected to show independence. Activities and lessons are built in to the unit which expect students to demonstrate all of Bloom’s levels of thinking. Evaluating information based on its source becomes a higher level thinking skill, “can I trust a museum for accurate information?” Assessments are clearly tied to the instructional objectives.

12. #8-Integrates word processing skills and creative activities. A teacher can provide a variety of audiences to read student written work. (emails, class newspapers, letters, etc.) Rarely uses worksheets which increases the students need to organize written work, plan, draft, edit, and consider an audience.

13. #9-Models for students the resources used in research. Students will not rely solely on their class textbook for research. The use of online catalogs in the school library or community is needed. CD-roms can be searched logically for answers to questions. The techniques of using search engines on the internet needs to be mastered. Students are taught to write bibliographies which include how to annotate technology resources. Emailing experts on the internet becomes important.

14. #10-Safely controls web access for students. When planning a thematic unit, the teacher gathers resources, which include important internet resources. The teacher creates a management system for students to access the internet. Teacher implements an “acceptable use policy” for students, signed by students, parents, and administrators if needed. Students who violate the policy lose internet privileges.

15. Keep in mind…. Determine broad goals. Set learner outcomes. Follow state standards. Incorporate technology. Utilize multiple intelligences in choice of activities. Use self and group evaluations. Combine a variety of assessments.

16. Thematic Units create well- rounded students.