Summers-Knoll is a project-based school that uses themes as a way to integrate content areas in a way that makes sense to children. In the first and second grade, we have six large rotating ideas, three of which we do in a year. This year, the three themes on deck are Identity, Systems, and Innovation. As usual, we end the year reflecting on all we have learned. Each theme usually lasts a few months, but this is fluid and can go longer if the children are higher invested. In fact, our first theme of identity usually stretches through December as we spend this month sharing family traditions (certainly an important part of a person's identity).
In the next few months, children will be writing biographical poems, drawing self-portraits, writing memoirs, working on a group “tree of genetic traits”, mapping out where their ancestors came from, and much more. This deeply rich and ambitious project will stretch the children to do more than they thought possible, perhaps – but will be highly engaging and ultimately satisfying.
We hope to foster process learning and active involvement for ALL students with diverse learning styles. Thematic units involve activities designed to cross several areas of curriculum and build on students’ prior knowledge and interests. Plus, it is a way for us to build relationships between the classrooms. The first and second grade classrooms do much field work together, for instance, as well as gathering each week for project time. There are usually several opportunities throughout the year to gather meaningfully in larger groups, too, when doing project-based work.
Other benefits include:
Addressing individual needs
Promoting group cohesiveness
Motivating children and teachers
Learning in-depth factual information
Becoming physically involved with learning
Learning process skills
Learning “how to learn”
Integrating learning in a holistic way
(Kostelnik, M.J., Soderman, A. K., & Whiren, A. P.,)
Here’s to a great year ahead, full of learning and adventure!
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