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You know you've scrolled through Pinterest or other sites where there are endless thematic unit ideas for early childhood and lower elementary school. Seasonal or holiday themes, big topics like the ocean, solar system, or plants are standard. They're fun, engaging, and perfect for that age group, but what about upper elementary and middle school, where kids are ready to dig deep and crave seeing connections between content? Want some ideas of overarching thematic units that upper grades will love to explore? Let's take a look at ways to include meaningful thematic units in your classroom!
If you are a progressive educator or homeschool parent, you likely value when kids are really immersed in a project, motivated to dig deeper. The bigger the concept or theme of study, the more room for student exploration, which ultimately leads to finding out what they are really capable of as a student. Thematic units like studying art through pop culture or taking a look at how technology and nature intersect, or a study of time could vary an incredible amount between teacher to teacher. Ultimately it is up to you to guide the ship, but picking an open, but thought-provoking question or topic is a great start!
Here are some other tips to make the most out of thematic units by inspiring your students from start to end:
Begin by posing a question in your unit. When there's an overarching question like, "How does food play a role in the health of a nation or reflect a culture?" or "How are connections an integral part of our world?" your students are likely able to explore a wide range of content and take this unit where they want it to go. With you at the helm, there is so much to explore!
Let kids decide direction so that they are invested. After you pose the big question or topic, have students brainstorm the many directions that could be explored. Write everything down together. I like to jot down possible ideas ahead of time so that you can guide students along but let them have voice. It's a great idea to create a think map together with potential mini-units and subtopics they want to explore.
Use multiple content areas to convey the main theme. For example, if your theme is connections, there are so many mini-topics you could include! Here's a partial list: human systems (like the nervous system, digestive system, etc.), animal migrations interconnected with other factors, mycorrhizal network communication between trees, invasive species, sustainability, pollinators, big farming vs. biodiverse farming, health connected to nutrition, and so much more! Do you see where I'm going with this? "Connections" makes for a very broad topic, but wow, can you get into some amazing avenues! These topics mainly involve science and potentially economics, but could be taught using English, art, a historical perspective, music, body movement, and so much more!
Incorporate different learning styles. How do your students thrive? Do they love moving their bodies? Then create a tag game to help show animal migration challenges. Do they love to put things together? Then have them invent a way to stop purple lustrife from taking over the local swamp. Do they learn through drawing or art? Then have them sketch out a plan for a sustainable farm, illustrating the multifaceted aspects involved in maintaining balance between predators, nutrients, etc. Learning through multiple intelligences aids student success and deep understanding.
Set high expectations from the start and create a plan for organization. Let your kids know that you expect a lot from them, and they will rise to the challenge. Help with organization by creating workstations, materials, folders for the unit of study, and designated times during the week.
Wonder. Allow kids to ask why. Encourage them to wonder and ponder. When students ask why, it's a sign of digging deeper. Maybe post a "Wonder Board" in your room where kids can collect their wonderings or ponderings. Use prompts like "what if..." or "____ made me think ____"
Promote deeper thinking by sharing different perspectives or different narratives. The world is complicated and if just one narrative is given, then we aren't teaching kids how to think for themselves. Evaluating multiple perspectives is so important!
Carve time into your schedule to make it happen! Be flexible yet consistent. Working on a thematic unit usually involves flexibility. You may need to weave a "project time" into your schedule, or you may need to tweak other subjects to find the time. Do it but be sure to be consistent. Even if it's once or twice a week for a sustained block of time each session, project time has been one of the most sacred times for my students throughout my teaching career. It's where magical connections happen, an abundance of joy in learning, and memories that will last years beyond the lessons.
Make learning beautiful by including art, color and imagination. Create vivid and vibrant lessons and materials. You can apply art or music to just about anything.
Showcase students' efforts with a "Show of Work" which could be a beautiful display of projects, portfolios, living museums, and so much more. Invite parents in and make it an event with light snacks, short presentations, demonstrations, or whatever best fits with the unit.
Do you want a free welcome toolkit including a unit plan brain map, 8 multiple intelligences checklists, and an overview of multiple intelligences?
What is your favorite way to teach using an interdisciplinary approach? What do you find must challenging about it? I'd love to hear your wins and obstacles!