Interdisciplinary Project
The Interdisciplinary Project is a collection of interactive, theme-based activities that help students reach a deeper understanding of how topics learned in one discipline can be applied to other disciplines. Each project is weaved throughout the students’ current coursework, and it allows them to further hone their skill sets through real-world applications.
Each project covers one unit of study, and units are broken up into four interdisciplinary activities, in the areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Each unit covers an overarching theme, and each discipline (ELA, Math, Science, SS) provides the student an opportunity to combine their knowledge in different areas to complete a task. Each of these tasks are tied together, and students are provided with the tools to create their own interpretation of the task at hand. The tools include Google Apps for Education, graph generators, a sketchpad, Venn diagramming, and many others.
The interdisciplinary projects allow for student agency that builds on the foundations learned in the core curriculum.
To complete each of their tasks, students will utilize our Project Toolbar, as seen below.*
Please click each icon to explore the tools students will be using when completing their projects.
Completing a project will allow students to reach a deeper understanding of the core goals from the different disciplines. Through the use of these real-world examples, students will develop critical thinking skills and will learn to apply concepts from their curriculum to real-life situations. Research has found that this creates a broad conceptual framework for students to integrate concepts (Bransford (2000)).
Additionally, teachers can leverage the content from these projects to drive conversation and teamwork in the classroom. By collaborating with other peers to complete these projects, or by working alone, the students will build confidence, strengthen their understanding of the material, gain exposure to essential social developmental skills, and experience a 21st century approach to the coursework.
All student work is saved and can be compiled into a running portfolio using Google Apps for education. Using this method, students are able to store, share, and collaborate on different projects.
So, what's in a theme?
“Do I Really Need to Brush My Teeth?”
The overarching theme within Unit 1 covers drinking water and fluoride, but how do you apply that to the areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies?
We’ll use a printing press to create a flyer, we’ll represent real world data in a variety of ways, and we’ll create a slideshow about the Environmental Protection Agency. Click below to work through the sample project.
UNITS, THEMES & LESSONS
The complete list of themes for each grade level can be found below.
Each unit contains four distinct activities, one for each discipline of English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The activities tie directly to the content of the curriculum to reinforce and strengthen the students' understanding of the material.
6th Grade
Do I Really Need to Brush My Teeth?
UNIT 1A
A Trip Around
the Sun
UNIT 2A
The Road
You Travel
UNIT 3A
A Metallic
Imposter
UNIT 4A
Is an Inchworm Smaller in
England?
UNIT 5A
I Forgot
My Sunscreen
UNIT 6A
2% or Skim?
UNIT 1B
Sorry! I Sneezed on You
UNIT 2B
We're in a Sticky Situation
UNIT 3B
Let's Take
a Seflie!
UNIT 4B
Isn't STEM Part of a Plant?
UNIT 5B
Don't Have
a Meltdown
UNIT 6B
7th Grade
America
the Beautiful
UNIT 1A
Ready
for Takeoff!
UNIT 2A
A Really
Great Lake
UNIT 3A
Black
Gold?
UNIT 4A
A Force to Be Reckoned With
UNIT 5A
Welcome to the Machines
UNIT 6A
As Basic as it Gets
UNIT 1B
Nifty
Fifty
UNIT 2B
With Liberty and Justice
for All
UNIT 3B
Skyscrapers, Submarines, and Spoons
UNIT 4B
Can't You Hear the Whistle Blowing?
UNIT 5B
How Refined are You?
UNIT 6B
8th Grade
The Natives
are Restless
UNIT 1A
Living Off
the Land
UNIT 2A
Do You Want
to Build a Snowman?
UNIT 3A
You Say You Want a Revolution?
UNIT 4A
Tipping the Scales
UNIT 5A
An Alien
Satellite
UNIT 6A
Over the River and Through the Woods
UNIT 1B
Follow the Sunset
UNIT 2B
My T-Shirt Grew on
a Farm?
UNIT 3B
We've Gone
Ballistic
UNIT 4B
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
UNIT 5B
From Sickle to Splicing
UNIT 6B
for more information about the Interdisciplinary Project, as well as our curriculum.
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