Thematic or Integrated Instruction

Thematic or integrated instruction is an interdisciplinary teaching approach that presents subject matter according to themes or topics. Each theme or topic is presented in extended units so that students have enough time to develop understanding and to find connections to what they know and value. This approach integrates knowledge from different disciplines and encourages students to explore topics deeply, reading many different sources and engaging in a variety of activities. The use of multiple sources encourages students to be involved in planning, locating materials, and thinking more actively and deeply than when learning is based on a single text. As a result of their in-depth study, students are more likely to understand and feel confident in their learning.

Examples of thematic teaching include explorations of big questions, such as: What happened to the dinosaurs? What impact do rain forests have on our life? Can family members and older adults be our friends? How could international conflicts be prevented?