Africa: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Grades 2-4

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take ownership of their achievements. Students become active, enthusiastic, life-long learners. In the Africa Unit, students are exposed to concepts such as how the physical environment influenced the development of traditional African cultures, the enormously rich and diverse cultures found on a single continent, and the impact of ever-changing weather patterns on land, animals and people.