Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary Approaches Approaches

Benefits for Secondary History Benefits for Secondary History and Foreign Language Classes and Foreign Language Classes

Through IntegrationThrough Integration

By Jay Simpson and Alexandra By Jay Simpson and Alexandra DraughanDraughan

Interdisciplinary/Integrated Interdisciplinary/Integrated InstructionInstruction

• ““Interdisciplinary curriculum: A Interdisciplinary curriculum: A knowledge view and curriculum approach knowledge view and curriculum approach that consciously applies methodology and that consciously applies methodology and language from more than one discipline language from more than one discipline to examine a central theme, issue, to examine a central theme, issue, problem, topic or experience” problem, topic or experience” (Jacobs, Ed., 1989, p. 8 as cited in Hange and Rolfe)(Jacobs, Ed., 1989, p. 8 as cited in Hange and Rolfe)

• Bringing together multiple content areas Bringing together multiple content areas to further enhance comprehension and to further enhance comprehension and application of materialapplication of material

Implications for Implications for TeachersTeachers

• Changing curriculumChanging curriculum• Teacher training (critiquing and revising Teacher training (critiquing and revising

units)units)• Group teacher planningGroup teacher planning• Peer coachingPeer coaching• Changes in instructional strategiesChanges in instructional strategies• Use of alternative assessment (products, Use of alternative assessment (products,

performance tasks, personal performance tasks, personal communications, portfolios, observations)communications, portfolios, observations)

Implications for StudentsImplications for Students

• Make multiple connections between Make multiple connections between subject areas and skills as a learnersubject areas and skills as a learner

• Intellectual development and increased Intellectual development and increased retention of materialretention of material

• Broadens group and communication Broadens group and communication skillsskills

• Facilitates higher order thinkingFacilitates higher order thinking• Strong motivation strategy Strong motivation strategy

(involvement)(involvement)• Increased academic achievement Increased academic achievement

through reinforcementthrough reinforcement

Practical ApplicationPractical Application• A science class can use research skills A science class can use research skills

from an English class to investigate a from an English class to investigate a hypothesis and write reports.hypothesis and write reports.

• Learning the history of mathematicians Learning the history of mathematicians brings a personal element to the brings a personal element to the instruction.instruction.

• Teaching how different disciplines Teaching how different disciplines (astronomy, math, etc.) played a role in (astronomy, math, etc.) played a role in civilizations in history classes enhances civilizations in history classes enhances personal application.personal application.

• Understanding the history and Understanding the history and development of language increases development of language increases comprehension while grasping cultural comprehension while grasping cultural knowledge.knowledge.

Integration for Secondary Integration for Secondary Social StudiesSocial Studies

• The Social Studies teacher at the The Social Studies teacher at the High School level is responsible for a High School level is responsible for a vast majority of topics and vast majority of topics and information that must be grasped information that must be grasped completely in a short amount of timecompletely in a short amount of time

• Some would say it’s quite difficult to Some would say it’s quite difficult to jump over centuries of information jump over centuries of information in 5 months right? WRONG!in 5 months right? WRONG!

Example Application for a Example Application for a Social Studies ClassSocial Studies Class

• A coastal High School Social Studies class would have an A coastal High School Social Studies class would have an excellent location (the beach) for a reenactment of the excellent location (the beach) for a reenactment of the Invasion of Normandy during World War IIInvasion of Normandy during World War II

• The Social Studies class would be the invading Allied The Social Studies class would be the invading Allied Forces storming the beach (literally)Forces storming the beach (literally)

• Science classes could be used to describe the elements Science classes could be used to describe the elements they would encounter and create mock amphibious crafts they would encounter and create mock amphibious crafts out of cardboard to simulate how the Allied Lines would out of cardboard to simulate how the Allied Lines would take the beachtake the beach

• Math classes could also be brought in count out how much Math classes could also be brought in count out how much ammunition and weaponry should be allotted per soldier ammunition and weaponry should be allotted per soldier and the average age of soldiers during that timeand the average age of soldiers during that time

• English class students could develop a ‘script’ of events English class students could develop a ‘script’ of events and narrate for the on-lookers as the students charge the and narrate for the on-lookers as the students charge the German bunkers of “Normandy, France”German bunkers of “Normandy, France”

The PossibilitiesThe Possibilities

• The capability of integrating multiple The capability of integrating multiple content areas to highlight the main piece content areas to highlight the main piece of information would be easily assessedof information would be easily assessed

• This method of teaching works well for all This method of teaching works well for all styles of learners: Visual, Verbal, styles of learners: Visual, Verbal, Kinesthetic, etc.Kinesthetic, etc.

• Working with other classes builds strong Working with other classes builds strong interaction for the students, bringing interaction for the students, bringing their individual cultures up close and their individual cultures up close and personalpersonal

Interdisciplinary and Interdisciplinary and Foreign LanguageForeign Language

Skepticism:Skepticism:

Foreign language concepts cannot be Foreign language concepts cannot be reinforced elsewherereinforced elsewhere

• Sequential and hierarchical Sequential and hierarchical approachapproach

• Grammar needsGrammar needs• Phonology and morphologyPhonology and morphology

Interdisciplinary and Interdisciplinary and Foreign LanguageForeign Language

Benefits:Benefits:Language can be used in a meaningful Language can be used in a meaningful

way and can reinforce other skills.way and can reinforce other skills.• Grammar--carryover from first Grammar--carryover from first

languagelanguage• Rhythmic, melodic, phonemic, Rhythmic, melodic, phonemic,

morphemic comparisonsmorphemic comparisons• Language as a tool for meaningful Language as a tool for meaningful

communicationcommunication• Theme comparison and connection Theme comparison and connection

Society Coping with Society Coping with DeathDeath

Biology/Anatomy:Biology/Anatomy: study the human body, study the human body, causes of death, medical research, causes of death, medical research, technological advances, field experiencetechnological advances, field experience

History/Social Studies:History/Social Studies: World War, Civil World War, Civil War, Epidemic, PandemicWar, Epidemic, Pandemic

Psychology:Psychology: Stages of coping Stages of copingLanguage Arts:Language Arts: Literature, poetry, Literature, poetry,

euphemismeuphemismSpanish:Spanish: compare societal views of death as compare societal views of death as

seen in customs, celebrations, literature, seen in customs, celebrations, literature, etc. etc.

SummarySummary

• More cooperative and global More cooperative and global approach to teaching and learningapproach to teaching and learning

• Caters to all learning tendenciesCaters to all learning tendencies• Proven benefits for personal growth Proven benefits for personal growth

and academic achievementand academic achievement

Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary ApproachesApproaches

Benefits for Secondary History and Benefits for Secondary History and Foreign Language Classes Through Foreign Language Classes Through

IntegrationIntegration

THE END THE END