Blending multiple subjects into a common unit or assessment has been a hallmark of middle school philosophy for decades. When students see the connections between multiple subjects and apply those connections to authentic learning experiences, they have richer, more meaningful learning. They remember what they've learned!
In this activity, students are blending their math and social studies skills to plan for a trip along the Oregon Trail. They must calculate (practicing that relevant and timely skill of decimals) the cost of their supplies and consider what they need to navigate the geography of the trip.
The key to a strong interdisciplinary unit is relevance to curriculum. Yes, we can imbed math into any subject with a graph or two, but to make it relevant to what they are learning at the time adds another layer of authenticity.
No comments:
Post a Comment