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February 2003
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Have a newsworthy item? Comments? Questions? Contact Paula Byrne, editor |
By Martha Mahoney, Library Teacher
mamahoney@wilmington.k12.ma.us
Over the past few years the specialists (art, music, physical education and library) at my school have worked together to plan school-wide interdisciplinary programs. We begin with a topic that is relevant to the curriculum at a particular grade level. We discuss this topic with the team that works with these children. Next we map out each person’s responsibilities. Then we begin. I will take you through a typical program.
When we began this program, our school was comprised of grades one through five. The fourth and fifth grade have been moved to another school at this time but the specialists at this school have continued our initiative. One grade level produces a culminating activity that involves a performance in the gymnasium. The rest of the school has activities—art, music, physical education and library-- that correlate to this instructional unit.
We begin planning about 5 months before the program looking at what we wish to emphasize. (The frameworks are in front of us.) Then we search for materials that will meet our goals. The students do research using print and nonprint sources to find facts that will be incorporated into the music. (The music teacher then incorporates them into an appropriate song). Movement that works with a concept is used. The art teacher makes the gymnasium turn into a stage for the performance. Each class creates a prop/costume that applies to the music and movements that they will perform. In the library we work on finding the material and then writing the script for the show. I provide activities for each class. Sometimes they write books that will be shared with younger students.
How do the logistics of this work in a school with a FIXED schedule? At this time we have 7 classrooms that are working on this years program. They are divided into 3 groups. We have the classes at the same time so we can work with them in their assigned groups. When it is near the performance, the teachers know how much they have learned and are very happy to give us a little extra time. The other classrooms during performance week will be completing activities that relate to the topic.
Our topics have included Bugs (Grades 1-2), Tropical Rain Forest Animals (Grade 4), The Olympics (Grade 5(Japan) and Grade 3) Weather (Grade 1), Solar System (Grade 5), and Under the Sea (Grade 3).
I would be happy to share any of these programs with interested people.
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