Forum Topic: cross curricular planning

Discussion

• Posted by: Tigs2 at at 31 July 2008 - 22:13

  We are just getting into this too. I have always tried to make links in my planning, so I am just adapting what I used before. I will try to ‘blur’ the edges of the separate curriculum areas and we have been told we can teach blocks of subjects, e.g. do a block of science over a few weeks, linking in other subjects, rather than one afternoon a week. I will also try to introduce topics creatively, such as being an archaeologist to introduce our topic on Egyptians. I would also at times like to give the children a degree of choice in how to respond to some input to cater for different interests and styles of learning. If starting from scratch I would suggest you think of the skills you would like the children to gain and how can you do this through a creative topic – what activities would teach those skills. This all sounds great in theory, we will have to see how it works in reality! Good luck with it.

• Posted by: Vikki82 at at 01 August 2008 - 12:01

  Dito what Tigs2 said. I also find centering the topic on something i know the class is interested in always raises their game. My class did a successful topic on the hypothetical proposal of ‘Building a new skate/bmx ramp in the local area. We managed to cover PSHE, geography, maths, art, citizenship and PE. It was ‘very cool’ in the words of one of my Year 5 boys!

  Good luck – and enjoy embracing the creativity!

• Posted by: beanie at at 09 August 2008 - 15:54

  We are keen to introduce some more creativity into our school and one colleague has just seen an article on the International Primary Curriculum. It looks good in the initial ‘bumph’ that I have sent for but just wondered if anyone has used this. If so, what do you think? Would be good to hear ‘first-hand’ feedback.

• Posted by: Al_8383 at at 11 August 2008 - 16:11

  I have just left a school who is implementing the IPC this coming term and so have had a lot of training on it… I must say it looks fab! Our Y6’s used it for after their SATS – their topic was chocolate – everything from art to ICT to History was based around chocolate. The whole classroom soon became a chocolate room with images from Charlie and the Chocolate family, chocolate wrapper designs etc etc all over the walls. I have seen photos of people who have used a IPC to teach the rainforest with fantastic effects. As someone who isn’t exactly artistic, I was at first daunted but the IPC seems to guide you into overcoming this… The plans that they use are great – very comprehensive and easily adapted – it’s well worth a good look into in my opinion – I’m just a little bit sad that I’ve moved school and am going to miss it!

• Posted by: Clare at at 27 August 2008 - 21:07

  IPC has really motivated the children in my class. The topics are really exciting and the ideas are great. We have been using it as a mantle of the expert method whereby every topic begins as a business, e.g when we studied the rainforests, we became a travel agency and when we studied fashion and music we became a retro fashion company, therefore everything has a purpose! (Ive also worked in a school that uses hamilton trust for thematic teaching.)

• Posted by: carol25 at at 28 August 2008 - 17:47

  Thank you every one for your comments – I’ve actually planned my first half adapting some of the work I do already and adding new ideas – hopefully it will at least start me off in the right direction!

• Posted by: nikkig at at 27 September 2008 - 00:56

  If you are interested in cross curricular learning and teaching, you may be interested in the Bridges for Learning conference, which is being held at the Leeds Hilton Hotel on 24th October. Further information at www.writeaway.org.uk