Interdisciplinary Unit

          Interdisciplinary learning is one of many ways to learn everything on the curriculum. When teachers consider their objectives and students' needs, they may choose interdisciplinary learning to transport part or all of the content they will present. This method can help bring students to a new attentiveness of the meaningful relations that exist among the disciplines.  It also requires that we look at everything on the one topic; it would usually focus on a theme like water or the environment, then connect them and turn it into a joint focus.  That makes it so they are learning more information in the time they have to do what they need to do on the curriculum.  Each teacher can also teach lessons that are similar to connect each class with the curriculum.

          The strengths in interdisciplinary learning is that the students, by using this method, would synthesize their learning in responding to essay questions by pulling support from multiple disciplines. They could respond in a variety of ways, such as making a comparison or even having a discussion of their findings.  It will help open students minds to learn in different ways, other than how they have been taught.  They will not be one-sided to discussions, and will be able to debate after finding evidence to prove their side of the story.  Interdisciplinary learning is basically opening the students≠ minds to help them learn more, in different ways.  It triggers the inquiry in children≠s minds; especially with essential questions used to help implant the information in the students≠ heads.  

          Some of the weaknesses are that teachers feel interdisciplinary learning will replace discipline-based learning.  I also feel that if it is used at an elementary level sometimes the lessons may involve too much to do at such a young age.  One of the lessons I viewed was for a third grade class learning about communities.   There were so many activities, they mostly seemed enjoyable, but having third graders trying to read a map seems a little difficult for that age.  The students have to conduct seminar discussions about two books.  I just feel that the work to learn all of the information seems to be a little too much for the younger elementary levels.  It also seems that it can take up the whole day because most lessons you can use for each subject.  Then you would have to make sure it all connected. 

          I do think the interdisciplinary learning approach is a good idea for teaching.  I think I would be able to use it when I become a teacher.  I could probably do a lesson on the letter "G", if I≠m a kindergarten teacher.  Then read the "Three Billy Goats Gruff," then I can have the students learn about goats and about the states goats are farmed in.  Each subject can connect to one another, to help the students make their connection with the material to help them learn the information given.  I am still not quite sure how to make a lesson up myself but learning about interdisciplinary learning, I think I would use it in my class if it fits in well with our curriculum.