Steps for Creating a Themed Unit for the Classroom

Creating thematic units for your classroom makes learning fun and engaging and saves you time, too. By developing your own thematic units ahead of time, you'll have everything you need to teach the important concepts your class needs to learn.

Theme:
For elementary classrooms, holiday and seasons are obvious choices as kids enjoy the excitement of celebrating these special times, but you don't need to limit thematic units to holidays and seasons. Choose something that interests your class-from space to frogs and toads. Nearly any topic can incorporate the skills you are teaching in all subjects.

Focus:
Think carefully about the focus of your theme and put into words. A one-sentence statement keeps you on track when gathering resources.

Objectives:
Determine the specific objects for the themed unit. This includes the information and skills you want your students to master by the end of the unit. Refer to your state or local standards for your grade level to align your unit's objectives.

Materials and Resources:
This includes all information sources, such as Internet resources, printed materials, literature, community resources and instructional materials needed to complete the unit.

Activities:
Determine the specific activities your students will complete. This includes worksheets, art projects and classroom activities. Knowing ahead of time exactly what students will do to master minimizes your work when it comes time to teach the unit.

Discussion Questions:
These should include opened ended questions designed to get kids involved in learning and communicating with others, and closed questions for a quick assessments.

Literacy Connections:
Gather both nonfiction and fictional book to use with the themed unit. Vary the reading level to provide access for all students in your class. Plan writing activities, such as developing writing prompts and create vocabulary exercises to improve comprehension. Word searches, crossword puzzles and other word games build vocabulary skills.

Integrated Lessons:
Prepare lessons in math, science and social studies that relate to the theme. Include the lessons in the unit.

Culminating Activity
Complete the themed unit with a final project or activity to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned.For young elementary students, a celebration with related snack and watching a related movie works well. For older children the activity should involve a hands on project.

Assessment:
Create assessment rubrics or any other method of assessment you intend to use to monitor student progress and their final project You may wish to use anecdotal evidence of learning, but be prepared to document it regularly.

Many teachers prefer to create a box with all the resources and materials for the unit and store it until ready to use. This saves time and energy when it comes time to teach the unit and prevents students from reading the books ahead of time. Fresh new material is often met with enthusiasm promoting learning.