Part 1: Graphic Organizer

Instructions

For this discussion, you will be creating a graphic organizer in the form of a thematic unit planning web covering many content areas (language arts/literature, math, science, social studies, art, music/movement, dramatic play, health/safety, physical development, and outdoor/field trips). Please remember to include early learning standards related to language and literacy development with both text and nomenclature for each activity along with standards related to each content area. Additionally, in the introduction to your planning web, explain the benefits of using a thematic approach to teaching young children in a one to two-page essay. Why is it used and what purpose does it serve? What does research tell us, if anything?

View this site for sample designs of planning webs (Links to an external site. (Microsoft Word has fillable shapes, so you can create a Word document for this.)

Decide on a theme. (Some examples are community helpers, community garden, transportation, my family, etc.)

Once that you’ve chosen your theme, put it in the center of your web.

1. Next, you will have one fillable shape for each of the content areas listed above.

Brainstorm learning activities related to your theme for each content area.

1. Give a brief QUESTION of each activity within each fillable shape, and add a full standard with nomenclature and link for each activity. You should have at least one standard related to language and literacy development and at least one standard related to each of the content areas.
2. You should have at least one standard related to language and literacy development and at least one standard related to each of the content areas.
3. Search standards for kindergarten, first, second, and third grade here: https://www.cpalms.org/search/Standard
4. Search for preschool standards here: http://flbt5.floridaearlylearning.com/standards.htm
5. Upload your graphic organizer document for grading and write your essay into the discussion post.
6. **CONTENT STANDARD IN THIS ASSIGNMENT MEANS THE MATH, SCIENCE, ART/MUSIC, AND SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN 3-8.**

Example of writing out full standard with nomenclature (you need one literacy and one content standard for each activity)

ELA.K.R.1.1. Describe the main characters, settings, and important events in a story

• MA.K.M.1.2. Directly compare two objects that have an attribute which can be measured in common.

Example of early learning standards written out:

• (Language/Literacy)IV.C.1.b.Begins to understand the use of words in different context (including plurals and past tense in speech)

(Math) V.A.2 Counts and identifies the number sequence “1 to 10”

Part 2: Thematic Unit Presentation Instructions

Using your planning web, you will complete a presentation, of your thematic unit. To complete the assignment successfully, the following components should be included:

1. Slide 1: Title slide

Slides 2–4, Introduction: What is a thematic unit? Why is it important? What has research taught us (complete with in-text citations)?

Slides 5–25: (one slide for each activity QUESTION, taken from your web and one accompanying slide for each QUESTION with either a photo of the product or a video of the process. If you choose to include a video QUESTION, it should be no longer than 1–2 minutes).

Slide 26: Reflective statement on the process (complete with in-text citations)