Integrated Thematic Units

In the past, many learning institutions have been focusing on a curriculum that emphasizes the core subjects. The subjects include English, mathematics, science and social studies. The development of a lesson plan in the core subjects focuses on analytics and critical thinking. Arts is the vital element that has been missing in most lesson plans. The component is essential in stimulating students to focus on their creativity and enhance their level of understanding. Students can discover solutions to their problem's and express the knowledge that they have in several ways. 

In the integrated thematic unit, learners will be exploring the life and innovations of Benjamin Franklin. The first lesson will focus on the necessity of the designs and several establishments created by Franklin. There will be the inclusion of music in the English Language Art lesson. The music's role will be to make the students understand how adjectives are essential in enhancing a story. Learners will be able to use the knowledge to develop a jingle that will effectively promote the works and establishment of Benjamin Franklin. 

There will be more explorations of Benjamin Franklin's work through the incorporation of visual arts. The strategy will assist students in creating and developing a new invention through the repositioning of various objects. The plan's effectiveness is to make learners understand the innovations and appreciate the contribution of recycled art. The first lesson will incorporate visual art for a continuation in the exploration of Benjamin Franklin's works. Learners will have to create their kite. The second lesson will explore the contribution of Franklin to the American revolution.  

LESSON 1: VISUAL ART/SOCIAL STUDIES INCLUSION

Grade Level:  3

Title:  Innovations   

Time : 2 Weeks  

State Standards:

Visual arts 

Create and understand the artwork, and the idea presented. 

Highlight images, sort, and select to create a more transparent visual presentation (Arizona Department of Education, 2016).

Social Studies: The History of America 

PO 4. There will be primary materials such as documents and photos and other secondary materials like bibliographies to understand individuals and occasions in American history better. 

Rationale:

The focus of the lesson is to make the learners be able to take advantage of their creativity. The book used in the course work is Ben and Me by Baretta, highlighting innovation in the modern world (Barretta, 2006). They will highlight what they have studied and make a comparison between themselves and Ben. The integration of visual arts and social studies will take place in the lesson. 

Objectives:

Use the skills gained to craft a kite.

Make a presentation on what they have learnt so far. 

Focus on creating its innovation. 

Materials:  Scissors, Paper, glue, boards, rope, textbook described and a pen. 

Anticipatory Set:

The first milestone will be to ask the learners if they know Benjamin Franklin. The next step will be to provide a description of Benjamin Franklin and some of his inventions. The last step will be to read the textbook for the entire students. 

Procedures:

Let the students know what they will be doing that week. 

Inform the students to starts looking for their innovation. 

Display an example of a kite they are supposed to create.

Show the students what they will have to indicate on one side of the kite 

On the other side of the kite, the learner will have to do the following

Write the various innovations created by Benjamin Franklin. 

Draw a Venn image where they will highlight the differences, they note between them and Ben. 

Look for a space wand write their innovation. 

There is freedom of creativity for the learners to decorate the kite as it pleases them. 

The last procedure will be to display the kite in class for other learners to view. 

Adaptation:

There are two solutions for those who will need extra help. They can consult the teacher for assistance, or they can work in groups of two. However, each of the students will have to produce their kite with their innovation. Those who need extra time will have it. 

Online, technology, and community resources : YouTube Videos illustrating the various inventions of Benjamin Franklin. 

Assessment: 

Learners will work closely with their journals. They will write their most exciting innovation and provide a detailed description of why they are interested in a particular design. The assessment of the journal will be formative. 

Supporting Research:

The motivation of the learners arises from the ability to connect with what is being taught in class. The lesson makes the students use their creativity and critical thinking so that they can come up with and innovation. The materials such as the book are to give the learners extra knowledge on the various designs and create their own. 

LESSON 2: SCIENCE/VISUAL ART INTEGRATION

Grade : 3

Allocated Time : 2 Weeks

Standards : 

Science:

Idea 1: Scientific Evaluation

PO 4. Highlight information that is from and research in a style that is relevant and organized. The recording can be done on lab books, a personal notebook or a journal. 

Idea Number 1: The evolution of science and endeavours of humans 

PO 1. Acknowledge the diversification present in human culture and attribute to how the differences have contributed to innovations. For instance, Williams Hale, who was a physician in support of strand number 4. 

Idea 2: Technology present in the community. 

PO 2. Acknowledge the contribution of technology to humans at the moment and in the past. For instance, the development of automobile by Henry Ford and Telephones by Gram Bell. 

Visual Art:

Anchor Standard 2:  Be able to organize all the ideas and the works is a way that they can be clearly understood. For instance, there is a repurposing of objects to create something new. 

Anchor Standard 11:  Be in a position to establish the connection between the idea and the existing societal and cultural innovations for a better understanding (Arizona Department of Education, 2016). For instance, consider comparing artwork in culture and the variation in time and area. 

Rationale:

Learners will have to allocate some time to watch the video on Ben and Me created by Disney. The video is of the innovation that Ben can transform to meet modern society (LPMANGAS, 2008). They will have to research some of the inventions of Benjamin Franklin. Later, they will create a design that can be displayed in the classroom or the school hallway. 

Objectives:

Create a recording of at least five innovations by Benjamin Franklin. 

Carry out a discussion on the contribution of each of the creations. 

Create a piece of art from old materials. 

Materials:  The prescribed YouTube video on Ben and Me, Paper, Glue, Tape and Buttons, Markers, Kites and Old Watches. 

Anticipatory Set:

The lesson will begin by asking the students to describe some of the innovation of Benjamin Franklin. There will be questions on why hey think Benjamin Franklin decided to come up with the various creations. The last step will be to watch the video together as a class. 

Procedures:

Highlight some of the materials present in the classroom that have been innovated by other people. 

Ask the learners question on the various innovation of Benjamin Franklin. 

Provide an elaboration on how Franklin managed to come up with some of the designs. 

Emphasis more on watching the video. 

Divide the students into groups to write a list of some of the inventions. 

Provide each group with at least two computers to conduct their research. 

Discuss the contribution of innovations to modern society. 

All the artworks that are complete will be displayed in the classroom and hallway. 

Adaption:

The research will be done in groups. Learners will be placed in groups where they are compatible and comfortable to work with others. 

Technology and resources:  The provided computers will be used to research innovations. The books on Ben and Me will be placed in the class library for reference. 

Assessment:

Two strategies of assessment will be used. One is summative where each of the groups will be assessed based on their progress. The other approach is formative, where the evaluation will be done individually based on the creativity of the innovation selected. 

Supporting Research:

Through the research process, students will analyze Ben's inventions and highlight the contribution it has had on modern society. Some of the innovations are still being used in modern society and have been crucial in solving societal problems. 

LESSON 4: MATH/VISUAL ARTS

Grade Level:  3

Title:  The American Revolution

Allocated Time : 2 days

Standards:

Mathematics: Representation and Interpretation of information. 

· 2. MD.9. Create data through measurement of length and width and create a line plot. 

· 2. MD.10. Create a bar graph for ease of interpretation and creation of solutions. 

Visual Arts: Creating

Anchor Standard 1: Creation and conceptualization of artwork of idea.

The brainstorming of the students will be done collaboratively Arizona Department of Education, 2015). 

 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work

Rationale: 

Students will earn about the American revolution. In the end, they will have to provide the circumstances of each battle both in the British and Continental Army. 

Objectives:

Interpretation and representation of data in groups. 

Create graphs on the information provided. 

Materials:  Worksheets, calculators, paper, pencils and highlighters. 

Anticipatory Set:

Individual students will have to provide a narration of what they feel if they lived in the past when there was war. As an instructor, I will read a few data on soldiers' death and survival during the war. 

Procedures:

Discuss the American revolution and state the statistics. 

Categorize the learners into groups.

Give out blank worksheets

Make the students fill the worksheets based on the statistics provided. 

Adaptations for Diverse Learners:

There will be a grouping of the learners based on their abilities to create a line plot and bar graphs for presentation. 

Online, Technology, and Community Resources:  Online research on the war in the American revolution using computers provided.   

Assessment Strategies:

Summative assessment will be done on the student's worksheet and charts on the battles. The students will have to complete the chats by adding the number of troops, those injured, and the fatalities. 

Supporting Research:

There will be e research on the wars in the American Revolution. Also, there will be a highlight of the differences and similarities between the British American Army and the Continental Army. 

Reference

Arizona Department of Education. (2015). 2015 Arizona Arts Standards Theatre Standards K – 12 . Retrieved from https://cms.azed.gov/home/GetDocumentFile?id=5581a34e1130c00c8c0a9e4e . Accessed 21 January 2021. 

Arizona Department of Education. (2016). K-12 Standards . Retrieved from http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/ . Accessed 21 January 2021. 

Arizona Department of Education. (2016). The Science Standard Articulated by Grade Level . Retrieved from http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/academic-standards/science-standard/ . Accessed 21 January 2021. 

Barretta, G. (2006). Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin . New York: 

Henry Holt. 

LPMANGAS. (2008). Walt Disney - Ben And Me (1/2) – 1953 [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3rHY0l5s60 . Accessed 21 January 2021.