Running Head: INTERDISCIPLINARY

Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Carly Assaid
Regent University

In partial fulfillment of UED 495 Field Experience ePortfolio, Spring 2015

Introduction

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Every subject that is taught in elementary school is equally important, and necessary for
students' educational success. Combining subjects into a solid, interdisciplinary curriculum is
extremely beneficial when it comes to student learning. Whether it is integrating math and
science, or social studies and language arts, students receive a rich experience. The integration of
two or more disciplines allows for students to access various parts of their brain, engage in
higher-order thinking skills, and contribute to deep discussion.
Rationale
I chose a Thanksgiving-themed lesson involving various subjects to represent the use
of interdisciplinary curriculum in the classroom. The subjects included science, engineering,
math, and reading. This activity/lesson was partly a S.T.E.M. project, which stands for "science,
technology, engineering, and math education" (CLSnet, 2015). My two artifacts consist of the
different pictures of the students' "disguised" turkeys. For this project/writing assignment,
students were instructed to use S.T.E.M materials (recycled bottles, aluminum cans, toilet paper
rolls, rubber-bands, etc.) to design a disguise for a turkey. Once their disguises were complete,
students then had to sequence the steps they took to disguise their turkey. Finally, students
transferred these steps into a formal "how-to" paper.
This lesson plan presented students with a fun, and creative way to take part in
interdisciplinary curriculum. Students were exposed to a variety of subjects that each played an
essential role in the outcome of the assignment. Students exercised their math, science, and
engineering skills in the creation of their "turkey disguises." Students learned the importance of
sequencing when it comes to reading and writing. Lastly, the submission of a final paper
enforced proper writing techniques. The end result was a successful lesson that met goals across
various curriculums.

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3
Reflection

While I have learned of the necessity of interdisciplinary curriculum in my studies at

Regent, its effect did not become real to me until I experienced it in the classroom. Most students
respond well to a rigorous lesson that requires them to think on various levels. Many students
seem to crave this kind of a challenge. Heidi Hayes Jacobs in her article, "Interdisciplinary
Curriculum," discusses the priority that interdisciplinary curriculum should have in our schools.
"It is not that schools should avoid dealing with specific disciplines; rather, they also need to
create learning experiences that periodically demonstrate the relationship of the disciplines, thus
heightening their relevancy" (Jacobs, 1989). Jacobs emphasizes the importance of connecting
school subjects to the real world. Students are more likely to appreciate the knowledge imparted
to them if they understand its relevance. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come
knowledge and understanding..." (Proverbs
In conclusion, interdisciplinary curriculum is a must for elementary age students.
Integrating multiple subjects proves to have many benefits when it comes to a child's educational
success. Interdisciplinary curriculum not only challenges students, but also encourages them in
the learning process.

References

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CSLNet. (2015). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.cslnet.org/our-agenda/what-isstem/

Jacobs, H. (1989). Membership. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from

http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/61189156/chapters/The-Growing-Needfor-Interdisciplinary-Curriculum-Content.aspx