We’re spoilt for choice in ELA when it comes to cross-curricular learning…
But how do we make it PURPOSEFUL for our objectives? It’s easy to see how ELA skills rub shoulders with music, science, history – any subject if you think about it – but as delightful as this is, we still have a core curriculum to teach. So what do we do?
I recommend starting with the main English areas; reading, writing, speaking and listening. Whatever cross-curricular topics you think will grab the attention of your class, decide which of these you want to be the steering wheel for your topic, and then skim the standards. Choose a maximum of three that jump out to you, and build your lessons or activity around them. I’ve done a few resources like this on homelessness, technology, farming and even cursive writing… but why?
Middle and high school can be much more exciting when we mix things up with purposeful cross-curricular learning; it’s like connecting the dots between different subjects, but in an organized way that sticks to the subject rules. It’s like giving students a turbo boost for their learning because they not only understand what each subject is about but also see how they fit together, just like puzzle pieces. Think of it as a training ground for the real world, where things are never just one-dimensional. So, when they hit college or the job scene, they’re all set with the skills to handle tricky challenges that need a mix of skills from different fields. If this makes your ears prick up, you might want to do a little research into interleaving.
I have put together an argumentative writing and speaking project where students research and present on the topic of de-extinction, finally voting as a class for the creature most suited to being revived in the modern world. For 48 hours it’s yours $1 (usually $5), and you can download it here!
This is particularly good for Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) students so take a look at the bundle it is included in.