Curriculum Integration in the Classroom

Chapter 8

I see and I forget, I hear and I remember, I do and I understand.

-ancient Chinese proverb

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Research Shows…

• People retain– 10% of what they read– 20% of what they hear– 30% of what they see– 50% of what they hear and say– 70% of what they hear, see, and say– 90% of what they hear, see, say,

and do

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Definitions• Integrated Physical Education –

fundamental skill or concept is practiced or rehearsed in the PE setting– Often organized around themes or big

ideas such as significant social issues like conservation, technology, or justice

• Interdisciplinary Curriculum – activities taught in one subject are also used to reinforce knowledge and other subjects

Methods

• Integration occurs in two ways:– Movement is included in the

classroom curriculum– Academic subjects are included in

the physical education curriculum

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Levels of Integration

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Connected Shared Partnered

Reinforce content from one subject

within another

Similar concepts in two or more subjects are

reinforced in each

Concepts from a number of subjects reinforce a specific

theme

Benefits

• Allows increased understanding for difficult academic concepts

• Increases information retention• Movement enhances the

understanding of abstract concepts (shape, energy, space, time)

• Provides an alternative to sitting

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Benefits

• Utilizes different learning styles• Allows an expression of answers

and thoughts in a variety of alternative ways

• Allows students to see teachers in a variety of settings

• Levels the playing field for all students

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Frameworks for Integration

• Multiple Intelligences Theory (Gardner, 1983)

• Brain-based learning• Brain Gym

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Multiple Intelligences Theory

• Bodily-Kinesthetic – control one’s motions and handle objects skillfully

• Linguistic – use language in different forms (speech, reading, writing)

• Logical-Mathematical – use numbers, see patterns, and see things from a logical point of view

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Multiple Intelligences Theory

• Musical – use the core set (pitch, rhythm, and timbre) of musical elements

• Spatial – create a graphic likeness of spatial information

• Naturalist – understand, relate to, categorize, classify, and explain things encountered in the world of nature

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Multiple Intelligences Theory

• Interpersonal – notice and make distinctions among other individuals and, in particular, among their moods, temperaments, motivations, and intentions

• Intrapersonal – form an accurate model of oneself, understand oneself and use this information to guide one’s behavior

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Brain-Based Learning – Move More to Learn More• Movement

– Improves circulation– Increases the oxygen supply to the brain– Regulates children’s moods– Encourages the body’s natural motivators– Reduces the amount of time spent sitting– Discourages passive learning– Pins down thought– Generates interest

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Instructional Foundation

• Orchestrated immersion - Creating learning environments that fully immerse students in an educational experience

• Relaxed alertness - Trying to eliminate fear in learners, while maintaining a highly challenging environment

• Active processing - Allowing the learner to consolidate and internalize information by actively processing it

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Brain Gym (Dennison & Dennison,

1989)• Activities stimulate the mind and

body to prepare a child to learn• Activities are categorized as:

– Midline movements• Help stimulate both hemispheres of

the brain at the same time• Example: Cross Crawl

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Brain Gym Activities– Lengthening activities

• Helps students make connections from the back of the brain to the front of the brain

• Focuses on lengthening muscles• Example: Stretching

– Energy exercises and deepening attitudes• Help re-establish neural connections

between body and brain

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