Building Cross-Curricular Connections
Building Cross-Curricular Connections in Early Childhood Education
by Dewi Griffith Ph.D
One thing that has remained constant in a fast-changing world of education is the importance of early childhood education.
This is when so much learning happens, and it’s the stage of life when children can most benefit from education which forms the habits of mind that will define their ability throughout their life-learning.
This is also when cross-curricular learning, or, as it is usually known, transdisciplinary learning can have the biggest impact, helping young children to connect across topics and to begin developing a more meaningful, more nuanced understanding of the world.
The topics that we cover include the following:
Why Cross-Curricular Connections Important
For early education, cross-curricular links are particularly important.
Firstly, by teaching subjects together, children can recognise not only that they are interlinked, but also that they should be studied together.
This is not only a much richer learning experience, but it also helps children develop a deeper understanding of the concepts presented.
When children can understand, for example, how math and science work in their everyday lives, they are more able to connect with them.
Cross-curricular learning also has a positive impact on children’s cognitive abilities. Young children are naturally interested in exploring the world around them.
If subjects are connected, educators can help children understand their world by nurturing that curiosity, which in turn encourages critical thinking. A study led by Jones (2018) found that this type of learning can help to improve the problem-solving abilities of children and also foster a more intermeshed intellectual curiosity.
Children experiencing cross-curricular learning demonstrate higher levels of memory skills and a more positive outlook. These processes have been shown to have positive effects on a child’s social and emotional development.
Cross-curricular activities, for instance, often involve working together on projects. This helps children learn early on the important skills they will need to work and talk to their peers.
By teaching and learning together, positive relationships develop more easily, and this experience can foster skills that will help children for their entire lives, such as teamwork, communication and empathy.
According to learning psychologists Smith and Pellegrini (2013), these experiences can greatly benefit children in acquiring interpersonal skills.
Practical Strategies for Implementation
Thematic Units:
Choose a Theme: Pick something broad that can be explored through multiple units. ‘Seasons’ is a theme that can easily be brought to life through different subjects: science (weather cycles), art (seasonal art projects) and literacy (seasonal stories).
Plan Activities: Find activities that mix subject areas: a science activity studying why leaves turn colours can be paired with a creative piece of writing around the season.
2. Project-Based Learning (PBL):
Identify a Project: Pick the project from a subject where you must learn from other subjects as well. For instance, the model of a green city requires knowledge of geography (city planning), science (environmental impact), and mathematics (measurements and estimates to create a budget).
Collaborative Work: Get children to work together, encourage cooperation and teamwork, and enable children to talk across disciplinary fields
3. Literature Integration:
Select Books: Choose literature that naturally incorporates multiple subjects. A book that covers space exploration, for example, will naturally incorporate science (astronomy), history (space missions) and literacy (reading comprehension).
Related Activities: Organise activities that fit into the book theme, like a science experiment on gravity or a history lesson about famous astronauts.
Examples of Cross-Curricular Lessons
"The Life Cycle of Plants" Theme:
Science: Teach the stages of plant growth through hands-on activities like planting seeds and observing their development.
Math: Measure the growth of plants and create charts to track progress over time.
Art: Draw and label diagrams of different stages in the plant life cycle.
Literacy: Read books and write stories about plants and their importance in the ecosystem.
2. "Exploring Cultures" Theme:
Geography: Study maps and learn about the geographical features of different countries.
History: Explore the history and traditions of various cultures.
Art: Create art projects inspired by cultural artifacts.
Music: Listen to and learn about music from different cultures.
3. "Weather and Climate" Theme:
Science: Conduct experiments to understand weather phenomena and climate change.
Math: Analyse weather data and create graphs to illustrate patterns.
Literacy: Write reports or stories about extreme weather events.
Social Studies: Discuss the impact of weather and climate on human activities and settlements.
Tips for Successful Implementation of Cross-Curricular Lessons
1) Start Small; Use small projects that connect only two objects and then move toward wider, more complex integrations.
2. Collaborate with Colleagues: Collaborate with fellow educators to exchange ideas and share educational materials. Engaging in collaborative planning can result in the development of more comprehensive and varied lesson plans.
3. Observe, reflect and adapt: At the end of every lesson, think over what went well and what didn’t. After observing the student or taking feedback, change your approach.
4. Bring Parents in the Picture: Parents need to be informed about any cross-curricular projects and act as ‘home coaches’ to continue children’s learning development outside the classroom.
5. Leverage Technology: Use digital tools and resources at school and home to support learning and make connections across disciplines more visible and accessible.
Cross-curricular connections are the key to building meaningful and exciting early childhood curricula.
When we tap into children’s sense of wonder by featuring multiple subjects within a single lesson, we teach them to make connections between bodies of knowledge, sharpen their critical-thinking skills, and prepare them for their work ahead.
Our youngest scholars can benefit from thematic units, project-curriculum approaches and literary links through carefully created lesson designs that will motivate them to ask questions about the world around them.
Start small.
Collaborate. Never stop perfecting your craft.
References and Further Reading
References
Jones, A. (2018). The impact of cross-curricular learning on problem-solving abilities in young children. Journal of Early Childhood Education Research, 16(2), 123-138.
Smith, P., & Pellegrini, A. (2013). The role of collaborative projects in early childhood education. Early Childhood Education Journal, 41(4), 263-271.
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