Integrated Curriculum

Program Plan

Rationale
An integrated approach to planning and implementing the curriculum provides both a
way of enhancing student learning and a means of organizing the curriculum in a logical,
relevant and manageable way.
Children learn best when they know the outcomes they are working to achieve and when
they see connections among learning experiences. An integrated curriculum assists
students to manage the breadth of the curriculum by helping them to identify patterns,
similarities and differences between areas of learning.
An integrated approach to the curriculum creates time for dedicated teaching of skills and
content specific to each learning area.

Nature of the Program

Our Integrated Curriculum uses the areas of SOSE, Health, Science and Technology as
the basis, which provides the content for each unit of work undertaken.
Science, Sose and Health have four basic concepts from which all units of work derive,
whilst Technology has two concepts to draw from for the development of those units.
The three areas of the school; Junior, Middle and Senior, work through the units of work
pertaining to their specific level over either a two or three year cycle.
We use as the basis of our Integrated Curriculum the Inquiry Approach, as defined by
Kath Murdoch in her book Making Classroom Connections, which is built around the
following framework:
Tuning In and Preparing to find out at this stage of the inquiry the children
talk of what they already know about the topic and what they would like to find
out
Finding out the children with the guidance of the teacher use the resources at
their disposal to find out the answers to their questions
Sorting out armed with the knowledge they were after, the children/teacher
now decide how best to present this information
Going Further at this stage individual children are able to make their own
inquiries into issues that are of particular interest to them
Making Conclusions children cement their learning by talking and sharing
their learning and seeing how far they have moved since the beginning of the
topic
Reflecting and Taking Action if possible the children put their learning into
some meaningful context, i.e. helping in the community, or sharing their
learning with others. It is also a chance to reflect on what they have learned and
how they learnt it.
 Implementation of the Program
Integrated Curriculum is taught across all levels of the school. Each class teacher is
responsible for implementing it into his or her own classroom. The P 2 level work
through a three year cycle whilst the 3 4 level and the 5 6 level work through a two
year cycle.

Time allocation varies slightly in the different areas of the school. With the following
being set as an approximate guide:
P / 3 120 minutes per week
4 / 6 180 minutes per week

Some units lend themselves more easily to being integrated across the broader
curriculum, especially into areas such as English and Maths. The times mentioned above
indicate the amount of time dedicated on a weekly basis to the subject titled Integrated
Studies, it is recognized however, that the topic being covered can in fact extend beyond
these times.

Two units of work are covered in the course of one term with the first one having a major
status and second a minor status. This allows for the unit being covered first to extend
into the second half of the term if need be. To ensure equality amongst the KLAs of
SOSE, Science, Health and Technology each of them have one unit, which is given major
status and another, which is given minor status in the course of one year. This is more
necessary in the senior school where it is possible for some units to run for seven or eight
weeks. In the junior school however, this is not such an issue as most units of work run
for five week periods.

Resources and Budget

The following is a list of resources used in planning and to support teaching of Integrated
Curriculum:
Classroom Connections Kath Murdoch
Classwise Kathie Barrs & Katie Kitching
Integrated Units for the Middle Primary School Shirley Sydenham
Beginning School Elizabeth Golding & Shirley Sydenham
Integrating Technology Enhancing Learning A resource kit
Terrific Topics Integrated Units on popular themes
Integrated Units Collcction
Planning Classroom Connections Kath Murdoch & David Hornsby
Integrated Learning Diane Snowball & Anne Hammond

Each year a curriculum area is designated $10 per student to fund resources for this area.
Any resources that are required can either be funded through this budget or the library
budget in consultation with the librarian.

Program Evaluation:
Integrated Studies is given a minor review each year and a major review every five years.
A team of three teachers, preferably one from each area of the school, in consultation
with the remainder of the staff, is responsible for the review and documentation of this
area.
Reviewed: April 2002
Promulgated: June 2002
Next Review: 2006
 Integrated Curriculum
Course Outline

Goals and Approaches

The goal of using an integrated approach to curriculum is primarily to assist learners in

making connections within and across key learning areas as well as aiding in dealing with
a crowded curriculum. Integrated Curriculum assists both teachers and learners by:
Reflecting more closely the interdependence between all aspects of life in the
real world
Challenging learners to use and develop their thinking skills as they work to
make connections and see the big picture
Catering to the various learning styles and preferences held by students
Meeting outcomes in context
Making more sense of the school day as activities have stronger links with
each other
Providing students with a greater degree of control over their learning
Encouraging the staff to plan and work together as a team
Enriching understanding, enjoyment and reflection in teaching and learning

Translation into the school program

The units of work and the teaching cycle are listed below:

JUNIOR:

KLA Cycle A-2001 Cycle B-2002 Cycle C-2003

SCIENCE Web of Life Web of Life Web of Life
(Living Things) (Living Things) (Living Things)
Emphasis - Ocean Emphasis Zoo/Farm Emphasis Dinosaurs
Animals
Push and Pull Making Sense Four Seasons in One Day
(Energy and Force) (Natural and Manufactured (Earth and Beyond)
Materials)
SOSE Exploring Ourselves and Celebrations and Christmas Celebrations and Christmas
Others (Culture and Traditions) (Culture and Traditions)
(Culture and Traditions)
No Place like Home Growing up In the backyard
(Community) (Citizenship) (The world around us)
HEALTH Safety Safety Safety
(Personal Safety) (Personal Safety) (Personal Safety)
Emphasis Sunsmart, home Emphasis water, medicines Emphasis traffic, fire
and school-bullying. and bullying awareness and bullying

Body Bits Help Playing Games

(Personal Development) (Community Health) (Physical Activity)

TECHNO Senders and Receivers Toy Story The Big Wheel

LOGY (Communication) (Invention and Design) (Invention and Design)
MIDDLE:

HOST KLA ODD YEAR EVEN YEAR

Technology Invention &Design Communication
Nuts and Bolts Tin Cans to Telephone

SOSE Community Culture & Traditions

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Lets Party

Citizenship The World Around Us

Rights & Responsibilities Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Health Community Health Personal Development All

My Network Systems Go!

Personal Safety Physical Activity

Help me if you can! Being the best I can

Science Natural & Manufactured Materials Living Things

Whats the matter? Hide and Seek

Earth & Beyond Energy & Force

3rd Rock from the Sun May the force be with you

SENIOR:

Technology Communication Invention & Design

Online The best thing since sliced bread

SOSE Culture & Traditions Citizenship

Many Places, Many People The Power of One

The world around us Community

Gold We are the world

Health Personal Development Personal Safety

Growing, Growing, Gone Health in our hands

Community Health Physical Activity

Taking Control If its to be, its up to me!

Science Living Things Natural & Manufactured

Going, Going, Gone Materials
Strange Changes
Energy & Force Earth & Beyond
Energy, Energy, Everywhere Adventures in Space
Reviewed: April 2002
Promulgated: June 2002
Next Review: 2007