What are the environmental factors in thematic units that should be considered? How should you setup your classroom space for a thematic unit? Will different environments be involved?
These may be just a couple questions you may have when developing a thematic unit for your students. The environment in and out of the classroom should be considered. If you are interested in what environmental needs you may want to look into, keep reading your questions may be answered for you!
Questions to Ask
Here are some questions to consider when thinking about the environment while developing a unit of study.
- What kind of environment do I need for my thematic unit?
- Do I need to modify my classroom?
- Do I need to rearrange the furniture or layout of the space?
- Will I need space outside of the classroom for my unit?
- Will we go on a field trip to enhance the thematic unit?
Establishing Thematic Unit Areas
Classroom areas or other spaces are important aspects to consider. Students must have easy access and enough room to work on the unit and the skills involved. Environment is an important component of thematic or literacy-based unit for this reason.
Here are some ideas that you want to follow for your thematic areas:
- Literature Nook: an area where the fiction & nonfiction literature is housed while studying this theme
- Reading Center-Based Area: a place where students will participate in reading and phonics-based skills with theme
- Writing Center-Based Area: an area where students can have a variety of writing experience devoted to the theme
- Math Center-Based Area: a place where students will participate in math related skills with theme chosen
- Science/Social Studies Area: an area where students may further investigate the theme or topic chosen.
- Technology Area: a place for students to interact electronically regarding theme chosen
- Whole-Group Area: an area for the whole group of students can participate in group discussions, literature, experiments or interactively with theme.
- Out of Classroom Area: areas that may be needed to investigate theme that are out of the classroom walls, i.e., hallway walls; gym/rec area; outdoors; field trip
Field Trips for Thematic Units
With decreases in budgets for schools and teachers it is difficult for educators to plan a field trip for their students. However, with some research, you may be able to find a field trip that is just perfect for your students and furthers your studies with a particular theme.
The emotional, social, and educational benefits to your students going on a field trip are immeasurable. Here are just a few opportunities that my students received by going on a field trip to a butterfly house at our closest university. All done in a single morning, but what fun and memories for my students!
- Bus Ride
- Visited a big university
- Participated in an interactive classroom
- Toured a butterfly house seeing butterflies at a variety of life stages
- Toured greenhouse
- Planted butterfly flowers
- Played in outdoor butterfly themed area
- Picnicked outside in outdoor area
Grab your Free, Butterfly Literature List!
In summary, the environmental factors in thematic units must be considered when developing a thematic unit. The set-up of your classroom and whether you need other environmental spaces are certainly components of thematic units.
An educator must look at the layout of their classroom and may want to establish some key areas for students to learn and practice skills of themed unit. They also need to pursue other environmental areas that may provide wonderful learning opportunities for their students.
Find some more reading activities and assessments in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more topics check out my blog, “Seven Effective First Grade Assessment Tools”
