Thematic teaching or thematic instruction highlights a theme through a thematic unit, or a course, or a series of courses within the social studies, or across disciplinary lines to make connections to other courses.

When teaching with themes, choose a theme that reoccurs throughout human history and is present in modern life. It can be a topic, such as vacation, quacks, cemeteries, utopias, or etiquette. Or themes can be overarching questions (essential questions or compelling questions).

Cover of Discovering Quacks, Utopias, and Cemeteries: Modern Lessons from Historical ThemesWhy teach with themes?

  • Students learn better when experiencing knowledge in a larger context. They begin to see relationships and connections across time and disciplines.
  • Learning about wider themes and related facts and skills more closely resembles how we experience life outside of the school and classroom
  • Themes can be chosen that are current student-centered, incorporating the needs, interests and perspectives of the students.
  • Carefully selecting topics and information related to a theme helps teachers narrow the overwhelming amount of knowledge in any discipline – so much history, so little time to teach it!

Interdisciplinary topics for thematic instruction

Daily life themes – food, family, housing, travel, manners, quacks, cemeteries, or utopias – can be used across the curriculum to make academic subjects relevant.

Learn more about the history of daily life themes, thematic units, and how to use themes in the elementary, middle, secondary, or college classroom . . . .

Cemeteries
Quack Cures & Snake oil
Manners and Etiquette 
Cover of Investigating Family, Food, and Housing Themes in Social StudiesFood
Housing
Travel and vacation themes

Exploring Vacation and Etiquette Themes in Social Studies: Primary Source Inquiry for Middle and High SchoolThematic teaching on this website aligns with:

 


About the header image: Postcard of tobacco growers delivering their crop of cigar tobacco, Quincy, Florida.
Library of Congress.