Incorporating hands-on themes into classroom instruction offers numerous benefits for both students and educators such as enhanced engagement, improved understanding and retention, development of Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills, making real world connections among others.
In the past I have used many themes during aistear and linked the theme into all other curricular areas. I used the theme of the Rainforest.
To introduce the topic, I showed the children a video about the rainforest that highlighted its key features.
We then created a large poster of a rainforest cross-section, including the emergent layer, canopy, understory, and forest floor.
I then assigned the students to create cards about different animals and plants. Students then placed their cards on the appropriate layer of the rainforest diagram.
We also explored deforestation in our SESS lessons that linked in with our aistear play in socio-dramatic role play.
Having a theme resulted in a a broad range of activites experienced by the children and they got lots of opportunities to learn about the rainforest.