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Primary education: listening and observing
Primary education: listening and observing

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1.1 One theme, many subjects

Remember in Session 4 you heard headteacher Mark Millinson talk about a homework project on the Egyptians, where children made pyramids at home from recycled materials. As children learned about the ancient Egyptians over several weeks, they covered a range of academic subject areas.

An image of the Egyptian pyramids.
Figure 1

Activity 1 How does cross-curricular learning work?

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

See if you can work out which subjects link to the activities in the theme of ‘Egyptians’. Type your answers into the right-hand column of the table. Some activities may have more than one related subject.

Activities to learn about the EgyptiansAcademic subjects

When pyramids were built

How ancient Egyptians lived

The Pharoahs, King Tut, Queen Nefertiti

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Egypt is on the world map

Egypt’s deserts and rivers

The Nile

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Timeline of ancient Egypt

Egyptian mathematical and number system

Ancient Egyptian board games

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Reading information books, historical accounts and diaries of archaeological expeditions, Howard Carter and discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb

Making information books about Egypt

Writing diaries ‘in role’ as (pretending to be) Howard Carter

Learning hieroglyphics meanings

Rosetta Stone languages and deciphering

Writing own hieroglyphics

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How bodies are mummified and preserved

Making papyrus

Pyramid forces

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Egyptian art and monumental statues

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Making models of pyramids
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Creating dance and movement based on Egyptian art

Ancient Egyptian sport and games

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Egyptian deities, rituals and afterlife
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Exploring the British Museum Egyptian collection online

Listening to archival recording of Howard Carter

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Words: 0
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Discussion

Activities to learn about the EgyptiansAcademic subjects

When pyramids were built

How ancient Egyptians lived

The Pharoahs, King Tut, Queen Nefertiti

History

Egypt is on the world map

Egypt’s deserts and rivers

The Nile

Geography

Timeline of ancient Egypt

Egyptian mathematical and number system

Ancient Egyptian board games

Mathematics

Reading information books, historical accounts and diaries of archaeological expeditions, Howard Carter and discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb

Making information books about Egypt

Writing diaries ‘in role’ as (pretending to be) Howard Carter

Learning hieroglyphics meanings

Rosetta Stone languages and deciphering

Writing own hieroglyphics

Language and literacy

How bodies are mummified and preserved

Making papyrus

Pyramid forces

Science

Egyptian art and monumental statues

Art

Making models of pyramids

Design Technology

Maths

Art

Creating dance and movement based on Egyptian art

Ancient Egyptian sport and games

PE (Physical Education)

History

Egyptian deities, rituals and afterlifeRE / RS (Religious Education / Religious Studies)

Exploring the British Museum Egyptian collection online

Listening to archival recording of Howard Carter

Computing and IT

As you matched the subjects to the activities, you were probably aware that in most cases children are learning more than one subject at a time. Children make better sense of their learning when it’s connected, in other words, when they are not learning isolated ‘bits’ of information.

For instance, when children read and write about archaeological expeditions they are developing their language and literacy skills. At the same time, they are learning history, science, geography, biographies of historians and explorers, and about the science of archaeology. When children write ‘in role’, pretending to be Howard Carter, they are also using their imaginations and their creativity to describe entering King Tut’s tomb. Likewise, when children design and make models of pyramids, they are learning about mathematics and physical forces.

This is why cross-curricular thematic projects or ‘topic’ work is often referred to as ‘integrated learning’. When children can make connections between subjects, and are involved in their learning through hands-on activities, they are more likely to remember what they have learned.