The document discusses thematic instruction. It defines thematic instruction as using a central topic or theme to effectively teach multiple subjects. Some key benefits are that it combines subjects into a meaningful unit, emphasizes communication, and promotes students' linguistic and cognitive abilities. Thematic instruction is beneficial for English language learners by increasing social interaction and higher-order thinking. The document provides examples of thematic units and a process for creating cross-curricular thematic units.

2. WHAT WILL WE LEARN TODAY? (HANDOUT)
1. What is thematic instruction? What characteristics can teachers use to
identify TI .
1. How thematic instruction is beneficial to students.
1. How thematic instruction can be helpful to English language learners.

3. WHAT IS THEMATIC INSTRUCTION?
Thematic instruction is “a set of related learning activities and
experiences that effectively support teaching multiple content
areas and skills organized around a central topic, idea, or
theme.” (Gardner & Wissick, 2002 para. 3).
In other words, teachers can use thematic instruction takes regular
content courses (reading, writing, science, etc.) and combine
them to make one unit that is meaningful to the student.

4. MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS
*A theme stretching across multiple courses.
*A communicative approach, or an emphasis on communication,
and authentic resources.
*Teachers collaborate to meet the needs of students as well as hit
state and national curriculum standards.
*Promotes the students linguistic and cognitive abilities.

5. INTEGRATED CONTENT-BASED INSTRUCTION
o Language is used as a medium for student instruction and
learning.
o Engages students with authentic activities linked to subject and
theme.
o Increased social interaction with peers to the English language
learner.
o Promotes higher-order thinking.

6. SCHOLASTIC THEMATIC TEACHING IDEAS
*Scholastic gives 5 examples in this article of thematic
teaching ideas. These include themes such as seasons,
geography, and roller coasters. Scholastic's Top 5
*Each unit gives the ELL student the chance to learn things
in all content areas such as math, reading, writing, and
speaking in topics that have high student interest.

7. CROSS CURRICULAR THEMATIC INSTRUCTION
*Step by step instructions on how to create a thematic unit;
1. Theme & key concept selection
2. Skills and Strategies to teach
3. Searching for and selecting appropriate resources
Cross curricular instruction also stresses the importance of self
assessment in students throughout the unit.

8. REFERENCES
• Herrera, S. (2010) Mastering ESL and Bilingual Methods: Differentiated
Instruction for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students, Second
Edition, by Socorro G Herrera and G. Mjuorry.
• TEACHERS. (n.d.). Scholastic Teachers. From
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/top-5-thematic-teaching-ideas
• Vogt, M.E. (n.d.). Cross Curriculum Thematic Unit. Cross Curriculum
Thematic Unit. From http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/vogt.html