The document discusses thematic instruction for bilingual learners. Thematic instruction uses a central theme or topic to integrate learning across multiple subjects. It helps vocabulary develop naturally, creates a sense of community, and makes education relevant. Creating thematic units involves picking a theme, identifying concepts and language skills, and planning activities. Examples of thematic units provided are on roller coasters and US geography using a "travel pal."

1. Thematic Approach with
Bilingual Learners
Dan Ballard

2. Objectives
● Define thematic instruction
● Discuss characteristics of thematic
instruction
● Help creating a thematic unit
● Provide resources ideas for thematic
instruction

3. What is thematic instruction?
Thematic instruction is a central topic, idea, or
theme that is supported by learning activities
that cross multiple content areas and skills.

4. Characteristics of Thematic Instruction
● Instills vocabulary naturally throughout the
unit
● Creates a community of learners
● Makes education important to learners
through interesting, relevant, and real world
material.
● Provide students with a “big picture”
experience

5. Creating Thematic Units
Step 1: Pick a Theme
Step 2: Select concepts or ideas to convey a
message
Step 3: Identify language functions, skills and
strategies
Step 4: Gather resources and plan for
activities

6. Top Ten Things to Consider
1. Theme
2. Concept
3. Language Functions
4. Age Appropriateness
5. Real World Applicability
6. Student's Cultures and L1's
7. Goals for the Unit
8. Student's Individual Interests
9. Student's English Language Levels

7. Resource Ideas - Roller Coasters
1. Introduction: Physics and Gravitational Forces
2. Writing with Sensory Details
3. Potential and Kinetic Energy
4. Momentum and Inertia
5. Types of Roller Coasters/Parts of a Roller Coaster
6. Summarizing: Taking notes during a vocabulary-rich video

8. Resource Ideas - Travel Pals
A Journey of Learning, is a 9-month long theme unit which will teach students about U.S. Geography.
This theme unit is exciting and effective, because it allows your students to make real-world
connections to places and people around the U.S. by tracking the adventures of a class stuffed
animal, or Travel Pal. Students will collaborate to create a scrapbook of information to send out with
the Travel Pal to explore the U.S. As information about the Travel Pal’s journey starts coming in,
students will begin to track where their Travel Pal has been. They will also receive messages about
their adventures through email and postcards and work on any number of projects from creating
brochures about a city their Travel Pal has visited to writing stories involving a famous landmark. This
theme unit culminates by having the filled-up scrapbook and a bag full of souvenirs from their Travel
Pal’s trip returned to the students so they can use that to complete a chosen final project.

9. References
Heaslip, K. (2014, February 10). Thematic Instruction for ELL's. Thematic Instruction for ELL's. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from
http://www.slideshare.net/kyleheaslip/individualassignment-week-2
Mora, J. (2012, January 18). Thematic Instruction in Dual Language Classrooms: A Workshop for Project CORE. . Retrieved June
24,
2014, from http://coe.sdsu.edu/projectcore/docs/resources/13_01_18_ThematicPlanningELDStandardsHdout.pdf
Project Literacy NH. (n.d.). : Thematic Instruction. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from
http://nhprojectliteracy.blogspot.com/p/thematic-instruction.html
Top 5 Thematic Teaching Ideas | Scholastic.com. (n.d.). Scholastic Teachers. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/top-5-thematic-teaching-ideas