THEMATIC UNIT: CHARACTERISTICS, PLANNING AND EXAMPLES - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The thematic unit, in education, are frames of reference that function as a basis for planning and organizing the learning experience and that take into account unifying topics.

The main objective of the thematic unit is to allow the student to be able to tackle a topic, but relying on the different skills or learning domains such as science, language development, art and / or mathematics.

It is worth mentioning that for some authors this element is part of the thematic instruction and Project Based Learning (or PBL), which is considered a teaching methodology focused on the process, where the student develops cognitive and motor skills during the process. of knowledge acquisition.

characteristics

Some characteristics of the thematic unit are:

-The method focuses on a unifying unit or theme that embraces several areas of knowledge.

-Looks for access to information to be broken down and easily accessible to all students.

-It constitutes a hierarchical and organized way to present the contents, in order to generate meaningful experiences in the students.

-For some authors, the thematic unit is part of the thematic instruction, which in turn is known as the Project Approach or Project Based Learning.

-It addresses learning domains such as mathematics, science, art, motor skills (fine and gross) and verbal and body language development.

-The topics are explored for several days or even weeks and / or months.

-Because it is supported by different knowledge competencies, the result is a comprehensive education where the individual will have the necessary tools to solve problems in the future.

-The thematic units cannot be subject to objective evaluations (exams, for example), since the skills achieved must be explored. That is why dynamic and motivating forms of evaluation are recommended.

-This element is part of a new educational trend that tries to encourage in the student the need to bring the content to him so that he can handle it and transform it himself.

Planning

When implementing the thematic unit, some experts recommend the following:

-Invite families and other representatives to choose topics according to the inclinations and experiences of the children.

-Make use of the elements that are around to increase motivation in students. This means that the teacher or instructor can use the events that are nearby for the proposal of topics.

-Consider the inclinations and interests of children is also essential for this process.

-Finally, the teacher and instructor will also have to express their own tastes to convey it to the students, as it will be an interesting way to present the content.

All these aspects should lead to the development of a strategy that allows it to be accessible to all students and that is also useful in different areas of knowledge.

Activities to apply for teaching the thematic unit

-Reading of books.

-Organization of field trips.

-Preparation of dances, dramatizations or the construction of objects.

-Presentation and interaction with special guests during the class. These can be experts on the subject or even parents and student representatives.

-Develop conceptual or mental maps. These materials can be used to capture the information of the students they already handle, or to illustrate the content they have learned during class. It is worth mentioning that these materials are also useful for practical content such as mathematics or chemistry.

-Make observations about a certain phenomenon.

-Foster discussion around the subject. This tool is one of the most used, since it serves to explore the knowledge already present, and also to share conclusions between the teacher and the students.

Phases or stages for the implementation of the thematic units

-The subject will be presented according to the concerns that have already been presented by the students. This will be through posing a problem.

-There will be brainstorming to determine what the students know and what they need to know about the content to be presented.

-Both the students and the teacher should use the investigation to learn more about the subject. In this case, the use of technology and interactive methods is recommended.

-After this phase, students will have the opportunity to generate a product based on what they have studied. This will depend on the subject matter and the fields of knowledge that the teacher believes appropriate to apply.

-The evaluation is the final part in the project, however it is not considered as the content term, since this same unit can be used for the study of another project. The important thing is to highlight that each skill learned serves to learn so many more.

Examples

1- The teacher or instructor can present the study of sea turtles as a thematic unit. Students will be able to read historical reviews about this species, and then go on to explain what they understood from the text (in this part, oral linguistic ability is reinforced).

Another phase of this content can be the calculation of sea turtle births in different geographical points, which will be marked by the students, to finally study the life cycle of these animals. On this occasion, knowledge about mathematics, geography and biology, respectively, is deepened.

2- Talk about the construction of bridges through the presentation of a model for the subsequent construction of a prototype by the students.

During this process, the teacher can complement by including instruction in this regard and by indicating that students should do research on the subject, and then share their findings with the rest of their classmates.

You can reinforce the subject in mathematics by promoting the identification of geometric shapes that are visible in these types of structures. Finally, architects or civil engineers can give talks on the construction of the bridges.

References

1. What is a thematic unit plan? (2018). In Geniusland. Retrieved: October 3, 2018. In Geniolandia of geniolandia.com.
2. Project-based learning. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: October 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
3. Definition of Mesh. (2013). In Pearltrees. Retrieved: October 3, 2018. In Pearltrees de pearltrees.com.g
4. Galeana de la O, Lourdes. Project-based learning. (sf). In Ceupromed. Retrieved: October 3, 2018. In Ceupromed de ceupromed.ucol.mx.
5. Planning and organization of thematic instruction. (sf). In Head Start. Retrieved: October 3, 2018. In Head Start from eclk.ohs.acf.hhs.gov.
6. Thematic unit. (sf). In Server Alicante. Retrieved: October 3, 2018. In Server Alicante de glosarios.servidor-alicante.com.