Identifying the star outlines in the Big Dipper, Draco the Dragon, and Cepheus the King can lead to great art and creative writing projects in which children create their own imaginary constellations and make up myths to go with them. Effective integration begins with real activities. Hands-on science is rich with opportunities for kids to describe what they are doing or observing. They use new words to build concepts, write creatively, and express feelings. For instance, this poem was written by a third grader after her encounter with a land hermit crab.
Interactive connections can save time.
One hands-on science activity enables us to teach two, three, or four subject in a single activity. Take magnetism, a topic included in nearly all science programs. You might begin by having children explore with magnets by predicting, investigating, and writing which objects are attracted to the magnet and which aren't. Then have them measure the strength of their magnet by counting the number of paper clips it can pick up or by measuring and recording the distance between the magnet and the clip before the clip moves. You might also place a magnet under a piece of overhead-projector acetate and sprinkle iron filings over the acetate film to produce artistic designs.