Teacher tip: Merging academic subjects

Sometimes as teachers, we get so caught up in ensuring we teach all the standards and required topics we forget to add some creativity to our students’ days. One way I have been successful at keeping things fun and different is by combining academic subjects.

Just because our schedule says social studies is taught at 1:30 p.m., does not mean we can’t bring up the topic again during reading time or while teaching another subject. This technique gives students repetition and familiarity.

The month of March is Women’s History Month and I’d like to assign my third graders a research project on a woman that changed the world. The assignment may be introduced during social studies, but I could weave it back into reading and introduce books that shine a spotlight on impactful women.

Because their interest may already be sparked, students are likely to be more engaged and interested when we complete reading comprehension activities. They feel like experts when they read about the information they have already acquired during their social studies research.

Furthermore, the topic can be integrated into your writing hour, too! Students can create poems about their assigned woman or a different woman altogether—the possibilities are truly endless!

Science and math merge great together too! Experiments and measurement can be combined, amongst other topics! What subjects can you see merging successfully in your classroom?

About the author

Marissa Will is the mother of two toddlers, Olivia (4) and Logan (2). Writing was her first passion: she’s a freelance writer and a Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication alumna. Will is currently educating the future leaders of tomorrow: She has spent the past eight years teaching third grade with a master’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University-Yuma.