Makeez Qaderi

CHD 145
Professor Johnson
10/10/2013
Integrated Curriculum Project
My theme is holidays and giving thanks, and will mainly be focused on Thanksgiving.
The age group of this assignment will be 5-6 and the size of the group will be 8-10. I will
introduce the curriculum by reading a book called Thanks Thanksgiving by Julie Markes. The
book is about the holiday Thanksgiving, spending quality time with family, friends, and it talks
about what type of things you can be thankful for. After the reading the book to the children we
will reflect on what I read by having a class discussion on being thankful. I would also ask them
open ended questions related to the book to gain an understanding of their knowledge. For
example, I would ask them, What does it mean to be thankful? What are you thankful for?
Visual arts- For my visual art activity I would have the children will create a turkey by
tracing their handprint with any color marker they choose. Their thumb would be the turkeys
head. Then they would put googly eyes on the turkeys head. Inside of the center of their hand,
they will draw a picture of something or someone they are thankful for in their lives. The
materials I would use to do this assignment construction paper, markers, glue, and google eyes.
My art content is lines and my other content is math. My objective of this assignment math and I
will know that they understand it by the children being able to trace their hand.
Music- For music activity I will have the children sing song about thankfulness called
Thanksgiving Song: What are you thankful for? While we are sing the song I will be playing a
small drum. While the children are singing the song they should be listening to beat of the drum.

To adapt this activity for someone who is visually impaired. I would have them listen or feel the
beat of the instrument. Then would I bring in different types of instruments in class; and as a
class we would discuss on the different types of instruments, and the culture of different
instruments. My content area is instruments, and my objective would be culture. I would know
that they understand this activity showing them instruments and the children telling me what
their names are and what culture they are from.
Movement- For my movement activity I would have the children do a finger play activity
about thankfulness. This activity will help with the development of small muscles in the
childrens hands and fingers. This would also help later in life when they use the same muscles
for writing and drawing when they grow older. The objective would be language arts. By the
children doing the finger play they will be learning and working on important language skills.
Such as building vocabulary, rhyming, rhythm and memory. Doing this activity, the children will
not only learn what they are thankful for but it will help them with their listening skills. Also it
will strengthen children's understanding of concepts such as counting, colors, and the idea of up,
down, behind. My other content is physical movement because by doing the finger play it will
help the children make connections with their body. I will know that they understand this activity
by participating in the finger play activity and doing it correctly.
Reflection: I had mix feelings about this assignment. I did not like it because it was
really hard to think of connections that work would with the assignment. I tried really hard to
think of ideas of ways for on assignment to connect with the other in a way that would make
sense. Also in a way that would help the children developmentally. However I sort of liked it
because in the end the children will learn better when doing an integrated curriculum.

Integrative Curriculum
CURRICULUM THEME: Giving Thanks

NAME OF ACTIVITY: What am I thankful for?

ARTS RELATED CONTENT AREA: Visual, Language, Fine Motor, and History

RELATED CONTENT/DOMAIN: Social/ Emotional, Cognitive, Colors, Tracing, and Gluing.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE OF ACTIVITY: The purpose of this activity is for the children to learn
about the history of thanksgiving and to reflect on the concept of feeling thankful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
My integrated curriculum project would be on Thanksgiving, and the concept of being
thankful. I would first explain the meaning behind the holiday of Thanksgiving. This will be
achieved by reading them a book which regarding the history of the holiday and what it means to
be thankful. I would also ask them open ended questions related to the book to gain an
understanding of their knowledge. For example, I would ask them, What does it mean to be
thankful? What are you thankful for? Following this, would be an art activity where the
children will create a turkey by tracing their handprint. Their thumb would be the turkeys head.
Inside of the palm, they will draw a picture of something or someone they are thankful for in
their lives.

AGE OF CHILDREN: 5-6

SIZE OF GROUP: 8-10

LOCATION: Classroom
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT/MATERIALS: The materials I will use are a book, construction
paper, markers, glue, and google eyes.

PROCEDURE AND STRATEGIES:

I will read the children a book about the history and meaning behind Thanksgiving.
Students will reflect on the book and asked questions regarding what they are thankful for. This
will be followed with an art activity where students can trace their handprint and draw a picture
of a turkey, as well as what they are thankful for in their lives.

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW UP:

Teaching the history of thanksgiving will enhance their cognitive development.
Reflecting on what they are thankful for will develop their social/emotional skills. Tracing their
hand will enhance their fine motor development. Reading a book and following up with
questions will help their listening skills, as well as their language development