An integrated study requires a teacher to combine at least two subjects using an overall theme to make learning cohesive and allow learning outcomes to be met. For a teacher, this plays a double bonus as learning is usually more real world focused. Student engagement is enhanced, and these students meet several curriculum outcomes, which include one activity or unit of studies, which is fast becoming an essential teaching tool to meet all curriculum outcomes altogether. Integrated curriculum attempts should not be seen as an interesting diversion but as a more effective means of presenting the curriculum, and just as importantly, the curriculum becomes more relevant as there are connections between subjects rather than strict isolation (Hayes, 2004).

One hour per week, students participate in genius hour, where they select a project subject of their own choice to investigate and are required to meet a series of cross-curricular milestones prior to a class presentation of the activity. The milestones can include the following: 

Research a chosen topic

Correlate topic information

Create a presentation (using ICT PowerPoint) 

Create a model of the subject

Present a presentation

This activity draws from the following curriculum strands and substrands:

Humanities and Social Sciences: HASS: Injury and Skills 

Technologies: Digital Technologies

Science: Science Understanding

Science: Science as a Human Endeavour

Science: Science Enquiry Skills

Mathematics: Number and Algebra

Mathematics: Measurement and Geometry 

Mathematics: Statistic and Probability

English: Language 

English: Literacy

Arts: Visual Arts

 

 
IFAW (2014)