The Life Cycle: an Integrated Curriculum

Little kids coming to school naturally want to know why? And it has been shown that somewhere around the 4rth grade, they begin to ask, “Is this going to be on the test?” This occurs largely because the lack of interconnectivity in the disciplines that kids are exposed to when young. We now know that learning separately, however expertly; our distinct academic subjects are not enough to be educated. There are the vital connections that exist between all the basic subjects that are vital to children’s learning and loving to learn. You see, when you walk in the woods on a fall day you are not subject to the individual subjects of botany, biology, weather, geology, geometry etc., in a vacuum. No, far from it the young mind is exposed to these and other subjects in an interconnected manner that reflects the real world; something that our classrooms, all too often, do not.

We know that teachers and students over time have not been satisfied with the separate treatment of subjects and curriculum. Frustrated teachers have often begun their own integrated units utilizing themes such as space exploration or trips across the Oregon Trail. However, if we as a system are to do right “The Basic School” believes that the cross connecting curriculum that crosses the borders that exist in nature and the real world can be categorized into commonalities that should be followed and in fact should envelope all the subjects being taught. The eight commonalities referred to are: The Life Cycle, The Use of Symbols, Membership in Groups, A Sense of Time and Space, Response to the Aesthetic, Connections to Nature, Producing and Consuming, and Living with Purpose. Within these commonalities the core curriculum can exist and thrive!

The goal of The Life Cycle: That all basic school kids understand that human life has a beginning, a growth period and an end. While gaining an appreciation for and the basic knowledge of the body’s needs and functions; they develop personal habits that further wellness. They develop an appreciation for how special life is, and understand how life perspectives and experiences differ from culture to culture. This commonality as are the next seven is a spiraling one. As the appropriate age is reached the age appropriate lessons are integrated into the Basic School curriculum.

Matt Emery: From The Basic School by Ernest Boyer