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Universal Themes

Universal Themes. Bakersfield City School District Extended Programs Department GATE Program October, 2010. PowerPoint adapted from Riverside Unified School District’s GATE Program. Gate teachers are to take the core curriculum and look at ways to get greater depth.

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Universal Themes

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  1. Universal Themes Bakersfield City School District Extended Programs Department GATE Program October, 2010 PowerPoint adapted from Riverside Unified School District’s GATE Program

  2. Gate teachers are to take the core curriculum and look at ways to get greaterdepth. This means demanding more sophisticated thinking of your students. This is achieved by weaving connections to get a greater fabric of understanding. Philosophy Behind Universal Themes

  3. Developing Greater Intellectual Depth • The process to achieve this combines the use of universal themes, and knowledge of specific disciplines with complex thinking strategies.

  4. How is Using a Universal Theme Different from TraditionalThematic Instruction?

  5. Thematic Instruction • In thematic instruction the teacher develops a theme and makes the connections for the students. • All this does is ask students to know the content and how it is related.

  6. Interdisciplinary Thematic Instruction • Students have a universal theme and what appear to disparate parts or pieces. • They must apply knowledge in order to make connections. • Often, this approach requires that students begin with the complex and work backward to connect to the simple concept.

  7. Connections • When one steps back to view the knowledge, not from within the discipline, but from without, one sees that all the parts touch, overlap, and form a tapestry of interconnection.

  8. Therein lies meaning for the child seeking order in a world which appears disjointed and chaotic. The true test of an individual’s intellect may not be in their ability to describe the uniqueness of an item, but rather in their ability to state the commonalities that binds us all.

  9. Generalizations • In making connections between seemingly disparate concepts, students begin to form generalizations. • Generalizations are the basis of connections.

  10. Change Community Conflict Exploration Force Order Patterns Power Structure Systems Relationships Adaptations Universal Themes

  11. Universal Themes and Generalizations • Change • Can be natural or man-made. • Different kinds of change. • Is inevitable. • Necessary for growth. • Community • Has members. • Members share a common environment. • Follow patterns of growth and change. • When one community comes in contact with another community, change may occur. • Conflict • Composed of opposing forces. • Natural or man-made. • Intentional or unintentional. • May allow for synthesis and change.

  12. Themes and Generalizations continued • Exploration • Requires recognizing purpose and responding to it. • Confronts the unknown. • May result in new findings or the confirmations of old findings. • Force • Attracts, holds, or repels. • Influences or changes. • And inertia are co-dependent. • May be countered with equal or greater force. • Order • May be natural or constructed. • May allow for prediction. • Is a form of communication. • May have repeated patterns. • Are reciprocals. • Lead to one another.

  13. Themes and Generalizations continued • Patterns • Have segments that are repeated. • Allow for prediction. • Have an internal order. • Are enablers. • Power • Is the ability to influence. • May be used or abused. • Is always present in some form. • May take many forms. • Structure • has parts that inter-relate. • Parts support and are supported by other parts. • May be combined to form larger structures. • Is no stronger than its weakest component.

  14. Themes and Generalizations continued • Systems • Work to complete a task or a mission. • Are composed of sub-systems and parts. • Follow rules. • May be influenced by other systems. • Relationships • Everything is related in some way. • Are powerful. • Change over time. • Have rules. • Are everywhere. • Adaptation • Occurs over time. • Can be positive or negative. • Leads to change. • Can be planned or spontaneous.

  15. Learning to use Universal Themes and Generalizations can be overwhelming in the beginning, but the concepts will add to the overall growth of your students knowledge making the time investment in the beginning worth it. PowerPoint adapted from Riverside Unified School District’s GATE Program

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