Development of a practical guide of the integrated curriculum in the second grade of elementary school

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 the Master's Student of curriculum development. Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD of Curriculum Studies, Associate Prof, Department of educational administration and Planning, Faculty of Education & Psychology, University of Alzahra, tehran, Iran

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to develop a practical guide for the integrated second grade elementary curriculum.
The research approach was qualitative content analysis method and the research community was all second grade elementary textbooks and the teacher's teaching guides. The theme-based integrated curriculum approach (concept-based and skill-based) was chosen. Concepts and skills were extracted from textbooks and the objectives of each lesson were extracted from the teacher's teaching guides and coded at the same time. Codes had a common theme were categorized and formed the combined themes of the curriculum. Which formed 16 combined themes. The themes were: water, , charity, prayer, order, saving, time, beauty skills, Collaboration and participation. Then a sample lesson plan was developed.

The findings showed that the course contents of separate subjects are not enough, and due to the absence of a meaningful relationship between the course content and life and situations outside the educational environment, the need for a consolidated curriculum is more noticeable. The teachers are not familiar with the integrated approach in the curriculum, and also the practice guide for the implementation of the theme-based integrated curriculum approach is felt to get ideas for an application in the classroom.

The theme-oriented curriculum approach can extend the curriculum integration umbrella among all textbooks. According to the findings of this study, it is suggested that the implementation of the integrated curriculum of the second grade of elementary school be on the agenda according to the guidelines developed in this study.

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