This week you are going to begin planning your Thematic Curriculum Unit.

This is just the initial blueprint, the first ideas. You will work on your thematic curriculum unit throughout the semester, until you present it during the final class.

Review the All About Me thematic curriculum unit. Now look at the NYCDOE Instructional Guidance for Pre-K: Unit Three: All About Us.

• Look at the Unit Snapshot (pg. 2) and notice the essential question and focus questions, the connected academic vocabulary and student outcomes.
• Look at the Focus Standards (pg. 3).
• Now review the Unit Framework (pp. 7-26) and the Foundational and Supporting Texts (pp.27-29) booklist.

Notice how the All About Me themed curriculum was adapted to include a stronger focus on creative arts.

Now it’s time to brainstorm ideas for your own themed curriculum for a Pre-K class. You can use one of the themes suggested in the assignment guidelines for the Final Project: Curriculum Web, Activity Plan and Commentary or you can choose your own developmentally-appropriate theme. Download the Curriculum Theme Planning Worksheet and fill in the curriculum theme and five sub-topics. Your sub-topics should be designed to explore the essential questions and big ideas of the curriculum theme.

For reference in designing a thematic curriculum unit with sub-topics, I’ve attached here a few additional NYCDOE Units of Study:

• Light
• Plants
• Transportation
• Where We Live

You can adapt one of these themes, if you choose, but be sure to make it your own. Be creative and develop your own ideas. What do you think students would be interested to learn?