Integrated
Curriculum Model
College of William and Mary, Center for Gifted Education
Overview Prepared by Mariann Culver, December 2009; updated
December 2012
(The opinions expressed in this document are Mariann Culver’s
and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of
Heartland AEA 11.)
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Research and Theory
The Integrated Curriculum Model for Gifted Learners
Concepts,
Issues, Themes
Dimension
Advanced
Content
Dimension
ProcessProduct
Dimension
Source: : http://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/curriculum/index.php
(Center for Gifted Education, College of William and May
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Research and Theory
Features of Integrated Curriculum Model
•
•
•
•
Change
Systems
Patterns
Cause &
Effect
• In-depth
• Advanced
Reading
• Primary
Sources
• Advanced
Skills
• Elements of
Reasoning
• Research
• Problembased
Learning
• Inquiry Skills
Source: : http://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/curriculum/index.php
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Research and Theory
What Works highlights 20 years
of research on curriculum
development, instruction,
assessment and professional
development.
Download this free document:
education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/curriculu
m/documents/WhatWorks.pdf
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Research and Theory
General findings from What Works: 20 Years of
Curriculum Development and Research for Advanced
Learners
• The process used for curriculum development
matters. The process includes:
• Review of research on topic.
• Draft lessons piloted in classrooms, then revised.
• Unit is piloted in classrooms, then revised.
• Units are field-tested at multiple sites, then revised.
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Research and Theory
General findings from What Works: 20 Years of Curriculum
Development and Research for Advanced Learners
• Student learning is enhanced when students experience
teaching and learning models repeatedly and
consistently.
• Students internalize processes and models.
• Student thinking becomes more automatic.
• Models include: Paul’s Reasoning Model, Persuasive
Writing Model, Literature Web, Vocabulary Web,
Analyzing Primary Sources, and Research Model.
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Research and Theory
General findings from What Works: 20 Years of
Curriculum Development and Research for Advanced
Learners
• All learners benefit from high-level curriculum.
• Non-gifted learners would need appropriate
differentiation, scaffolding, and flexible grouping
techniques.
• Learners from all socioeconomic backgrounds and
ethnicities show significant growth in academic
areas.
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Research and Theory
General findings from What Works: 20 Years of
Curriculum Development and Research for Advanced
Learners
• Curriculum-Based Assessments measure the
authentic learning within the William and Mary
curriculum units.
• Pre- and Post-assessments are matched to content
and skills in the units and can be used
diagnostically as well as to measure growth.
• Lessons contain assessments of content, concept,
and processes.
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Language Arts Framework
Source: What Works: 20 Years of Curriculum Development and Research for Advanced Learners (2008). Center for Gifted
Education, College of William and Mary, p. 16.
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Navigator Novel Studies
• Navigators Novel Studies encourage analysis and
interpretation of literature, using a specific novel,
through structured questions and activities. Some
activities are consistent across Navigators.
• Students explore themes, literary elements and real
world connections within the books.
• Students can be grouped for instruction or use them
independently (with prerequisite knowledge of the
teaching models).
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Navigator Novel Studies
• Research activities reinforce the process-product
dimension of the Integrated Curriculum Model.
• The persuasive writing activities incorporate
interdisciplinary activities and/or research, with at least
one connected to nonfiction prompts.
• In many of the Navigators reviewed, there are creative
writing components.
• There are 55 Navigators (grades 1-12). 6 are available for
free download (grades 2-11) at
http://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/curriculum/languagearts/materia
ls/navigators/index.php
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Spatial Reasoning
Grade 6-8
• Students explore one-, two-, and three-dimensional
tasks, the transition between dimensions, and
representations of 3-dimensional objects in
2 dimensions.
• One lesson has a connection to literature. The
teacher reads the book, Flatland by Edwin Abbott to
the students. Students read the book, A Wrinkle in
Time by Madeleine L’Engle as an extension activity.
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Spatial Reasoning
Grade 6-8
• There are Internet resources provided. For example,
using Legos for 3-dimensional activities, drawing
3-dimensional shapes, and playing games.
• There are 2 units on spatial reasoning. One for
grades 2 – 4 and one for grades 6 – 8.
• Additional resources: there is a unit on place value
and the representation of numbers suitable for
grades 3 – 6; as well as links to competitions and
games .
http://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/curriculum/
mathematics/games/index.php
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Science Framework
Source: What Works: 20 Years of Curriculum Development and Research for Advanced Learners (2008). Center
for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary, p. 12.
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Electricity City
Grades 4-6
• The unit’s foci are understanding systems,
understanding the nature and properties of electricity,
understanding and applying the principles of
experimental design, and developing reasoning skills.
• Students learn through a problem-based, real-world
scenario. In the scenario, students are newly hired
employees for a local power company. They are part of a
team that will be responsible for assuring that electricity
requirements are met for a new recreation complex for the
community.
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Electricity City
Grades 4-6
• Materials used in the activities are real-world, such
as batteries, light bulbs, circuit tester, insulated wire,
and building blueprints.
• Cross-curricular suggestions are incorporated such
as persuasive writing, converting amps/volts/watts,
scale drawing, and the effects of loss of electricity
during hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita.
• There are 16 science units available on a variety of
topics for grades K – 8.
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Social Studies Framework
Source: What Works: 20 Years of Curriculum Development and Research for Advanced Learners (2008). Center
for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary, p. 14.
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The Road to the White House
Grades 6-8
• The Road to the White House: Electing the American
President introduces the concept of systems through
historical periods and events.
• The unit’s foci are understanding systems and
representational democracy, as well as developing
reasoning skills, interpersonal and social group
process skills, and historical analysis skills.
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The Road to the White House
Grades 6-8
• Students participate in a three-part campaign
simulation. They assume the roles of members of a
campaign team and journalists. The campaign team
creates their platform statement and candidate
speech, holds a convention with banners, buttons,
etc. Journalists write articles, interview candidates,
and draw political cartoons. An election is held and
inaugural addresses are given.
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The Road to the White House
Grades 6-8
• Primary source materials are reprinted within this
unit for students. For example, articles written after
the American Revolution, national platforms from
the Democrats and Republicans in 2000, Jimmy
Carter’s inaugural address in 1977, Ronald Reagan’s
inaugural address in 1981, etc.
• There are 9 social studies units available on various
topics for grades 2 – 10.
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Online Resources
• The Center for Gifted Education has a comprehensive
website. The curriculum pages contain information
and additional online resources for each content area,
the Teaching Models, and frequently asked questions.
See the document: Overview WM curric.
• Each curriculum unit provides online resources for
teachers and students. For example, there are links to
background information, student activities,
instructional support materials, content area research,
etc.
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Online Resources
• Curriculum units are disseminated through one of the
following three places:
• Center for Gifted Education (click on “purchase”,
http://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/curriculum/languag
earts/materials/navigators/index.php
• Also, a blog with up-to-date information on curriculum is at
http://curriculumcorner.blogs.wm.edu/
• Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company,
http://www.kendallhunt.com
• Prufrock Press, http://www.prufrock.com
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