Theme Planning Resources
Introduction
This assignment requires both Internet research and unit/project plan approach to curriculum planning. The unit
planning steps are:
Theme Based from Peace Education:
(1) Choosing a theme from the Peace Education Content Area by research the Internet
(2) Brainstorming supporting thematic ideas for your unit in web form (example, page 83 – Air themes)
Web Objective/Implementation:
(3) Creating a web concept map of objectives with implementations supporting your theme (example, page 87)
(4) Determining thematic activities based on needs (example, page 87, Figure 4-1 – Web on Seeds, page 88, Figure
4-2 – Project Approach Web on Seeds and page 89, Figure 4-3 – Child’s Question Web)
Developmental Domain Balance of Activities
(5) Setting up a schedule of daily routines for developmental balance in the unit theme (example, page 91)
Time Frame for Team Management
(6) Deciding on daily activities for long period of time and team performance (example, page 92 –96
Lesson Planning
(7) Organizing lesson plan with objectives, materials, procedures, evaluation, assessment, follow-up and closure
procedures (examples, two lesson plans handouts)
Resources
(8) Preparing a listing of related materials, resources, equipment and technology integration (examples from the
field trip observations or Internet research)
Environmental Learning
(9) Planning DAP activities for center learning (examples from the film room arrangement and pages 79-80)
Teaching and Learning Management
(10) Selecting group management activities, child and teacher initiated activities (examples, pages 80 – 83)
Learning Style Assessment/Evaluating
(11) Designing learning experiences for different types of learning styles, group and individual management and
assessing/evaluating children’s progress (example, pages 102 – 104)
As the text states, the format of your unit plan is unique as planning for young children. It does not take on a
stamped format or theme of the week. It reflects the elements of curriculum planning stated above: theme based
from Peace Education, Web objective/implementation, Developmental Balance, Time Frame for Team
Management, Lesson Planning, Resources, Environmental Learning, Teaching/Learning Management and Learning
Style Assessment/Evaluating.
Theme Based from Peace Education:
 Choosing a theme from the Peace Education Content Area by research the Internet
 Brainstorming supporting thematic ideas for your unit in web form (example, page 83 – Air themes)
Choosing a Theme by brainstorming the areas of Peace Education
Step 1: Know the purpose of theme based unit planning
When you choose a theme the overall goal of the entire unit is accomplished. The goal of a curriculum’s theme is
to teach concepts in greater depth. Today, most state have taken the national standards and developed scope and
sequence themes. You can refer to three handouts: DC Public Schools, Prince George’s Public Schools, and
Headstart curriculum. From the text, Chapter 4, states, “The challenge comes in going deep rather than wide with
regard to curriculum planning. It also means that we plan an in-depth study of a theme, with an open-end time
frame, rather than the traditional theme-of-the-week approach. The curriculum can focus on a topic or theme and
the same time allow from integration of more traditional subject-matter divisions. Using a unit theme or concept
provides an opportunity for rich and meaningful conceptual development. The unit theme must be selected before
further planning can take place.” The possibilities for unit themes are infinite and can often be selected on the basis
of children’s needs, interests, academic levels and happiness in a particular curriculum area.
Step 2: Research the Internet for peace education content and chose a theme for brainstorming
Peace Education themes reflect young children learning the practice of nonviolence in a human society. It can cover
the areas of:
(1) Environmental Education: Young children studying current ecological realities and means of protecting the
environment.
(2) Developmental Education: Young children focusing attention on issues of poverty and global justice.
(3) Human Rights Education: Young children awakening an awareness of human equality and dignity.
(4) Global Citizenship: Young children learning the cruelty and folly of war and practice nonviolence in human
society.
Peace Education is the overall content area while any of the following may become your chosen theme:
trustworthiness, citizenship, respect, honesty, responsibility, courage, fairness, diligence, caring, integrity,
cooperation, controlling anger, dealing with disappointment, being responsible, appreciating yourself, working out
conflicts, dealing with feelings, asking for help, being friends, bullying, and other examples below.
Site 1
http://atozteacherstuff.com/ - Lesson Plans and Themes for Unit Planning
Site 2
http://teachers.hypermart.net/links/cgi-bin/search.cgi?query=unit+plans – Unit Plan Resource Links
trustworthiness, citizenship, respect, honesty, responsibility, courage, fairness, diligence, caring, integrity
Site 3
Grades K-5 - Each guide contains discussion questions, writing assignments, student activities, and
parent involvement tips. TOPICS: Cooperation, Being Responsible, Dealing With Feelings, Saying NO,
Doing the Right Thing, Dealing with Disappointment, Appreciating Yourself, Asking for Help, Being
Friends, Resolving Conflicts
http://www.goodcharacter.com
http://www.goodcharacter.com/EStopics.html – Activity Resources
Teaching Guides
(for grades K-5)
Discussion Questions, Writing Assignments,
Student Activities, and Parent Involvement tips
for Character Education and Life Skills. Just
pick and click.
COOPERATION
DEALING with
DISAPPOINTMEN
T
CONTROLLING
ANGER
BEING
RESPONSIBLE
APPRECIATING
YOURSELF
WORKING OUT
CONFLICTS
DEALING with
FEELINGS
ASKING for HELP
LISTENING to
OTHERS
SAYING NO
BEING FRIENDS
BULLYING
DOING the
RIGHT THING
RESOLVING
CONFLICTS
PREJUDICE
index.htmlindex.html
Step 3: Brainstorming supporting thematic ideas for your unit in web form (example, page 83 – Air themes)
You can utilize the software demo: Inspiration – http://www.inspiration.com
Web Objective/Implementation:
 Creating a web concept map of objectives with implementations supporting your theme (example, page 87)
 Determining thematic activities based on needs (example, page 87, Figure 4-1 – Web on Seeds, page 88,
Figure 4-2 – Project Approach Web on Seeds and page 89, Figure 4-3 – Child’s Question Web)
Step 1: Understand the process of curriculum webbing
You can read Chapter 4 – pages 87-88
Step 2: Create a web concept map of objectives with implementations
The text states, “The approach is to pick a theme, project or concept, then brainstorm activities and ideas for
teaching the concept. In developing engaging and productive themes through curriculum webbing, the following
four steps are helpful (Barclay et al., 1995, 206) (a) Identify a theme and related subtopics (b) Brainstorm. (c)
Identify desired learning outcomes and (d) Prepare for teaching.”
On this web concept map, you should reflect brainstorming objectives and implementations in the theme of peace
education.
Step 3: Determining thematic activities based on young children’s needs by utilizing a web approach
The text gives three examples of curriculum webbing determining thematic activities based on young children’s
needs. You can choose one approach:
(a) Page 87 – Figure 4-1 – Web on Seeds: On this web concept map, you should reflect brainstorming on integrated
content and performance outcome areas
(b) Page 88 – Figure 4-2 – Project Approach Web on Seeds: On this web concept map, you should reflect
brainstorming on specific young children’s peace projects.
(c) Page 89 – Figure 4-3 – Child’s Question Web on Seeds: On this web concept map, you should reflect
brainstorming on specific questions for young children. This approach is an active assignment with a group of
young children. The questions of the child guide the web concepts building. If you are actively teaching with
young children, you can chose this approach.
Developmental Domain Balance of Activities
 Setting up a schedule of daily routines for developmental balance in the unit theme (example, page 91)
Step 1: Understand the basic developmental Domains
You can refer to Chapters 1 –3: Social, Emotional, Language, Cognitive, and Physical Development
Step 2: Understand and review the section on activity plan
From the text, pages 88-90 in summary: Once the web has been developed, you can select from it the specific
experiences to include in teaching. An activity plan is a sketch of the activities planned for each day throughout the
duration of the unit. The activity plan provides two things: goal and perspective overviews. In this section of the
unit plan, you should balance activities with developmental appropriate practices.
Step 3: Set up a schedule of daily routines for developmental balance
The text gives two examples of this approach: Page 89-Activity Plan on Seeds and Page 91-Weekly Activity Plan
At –a-Glance. For your unit plan, you should utilize page 91 example.
Table 4-1 - Weekly Developmental Activity Plan At-a-Glance
Theme:
Time Frame:
Planned Activity For
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Language Development
Emotional Development
Social Development
Cognitive Development
Physical Development
Time Frame for Team Management
 Deciding on daily activities for long period of time and team performance (example, page 92 –96)
Step 1: Understand and review the section on daily schedule of activities
From the test page 90: “The daily/weekly schedule of activities is an elaborate of the activity plan and simplification
of the lesson plan. The daily/weekly schedule of activities specifies the order of activities, approximate length of
time, person responsible, specific responsibilities of individuals, and materials needed…When doing a daily/weekly
schedule of activities plan for a full-day program, include such additional routines as lunch and rest time.”
Step 2: On this section of the unit plan, you should create a daily/weekly schedule of activities as the example
on page 92-96.
Table 4-2
Daily/Weekly Schedule of Activities
Unit:
Activity
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Approximate
Time
Season:
Type of Group
Person
Responsible
Role of the
Teacher
Materials and
Resources
Lesson Planning
 Organizing lesson plan with objectives, materials, procedures, evaluation, assessment, follow-up and
closure procedures (examples, two lesson plans handouts:
Unit Lesson Planning Web Resources
Character Lesson Plan for One-Hour
http://info.csd.org/staffdev/chared/Connections/elementary/elem.html
Tips on Lessons
http://atozteacherstuff.com/tips/
Lesson Plan
http://lessonplanz.com
Resources

Preparing a listing of related materials, resources, equipment and technology integration (examples
from the field trip observations or Internet research)
Teacher Productivity Ideas - Web Resources
http://lessonplanz.com/Lesson_Plans/Worksheets_and_Printable_Pages/Themes/index.shtml
http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/menu_basics/alpha_zaner.html
Environmental Learning
 Planning DAP activities for center learning (examples from the film room arrangement & pages 79-80)
Teaching and Learning Management
 Selecting group management activities, child and teacher initiated activities (examples, pages 80 – 83)
Learning Style Assessment/Evaluating
 Designing learning experiences for different types of learning styles, group and individual
management and assessing/evaluating children’s progress (example, pages 102 – 104)