Running head: CONTENT KNOWLEDGE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY CIRRICULUM

Content Knowledge in Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Jessica Hamm
Regent University

Introduction
In partial fulfillment of UED 495 Field Experience ePortfolio, Spring 2016

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This competency shows the importance of integrating more than one subject into the
curriculum. Interdisciplinary teaching and learning promotes connectedness between two or
more disciplines, integrating and synthesizing knowledge from both in a way that is greater than
the sum of its parts (Coffey). I know that time management can be hard when you only have a
certain amount of time with students each day to be able to teach them what you need too. Here
is where integrating more than one subject into a lesson can be helpful. Interdisciplinary
methods work to create connections between traditionally discrete disciplines such as
mathematics, the sciences, social studies or history, and English language arts (Interdisciplinary
Teaching and Learning).
Rationale for Selection of Artifacts
The first artifact I selected was my lesson plan for teaching the 1st Law of Motion. The
first Law of Motion states that an object at rest (or in motion) will stay at rest (in motion) unless
acted upon by an outside force. There was a great deal of math involved when learning about the
Laws of Motion. One formula the students needed to know was the formula for acceleration. To
find the acceleration of an object they had to first subtract the final velocity from the initial
velocity and then divided it by time. Math and Science go hand in hand most of the time.
The second artifact I picked is a PowerPoint on Newtons 2nd Law of Motion that I went
over with my class. This PowerPoint represented ways that my students and I combined Science
and Math in a fun learning way.
The third artifact is a completed worksheet from one of my students. This worksheet
shows the students understanding of Newtons 2nd Law. This student accurately solved the word

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problems for force and acceleration and showed understanding of the Math and Science content
knowledge.
The fourth artifacts I chose were pictures of my students working on a lab that I created.
This lab offers 10 different stations which have activities showing Isaac Newtons 1st and 2nd
Laws of Motion. The students were given lab reports and had to fill out the observation chart and
guess which of Newtons Laws were at work at each station. Afterwards they sat down and
individually answered some critical thinking questions associated with the lab.
Reflection on Theory and Practice
During my time student teaching in middle school I realize that interdisciplinary teaching
is not as much of a tool as when used in Elementary. I remember in practicum when Language
Arts could be used to write or read about certain subjects that the students were learning about in
Social Studies or Science. A great deal of planning went into using that time wisely. As a middle
school student teacher I am currently only responsible for teaching Science, except when Science
mixes with Math. I do however use literary strategies along with Science to help the lower level
readers. I think it is take advantage of interdisciplinary curriculum if you have that opportunity. It
can help save one time in the long run and also help the students make connections.

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References:
Coffey, H. (n.d.). Interdisciplinary teaching. Retrieved February 14, 2016, from
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/5196
Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2016, from
http://fod.msu.edu/oir/interdisciplinary-teaching-and-learning