Integrated Studies

Discover innovations and best practices for combining multiple academic subjects to prepare students for a world where all knowledge is integrated.

Overview

What Is Integrated Studies?

Integrated studies combines curriculum from two or more disciplines, allowing students to see how ideas are connected. Teaching in such a contextual manner promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and knowledge retention. Watch an introduction video.

History

Integrated Studies: A Short History

Venerable educators from John Dewey to Howard Gardner have extolled the virtues of studying subjects in a holistic, contextual way rather than in a vacuum. Learn more.

Experts

What the Experts Say

Great things can happen when teachers break out of their silos and collaborate across subjects. Here's what researchers, educators, and curriculum writers have to say about the benefits of integrated studies. See what the experts say.

Why

Why Should Schools Embrace Integrated Studies?

To increase engagement and retention, academic subjects are presented in an interdisciplinary fashion that reflects modern knowledge and society. For instance, history, literature, and art can be interwoven and taught through text, images, and sound. See why.

Research

Research: The Effectiveness of Integrated Studies

Discover seven key approaches in effective curriculum integration, get our specific recommendations on evidence-based practices and programs, and learn about pitfalls to avoid. Dig deeper.

DiscussExpand

The Happy Eating Place: How Elementary Students Can Run Their Own Business

Last comment 6 days 4 hours ago

2 53 12,073 views

The Happy Eating Place: How Elementary Students Can Run Their Own Business

Wed, 07/23/2014 - 12:30

2 53 12,073 views

Full STEAM Ahead: Why Arts Are Essential in a STEM Education

Mon, 02/01/2016 - 10:00

11 320 21,007 views

Arts Integration: Resource Roundup

Tue, 10/18/2016 - 11:58

7 1,273 54,811 views

WatchExpand

Integrated Studies Videos See More Videos

article

Arts Integration: Resource Roundup

All points of arts integration -- from benefits and implementation to linking the arts with core curriculum -- are covered in this roundup of useful Edutopia blog posts, articles, and videos.

7 1,273 54,811 views

A young boy in a yellow rain coat is smiling with his eyes closed, and rain is pouring down on him.

Article

Rainstorms and Symphonies: Performing Arts Bring Abstract Concepts to Life

When early elementary teachers integrate music and theater, student learning improves in reading, math, and science as they become better critical thinkers and problem solvers.

218 10,383 views

photo of students at a table with bowls on top of it

Article

How to Infuse the Arts Into Core Curriculum (and Why It Matters)

Successful arts integration includes approaching your Curriculum like an artist, a rich process for a rich product, cultivating artist-researchers, and combining content with art.

863 7,968 views

PBL and Arts: Empowering Students to Craft Beautiful Work

Schools That Work

Arts-Infused Project-Based Learning: Crafting Beautiful Work

Learn how to bring cross-curricular, arts-infused project-based learning into your classroom.

7 55 13,039 views

Three young, elementary-aged students are sitting at a classroom table building windmills out of cardboard and colorful popsicle sticks and styrofoam.

Article

Change It Up With Integrated Learning Day

Real life doesn't happen in 42-minute periods, so give your students a day of interdisciplinary collaboration -- and enrich your curriculum along the way.

1 748 5,070 views

Schools That Work

Collaborative Planning: Integrating Curriculum Across Subjects

Hood River Middle School collaborates on projects across subjects to make learning relevant, connected, and engaging.

23 6,473 22,455 views

article

Resources and Downloads for Financial Literacy

Explore resources and downloads for educators seeking to help students learn financial concepts, practice money management, and build strong financial decision-making and economic-reasoning skills.

6 1,276 21,007 views

Pages

article

Core Strategies for Innovation and Reform in Learning

See an overview of Edutopia's core strategies, including project-based learning, social-emotional learning, comprehensive assessment, technology integration, integrated studies and teacher development.

9 277 245,803 views

article

STEM to STEAM: Resources Toolkit

Whether you are looking for resources on integrating science, technology, engineering, and math or on infusing the arts to transform STEM into STEAM, these curated compilations will help you plan different approaches to integrated studies.

5 265 85,717 views

article

Why Should Schools Embrace Integrated Studies?: It Fosters a Way of Learning that Mimics Real Life

Integrated studies allows students to gain knowledge in a truly interdisciplinary fashion.

12 79 57,708 views

article

Arts Integration: Resource Roundup

All points of arts integration -- from benefits and implementation to linking the arts with core curriculum -- are covered in this roundup of useful Edutopia blog posts, articles, and videos.

7 1,273 54,811 views

article