Thematic Education

At EDGE-ucation, we use our experience as qualified teachers, having worked in the primary and secondary sector, to help you formulate and deliver a sequence of lessons across the curriculum linked by one common Outdoor Adventurous Activity (OAA) event. This ‘Thematic Education’ style of teaching gives students a reason to learn, teaching them relevant and valuable transferable skills.

Thematic learning is a way of teaching where many areas of the curriculum are connected together and integrated within a theme. This model incorporates the method of ‘Learning Outside the Classroom’ to encourage students to see and seek relationships between information and facts from various sources both inside, and outside of the classroom.

It is based around a common project or ‘theme’ in order to give it a practical relevance and to enhance the standard curriculum content in a practical problem-solving way. The model encourages students to think around a subject and allows them to transfer skills. The model is easily differentiated across a broad range of abilities.

We are able to work with a school to develop and deliver a module over almost any period of time, but in our experience is best delivered over periods ranging from one week to a whole term. Following an in-service training element for involved staff and a period of ongoing support and advice the school is left to deliver the ‘theme’ within the classroom and school grounds until the GRAND FINALE.

Whilst each programme is bespoke, a typical programme might look like this: -

Using a Thematic Approach as an occasional project across the school can be a great motivator, not only for students but staff as well.

All of our Thematic Programmes are able to support many of the Key Stage 2 and 3 curriculum requirements such as key skills, PSHE and citizenship.

By its broad nature Outdoor Education can be very cross curricular. Contact us to find out ways that Thematic Education could work for you.

Our Thematic approach is based around the STEAM (STEM) principle of education but adapted to suit the real world. The example shown here is the application of science using mechanical advantage with pulleys to aid the climber who has a disability. This demonstrates a practical way this could be applied using a Thematic education project. Click on the button below to read more about the STEAM education principle.