Connecting science, social studies, and language arts: an interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to see how well an elementary teacher intern was able to help her students see both the differences between language arts, science and social studies, and connections among them, using an action research design, including student interviews, observer logs, journal notes, students' ‘connection’ journals, student work, and her record and planning book as data sources. She designed and delivered an interdisciplinary language arts, science and social studies curriculum that focused on electricity. She found that students were finally able to see the interdisciplinary natures of language arts and science, and language arts and social studies, but did not see connections between science and social studies. Implications include making explicit disciplinary instruction, as well as connections between the disciplines.