“Everyone wants to connect content across subject areas… but how do we create an overarching idea that unifies our content over an entire semester or a year? Few of us have a tool to make this happen. This is why Universal Themes are a key – but tragically underused – part of the Depth and Complexity framework. These powerful one-word ideas are highly abstract and designed to connect content across disciplines and grade levels.”
Ian Byrd and Lisa Van Gemert in Gifted Guild’s Guide to Depth and Complexity
This is a big topic. Long-term planning for gifted students can be overwhelming. If you’ve read the “WHY” behind this site, you know it’s the main reason I wanted to include a blog. My hope is to offer a starting place for those new to planning for gifted students or those looking for new ideas. On the site, you’ll find organized lists of resources for gifted and advanced students by grade level and some lesson and activity ideas. But putting it all together and using the resources in a meaningful way, one that allows students to make connections and develop enduring understandings is the ultimate goal.
Certainly, I can only share from my own experience. Gifted programs vary so much in so many ways (e.g. time allotments, available resources, student identification), and often change from year to year. But, I’m willing to share my experiences working with other GT teachers to plan scope and sequences under universal themes that will allow students to connect not only what they learn over the course of one year, but over multiple years since in many GT programs, students remain in the program for several years.
Most of the activities, lessons, and units shared on this site do connect to universal themes, and my plan has always been to share HOW they connect and incorporate the tools of Depth and Complexity. As the content on this site grows, there will be more connections to themes.
To help you with PLANNING FOR THE YEAR, I’ve provided sample overviews of grade-level thematic units created for use with gifted students in a K-5 elementary pull-out program below and HERE. These overviews provide short synopses explaining how studies in various disciplines can relate to one year-long theme, a one-word abstract concept. You can find sample Scope and Sequence documents HERE that include a few ideas for mini-units, lessons, and resources that could be included under each theme.
Here are links to the overviews and grade-level “class news” (for parents) from my old class blog. The old site provides a little more insight into a few of the activities and how they fit into the studies. New lessons, units, and interdisciplinary connections have continued to enrich these studies, add novelty, and keep things new and exciting!
WATCH OR SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
| Kindergarten G/T – PATTERNS | * Kindergarten Class News * |
| 1st Grade G/T – WONDERS | * 1st Grade Class News * |
| 2nd Grade G/T – STRUCTURES | * 2nd Grade Class News * |
| 3rd Grade G/T – SYSTEMS | * 3rd Grade Class News * |
| 4th Grade G/T – MYSTERIES | * 4th Grade Class News * |
| 5th Grade G/T – IMPACT | * 5th Grade Class News * |
THREE QUICK NOTES: (1) Our kindergarten program did not start until the second semester, so the unit was not as extensive and some years we used the theme DISCOVERIES rather than PATTERNS; (2) In the 5th-grade class news, the theme of PHILOSOPHY is mentioned; it has since been revised. The concept of IMPACT or INFLUENCE is more universal. However, philosophy ties in well with that theme and it’s reflected in the content! (3) the 4th-grade theme of MYSTERIES may not sound like a universal theme, but I think if you read the overview you will see that it is not a literary theme. The universal themes of DISCOVERY and EXPLORATION did not seem to capture the curriculum, which is all about unanswered questions across the disciplines.
If you are already using the tools of Depth and Complexity, I highly recommend the book by Ian Byrd and Lisa Van Gemert quoted above, The Gifted Guild’s Guide to Depth and Complexity, just published in October 2019. It clarifies how the tools should be introduced and implemented, and there is an entire chapter devoted to the topic of universal themes.
If you’d like to be updated about new lessons and unit ideas. please subscribe to this site. Scroll to find the SUBSCRIBE box on every page. If you don’t get an email within a day or two, it could be that your school district is blocking the site. Consider using your personal email (always kept confidential). You can also request that your district allow access to BIG IDEAS for LITTLE SCHOLARS (free resources / ad-free site).
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