A thematic approach to learning involves utilizing one theme to teach a variety of subjects. For example, if your theme is the zoo, you can learn about mammals for science, count animals for math and spell the names of animals to teach English. This helps keeps the students more interested in the lessons and focuses their attention. A thematic approach will help students to learn faster and retain more information because subjects remain connected, meaning there is less chance for confusion or boredom.
Children who are taught with a thematic approach have fewer discipline problems throughout the day because learning is fluid and not fragmented. This keeps the students engaged in the learning process and less distracted. Since distraction is what leads to most discipline problems, these are hereby reduced or eliminated for many kindergarten students.
A thematic approach allows you to use more hands-on learning opportunities than a typical classroom setting. You can use real-life examples to help explain concepts, take educational field trips and use manipulatives to help teach lessons. For example, with a zoo theme, you can take a trip to the zoo to see the actual animals or use animal figures to teach counting. This is another added benefit to a thematic approach, since many younger children learn better when things are able to been physically seen and touched.
Parents can also get involved in the planning and educating of academic lessons when a thematic approach is used. Parents can read books or do activities at home that correspond with the theme in the classroom. This will further the educational experience for the kindergarten student and help learning to continue to be a fluid process.