“Discipline means to learn and to practice,” says HomeLearners Network Guide, Amber Santos, who loves incorporating art when teaching kids new subjects. “In interdisciplinary projects, kids can explore and experiment with diverse tasks. They allow kids to take on different roles within their work and brainstorm new ideas, tying everything together to make a finished product.”
Interdisciplinary projects offer an incredible opportunity to simultaneously engage your kids in learning multiple subjects. An example of an interdisciplinary project is our Illustrate a Picture Book series where over the course of five sessions, kids will use writing, storytelling, design and art to create their very own picture book!
We sat down with Amber to discuss her top five reasons why interdisciplinary projects are essential for your kiddos.
1. They encourage a desire for lifelong learning
Tackling an interdisciplinary project can involve diving into unexplored or avoided subjects using innovative approaches. While your kids may love spending hours working on art, they may not thrive in writing, math, or other topics. Combining work they enjoy with work they find challenging can make the overall learning experience more gratifying.
When learning is a joyful experience, kids are more likely to pursue knowledge and new skills throughout their lifetimes.
2. They allow kids to explore different perspectives
“Project work is multifaceted and allows kids to combine different literacies. They might practice making pictures and using words, but the project requires them to combine pictures and words strategically,” says Amber.
Due to the dynamic nature of interdisciplinary projects, kids may be surprised to use project elements related to their least favourite subjects and discover the important roles these subjects play in solving problems or communicating ideas. Insights like these can help kids become open-minded to new challenges, concepts, and ways of doing things.
3. They help build creativity and personal identity
“Interdisciplinary projects are made through the authorship of the child. To do an interdisciplinary project is to be creative,” says Amber. “It means they get to bring their own way of doing something to create something bigger, and the beautiful thing is that everyone will look at the project through a different lens.”
The interdisciplinary aspect of the project means that kids get to put on their curator hats and decide what to bring forward and what to leave behind through idea generation and refinement.
“Each step in the decision-making process represents the child’s creative gesture and voice. They manifest their own processes to bring their overall vision to life, and they get to make choices based on who they are and their style.”
4. They empower kids to discover unique strengths
Combining various learning methods and subjects into a single project can give kids a holistic view of what works best for them and what brings them joy, encouraging them to explore their passions.
“When kids step back as reflective learners, they’re going to find things in interdisciplinary projects that were easier or that flowed more for them, and also where there were more challenges,” says Amber. “Within those challenges, they might discover strengths they didn’t even know they had to help solve problems or move through the process.”
5. They prepare kids for real-world problem-solving
In an ever-changing world, interdisciplinary thinking is crucial for long-term success.
“The interconnectedness of the pieces within an interdisciplinary project reflects the nature of our world,” says Amber. “Projects and tasks just get more elaborate, extensive, and complex as we grow.”
Integrated thinking plays a vital role in employment and academic success. Employers search for individuals who are adaptable, open-minded, and willing to tackle complex challenges – all characteristics developed through interdisciplinary, project-based learning.
Coming October 3: Illustrate A Picture Book with Amber!
If your kids are between ages 9 and 12, join Amber in her interdisciplinary HomeLearners Network project series, Illustrate a Picture Book.
In this five-part series, kids will explore approaches to illustrating and working with text to hand-bind their very own storybook. They’ll develop communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills and share their finished project with other home learners!
Register today for Illustrate a Picture Book, starting October 3.
