Developing Thematic, Interdisciplinary Units that Support Project-Based Learning and Literacy in Science and Social Studies
Grades K-6
Thursday, 11 October 2018
October 11
October 11, 2018
Bringing literacy into the content areas, particularly in science and social studies, has long been thought to improve literacy as well as content learning. However, recent research has identified the value of bringing science and social studies into the language arts block, to strengthen both content learning and literacy instruction, especially for students who read below grade level as well as English Language Learners. This session will focus on how and why developing integrated units that incorporate science and social studies into the ELA block encourages deeper learning. In this session, participants will learn how to develop units that promote reading and writing for real purpose that help prepare students for Project Based Learning and Performance Assessments. Participants will explore how to develop effective thematic units that align with the Virginia reading and writing SOLs. Instruction on creating these units will include how to select texts and vocabulary strategies that support content learning as well as how to incorporate comprehension strategies and related write-to-learn activities to develop literacy and content knowledge simultaneously. One month after the workshop, participants will be sent a relevant article about the use of interdisciplinary units and an invitation to discuss that article and share the progress they have made in implementing interdisciplinary units in their classrooms and schools during a Google Hang Out session.
K-6 Classroom Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Curriculum Leaders
Conference runs from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration and breakfast begin at 8:00 a.m.
Lunch will be served at noon.
Free parking and free internet access will be provided.
All registered participants will receive an email with event details in the week before the conference is held.
The conference fee is $149 for each participant who is member of a school division which is a member of VaSCL
The registration fee for participants from Non-Member school divisions is $199.
Registration fees include breakfast and lunch, as well as parking and internet access.
The registration deadline is Friday, September 28, 2018.
In the registration form (below), required fields are indicated with a red asterisk. Mistakes made in completing the form will be highlighted in red.
Once you have submitted the registration, the person or people whom you have designated to receive a confirmation email should see that email (with registration information included) within 24 hours.
Pre-Payment is not required for participation.
After the conference has been held, an invoice will be emailed to the person identified in Billing Information on the Conference Registration Form for each participant.
Notification of cancellation must be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., VaSCL Coordinator, at least FIVE BUSINESS DAYS before the event is held . . . or the registration fees will be billed in full.
If a Purchase Order Number is provided on the Conference Registration Form for a participant, the invoice from VaSCL will reference that Purchase Order Number.
If you wish to be invoiced BEFORE the date of the event or if you have any other questions about payment, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you have questions or concerns, or would like to receive more information about this conference, please contact our Administrative Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..