In a thematic unit about courage, what strategy best promotes students’ connections to different subject areas?

The strategy that best promotes students' connections to different subject areas in a thematic unit about courage is interdisciplinary learning. This approach encourages teachers to integrate concepts and skills from multiple disciplines, allowing students to explore the theme of courage from various perspectives—such as literature, history, psychology, and the arts.

By engaging students in interdisciplinary learning, they can make meaningful connections and see how courage manifests in different contexts. For instance, they might read stories about courageous historical figures, analyze poems that evoke feelings of bravery, discuss psychological theories related to fear and risk, or create art that represents acts of courage. This holistic approach not only deepens understanding but also fosters critical thinking and creativity, as learners draw connections and synthesize information across subjects.

In contrast, focused content delivery primarily aims at teaching specific content within a single discipline, which may limit students' ability to connect ideas across different subject areas. Peer collaboration, while beneficial for developing communication and teamwork skills, does not specifically facilitate interdisciplinary connections unless it's structured around thematic projects. Standardized testing typically assesses knowledge in isolated areas rather than encouraging the integration of concepts. Thus, interdisciplinary learning stands out as the most effective strategy for promoting broader connections among subjects in a thematic context.