What is cross-curricular learning?

Cross-curricular learning is a way of organising the curriculum so that subjects are taught in an integrated way rather than as discrete, stand-alone areas. For example, in History, children might be taught about the Romans, so a cross-curricular approach might then plan for children to look at making mosaics in Art, study Italy in Geography, make Roman chariots in DT and write newspaper articles about the Roman invasion of Britain in English. In many primary schools, cross-curricular learning is commonplace, and there are significant benefits to both children and teachers for organising the curriculum in this way.

However, there are also some things to watch out for when planning in a cross-curricular way, and there are some drawbacks to it. Indeed, many primary schools are now moving away from this cross-curricular approach to teaching and learning.

In this article, we will examine the following:

- What are the benefits of cross-curricular learning in primary schools?

- How can cross-curricular learning be planned for effectively?

- What to watch out for when planning for cross-curricular learning.

We will then look at how PlanBee, famous for its topics and huge bank of quality resources across the whole primary curriculum, can be used to support a cross-curricular approach.

Click here to view PlanBee's topics by year group:

Benefits of a cross-curricular approach:

There are many benefits to planning for a cross-curricular approach:

1. It offers tremendous motivational power for children. If children are excited about a particular topic or theme, then linking it to other subjects can help motivate them toward learning across the whole curriculum.

2. Research shows that we learn when we are able to make connections. That's what our brain does! It is constantly trying to make connections, and when we do so, we learn better. Therefore, by integrating subjects in a cross-curricular way, we are mirroring this natural approach to learning and thus learning is deeper.

When we see how facts and ideas connect with one another across subjects, we construct meaning.

3. Application of learning from one subject to another is really useful. It can both deepen and extend learning and encourages children to want to learn more! Cross-curricular learning helps to create this environment where students acquire a taste for life-long learning.

4. Gardner, in his theory of multiple intelligences, found that there were eight different intelligences, including visual, musical and logical. By integrating subjects in a cross-curricular approach, we are able to teach learning through a variety of different learning styles, thus helping all children to learn.

5. Cross-curricular learning teaches children how to learn. Rather than just learning lots of different unrelated facts from different subject areas, children are taught to think for themselves, making their own links and fostering curiosity.

6. It is more fun for teachers! When teachers are able to link subjects together through a central topic, it makes planning and teaching more enjoyable. Teachers can get excited about introducing children to a topic they also love and spend a whole term studying it in depth. Teachers are encouraged to be creative with this approach rather than robots delivering facts!

7. It is also really helpful to parents for children to learn in a cross-curricular way. If a parent knows that their child is learning about, for example, the rainforest, then they can do lots of work about this with them at home. They might make a model of the rainforest with them for a homework project. They might seek out documentaries on Netflix about animals of the rainforest to help foster their child's curiosity. It makes it easier for parents to be involved with their child's education, and this is always beneficial.

Cross-curricular learning and planning

Cross-curricular learning has lots of benefits to both children, parents and teachers. However, for it to be effective, it must be planned very well at each stage of the planning process:

1. Long-term planning - This is where it all starts and is essential for ensuring that pupils receive entitlement to the whole primary curriculum. By mapping out the broad areas, natural links between subjects can be seen. This is really important as tenuous links do not lead to deep learning or motivated learners.

2. Medium-term planning - This is where the learning objectives for each separate subject are mapped out. These must be identified to ensure that, even though learning is integrated, all objectives are being covered and progression within each subject can be planned for. Learning in a cross-curricular approach should be linked, but not at the expense of each subject's objectives, which the National Curriculum requires to be covered.

Cross-curricular - what not to do!

The worst thing that can be done with a cross-curricular approach is trying to make links between subjects which are not naturally there. If the link is not natural, then don't make it! It would be better to link 3 or 4 subjects really well and have some stand-alone rather than trying to integrate everything in a tenuous way.

Cross-curricular - How PlanBee can help

PlanBee is well known for it's huge bank of quality resources, most of which cover the wider curriculum subjects. All schemes are planned and created by experienced teachers.

PlanBee's primary topics for KS1 and KS2 cover a range of exciting learning themes. They're completely ready to teach and include detailed lesson planning and resources for engaging cross-curricular learning.

In each of PlanBee's creative curriculum topic bundles, you'll find up to 24 cross-curricular plans (with slides, worksheets, and a range of fun activities, too). They're designed to save teachers time and provide fantastic learning experiences for your class, too.

Whether you plan to teach in phases or to individual year groups, all of these primary school topics include a huge range of highly differentiated learning activities, so you can be sure the learning is appropriate AND sufficiently challenging for all your pupils.

There are three main ways that PlanBee can help with a cross-curricular approach:

1. Topic Bundles

PlanBee has worked hard to create topic bundles. Here, several separate schemes which naturally link together can be purchased as a bundle. All schemes are matched to the National Curriculum Objectives. Topic Bundles cover a topic in more detail, and last half a term or longer. They consist of 3or more complete series of lessons, all centred around the same theme.

2. Topic Enrichment Packs

These smaller packs are short, flexible units designed to complement and extend your main schemes of work. Perfect for adding extra depth or variety, these mini-packs include 5 to 7 fully resourced lessons or projects complete with detailed plans, slides and printable activities.

Whether you want to dive deeper into a key concept, explore a new angle or fill a gap in your planning, these enrichment packs give you the freedom to tailor your teaching without adding to your workload.

Quick to teach, easy to deliver, and engaging for children, our Topic Enrichment Packs are the perfect way to boost your cross-curricular teaching.

3. Individual Schemes

It might be that you already have a theme all planned out, but are missing an element from, say, DT or Science. Teachers might find what they are looking for in our huge bank of schemes of work. Alternatively, you may want to pick and choose schemes to create your own cross-curricular topic. All schemes are matched to the National Curriculum Objectives.

Cross-curricular - The Author's Opinion!

I am an experienced primary school teacher and have been teaching for 16 years across the whole primary age range. I have a keen interest in cross-curricular teaching and believe it is how all primary school children should be taught.

For most of my teaching career, I loved teaching children through various topics. By linking subjects together, children enjoyed their learning, and it definitely led to deeper learning as children were able to make links. I think that the key to a successful topic is hooking the children in on day 1. Perhaps it could be that, when starting a topic on Ancient Egypt, children have to crack a hieroglyphic code to locate a mystery package containing some clues about their new topic. Alternatively, it could be taking children on a trip to a local castle to initiate a topic about castles and life in medieval times. Ultimately, getting children to invest in the topic is time well spent.

I loved planning cross-curricular topics. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I decided to get a job with PlanBee - it was always an aspect of the job I enjoyed. I enjoyed taking a theme and then putting my own spin on it so that I myself as a teacher, had ownership over what I was teaching. I have even created the Geography element, one of these topics I designed 'Save the Orangutan' as a scheme for PlanBee.

Toward the end of my teaching career, my school had changed its approach and was starting to teach subjects more discretely. Links between the subjects were not being made as they once were, and my enjoyment of the job declined. I found it much harder to motivate children toward their learning when being asked to teach in this way, and children found it difficult to switch from one discipline to another since there were no links in their theme.

I passionately believe that children at primary school should be taught through cross-curricular topics and think, providing they are carefully planned without tenuous links, they can be hugely beneficial.

Matt Watson - PlanBee Content Creator