How+to+find+themes+for+your+units

Let’s share ideas on how to think of themes or topics. Here are a few of my ideas:

** How to think of a topic **

Think about the learners and what they are interested in. (friendship, movies, cellphones, fashion, animals, television, reptiles, mammals, dinosaurs, insects, snakes, sea animals, the zoo, dolphins, polar bears, travel, the family, the farm, holidays, when I grow up, chocolate, the secret garden, the haunted house, dancing, music, artists, school, camping, pirates, the machine age, folk-tales, myths and legends, )

Look at the content of the new curriculum (CAPS) in all the subjects and see what ideas come to mind (sport and exercise, the seasons, electricity, space and planets, global warming, religions )

Think about the things that you find interesting. (starting a business, the brain, great discoveries, the first man on the moon, our solar system) Think of moral issues that could interest the learners (fair play, bullying, heroes, children’s rights, democratic values, respect, conflict, keeping safe, our neighbourhood, discrimination, feelings, healthy eating, immigration, caring for others, HIV Aids, hopes and dreams, crime, identity theft, smoking, on the move, wants and needs, poverty, perspectives)

** Change your topic to make it exciting **

Once you have thought of your theme, think of ways of making it sound exciting so that it will arouse the learners’ interest.

Carry a little notebook around with you, and whenever you get an idea write it down.
 * Tap your moments of inspiration **