Not Every Integration is Planned

In an Integrated Studies model, research has a way of sparking unexpected creativity. Our first graders dove deep into the world of the ukulele — and then let that research ignite their own original stories in this trimester’s all-school unit, The Music Lab: Sound, Story and Connection. Using story organizers to plan and frame their narratives, they are now putting the finishing touches on their final drafts — and illustrating every page. After a trimester of inquiry, these young researchers have become deeply invested authors.