Below are samples of Integrated Thematic Units developed by teachers in the Connecticut Vocational Technical Schools System to help our students meet the objectives of the CAPT (Connecticut Performance Achievement Test) given to 10th graders by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
The "Cloning" unit is geared to the Interdisciplinary section of the CAPT language arts assessment which requires students to analyze, synthesize and evaluate their knowledge and skills gained through their social studies, science, mathematics, language arts and shop classes. The literacy activities to culminate in a persuasive letter integrate reading and writing strategies, research and technology (where available). Students learn to access their prior knowledge on the topic of "cloning" through brainstorming, use key vocabulary to build background knowledge, conduct research using library and Internet resources, evaluate information and articles, and organize their ideas in a persuasive letter which is refined through the writing process.
Students will develop newspaper-reading strategies to help them become better readers and build personal and civic connections to the outside world. Literacy activities include understanding the newspaper language, index and classified ads. Students will demonstrate higher level thinking skills by analyzing articles to evaluate their newsworthiness. They will integrate newspaper use by relating to their role of a member of a chosen community. This allows the students to reflect on their classroom, shop or any other community they choose and can be useful in developing an awareness of and building community. This unit is designed to promote learning experiences that emphasize reading and writing.