.png)
Integrated Approach to Teaching and Learning
Creating meaningful connections between children’s different learning experiences and to the real world for effective learning
Last updated 16 September 2025
An integrated approach to teaching and learning
An integrated approach to teaching and learning enables children to draw meaningful connections across their learning experiences and between their learning and life experiences. It helps them understand how concepts and skills are linked and can be applied in different situations or contexts.
What are the benefits?
See how pieces of information connect: Children can see how new knowledge connects with their prior experiences and how different concepts are related.
Understand the world as a connected whole: Children develop a holistic understanding of the world and how different things are interconnected. This helps them to see value of what they are learning.
Apply their knowledge and skills to different contexts: Children can use what they learn in one situation to solve problems in another.
How can you do it?
By highlighting connections in your teaching, you can help children to develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and to become more effective learners.
Here are some ways to design appropriate and meaningful learning experiences through an integrated approach to teaching and learning:
Across different learning areas
You could create a numeracy activity that involves counting ingredients or sequence of events for a recipe. You could incorporate gross motor skills into an aesthetics and creative expression activity by providing children with large tools and surfaces.
Between children’s previous and new experiences
You could start a new unit by asking children to share what they already know about the topic.
Between children’s interests/daily life experiences and new learning experiences:
You could use children’s favorite books or movies to teach them new concepts.
Between different contexts
You could take children on a field trip to the neighbourhood or a museum to learn about a topic they are studying in class.
Between learning experiences of children from different groups
You could create small group activities that allow children from different classes to collaborate on a common project.
