These children "made statistically significant gains in the cognitive/language profile, motor profile, and self-help profile over what would be expected of children of the same age during the same amount of time." (2007) It is stated by the Teaching Strategies report that the 'Creative Curriculum' an integrated curriculum for preschools include the following components: (1) review of current research and learning theory; (2) overview of child development knowledge including the ways that children are unique; (3) strategies for setting up the learning environment which is the 'context for teaching'; (4) Content to be taught including knowledge and skills children are expected to learn in literacy, math, science, social studies, arts, and technology which is based on standards in each subject and links well with elementary school curricular and early learning standards; (5) wide range of instructional strategies for teachers; and (6) guidance and resources to assist teachers in building a partnership with families based on respect for differences and that value each in supporting the learning of students. (Teaching Strategies, 2007)

Stated as indicators of effectiveness are the following:

Children are active and engaged;

Goals are clear and shared by all;

Curriculum is evidence-based;

Valued content is learned through investigation, play, and focused intentional teaching;

Curriculum builds on prior learning and experience;

Curriculum is comprehensive;

Professional standards validate the curriculum's subject-matter content; and the curriculum is likely to benefit children. (Teaching Strategies, 2006)

IV. OUTCOMES of INTEGRATED CURRICULUM

The work of Vars and Beane (2004) entitled: "Integrative Curriculum in a Standards-Based World" reports that recent analyses of studies "point to the same general conclusion: Almost without exception, students in any type of interdisciplinary or integrative curriculum do as well as, and often better than, students in a conventional departmentalized program. These results hold whether the combined curriculum is taught by one teacher in a self-contained or block-time class or by an interdisciplinary team." (Gordon and Beane, 2004)

SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

The integrated curriculum is one that links all subject areas together and makes learning more relevant and more applicable in the learner's...

As noted in this study curriculum means the analysis of needs, formulation of objectives, selection and organization of content, construction of learning experiences and assessment. Therefore the integrated curriculum is one that links or joins the various subject areas of instruction and learning in analyzing the needs and formulating the objective of instruction and learning as well as in linking the selection and organization of content, the construction of learning experiences and finally the assessment of student learning.
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Course Information. College of Education, Massey University, Palmerston North,

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Integrated Curriculum Planning: Concept-Based Curriculum