| Many studies on multidisciplinary teaching have claimed that there are benefits for learners. However, quantitative documentation of such claims is difficult to find. This work will examine and analyze how the inclusion of a multidisciplinary project to end an unit affected the learning of eighth grade students.; The environmental unit, entitled "A Household's Effect on the Environment" focused on the issues of acid rain, lawn chemical use, and waste disposal. Many demonstrations and laboratory exercises were used to illustrate how a child's home may contribute to local pollution. At the end of the unit, the students used their knowledge and data in a mock trial within a social science class. Examination of the data shows that the students learned the material as well as other units on their immediate formal assessment, but retained the information better than similar units. The presence of the trial also encouraged students to explore resources beyond the classroom. |
