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Universal Themes

Use these abstract ideas to easily cross content areas and get students making unexpected connections.

Printable List

Introducing Universal Theme of Conflict
Introducing Universal Theme of Conflict
So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Conflict? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.
Generalization: Problems Lead to New Rules, Which Lead to New Problems
Generalization: Problems Lead to New Rules, Which Lead to New Problems
Students explore this generation about how problems lead to new rules, and new rules lead to new problems.
Generalization: Order Can Be Natural or Constructed
Generalization: Order Can Be Natural or Constructed
Students explore this generation about how order can be both natural and created by humans.

Power

Power and Traditions
Power and Traditions
We compare the power of traditions shared by millions with smaller traditions shared by perhaps just one family.
Power in Autumn
Power in Autumn
Autumn was once powerful because of the harvest. What gives Fall its power now?
Power and Symbols
Power and Symbols
When does a simple symbol have more power than a word?
Who has more power: the Queen Bee or the Hive?
Who has more power: the Queen Bee or the Hive?
Sometimes power is concentrated in one place. Other times it is spread out.
Indirect Power – Lighthouse vs Magnetism
Indirect Power – Lighthouse vs Magnetism
Students explore the idea of indirect power – which can be both visible (a lighthouse) or invisible (magnetism).
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Change

Introducing Universal Theme of Change
Introducing Universal Theme of Change
So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Change? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.
Generalization: Change Leads to More Change
Generalization: Change Leads to More Change
Can you think of a time in your life when “Change lead to more change?”

Systems

Introducing Universal Theme of Systems
Introducing Universal Theme of Systems
So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Systems? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.
Generalization: Systems Are Made up of Other Systems
Generalization: Systems Are Made up of Other Systems
Students will explore how systems are often made up of smaller systems (and are usually a part of a larger system, too).