Example: Students worry about interpersonal and group relationships. This same problem is a concern among nations.

Students bring four kinds of knowledge to the theme-building process:

1. Personal – addresses the self concerns of students
2. Social – addresses societal and world issues
3. Explanatory – content that names, describes, explains, and interprets
4. Technical – ways of investigating, communicating, analyzing, and expressing

Values emphasized in the curriculum include democratic ideals, respect for human dignity, and diversity.

• Collaborative Planning - the intersection of personal and social concerns used to choose themes.
  
  
• Pursuit of Knowledge – a process that uses the disciplines as tools to blend traditional information with real life.
  

• Performance Knowledge – promotes group activities that demonstrate cooperative learning across subject areas.
  
• Classroom Learning Communities – provide a sense of sharing and community, rather than competition and isolation. Helps build and foster relationships.