5 ways to help kids make connections between subjects

French comes up in many other subjects, from math to geography. That’s something your child may already have noticed. But what about other subjects? To help your child see the interplay between their different classes, brainstorm areas where subjects overlap. Here are some examples:

• In music, there’s a bit of math (e.g., you have to count beats, add fractions)
• In history, there’s some geography (e.g., territorial borders and natural features)
• In science and technology, there’s some ethics and religious culture (e.g., the impact of our actions, how we communicate with one another)
• Etc.

Parents are key role models for their kids. Through your words and actions, you can have a positive influence on their decisions. When you talk about how what you learned in school is useful in your job, you help your child gain a better understanding of why they’re learning all these things! Here are some examples of what a health care professional could say to their child:

• Every day, I have to write reports and notes to my colleagues (writing skills)
• I have to do calculations to prescribe the right amount of medication (math skills)
• I have to make hypotheses and verify them (math, science, and technology skills)
• I have to communicate my ideas to my patients and colleagues effectively (language skills as well as ethics and religious culture)
• Etc.

What’s taught in school comes in handy everywhere, even when travelling! If your child is skeptical, we’ve got proof! When you travel, you have to do the following:

• Budget for and plan the trip (skills related to math, geography, history, etc.)
• Depending on the destination, speak another language (language skills)
• Learn about local habits and customs (skills related to history, music, and ethics and religious culture)
• Be able to find your way around (skills related to geography)
• Do physical activities such as walking for hours or hiking (physical education)
• Etc.

Finishing school generally increases a person’s chances of landing their dream job. Your child might think that some of their school subjects are unimportant, but they could become major factors when the time comes to choose a career. Here are some examples:

• To work in aeronautics, you need to be good at physics, chemistry, and math
• To work in carpentry, you need to be good with numbers
• To work in communications, you need strong writing and language skills
• Etc.

The next time you go for a long walk or drive, consider playing “What’s the purpose?” with your child. You’ll help them gain a clearer understanding of the purpose of their school subjects. The rules are simple: One person asks, “What’s the purpose of [insert school subject]?” and the others have to come up with at least three answers.

Here are three questions along with possible answers to get you started:

Question 1: What’s the purpose of learning French?

Answers:

• It allows you to communicate with more people
• Learning another language is a rewarding challenge
• It broadens your cultural knowledge

Question 2: What’s the purpose of learning math?

Answers:

• It’s useful in cooking
• It allows you to shop smarter
• It helps with making a budget

Question 3: What’s the purpose of the arts?

Answers:

• They boost your cultural knowledge
• They help you express your opinions
• They improve your critical thinking skills