Curriculum Models

What is a curriculum model?

A curriculum model is a format for curriculum design developed to meet unique needs, contexts, goals, and purposes.

Key factors in planning an effective curriculum include:

  • Content

  • Assessment

  • Introduction to the lesson/unit

  • Teaching methods

  • Learning activities

  • Grouping strategies

  • Resources

  • Products

  • Extension/enrichment activities

  • Differentiation based on learner need

  • Lesson/unit closure

Parallel Curriculum Model

The Parallel Curriculum Model is designed so that the needs of students of ALL ability levels are met. It is composed of four parallel designs that can be used alone or in combination.

Core Curriculum is the foundational curriculum that should establish a rich framework of knowledge, understanding, and skills most relevant to the discipline. This is where standards (national, state, & local) should be reflected. It is built on key facts, concepts, principles, and skills essential to the discipline.

Curriculum of Connections is designed to help students encounter and interact with the key concepts, principles, and skills in a variety of settings, times and circumstances.

​Curriculum of Practice helps students function with increasing skill and confidence as professionals in the discipline would function.

Curriculum of Identity helps students think about themselves, their goals, and their opportunities to contribute to their world (now and in the future) by examining themselves through the lens of a particular discipline. Students begin to become the experts.


Why is the Parallel Curriculum Model good for AIG students?

  • Develops higher-order thinking skills

  • Challenges students to be leaders

  • Promotes student expertise in an area

  • Promotes self-reflection in students making them aware of their own strengths

  • Allows for differentiation

Source: Introduction to the Parallel Curriculum Model

Integrated Curriculum Model

​The integrated Curriculum Model offers a curriculum that is advanced which emphasizes higher level thinking and problem solving, and exposes students to issues, themes and theoretical real world situations. Research has proven that this model is effective for gifted students in language arts and social studies.

​Why is the Integrated Curriculum Model good for AIG students?

  • Develops higher-order thinking and processing skills

  • Emphasizes advanced content knowledge

  • Provides opportunities for student reflection on learning processes

  • Allows opportunities independent learning based on interest

  • Allows students to develop advanced products​

Source: What Works in Curriculum for the Gifted

Multiple Menu Model

The Multiple Menu Model developed from looking for strategies that teachers can use to improve writing curriculum. This model provides six planning menus that all teachers can use to develop quality curriculum units for the classroom.

Menu One: Knowledge- Curriculum developers must choose the most important concepts to teach.

It requires them to study the discipline from four perspectives:

1) its purpose and placement within the larger context of knowledge

2) its underlying concepts and principles

3) its most representative topics and contributions to the universe of knowledge and wisdom

4) methodology

Menus two through five deal with pedagogy and instruction.

Menu Two: Instructional Objectives and Student Activities-focuses on thinking and feeling processes

(application, analysis, synthesis)

Menu Three: Instructional Strategies-provides a range of teaching methods (discussion, dramatization, independent study)

Menu Four: Instructional Sequences-provides an order of events to teach the information (linking present lesson to previous lessons that have been taught)

Menu Five: Artistic Modifications-allows teachers to personalize their lessons (bringing in their hobbies, personal beliefs, or observations about a topic)

Menu Six: Instructional Products-Two products emerge (1) concrete products-physical constructions (speeches, essays, dramatizations, experiments) (2) abstract products-behaviors (leadership skills, self-confidence, interviewing skills)

Why is the Multiple Menu Model good for AIG students?

  • ​Makes learning relevant and meaningful

  • Allows for differentiation to meet student needs

  • Engaging for students

  • Allows students to use ​higher level cognitive processes

  • Can include controversial issues and topics​

Source: The Multiple Menu Model for Developing Differentiated Curriculum