I think that integrating games into the curriculum can encourage interest.

Amanda Thulin Integrating high-interest areas into an individual's curriculum—especially in special education, personalized learning, or differentiated instruction—can significantly enhance engagement, motivation, and overall growth in both academics and functional skills. Here's a structured approach to doing so effectively:

1. Identify the Individual’s High Interests

• Use surveys, interviews, or interest inventories with students, parents, and teachers.
• Observe free-time choices, hobbies, or favorite topics to uncover genuine interests.

2. Align Interests with Academic and Functional Goals

• Map interests to curriculum standards: e.g., if a student loves cars, integrate math through calculating speed, distance, and fuel economy.
• For functional skills: link interests to real-life applications—e.g., using a love for cooking to teach sequencing, measurement, or budgeting.

3. Customize Learning Activities

• Create thematic units around the student’s interest (e.g., sports, animals, gaming).
• Use project-based learning involving the interest to develop research, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Incorporate multimedia or hands-on tools aligned with the interest to support diverse learning styles.

4. Embed Functional Skills in Context

• For students with special needs or IEPs: Teach communication skills through interest-related role plays. Develop daily living skills (e.g., using a shopping interest to teach money handling or decision-making). Promote social interaction using shared interests in group tasks.

5. Monitor and Adjust

• Set clear, measurable goals for both academic and functional outcomes.
• Use ongoing formative assessments to evaluate engagement and growth.
• Be ready to pivot or expand based on evolving interests or developmental progress.

6. Collaborate with Stakeholders

• Involve parents, counselors, and special educators in planning.
• Encourage peer involvement for social learning through shared-interest projects or clubs.

Example:

If a student is highly interested in video games:

• Math: calculate game scores, analyze probabilities.
• Reading/Writing: write reviews, design game plots.
• Functional: use in-game schedules to teach time management or task planning.
• Social: discuss gaming strategies in small groups to build communication. a sample lesson plan that integrates a high-interest area—cooking—into both academic and functional skills for a middle school student.

🧑‍🍳 Lesson Plan: "Math in the Kitchen"

Student's High Interest: Cooking and Baking

Grade Level: 6–8

Subject Areas: Math, Functional Skills (Measurement, Following Instructions, Safety)

Duration: 2 class periods (45 minutes each)

Learning Objectives

Academic (Math)

• Students will convert measurements (cups to tablespoons, etc.).
• Students will calculate ingredient quantities when doubling or halving a recipe.

Functional Skills

• Students will follow multi-step directions.
• Students will practice kitchen safety and hygiene.
• Students will work collaboratively with peers.

Materials Needed

• Simple recipe (e.g., no-bake cookies or fruit salad)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Ingredient cards
• Recipe worksheets
• Calculators
• Safety posters

Activities

Warm-Up (10 mins)

• Begin with a class discussion: "What’s your favorite thing to cook or eat?"
• Introduce the recipe of the day. Ask students to identify ingredients they’ve used before.

Activity 1: Math & Measurement (20 mins)

• Break students into small groups.
• Give each group a task: double or halve the recipe.
• Students calculate new measurements (e.g., ¾ cup doubled = 1½ cups).
• Use calculators as needed. Teacher circulates for guidance.

Activity 2: Functional Task – Making the Recipe (30 mins)

• Students follow the adjusted recipe to prepare the item.
• Emphasize hygiene (hand washing, clean surfaces) and safety (handling utensils).
• Assign roles: reader, measurer, mixer, cleaner.

Wrap-Up & Reflection (15 mins)

• Students sample their food.
• Discuss: What was easy? What was hard?
• Complete a short reflection worksheet on what they learned about math and following steps.

Assessment

• ✔ Observation checklist for group participation, measurement accuracy, and hygiene.
• ✔ Completed worksheets with accurate math conversions.
• ✔ Reflection sheet to assess understanding of functional skills.

Extensions

• Create a class recipe book with student-modified recipes.
• Include a writing component: “My Dream Recipe” or “How I Cook at Home.” adapted lesson plan for a student interested in video games, integrating academic learning (Language Arts) and functional skills (communication, planning, and digital literacy).

🎮 Lesson Plan: "Create Your Own Video Game Story"

Student's High Interest: Video Games

Grade Level: 6–8

Subject Areas: Language Arts, Functional Skills (Communication, Planning, Digital Literacy)

Duration: 2–3 class periods (45 minutes each)

Learning Objectives

Academic (Language Arts)

• Students will write a short narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Students will use descriptive language and correct grammar.

Functional Skills

• Students will plan a task from start to finish.
• Students will communicate ideas clearly (verbally and in writing).
• Students will use digital tools to present their story (optional).

Materials Needed

• Story planning graphic organizers
• Writing paper or computers/tablets
• Sample video game story clips (e.g., Mario, Zelda, Minecraft)
• Rubric for story structure and creativity
• Optional: PowerPoint or Canva for digital presentation

Activities

Day 1: Introduction & Planning (45 mins)

• Discussion Prompt: "What’s your favorite video game? What makes the story interesting?"
• Watch a short cutscene from a story-driven game (no violence).
• Group brainstorming: key elements in a good game story—characters, setting, conflict, resolution.
• Begin filling out a story organizer: Hero name Game world/setting Problem/conflict How the player overcomes the challenge Ending

Day 2: Writing and Drafting (45 mins)

• Use the organizer to write a 4–6 paragraph narrative.
• Encourage sensory details: What does the world look like? What powers does the character have?
• Peer feedback: Students exchange stories and offer one comment and one question.
• Teacher provides scaffolded support for structure and grammar.

Day 3: Presentation & Digital Skills (Optional, 45 mins)

• Students can create a game cover, slide presentation, or story map using digital tools (Canva, PowerPoint, Google Slides).
• Each student presents their story to the class (2–3 minutes).
• Focus on clear communication and answering one peer question about their story.

Assessment

• ✔ Rubric for story content: narrative structure, creativity, and grammar.
• ✔ Checklist for functional skills: planning, peer interaction, basic digital tool use.
• ✔ Self-assessment/reflection: “What did I learn about telling stories and planning?”

Extensions

• Use coding platforms like Scratch to turn stories into basic games.
• Invite a guest speaker (game designer/writer) to discuss careers in game development.
• Start a "Game Writers Club" for ongoing story creation.

ممكن تحديد الاهتمام الطالب او الفرد عند طريق المقابلات او الاستبيانات ، مشاركة اهتمامات الأكاديمية باهتمام الطالب ، تصميم هذه المشاريع التعليمية ، استخدام التكنولوجيا التفاعلية ، توظيف العمل المبكر ، تقييم من خلا الاهتمام بالعمل المبكر ، التعاون مع الأسرة

The students interest can be integrated into teaching and learning as well as promoting functional skills by adoption self assessment, choice based assessment. It is an assessment where learners would have freedom of choosing assessment on areas mastered as well as having knowledge on

Integrating high-interest areas into an individual’s curriculum is a powerful strategy for promoting both academic achievement and the development of functional life skills—especially for students with learning differences, autism, or special educational needs. When teaching connects to what a learner naturally enjoys or is curious about, motivation increases, engagement deepens, and meaningful growth becomes possible. Here's how this can be done effectively:

1. Identify the Student’s Interests Thoroughly

Begin by conducting interest inventories, student interviews, parent input, or observation. Look for patterns—be it dinosaurs, trains, cooking, sports, or technology. Understanding the student’s passions is the first step toward building a personalized, engaging learning path.

2. Embed Interests into Academic Instruction

Use the high-interest theme as a context or vehicle for teaching core skills:

• Literacy: Have a student who loves superheroes write a comic strip, read superhero biographies, or analyze character traits.
• Math: Use sports scores, car models, or baking measurements to teach computation and problem-solving.
• Science: Connect experiments to the student’s interests, such as testing how different foods grow if the student loves cooking.

3. Use Interests to Teach Functional Skills

High-interest activities can also foster daily living skills, social interaction, and vocational readiness:

• A student interested in video games might learn money management by budgeting for gaming gear.
• A student who enjoys pets could practice responsibility and scheduling by caring for an animal and tracking routines.
• Interests in art or fashion can support skills like fine motor development, following instructions, and sequencing.

4. Foster Social and Communication Skills

Interests can become bridges for peer interaction and communication goals:

• Arrange group projects based on shared interests.
• Use interest-based role-plays or discussions to practice conversation, turn-taking, and perspective-taking.
• Let the student teach others about their interest—this builds confidence and expressive language skills.

5. Differentiate and Set Growth-Oriented Goals

While using interests to capture attention, set goals that gradually increase complexity. For example, a student fascinated by trains might start with basic vocabulary, move to reading technical manuals, and then analyze transportation systems—blending passion with academic rigor.

6. Use Assistive Technology and Creative Tools

Leverage apps, games, or multimedia content tied to the student’s interests. For example, if a student loves music, use songwriting apps to teach literacy or create math problems around song lyrics.

Conclusion

Integrating high-interest topics into an individual’s curriculum is not just a motivational tool—it’s an evidence-based approach to personalized, meaningful learning. By aligning content with curiosity, educators can spark joy in learning, build foundational skills, and empower students to reach their full potential both in school and in life.