A theme study is a method of teaching that allows for elaboration of the topic that one is focusing on. It intrigues the children to want to learn more. One way to look at a theme study is that it is an inquiry-based approach to curriculum through student involvement in research and teaching. The topic must be broad enough to be broken down into smaller parts, and it must be of interest to both the student and the teacher, that way children are motivated to stay involved and it is connected to their learning and curriculum. The child learns by actually experiencing and discovering through different methods and activities, rather than just reading a chapter from a textbook, or watching the teacher write on the board. A theme study takes a topic and "lives" with it for a period of time, integrating science, social studies, language arts, math, and arts. This type of study can range from a small amount of time to taking up the entire school year, because the chosen topics are so capable of expanding upon. A theme study not only teaches a child interesting and new things, but also how to learn and how to make connections with things in the world. .
One aspect of a theme study is that it is developmentally appropriate. It is an area or subject that will help every child to learn and understand everything being taught on the particular subject being examined. It is something that everyone can get involved with, reguardless of religion, culture, etc. In a theme study the child is able to construct his or her own knowledge through interactions with the physical and social environments. A theme study takes advantage of a child's motivation to explore and make sense out of what they have experienced and learned. Since the theme study allows for a lot of hands on learning it gets the children to become familiar with their environment and develop social skills and imagination among others.