Discovering Unit Studies
Unit studies provide an opportunity to explore one topic in an all-encompassing way. Unit studies might be literature-based, science-based or history-based. A unit study can be a stand alone form of homeschooling by incorporating all key subjects in a way related to whatever the focus of the study is. Other homeschoolers use unit studies as a supplement to more traditional lessons.
Many people enjoy creating their own unit studies. If you are new to unit studies or short on time, however, there are thousands of unit studies available free and for sale on line. One of the greatest aspects of unit studies is their adaptability to a wide range of ages. This adaptability is especially useful in larger families. You can all study the same thing in an age-appropriate way. Homeschool co-ops incorporate unit studies for this reason as well.
A typical unit study will incorporate field trips, reading non-fiction and related fiction, hands-on experiments or projects, geography components, a math component (when applicable), photography/video, and even art projects. It is common to keep the work and projects (or pictures of a project) in a file folder or notebook maintained by each student. A lap book is an easy, visually appealing way to put all the aspects of a unit study in one place.
Some people opt to set up a year’s worth of unit studies lasting from one-six weeks. The studies form the basis of their homeschool. The subjects of each study might vary tremendously, but within each study, the basics: math, history, literature, geography, and science can still be covered throroughly. Homeschoolers who follow a more traditional method of education also use unit studies periodically throughout the year. The unit study might provide a break from “regular school” or they might be a supplement. Unschoolers who focus on child-led learning are often in the midst of a more organic type of unit study.
In all of these learning situations, a unit study can be an excellent way to study current events. It is not uncommon to walk into a homeschool family’s home during an Olympics and see: togas from the afternoon’s recreation of the first Olympics; a large chart on the wall tracking medals by countries; and a large map spread over the kitchen table marking each country and the number of athletes participating from that country. Elections offer another opportunity for unit studies. (They may also be a source of friction between family members!) A third example of using current events as unit studies would be a local weather event – hurricane, tornadoes, etc. These types of units are important for the safety lessons they teach, the volunteer opportunities they provide in addition to the less personal general facts.
Unit studies can cover anything that interests your child. An example of a fun, summer project would be a Harry Potter-themed unit study. Things you might wish to pursue in relation to this series might include: Latin in Harry Potter (spells, class subjects); mythology (especially character names); potion making (simple but explosive science projects); building wands; a study of codes (arithmancy); a cooking class (butter beer, pumpkin pasties, etc.); astronomy (a night of star gazing or a visit to a planetarium); and a grand finale movie festival.
The possibilities for unit studies are endless. Tailor your unit studies to your students. If hands-on projects are important, use them. If you prefer field trips, go in that direction. After you have done a couple of unit studies, you’ll find that they become easier to create and implement. Brainstorm with your kids and try a few – there is no way to do it wrong!