We’ve used A LOT of curriculum over the years. Really good curriculum, mind you. But, when it comes to history and science in the elementary and middle school years, nothing has quite matched the success of unit studies in our homeschool.
The reasons? SO much learning can take place in a reasonable amount of time. We can read wonderful living literature, take amazing field trips, and include as many (or as few) hands-on projects as we like. We can include whatever lessons from other subjects that we like – research, writing, experiments, cooking, art, poetry – the possibilities are endless.
Unit studies can be fully planned from the beginning or flow based on students’ interests. They are wonderful to use with project-based learning. And, best of all, they can easily be used with multiple ages. In the articles that follow, you’ll find several unit study plans, how-to’s for creating your own unit studies, tutorials for project-based learning, and tips for successful interest-based studies. Have fun!
(This post contains affiliate links.) In researching and making plans for our unit on the westward expansion, I was reminded about another important event in history that I couldn’t possibly leave out of our learning time – the Industrial Revolution, including the subject of child labor. My children were very much moved by the thought…
(This post contains affiliate links.) Our Westward Expansion Unit Study: Part One ~ The Plan Part Two ~ The Resources Part Three ~ Project Week Daily: Copywork Quotes from Amanda Bennett’s Pioneers Timeline and Map work Reading/Research Work on one or more projects (project ideas below) and/or work on a hands-on project from Westward Ho!,…
Our “math break” continues to bring lively and rich lessons! One of the projects from Hardhatting in a Geo-World concerned bridge construction. We had to make six different bridges and test their strength. After completing the activity and filling in the chart provided, I had the kiddos show their findings with homemade graphs. The book…
We are having SO much fun with this book! A little break from the regular math schedule has turned out to include such exciting math and science that my kids are actually asking to do more. 🙂 Here are some photos from one of this week’s investigations…. Cylinder structures – Using various sized cardboard tubes…
The American Revolution is such an exciting and inspiring time in our country’s amazing history! As always, we learned so much through our literature-based, project-based unit study. My children were in 5th and 2nd grades during this four+ week study. American Revolution Resources Internet Scavenger Hunt Living Literature We read and listened to many,…
We did many projects to go along with our Colonial Life unit study, but this one tops the list. Not only were these embroidered hand prints a wonderful handicraft activity, they turned out beautifully, too. So much so, that they are gracing my mantle right now and I plan to hang them on the wall…
(This post contains affiliate links.) During the elementary and middle school years, our history studies – for the most part – take place as unit studies. In a relatively short amount of time, we can cover SO much material in fun and interesting lessons. And this unit was no exception! Over the course of about…
We’re finishing up our Thirteen Colonies & Colonial Life Unit this week! I’ll be posting soon about the biggest chunk of the unit, but I wanted to take a minute to highlight the 13 Colonies lapbook/notebook we put together using: I had to do the legwork of locating library books about each of the Thirteen…
We live in Central KY – what’s often called the “Horse Capital of the World”. We’re surrounded by beautiful horse farms and have the priviledge of living near the Kentucky Horse Park. With so much horse business going on in the area, there are two premier equine hospitals within easy driving distance. Lucky for us, Rood and Riddle…
Well, not exactly! We’ve been doing all sorts of hands-on learning during our Colonial History unit and one of the activities I had planned was making butter. At co-op over the years, the kids have had the opportunity to shake cream in baby food jars to make their own butter, so I didn’t think we…
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine sent out some freebie units not too long ago from Highlights of Homeschooling and one of them worked perfectly for our Pilgrims unit study. It’s called The Mayflower Unit Study. This isn’t the typical unit that we do around here, as it’s very language arts led and didn’t required much by way of…
For those of you who know Melissa from blogging, consider yourselves blessed. But, if you’re lucky enough to know her in person, how much more blessed you are! It was such a treat to spend time with her last week. Not only that, she took on all three of my children while I spoke at the THINK meeting AND…
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