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!
Eli and I have certainly enjoyed a meandering pace through Story of the World for history. Because we’re never rushed to move on to the next chapter, it provides plenty of time for rabbit trails when he shows special interest in a topic. One of those special interests this year was the Vikings. We had…
One thing that has really helped over the years with homeschooling multiple ages is unit studies. Yes, even in this Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool. A unit study can be as elaborate or simple as you need it to be. Iย have written plenty of posts about our unit studies over the years (complete with literature lists) and…
If you asked me to name a few things that have made THE most impact in our homeschool over the years, one of the answers I would give without hesitation is living literature. Many precious hours have been spent together around books. Those moments have built strong bonds between us, created warm memories, and sparked…
These Thanksgiving and gratitude living books have been favorites around our house for years. Some help explain the history of our Thanksgiving celebration, while others are just sweet stories with a Thanksgiving theme. And, yet others really have nothing to do with Thanksgiving, in particular, but focus in on a spirit of gratitude that’s such…
Eeeewww! A cemetery scavenger hunt? Are you serious? Yes! Believe it or not, this is a REALLY cool activity because cemeteries are chock-full of history! We’ve visited several cemeteries over the years as we’ve studied our state’s history. And, you might remember the times we’ve utilized our beautiful cemeteries for science purposes like winter nature walks, conifer studies,…
My children don’t typically jump for joy when given a writing assignment. ย Do yours? ย I’ve found several ways over the years to take writing from dreaded to enjoyable in our home, though. ย One of the most beloved of those ideas is writing newsletters. Several years ago, I wrote the monthly newsletter for our church. ย I…
Do history textbooks ever fit into a living literature-based homeschool? Of course they do! But, if we’re being honest, they often don’t fit in very well because dry text isn’t the name of the game in the Charlotte Mason style. Think about this, though. If we only used living literature when teaching history, for instance,…
I love to teach simple machines through hands-on, experimental lessons. While it took just a bit of time to gather materials, the engagement factor made this quick and simple unit study a hit with my children. Simple Machines Unit Study Before even reading the first book about simple machines, I set up some little centers…
We’re a Charlotte Mason homeschooling family, yet we enjoy learning history and science through unit studies. Can those two things go together? If you’re a Charlotte Mason purist, the answer is no. Remember, though, I’ve said for years that we are “eclectic Charlotte Mason homeschoolers with a dash of Classical education and unit studies thrown…
Eli and I have just begun our ancient history studies for the year – and I’m very glad to report that I might have another history lover on my hands! This post contains affiliate links. Oh, how I have missed Story of the World.ย It’s just such a well-rounded program.ย The living text, narration questions,…
My little man and I just finished a Creation-based dinosaur unit study that led to some amazing rabbit trail learning!ย What started out as a great “boy topic” to end 2nd grade with a bang, turned into so much more.ย And, without my pre-planning, it’s given him a great foundational understanding of events leading up…
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 six weeks, our Colonial History…
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