| Regardless of what methodology you normally | | | | one of these items in every unit study that you |
| use for your homeschool, unit studies can provide | | | | write, you should have your child write something |
| you with a nice break from the norm sometimes. | | | | about the topic. A great suggestion here would be |
| They are especially nice whenever you're trying | | | | to have your child read a book about the topic |
| to teach your child(ren) to think a little more | | | | then write a narrative telling you about what he |
| about how the different parts of life actually fit | | | | she read in the book.(3.) Science - Sometimes a |
| together, and they can also give you a break | | | | unit study lends itself quite easily to science, but |
| whenever you're faced with the doldrums.So, how | | | | other times you'll find yourself having to work a |
| do you decide what subjects to persue whenever | | | | little bit harder. For instance, a unit study on bugs |
| you're ready to do a unit study? Well, take a look | | | | will let you off the hook since the entire unit |
| at your child and see what he/she is deeply | | | | study is about science. However, if you are doing |
| interested in. Those are the subjects to pursue | | | | a unit study about ancient Egypt then you may |
| with your unit studies. Another way to decide | | | | need to take some time to look at the creations |
| what would make a great unit study is to look | | | | of the Egyptian engineers, study mummification, |
| through your year's studies and notice if there are | | | | think about ancient medicine, or consider the tools |
| any "holes" in subject matter that you think | | | | that the Egyptians used to do their work.(4.) |
| should be filled. Once you find that "hole," you can | | | | Social Studies or Geography - This may be your |
| find a unit study on that topic, and take a week | | | | main topic, but if it isn't, then you'll need to work |
| or two to teach it. For instance, if your child finds | | | | some information into your topic. Some questions |
| black holes fascinating, but your science text book | | | | that can help you here include: Where was your |
| covers them in just a paragraph or two, then | | | | topic first seen or invented? What culture |
| there is the perfect opportunity to do a unit | | | | surrounded the time or event? Where did this |
| study on astronomy.Once you've figured out | | | | take place? You may also want to learn more |
| what you'd like to do a unit study on, all you need | | | | about the people of that time period and place.(5.) |
| is a little time and creativity, and you can create | | | | Art - Take time to draw, build, act, design or |
| your own unit studies. Assembling your own | | | | create. You could design a Roman mosaic, sketch |
| curriculum around one topic sounds difficult, but if | | | | an insect's genetic makeup, build a temple from |
| this wasn't the case, then educational companies | | | | clay or LEGOs, create a tapestry to illustrate the |
| such as "Teacher Created Materials" wouldn't | | | | unit that you're studying (felt shapes work for |
| publish and sell as many great unit studies as they | | | | quick tapestries when needlepoint takes way too |
| do.There are 2 main drawbacks to designing your | | | | long), or paint the flowers that you're learning |
| own unit studies. First of all, it takes time. If | | | | about.(6.) Music - Sometimes music fits into a unit |
| you're a busy parent, this could be enough of a | | | | study nicely. For instance, you could always listen |
| reason to take a trip to your nearest teachers' | | | | to some folk music while you explore the civil |
| supply store with your credit card in hand. | | | | unrest of the 1960s. However, if you're studying |
| Secondly, it may require access to a couple of | | | | something more scientific, then you may need to |
| grade-level subject books (ie science, language | | | | work a little harder to fit music into that unit |
| arts, or math) so that you know which skills are | | | | study.(7.) History - Adding history to a unit study |
| typically covered at a particular grade level. If you | | | | should be relatively easy, regardless of the topic. |
| have a good library with an educational books | | | | You could simply research when an event began |
| department, then you may also have the perfect | | | | or an item was invented or you could talk about |
| excuse to spend a long Saturday with a pocket | | | | the events and times that affected an item's |
| full of change at the library with a stack of books. | | | | inventor.(8.) Physical Education - Here again, you |
| Another idea is that if you have a good set of | | | | may need to be a bit creative. However, when |
| Internet research skills, you can spend your | | | | you discover that physical education fits into your |
| Saturday tucked away at home.Now that we see | | | | unit study, then you should definitely use it! For |
| the drawbacks, what are the benefits of a unit | | | | instance, if you're studying the ancient Greeks, |
| study? You can teach whatever your heart | | | | then you could run footraces like they did.If you're |
| desires. Plus, if you decide to create your own | | | | still not certain what to do for your very first unit |
| unit study, you'll find that it is cheaper and more | | | | study, try "following" your child(ren) around for a |
| economical than tracking down a pre-made unit | | | | couple days and watch what they do. For |
| study. Furthermore, nobody knows your child as | | | | instance, if your child spends all of his/her time |
| well as you do, and therefore nobody can prepare | | | | engrossed in books, then think about a |
| a unit study for your child as well as you | | | | literature-based unit study (ie how books are |
| can.Whenever you're creating your own unit | | | | made). On the other hand, your child may spend |
| study, you need to keep in mind that your unit | | | | his/her time outside digging for rocks. Then why |
| study needs to cover all of the subjects that | | | | not do an archeology or rocks and minerals unit |
| you'd normally teach, unless you plan to skip a | | | | study?Of course, there are some topics that you |
| specific subject and keep working through your | | | | can use numerous times as your child(ren) grows |
| regular curriculum for that subject. However, to | | | | older. These include:(1.) Animals, horses, or |
| create a complete unit study, you need to include | | | | mammals(2.) Baseball, basketball, fencing, or |
| the first 2 subjects from the following list and as | | | | sports in general(3.) Cooking or catering (which |
| many of the other subjectss as you can logically | | | | may include business and economics |
| fit in there too. Now for the list:(1.) Math - You | | | | information)(4.) Kites(5.) Flight(6.) Transportation(7.) |
| need to create math problems at your child's level. | | | | Weather(8.) Historical cultures (ie medieval history, |
| For instance, if you're working with a young child | | | | ancient Egypt, etc.)The spark of a unit study is lit |
| on a unit study about baseball, then you can | | | | whenever your child(ren) mentions an interest. |
| practice addition with bats and balls, write a story | | | | Whenever they do, you need to write it down |
| problem that talks about number of pitches | | | | somewhere. Keep a running list of interests and |
| thrown until the team reached the final out, etc. | | | | you'll soon have more than you'll know what to |
| However, older children would need something | | | | do with. However, even if your child only shows a |
| that is more on their level. For instance, you may | | | | deep interest in one or two topics, you should |
| discuss the speed of the bat, distance the ball | | | | take time to explore those. You may discover |
| travels, or the number of hot dogs that individual | | | | that you're able to create several unit studies |
| team fans eat.(2.) Language Arts - This area | | | | based on the first one as new interests are |
| includes reading, comprehension, grammar and | | | | developed. |
| writing skills. While you don't need to include every | | | | |