Are you going down the curriculum and planning rabbit hole again?
Maybe you’re worn out from a curriculum that isn’t quite as open and go as you hoped.
Perhaps you want to add more topics and can’t quite figure out where you’ll find the time!
Or, you have a friend(or 5) using a different scheduling approach.
Sure, maybe it is time for a new approach. But that doesn’t mean investing in an entirely new curriculum.
There are many ways to homeschool your children; one popular option is using unit studies. You’re in the right place if you’re unsure when, how, or why to use a unit study.
What is a Unit Study?
A unit study is a themed approach to learning that integrates several subject areas around a central topic or idea.
— Look at how we build a unit study around Marie Curie —
This can be a great way to simplify your homeschool planning while tapping into your child’s interests and providing them with hands-on learning experiences.
In formal learning environments, this is often associated with interdisciplinary studies.
The Top 10 Benefits of Using Unit Studies in Your Homeschool
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1. Simplify Scheduling and Save Time
Unit studies are a great way to simplify your homeschool planning and scheduling.
Because the same topic is being studied in multiple subject areas, you can plan for longer blocks.
You’ll devote your learning to one topic instead of jumping from one subject to another or spending lots of time flipping between different books and websites.
For example, you might cover art, geography, area wildlife, and other science in one lesson rather than separating them into three lessons.
2. Encourage Deeper Learning
Unit studies allow your child to dive deeper into topics and learn more in-depth material. They will better understand the connections between various subjects by studying the same material and thoughts through different lenses.
Get a feel for how we explore the topic in our Alaska Unit Study.
This can also help children see how seemingly unrelated areas are connected.
3. Give Context To Content
Who wants to remember all the facts and figures?
With unit studies, students can make connections between related topics by taking a broader approach. We use living books as the core of our unit studies often.
This helps students retain information better and understand how certain content fits into the larger picture.
4. Tap into Student Interests
When you have a kiddo that is massively interested in one subject or naturally adept in one core area, unit studies help to bridge the skill and interest gaps.
Suppose, for example, that you’re kiddo loves art or science but struggles with history and geography.
Incorporating everything together adds interest to the less favored subjects.
5. Promote Critical Thinking Skills
Unit studies encourage critical thinking as students look for patterns, draw connections, and decide on the most vital information.
Even more so when the unit study includes research.
Instead of simply reading and memorizing information, students are encouraged to think about how the content fits into their more robust understanding and conclusions.
6. Integrate Multiple Learning Styles
Unit studies allow children to explore topics through media such as books, videos, experiments, art projects, simulations, field trips, and more.
Material is accessible to all types of learners—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—and can help keep everyone engaged for extended periods.
7. Support Family Bonding
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Do you have multiple ages in your homeschool? Unit studies are a great way to bring your family together in learning. It’s fun for everyone to learn and explore a topic together.
Plus, older children can help younger ones understand the content better when they work on it as a family.
Overall, unit studies are an excellent way to make homeschooling more organized, efficient, and fun.
Whether you’re just starting with homeschooling or looking for a new approach.
It makes learning more fun and engaging for your kids while also helping you save time and energy in the long run.
8. Integrate Learning With Life Experiences
Unit studies are a great way to integrate learning with life experiences.
You’ll use everyday events and outings as material for your unit study and help your child see how topics are relevant to them in their present lives.
9. Encourage Student Ownership
Unit studies are a great way to encourage student ownership of learning.
Your children can take the lead in researching and exploring topics. They can also help set goals and become more invested in education because they have a say over what knowledge is being acquired.
You’ll help them build self-confidence and responsibility as learners, which will stay with them.
10. Explore Non-Traditional Topics
Are you trying to fit religious studies, art history, and early literacy into your curriculum? Unit studies provide the opportunity to explore these non-traditional topics.
Introducing these topics as part of a unit study, they become more meaningful and engaging for students.
Making connections between them and the core academic subjects is also easier.
Bonus: Make Learning More Fun
As a bonus reason, unit studies are just plain fun!
Incorporating various activities and experiences into your learning helps keep kids engaged, interested, and motivated.
You’ll get messy and creative while customizing the type of content to fit your family’s needs without sacrificing quality.
Using Unit Studies in Your Homeschool
Unit studies are an excellent way to make homeschooling more organized, efficient, and fun.
It helps students dive deeper into topics while allowing them to explore the material through different mediums.
Critical thinking skills and student ownership of learning are encouraged while fostering family bonding.
Download a Free Dusty Rose Homeschool Planner
Related Reading
Looking for more homeschool planning resources? Try these:
- Ignite the Power of Preparation When Homeschooling
- Getting Organized With Habit Trackers In Your Homeschool
- How to Create Adjectives Activities for 2nd Grade Homeschool
- Dive Deep: Explore an Exciting Under the Sea Unit Study
—Don’t Forget to Save This For Later—
