Unit Study Method

The unit study approach takes a theme or topic as a subject of study for a block of time, anywhere from a day to a month or six weeks – as long as the student’s interest holds. Unit studies are very flexible, and can be utilized to some degree with most methods of home education. In an unschooling approach, the child may choose an area of interest for his study, and then receive guidance from the parent. In a traditional approach, the parent could create a unit that corresponds to the sequence of the teaching; perhaps a unit on castles and knights when the history curriculum reaches that period.

In any case, the unit study ideal is to cover all areas of the curriculum within that topic, showing how all information, all education, and all of life is integrated, not artificially broken up into “subjects.” For example:

Subject: Electricity

Science – atoms, electrons, magnetism, how electricity is generated, water power, electrical storms
History – Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison
Language Arts – outlines and summaries of reading, corrected for grammar and spelling, new vocabulary; creative writing
Economics, Math – electrical bills, electricians
Geography – locations of rivers and reservoirs
Practical knowledge – how a house is wired, how a light switch works
Art – the beauty of a city lit up at night

Subject: Spiders

Science – arachnids, scientific classifications, different kinds of spiders and webs, medical uses of spider web, habitats of spiders
History – the story of Robert the Bruce and the spider, with historical background
Language Arts – the Greek myth of Arachne, the African stories of Anansi the spider, writing a myth or a folk tale (also geography), new vocabulary
Geography – locations of different kinds of spiders, habitats of spiders
Practical knowledge – beneficial spiders, spiders in gardens
Art – dew-covered spider webs, nature walks to observe and draw spiders

Activities can include field trips, cooking special meals, any variety of crafts and projects, interviews with specialists in the field, and numerous trips to the library.

Unit studies are helpful when teaching multiple grade levels. Any unit study topic can usually be easily adjusted (from an 8th grader doing a detailed and labeled drawing of a spider’s anatomy to a 2nd grader drawing a picture of a spider on its web). Because of their flexibility, unit studies can also accommodate different learning styles.

For more information and resources:

Free unit studies on this site

http://www.unitstudy.com/articles/unit_study_101.htm

http://www.designastudy.com/teaching/tips-070806.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8259/unitstud.html

And last but not least:

How many Unit Study Method homeschoolers does it take to change a light bulb?

Before beginning the study, mom contacts HSDLA to see if there is a legal loophole to change a light bulb without first asking the local department of education.

She then contacts the co-op to see if there is enough interest to have a field trip to watch the changing of the light bulb.

The co-op then forms a committee to determine whether this is a homeschooling or unschooling type of activity.

Then, mom checks three books on electricity out of the library, then the kids make models of light bulbs, read a biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based on his life.

Next, everyone studies the history of lighting methods, wrapping up with dipping their own candles.

Next, everyone takes a trip to the store where they compare types of light bulbs as well as prices and figure out how much change they'll get if they buy two bulbs for $1.99 and pay with a five dollar bill.

On the way home, a discussion develops over the history of money and also Abraham Lincoln, as his picture is on the five dollar bill.

Finally, after building a homemade ladder out of branches dragged from the woods, the light bulb is installed.

And there is light.

So the answer is: No less than 5.

Methods of Homeschooling:
A Thomas Jefferson Education | Charlotte Mason Method | Classical Education | Unschooling | Eclectic | Traditional Homeschooling | Unit Study Approach