How to do a unit study (copy)
by Kym Wright, Charity Lovelace and Felice Gerwitz Authors and Homeschool Moms
This article is based on questions we receive about planning unit studies. While The Mother’s Heart magazine is not solely devoted to homeschooling nor the unit study method — these are the ways we school, so we will share our wisdom. I have invited two friends who are unit study authors to share their views, also. Charity Lovelace (no longer pens “Useful Units”) and Felice Gerwitz authors “Media Angels Science” units. Charity has two sons, and Felice has five children.
Sue, a reader, wrote: “I want to start by thanking you again for such a wonderful magazine, though I would call it a ministry! Your publication is such a blessing. It is helping me learn what being a wife and mother is really all about. I am a unit study maker, too, but it seems to take so much planning ahead. I get frustrated when I get into a study or a novel and find things that would be good to add to the study, but can’t fit in because of the schedule, plans already made, or lack of time to get the resources in time. I am trying to find some ways to fine-tune my system to cut down on the planning time. I get so immersed in the planning sometimes that I don’t want to study it anymore when I am done! So some of my many questions on planning are . . . “
How far in advance do you plan your studies?
Kym: First, thank you for the compliments on the magazine. I’m grateful God is using our efforts to encourage others and to draw them closer to Him. And you are so right, this is a precious ministry.
I have a general course of study through the high school years, but like to plan for one school year at a time, and give room to encourage the child’s areas of interest. Since we have all age levels, I’ve quit doing all our unit studies together, but will have 2 or 3 units planned in detail, with the curricula and accessories bought for the other units for the entire year.
Charity: I have our unit topics already selected all the way through high school graduation. They are selected to follow the scope and sequence I have set for our children, predominantly in the areas of science and history. The actual planning of them I do a year at a time in the late summer while husband and the boys are out on their yearly, lengthy camping/hunting trip. I plan in detail the first two or three units and then rough out the rest. The remainder are then further planned on about a quarterly basis. As needed, my husband sets up a “teacher planning session” for me. He’ll take the boys out on extended day trips several days in a row to enable me to have the time I need to plan.
Felice: Minimum time: 6-8 weeks before, usually up to a year because we plan far ahead to allow us to gather materials, unless I am using a pre-made unit study.
I usually have a one year plan, made in the spring or summer, before the homeschool conventions which we attend. That way we have an idea of the books we may want to purchase or look at for purchase later in the year. For high school we had a four year plan and constantly refined it. Took out or added subjects as the need arose, while keeping to the basics we wanted to cover. For example, an opportunity came along to do an in-depth Archaeology unit, which is a big interest of my daughter’s, so we traded out her Debate Class and plugged in Archaeology. I think flexibility is very possible if you have a basic schedule.
How much of the material do you read in advance to make your plans?
Kym: Since we use many resources for each unit, I read enough to know where to fit everything in. I’m fascinated with learning, so I enjoy it. I usually go through the selected units first, to get a feel for the outline and goals. Then I gather the hands-on lab materials (the fun stuff!). Next are the books, which I read through for clarity and any questionable information (evolution, bad attitudes, etc.).
Charity: Enough to give me foundational knowledge on the subject. I study until I am confident that I could lecture on the subject and field questions without difficulty. When I have an oral presentation to give the children, I study and make notes the night before.
Felice: Skim most of it, no in-depth reading. Part of the fun of home education for me has been learning with my kids. I think parents feel they have to be super-prepared and have every question answered ahead of time. In my view, that isn’t true. Even in my experience as a school teacher we didn’t have all the answers. If a child came up with a very good question that I didn’t have the answer for, I’d send him to the library with a pass and ask him to research it, then come back and tell the class! Why not use this technique for homeschoolers? My kids loved to stump me when they were little. We’d all look up the answers together, or they’d take questions and research and tell mom and dad what they learned after supper. Great memories!
How do you handle the surprise subjects that present themselves?
Kym: I usually keep us on track, but let the children follow “rabbit trails” on their own time. Life happens, but we are not “field trip junkies.” We use field trips sparingly, and usually go with just our family, rather than with a homeschool group (one advantage of having a large family!). We try to stick with the plans and on schedule. “Winging it” doesn’t work well with seven children in school, so I plan well.
Charity: It is only natural and a Good Thing (to quote Martha Stewart) that our studies will breed an interest in various side topics. We do not pursue them together as that will result in constant chasing of bunny trails and the assigned subject would never get covered. We encourage the boys to do independent, self-education on subjects that interest them, but are not on the scope and sequence. My older son (12 -year-old) is becoming quite adept at research and spends hours reading on subjects of personal interest to him. He is currently reading Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (5 volumes!) as a result of an interest spawned by our group studies.
Or add something not on the schedule?
Charity: Don’t do this that often. We have a rigorous scope and sequence and too many diversions means we don’t make needed progress. If kids want to pursue something extra, that is done during their ”independent learning” hours — meaning after group and teacher-led sessions and after all school work for the day is completed. We do extra things on the weekend — a good video I came across or an art project.
Felice: I am flexible. I often add things not on our schedule, or refine by taking out something that is not as valuable. For example, if a television special comes up on the history station, we fit it in. Don’t think you have to do everything. One of the wonderful things about units is that you can do them again later on as your child gets older — perhaps a more in-depth study.
Then what do you do with a fifth grader who wants to learn about the subject but balks at doing the work and won’t do it on their own unless asked?
Kym: I observe to discern if there is a learning problem or an attitude problem.
Charity: If a child really wants to learn, they’ll do the work. A parent can enable self-directed learning by making sure the child knows how to find resources, that the home has a good library and that the parents themselves are enthusiastic learners modeling a life-style of ongoing education. My husband gives both boys a “book budget” that is to be used to purchase books on specific topics that interest them, but are not in our lesson plans. This has really spurred them on to independent learning. Over dinner or while riding in the car, we discuss what they are learning during their independent learning times. A child cannot be academically ”spoon-fed” their entire lives. At some point they must assume initiative and responsibility for their own learning. We noticed this occurring in our older son between the ages 10-12 and are just starting to see signs of it occurring in our younger son, age 9.
Felice: I don’t put up with attitudes. Long ago I learned that it is one of the #1 causes of “Mommy Burn Out.” Who has the energy to teach if they are wrestling with their children to do the work?
We taught our children obedience in school work... (constantly learning and refining, not completely there yet!) — that when Mom says we are doing it, we are doing it. One of the things I teach my little ones (4 and up) that even if they complain about not doing some type of task, after a disciplinary action, they still had to do the task. Nothing changed. They catch on quickly. With older children, allowing them to help with the planning is always a good idea where feasible.
How much time do you spend researching for resources (library, internet, catalogs, etc.)?
Kym: I spend loads of time researching. I want more than enough information and resources. Charity says to plan more than you can possibly do, so you can fill in if something else isn’t working, or if you finish too quickly. I over-plan, but don’t overdo.
Charity: Hours and hours. Honestly. But I consider it part of my job as parent and educator. I learn so much myself that it is actually no great burden. Sometimes I will assign some of the research to my older son. For instance, he is extremely knowledgable about military history, so I assign the coverage of those topics to him.
Felice: Several weeks off and on. The Lord is so gracious, I usually pray before researching and things seem to come together quickly. Prayer is important when researching to weed out the junk. You don’t have to read every child’s book or adult’s book before you teach it. It shouldn’t take too long if you are not trying to teach yourself the entire subject. Just gather resources, put together an outline and schedule, then go for it!
Are you planning for another unit while you are in the midst of the current one?
Kym: Yes, I always have the next one planned before we’re finished. With 7 children in school, we don’t take weeks off without schooling. I found that keeping them on schedule is easier than entertaining them or letting them run free for a week, then trying to regain the schedule. My early morning hours are used for planning, as is my time after nap but before the littlies awaken. I snatch minutes and work on one unit until I’ve studied, planned and covered it.
Charity: I plan the first quarter at the end of the summer and the other quarters where husband and I make the time. I like to be at least a quarter ahead of the upcoming units. I do not do well working on the next unit while presenting the current unit. Neither unit gets the attention it needs. I find I have to have them prepared in advance so I can be free to simply teach.
Felice: I keep files for good ideas in various subject areas. When ideas come along and we are not studying them yet, I may print it out (internet web site, etc.) and stick it in the file for another time.
Do you take a short break between units to plan?
Charity: We take a break to clear the air a bit before moving on to a new subject. Maybe a week or two between units. I do my photocopying and last minute stuff during this time.
Felice: I never have, this doesn’t work for me. Some have used Kathleen Julicher’s One Week Off units... but I plow through school all year long except for long breaks at Christmas, and perhaps a spring break. We like to have our summers to study fun stuff and have fun in general, lots of mini-trips etc.
Are your units tied into all your subjects or do you keep them focused only on the main subject? For instance, do you plan writing assignments, activities, research projects, math application, vocabulary, famous people, dictations, art, music, poetry, etc. into each unit OR do you keep it simple with just covering the objectives of learning about the subject.
Kym: My
definition of unit studies answers this well: The basic concept of unit
studies is using one topic or literary selection to incorporate the majority of
school subjects, especially: science, history, social studies and geography,
writing, art and reading. Most times, math and grammar concepts are studied
separately from the unit, but can be practiced within its context. I don’t try
to do everything in each unit, but if a child is weak in some area, I try to
incorporate that. And I have a list of areas to cover, but do not include them
all in each study. Barb Shelton’s book
Charity: Our main purpose is mastery of the topic. When possible and applicable — without being “fluff” — we add in the things you mention. We tend to do mostly posters, flow charts, writing assignments, research reports, oral reports, book reports and memory work. Math is infrequently included, but sometimes occurs. For example, during a recent study of simple machines we calculated mechanical advantages using the appropriate algorithms.
Felice: When they were younger we did all subjects as unit studies until grade 3 when we introduced a math curriculum and separate spelling and grammar. Many times, anything else is overkill with kids and parents getting burned out. Either you’re doing a unit or not. I’ve heard of people using my units just for science, and that is fine, but they were designed to use as an all-subject integrated unit. The only time I could see it being used just as a science text would be for high school with college-bound kids where they need a good “Creation Science Apologetics” course.
Burning out on a subject before teaching it...
Kym: I did this with only one unit. I had studied Botany for 11 years, then had written an outline for Chantelle to study from. That style didn’t work for her, so I made lab sheets. That helped, but wasn’t enough. Finally, I wrote the whole Botany Unit for her. Then we moved and started studying Botany with everyone. Then within a few months, we moved again. By the time we were on the final lessons, I’d been working with Botany for too long! But, that was the exception. I love learning, so I enjoy our units.
Charity: I haven’t experienced this. I usually find my preparatory studies extremely interesting. We do experience burn out if we stay too long on a subject. For example, we spent almost 4 months on Oceanography and were thoroughly tired of the subject by unit’s end.
Felice: Perhaps plan in the summer and teach it later in the year? Planning usually gets me excited about teaching the subject.
And, lastly, how do you make school fun?
Kym: I used to hate this question, because I don’t think in terms of school having to be fun. But, I finally realized what folks were asking - how do I incorporate the hands-on and field trips? Where do I find the resources, how do I decide what to use? And how do I make it come alive, so there is an interest in studying it?
When we first homeschooled, I was strictly a textbook mom ... except for a unit I did with “Carly & Friends” (the name my children called my dear friend and her kiddos). We studied plants on a first grade level learning, among other things, the names of the different leaf shapes. My children remember to this day — which impressed me that perhaps textbooks weren’t helping them to actually “learn” the material, but just to pass the test. Eventually, I made my way back to unit studies.
For science, we experiment. We work with chemicals for chemistry, dissect for biology, garden and work with real plants for botany (along with microscope work), catch and display insects for entomology, work with rocks for geology, etc. I order kits from science and homeschool catalogs. I research ways to introduce the material on their level, in interesting ways that make it come alive.
History becomes real when we study people, read novels, learn about the dress of the period, understand the world and “wisdom” of the day, make timelines, discuss relevant issues.
Other topics follow these same ideas. I love projects, kits, FunSheetsTM (fun, interesting and informative lab sheets).
Felice: Stay away from using strictly textbooks and workbooks. Texts are great for references, if you need to look up information, or perhaps to explain a particular subject on a “kid’s” level. Yet, I have found that the kids who ”complain” about school are those who do very few hands-on activities.
For example, if you were teaching about colors, perhaps... the primary colors mixed together form other colors. And if I went into great detail telling the child which colors you can mix to form other colors, he would be bored. Most parents would never consider teaching art solely from a book. Of course, give them paint and let them mix and experiment and write their observations.... so too with the other subjects.
Look at expanding upon whatever subject you are teaching by implementing a ”hands-on” approach no matter the age. It can be on a deeper level than what they have read or studied. Let me share some examples.
Math: little ones’ manipulatives... many times math can be incorporated into a unit study for younger children.
Literature: read, draw, dramatize... older children can have literature discussion groups (my daughter is a member of a small homeschool group that meets two evenings a month and they have read American Lit. classics and now are reading World Lit. classics).
Science: experiments, dissections, nature journals, walks, etc.
History: similar to literature... read, draw, dramatize.
Geography: draw, make salt maps, use clay to form geologic formations. Take a field trip. Many organizations welcome homeschoolers. Or take a virtual field trip without leaving home. There are many great sites on the internet, but please use strict parental supervision. You can do a keyword search on search engines to find sites before the children spend time on the internet.
Conclusion: Hope you can fit these ideas into your units, and that our answers have helped you find the way that works for you. No two homeschool mommies teach the same, schedule the same, have the same goals, children and constraints. But, the Lord is intimately aware of our lives and wants to help us be successful in this venture. Pray, seek, research, plan and just do it!
Unit Study Q&A
From a new homeschooler: The idea behind doing a unit study is to save time (partially the idea anyway) by involving different aged kids and the mom is covering one area of study, instead of running back and forth from kids to kid. Is this correct?
I am thinking since my daughter likes to work on her own, maybe I should use the classical approach. But, I also think she needs to do more hands-on stuff. Being a producer rather than a consumer, make things and write; rather than use and read. Does this make sense? Brenda, a newbie
Hello, Brenda,
Welcome to the world of unit studies. We were all newbies to begin with. What you are asking makes perfect sense, and is one of the reasons homeschool parents turn to unit studies as their approach to teaching their children. As a long-time homeschooler, author of unit studies, and a believer in the approach, I’d love to share a bit about unit studies.
First, one of the main goals of this approach is to make learning cohesive, not fragmented into different subjects and time periods. Another goal is to make learning memorable (not just fun, but re-member-able), not just memorized for a test. Another benefit of working on unit studies together is the family unity which comes from it. Here is a link to an article I wrote many years ago for Mary Pride’s Practical Homeschooling magazine - on just that topic. http://www.home-school.com/Articles/phs18-kymwright.html
At first, the planning and “doing” of a unit study might be more work - just because it’s new and you need to find your way of doing them. I could tell you many great stories on how this method of learning helped my children remember things - even years later - that they hadn’t learned while doing a more traditional (textbook) approach.
My advice is to try one or two units over the summer - things your children are interested in. We have plenty of unit studies to choose from: Birds, Color, Turtles, Sheep, Poultry, Goats, Microscope, Photography – just pursue the interest of the child.
Remember, the basic concept of unit studies is using one topic or literary selection to incorporate the majority of school subjects, especially: science, history, social studies and geography, writing, art and reading. Most times, math and grammar concepts are studied separately from the unit, but can be practiced within its context. There are primarily three ways to obtain unit studies: use what is available on the market, heavily customize one that you find, or write your own.
Anyway, if you have other questions, just ask, and I’ll try to answer them. If you’d like, you can view our unit studies at: www.learn-and-do.com Kym Wright
“This article excerpted from Booster Shot: Energize Your Homeschool with Unit Studies by Kym Wright. Dr. Mike Smith, Esquire, co-founder of HSLDA comments about Booster S hot, “Outstanding explanation of unit studies. . . tremendously enlightening. . . Unit studies are a great way for both parents to join in on the learning process.” You can read more about the book and order it by clicking here: Booster Shot.”