Homeschooling Method: Unit Study

Unit Studies are a great educational approach to homeschooling because they incorporate multiple subject areas into one thematic topic. 

In this article, we’ll discuss what the Unit Study method of homeschooling entails, the pros and cons of it, and resources to help you begin.

First off, let’s get started by understanding the basics of unit studies.

To learn even more about various homeschooling approaches, check out 10 Different Homeschooling Methods You Need to Know.

What is the Unit Study Method of Homeschooling?

The Unit Study homeschool method is a pedagogy used by homeschool parents who want their children to learn deeply rather than merely memorize information. 

Unit studies take a topic and integrate lessons from different disciplines – such as math, science, history, language arts, and so on — into one cohesive project.

This method of homeschooling is an excellent way for students to study and learn what they are interested in. Parents can take any topic that fascinates their kids and create a comprehensive unit study covering a variety of subjects with multi-modal learning approaches, hands-on activities, field trips, and more.

An added benefit of homeschooling using the unit study method is that subjects are not limited to learning at home. Students and parents can visit museums, historic sites, and libraries to enhance their studies. 

This method may be right for your family if you desire a fun and creative way to incorporate a variety of subjects into one unit of study.

What Are the Pros?

• An excellent option for those with multiple children (less work on your part!)
• Incorporates multiple learning modalities
• Encourages children to research their topics of interest
• Shows the interconnectedness of subjects and ideas
• Lots of free and paid ready-made resources to utilize when planning a unit (no need to reinvent the wheel!)
• Field trips are an essential part of unit studies
• Very affordable method of homeschooling
• Can use notebooks and lapbooks as a sort of creative portfolio
• Depending on the theme, units tend to be short, focused studies of about 3-6 weeks.

What Are the Cons?

• It can take a lot of advanced research and planning on your part
• Not every unit will seamlessly cover all subject areas
• Because of the above, knowledge gaps can occur if not supplemented properly
• Not a great fit for families that seek more structure and well-defined routines

Recommended Resources

Books

1. Everything You Need to Know about Homeschool Unit Studies
2. How to Create Your Unit Study
3. Rigorous Curriculum Design: How to Create Curricular Units of Study

Blogs

1. Blog, She Wrote
2. The Waldock Way
3. My Little Poppies

Podcasts

• Homeschool Mentor Moments: Unit Studies Made Easy
• The Homeschool Connection: Unit Studies
• The Homeschool Project Podcast: Unit Studies and Homeschooling an Only
• The Coop Homeschool: Unit Studies
• A Heart for All Students: Unit Studies in Homeschool Curriculum

Youtube Channels

• The Waldock Way
• The Oglesby Ohana: 3 Simple Steps to Make a Unit Study
• The Eclectic Homeschooler: How to Create a Unit Study
• Raising A to Z: How to Build a Unit Studies in 6 Simple Steps

Popular Curricula & Teaching Materials

• Unit Study.com
• Discover Unit Studies
• Techie Homeschool Mom
• Homeschool Share
• Build Your Library
• Around the World with Picture Books
• My Little Poppies Lazy Unit Study course
• Crafty in ME! – Comprehesive free unit studies list
• Teachers Pay Teachers
• Amazon
• Notebooking
• Lapbooks
• The Library

Homeschool Groups

• Unit Studies Homeschool
• Homeschool Unit Studies and Ideas
• Secular Unit Studies & Homeschool Baskets
• Homeschool Simplified – Simple Unit Studies for Busy Families
• Unit Studies

Final Thoughts

Unit studies are a great way to get your children excited about learning and exploring new topics. 

And, because they integrate different subject areas into one thematic topic, you can be confident that the information learned will not only stick but also lead to more curiosity for other subjects down the line! 

If this sounds like an exciting approach for your homeschooling journey, let me know!

And if you’re interested in learning about other homeschooling approaches, don’t forget to check out my blog post, 10 Different Homeschooling Methods You Need to Know.

What homeschooling method do you think would be best for your child? Let me know!

Xuan Klevecka is a Southern California-based homeschool mom, wife, and sometimes purveyor of vintage goods. She’s an Enneagram 5w4, a lover of good food, and a former middle school history teacher. You’ll either find her looking at road maps and daydreaming about her family’s next epic adventure or perusing recipes and cooking up a feast for the brood.