If you’re like most homeschoolers, you’ve recently started your school year or will be starting it soon. But regardless of the time of year, there may be a place for unit studies in your homeschool.
We combined a trip to visit grandparents with Will’s interest in Ancient Egypt and a visit to the Milwaukee Public Museum. Terry, Christina (2) and Will (7), 1992.
For many homeschool families, unit studies (themes or topics that integrate a range of subjects and learning styles) play an essential role. Even though my kids are grown now, I don’t think my family could imagine homeschooling without unit studies. For us, unit studies were a way to bring a subject to life through living books rather than textbooks and a way to add hands-on activities to to any subject.
Some families aren’t comfortable using unit studies all the time but use them as a break from their regular schooling when they want to add some excitement or delve into a special area of interest for their child.
If you find that a traditional learning style doesn’t work for your child or family or just want to change things up a bit every now and then, you might want to consider unit studies.
Why Use Unit Studies?
Unit studies work well for multi-level learning. You can often read books or do activities together when the book or activity will work for more than one age. Otherwise, you can work on complementary activities on the same topic, allowing the younger child to feel a part of the unit. Like Montessori education, unit studies naturally encourage cooperation and older children helping younger children.
Our homeschool had lots of reading, sometimes even in a treehouse. Christina (2) and Will (7), 1992.
Unit studies use library books or books you’ve purchased on a particular topic rather than textbooks. They’re often called “living” books – and they really do bring a topic to life much better than the condensed information presented in textbooks.
We used unit studies for science, social studies, art, music, literature, reading, health and safety, and religious education. Our unit studies didn’t cover math, phonics, grammar, or spelling, although we often did unit-based activities in those subjects as well.
Unit studies are interesting. They encourage creativity and learning through discovery. For the greatest interest and fastest learning, try an interest-based unit study centered around your child’s favorite topic at the time. But you can still follow your child’s natural tendencies even if your topic isn’t solely interest-based.
We used KONOS character-based unit studies. We would focus on a character trait such as attentiveness, responsibility, or courage. One year when we were studying orderliness, for example, we spent two weeks mainly focusing on planets and seasons, a week on sequencing and house construction, two weeks on animal classification, two weeks on plant classification, and a week on rock classification. During other units, we emphasized social-studies topics like settlers or the Revolutionary War or our nation’s government.
Of course, you don’t need to have unit studies based on character traits. You can just choose a particular topic and create activities based on that. For preschoolers, you can even center activities around seasonal themes. When Will was a preschooler, our Montessori activities weren’t theme-based except for Montessori-inspired holiday activities. Christina had some theme-based Montessori activities to fit in with our unit studies. Both ways worked wonderfully.
Retention of knowledge is better with unit studies.
Unit studies are much more effective than reading a textbook and memorizing information for a test. Both the interest and hands-on learning involved in unit studies increase retention of knowledge.
Will (14) and Christina (9) in the 16-foot walk-through heart at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, 1999. This inspired a mini unit on the heart.
Individualized- and hands-on learning fit well with unit studies. You can make your unit studies as hands-on as you wish. If your child or children prefer reading together or alone, you can allow extra time for that. You can adjust your unit studies for visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. You can use Montessori materials and activities that fit with a particular unit. When my children were a number of different ages, we brought out hands-on Montessori materials to add to our study of vertebrates and invertebrates, constellations, or whatever our topic was.
Whether you like field trips, traveling, learning through music, doing hands-on projects, or whatever you enjoy as a family, you can make it a part of your unit studies. In short, unit studies work well with the freedom of homeschooling – the freedom to fit your school to your home and your family.
Worries about Learning Gaps
Often parents’ biggest fear about unit studies is that there will be gaps in their children’s education. With all the knowledge available today, it’s impossible for there not to be gaps with any type of education. Even when I was going to school, we seemed to study the early explorers at the beginning of EVERY year. And I NEVER studied World War II until college – because we never got that far in the textbook!
Considering that no one can know everything, I felt most comfortable homeschooling my children with a greater amount of hands-on learning, reading books that were more interesting than textbooks, helping my children be more creative and develop analytical skills, and individualizing our learning style for my children. If I wanted to be sure we didn’t miss something, we would read a more thorough book on a particular topic.
Both Montessori education and KONOS use timelines, and we found that timelines really help tie everything together. I highly recommend timelines of historical events to fit everything into place – whether or not you’re using unit studies!
Posts with More about Our Use of Unit Studies:
How to Be a Relaxed Homeschooler
Unit Studies Posts by Theme:
If you’re interested in trying a unit study, here’s an alphabetical listing of theme-related posted I’ve published with lots of resources. (Alphabetized according to bold print – with some grouping of posts.) I add to this list as I publish new posts on unit studies.
Montessori-Inspired Heart and Circulatory System Activities and Montessori-Inspired Skeleton Activities (Anatomy)
Montessori-Inspired Apple Unit
Montessori-Inspired Arctic and Antarctic Unit
Montessori-Inspired Art Appreciation and Art Appreciation and Creation for Kids
Astronaut Unit, Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Activities, Montessori-Inspired Star and Constellation Unit, Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit, Montessori-Inspired Solar System Activities and World Space Week 2012 Blog Hop
Montessori-Inspired Autumn Leaf Unit
Montessori-Inspired Caterpillar-Butterfly Unit
Montessori-Inspired Cloud Unit, Montessori-Inspired Weather Unit, and Montessori-Inspired April Showers Activities
Talking with Children about 9/11 – Ideas and Activities (Community Helpers)
Free Counting Book Printable for Any Theme
Montessori-Inspired Dental Health Unit
Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit, Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Fun with Printables, Water Beads, and Glass Gems, Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Activities Using Dinosaur Replicas, and Make Fossils from Montessori at Home!
Dr. Seuss with a Touch of Montessori, Montessori-Inspired Dr. Seuss Activities, Montessori-Inspired One Fish, Two Fish Math Activities at PreK + K Sharing, Montessori-Inspired Lorax Activities, Cat in the Hat Practical Life Activities, 50+ Montessori-Inspired Dr. Seuss Activities
Montessori-Inspired Eric Carle Activities
Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities and Montessori-Inspired Fall Playdough Activities
Montessori Grammar Farm, Montessori-Inspired Farm Unit
Montessori-Inspired Frog Activities
Montessori-Inspired Fruit Unit
Activity of the Week – Friendship Flower Activities, Free Montessori Botany Materials for a Gardening Unit and Montessori-Inspired Gardening Unit.
Montessori-Inspired Insect Unit
Creating a Compassionate Unit Study on Japan and Natural Disasters
Little House on the Prairie Unit Study
Montessori-Inspired Activities Teaching about Money and Presidents
Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation, Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Peter and the Wolf, Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Swan Lake, Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Carnival of the Animals, and Montessori-Inspired Activities for the Tortoise and the Hare
Montessori-Inspired Ocean Unit, Montessori-Inspired Beach Language Activities, Montessori-Inspired Resources for World Ocean Day, and Montessori-Inspired Ocean Math Activities
Montessori-Inspired Olympic Opening Ceremony Activities, Montessori-Inspired Olympic Math Activities, and Montessori-Inspired Olympic Unit
Montessori-Inspired Patriotic Unit, Montessori-Inspired Fun with Golf Balls and Ping Pong Balls, Montessori-Inspired Memorial Day Activities, and Montessori-Inspired 4th of July Activities
Montessori-Inspired Photography for Kids and Go on a Smile Hunt with Your Child
Montessori-Inspired Poetry Activities
Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Unit
Montessori-Inspired Rainbow Activities
Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Spring Activities, Free Spring Printables and Montessori-Inspired Spring Math Activities, Montesori-Inspired Spring Playdough Activities, Montessori-Inspired Spring Themes and Activities
Montessori-Inspired Squirrel and Nut Activities and Outdoor Acorn Math Activities
Montessori-Inspired State Box – Colorado (Booking Across the USA)
Montessori-Inspired Teddy Bear Activities
Montessori-Inspired Transportation Unit
Montessori-Inspired Vegetable Unit
Montessori-Inspired Winter Activities, Montessori-Inspired Winter Playdough Activities, Montessori-Inspired Winter Math Activities, and 25+ Snow-Themed Sensory Tubs
Resources for a World Travel Unit Study, Continent Map Work, DIY Pin Maps, Montessori Continent Boxes, DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities, Montessori-Inspired Study of Africa, Montessori-Inspired State Box – Colorado
Montessori-Inspired Zoo Animal Unit and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Animal Unit (2012)
Unit Studies, Holidays, and Calendar Observances Organized by Monthly Themes
February Themed Activities for Kids, Montessori-Inspired Transferring Activities for February, Water Pouring and Water-Bead Pouring
March Themed Activities for Kids
April Themed Activities for Kids
Holiday-Themed Posts (Starting with New Year’s)
New Year’s: Starting and Nurturing New Year’s Traditions and Preparing for New Year’s Family Celebrations
Epiphany: Family Christmas Celebrations through Epiphany and Celebrating Epiphany with Your Child
Martin Luther King Day: Montessori-Inspiration for Martin Luther King Day, Montessori-Inspired Peace Education Activities, and How to Prepare a Peace Corner
Groundhog Day: Groundhog Day Activities for Your Classroom or Homeschool
Chinese New Year: Montessori-Inspired Chinese New Year Activities
President’s Day: Montessori-Inspired Activities Teaching about Money and Presidents, Montessori-Inspired President’s Day Activities, Free Presidents’ Day Printables and Montessori-Inspired Presidents’ Day Activities
Valentine’s Day: Turning Valentine Crafts into Montessori-Oriented Activities, Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Activities, Kindness Challenge #2 – Montessori-Inspired Kindness, Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Activities (2012), Montessori-Inspired Valentine Math Trays and Valentine Ideas Blog Hop, Montessori-Inspired Hundred Acts of Kindness Project, Homeschool Valentine’s Day, Montessori-Inspired Transferring Activities for February, Water Pouring and Water-Bead Pouring
St. Patrick’s Day: Homeschool St. Patrick’s Day, Montessori-Inspired St. Patrick’s Day Activities, Montessori-Inspired St. Patrick’s Day Activities (2012), Montessori-Inspired St. Patrick’s Day Math Activities at PreK + K Sharing, and 40+ St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tubs
Lent: Montessori-Based Lenten Activities and Homeschool Lent and Easter
Easter: Montessori-Inspired Easter Activities, Montessori-Inspired Easter Activities (2012), Free Spring Printables and Montessori-Inspired Spring Math Activities, and Homeschool Lent and Easter
Earth Day: Free 3-Part Recycle Cards, Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Activities, Montessori-Inspired Activities for Earth Day Every Day, Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Activities (2012), Montessori-Inspired Lorax Activities, Free Earth Day Printables and Activities, and Montessori Inspired Arbor Day Activities
Arbor Day: Montessori-Inspired Arbor Day Activities
Mother’s Day: Montessori-Inspired Mother’s Day and Montessori-Inspired Mother’s Day (2012)
Memorial Day: Montessori-Inspired Memorial Day Activities
Flag Day: Kids’ Flag Day Activities on Pinterest
Father’s Day: Montessori-Inspired Father’s Day, Talking with Children about Death: Creating an “I Remember” Book (with free printables for children who’ve had a special male relative die and for children from military families and other families separated by distance), and Montessori-Inspired Father’s Day (2012)
4th of July: Child-Led Patriotism, Montessori-Inspired Fun with Golf Balls and Ping Pong Balls, Montessori-Inspired Patriotic Unit, and Montessori-Inspired 4th of July Activities
Halloween: Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Activities, Homeschool Halloween, Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Unit, Montessori-Inspired Halloween Activities, Halloween Grace and Courtesy, Montessori-Inspired Friendly Ghost Activities, Montessori-Inspired Halloween Activities (2012), Montessori-Inspired Skeleton Activities
Thanksgiving: Montessori-Inspired Gratitude Activities, How to Help Your Child Feel Comfortable Greeting Relatives, Table Setting, How to Teach Your Child Table Manners for Holiday Gatherings, Homeschool Thanksgiving, Activity of the Week – Montessori Thanksgiving Noun Sorting Work, Montessori-Inspired Corn Unit, Montessori-Inspired Thanksgiving Activities, Kids in the Kitchen on Thanksgiving, Montessori-Inspired Thanksgiving Math Activities, and Thanksgiving Grace and Courtesy
Advent, Christmas, and other December Holidays: Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Decorating the Christmas Tree Activity, Activity of the Week – Gift Wrapping Work, How to Use Godly Play at Home During Advent, December Family Activities, Turning Christmas Crafts into Montessori-Oriented Activities, Montessori-Inspired Christmas Activities, 50+ December Family Activities, Montessori-Inspired Christmas Activities (2011), Holiday Manners, How to Prepare a Special Kids’ Table for Holiday Gatherings, Homeschool Christmas, Montessori-Inspired Christmas Playdough Activities, 40+ Christmas Countdown Activities, Montessori-Inspired Christmas Crafts, Montessori-Inspired Nativity Activities, Montessori-Inspired Hanukkah Activities, Christmas Around the World: Scotland, Montessori-Inspired Christmas Language Activities (my monthly post at PreK + K Sharing), 40+ Christmas Sensory Tubs, and Montessori-Inspired Christmas Scavenger Hunt, and Montessori-Inspired Kids’ Gift Wrapping Activities.
See follow-up post: How to Create a Unit Study.
Have you used unit studies?
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
This is an excellent post on unit studies! I’m getting back into using Montessori for our studies so I appreciate all the links you’ve provided. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Min! I’m glad I can help!
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit
I really enjoyed this article! Very useful info that I will have to go through! I even checked out the Konos website. My boys have a significant age gap that can be challenging. I have been wanting to find a good unit study for the family. Thanks for a great article, and I found one here! Thanks! Following you from the HS hop!!
Adrienne recently posted..Toilet Paper Roll Octopus Craft
Thanks so much, Adrienne! Our situation was a bit challenging, too, with a 5-year age gap. We found Montessori education and KONOS unit studies worked really well!
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit
we love unit studies… after all your talking about “gaps” no one knows everything lol…
Kayla Arrowood recently posted..Week 1 – Starting Over
Thanks for your comment, Kayla! I sometimes think we homeschoolers worry more about gaps than anyone else – and we’re the only ones to worry about finishing a textbook!
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit
Definitely a big fan of unit studies! Since my children are still young, I’ve been able to follow many of their interest during our unit studies. You are so right, the children’s retention of information is amazing when they are given the opportunity to explore a topic at length. We also incorporate the topic into all subjects: reading, writing and math.
Thanks, Jeannine! What you’re doing is wonderful … it’s awesome when you can incorporate the topic into every subject!
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit
Thank you! I just came across this wonderful resource that you have compiled! I absolutely love this and just wanted to be sure to thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind comment! I appreciate it!
Deb recently posted..February Themed Activities for Kids