If you are already excited about Unit Studies, and would like to go straight to the Unit Studies we offer, click here:  If you are unsure about what Unit Studies are, or if they are really right for you, keep reading below:

 (The following introduction to Unit Studies is excerpted from my booklet on Unit Studies/Topical Studies, which is excerpted from my bigger book, Organized Ramblings, Home Education From A to Z.)

 …Do some of you struggle with reluctant students?  Do some of you struggle with “lazy” students?  Are you having trouble hanging in there until the end of the year?  Maybe it’s time you reevaluate your methods, rather than giving in and giving up.

 First, a couple more definitions are in order.  “Unit studies” typically mean specific studies revolving around a particular topic, but covering multiple subjects.  A KONOS unit on character, for instance, may include history, science, English, etc.  Most unit studies do not try to incorporate math, but typically they’ll at least touch on most other subjects.

A friend and I coined the term “topical study” a few years back, to describe something more limited in nature, a study of a particular topic within a subject.  For instance, we study history topically – the Civil War might be our topic for a year, and the Revolutionary War would be our topic a different time.  These topical studies may cover some other subjects as well, art or music, or science, for instance, but they are primarily dealing with just a particular topic within a particular subject…

...Many years ago, Gregg Harris proposed “delight directed studies” to take care of the perceived problem of a reluctant and/or lazy student.  This can be our delight or their delight.  This is a very important point when you start looking at Unit Studies.  You need to pick something your family will get excited about.  

…Topical studies also give siblings something in common:  shared knowledge and experiences.  We can carry our “school” discussions much beyond the “classroom” this way, since several of us are studying the same thing at the same time.  And that includes me, since I am spending my time preparing a topical study, instead of writing out lesson plans, grading tests, and checking assignments.

 …Why do we want to go to the “trouble” of unit studies? It is more trouble than just picking up a textbook and going through it.  But it is also more effective!  It’s more fun!  And it’s usually more enjoyable for students and teacher alike!

 I hope you’re convinced, and that you want to try unit/topical studies.  Now what???  How do you actually plan the studies? 

Pick a topic, and decide on the length of study:

 …They don’t have to be long.  (Even though ours usually end up being long!)   You might want to start with something small, like a 2 week study.  They don’t have to be involved.  And you don’t have to pull them from thin air.  A good place to begin is with a topic someone is really interested in.  That’s how ours usually begin.  The key to successful topical studies is often timing and interest!

Some good science topics to begin with:  (But remember, “the sky’s the limit”!)

              ·        Astronomy

·        Birds

·        Bugs

·        Butterflies

·        Dinosaurs

·        7 Days of Creation

·        Creation vs. Evolution (we want our children to be critical thinkers!)

·        Flowers

·        Gardening

·        Animal Husbandry

Biblical/Christian topics:

·        Martyrs

·        Missionaries

Some good history topics:

              ·    Specific Wars

·        The Lewis and Clark Expedition

                       ·        Presidents (1/week, for instance)

                       ·        Indians (1 tribe/week or month, for example)

              ·        Revolutionary War

                       ·        Civil War

                       ·   World War II

Specific Eras

                      ·        Middle Ages – knights, castles…

                     ·        Renaissance

                    ·        Reformation

Geography studies

·        States (all 50 – 1 per week, for example)

·        Countries (within a continent)

·        Continent (1/month)

Anything else of interest to your family!!!

 Once you have a topic, where do you begin?

·        The library

·        Your own books

·        Encyclopedias

·        On-line research

·        Used books

·        Multitudes of catalogs

·        Friends

·        Experts

 I find that once I’ve chosen a topic – the resources practically jump out at me.

Depending on your topic, there may be oodles of free materials available for the asking:

·        County Extension Office

·        State Tourist Offices

·        State Welcome Centers

·        On-line

Two of my favorite, inexpensive resources for History, Geography, and Science studies are

·        Dover Coloring Books

                        ·        National Geographic magazines

National Geographic magazines have wonderful maps and pictures, and can usually be bought for very low prices at used book stores and places like Salvation Army and Goodwill.  (They do need to be edited occasionally.)

Start with a schedule/timeline for your study.  Do you want to study the topic for two weeks or two months?  Have a starting schedule, but be flexible…If it fizzles out sooner, stop!  If you’re having so much fun, you want to continue when your time is up, continue!

One main topic/day works well for us; we incorporate:

·        “Lectures” (one of my favorites)

·        Read alouds (a favorite for most of the students!)

·        Silent reading assignments

·        Research Assignments (give written or oral reports)

·        Art assignments (could include drawing/collages/sculpture)

…In conclusion, if you haven’t tried topical studies or unit studies with your family, please do.  If you have and didn’t like it, please try it again.  Your family could benefit greatly from the experience!

If you are would like to see the Unit Studies we offer, click here:   Many of the other Products we carry work into Unit Studies very easily.  (We should have more information on doing that on the website soon.)