Unit
Study Basics
©2009 Amanda Bennett
What is a unit study?
It is defined as an in-depth study of a topic (space, trees, cars, etc.)
that takes into account many areas of the topic, such as geography, science,
history, art, etc. It is a complete immersion into the topic so that the student
will see things as a "whole" instead of bits and pieces learned throughout their
education.
This concept of learning closely resembles the way that we learn and approach
problems as an adult in today's world. Given a specific project as an engineer,
I am expected to do the research to thoroughly define and understand all facets
of the problem, as well as coming up with some solutions based on my
newly-gained knowledge. The unit study approach works on the same principle,
exposing students to an area for them to study in depth, examining the history,
development, political impact, etc..
When I am using unit studies, I plan them so that while the child is learning
the basic material, he/she is also reinforcing other academic skills. Reading
skills are emphasized with the various books studied. Writing skills are
developed through writing assignments, copying and dictation and journal
writing. Thinking skills mature through hands-on activities and problem
analysis.
Unit studies can be more interesting and captivating than standard
textbook/workbook curriculum. They encourage the use of imagination, creativity
and analytical thinking. Another advantage is that they can be worked on
together by the whole family, teaching all of the children the same unit
simultaneously while varying the assignments based on the child's capabilities.
This saves the parent time and money, instead of having to buy, assign, teach
and check separate workbooks and text materials for each child.
While unit studies are a terrific and effective way to learn, they do not
replace a systematic and progressive program for math, phonics and grammar. It
is my opinion that these areas have to be covered separately, using other
curriculum, to give the child a solid foundation in these areas. They can be
reinforced and applied through the unit study to allow the child to increase
proficiency.
How do I use unit studies?
In preparing a unit study, I perform extensive research on the new topic,
developing an outline that contains the most important points to learn, as well
as questions to ask. This outline serves as the basis for my "Lesson Plan". I
take the finished outline and divide it into portions to be covered during each
of the weeks that we plan to spend on the study (typically 4 weeks).
Through the unit preparation, I will identify a list of important reference
resources that will be used for the specific information and details. I will
also identify a list of reading references that we can read for enjoyment about
the topic -- typically fiction, sometimes classics. A good example would be the
novel Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss when studying Oceans. These lists
will be my teaching materials for the duration of the unit study, drawn on for
use during the appropriate sections of the study outline.
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After getting the outline complete and the resources defined, I am ready to begin the unit study with the children. We typically work on the unit study for 4 weeks, and then move to a new unit study. I have found that my children tend to tire of a subject after much more than 4 weeks, so I try to keep the material interesting over shorter time periods to maintain their enthusiasm for learning!
Why use unit studies?
Students learn more detailed information from a unit study approach: -
The subject is seen as a whole instead of bits of history, geography or science scattered throughout their education.
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The understanding of the topic can then be easily applied to other areas and topics.
Students tend to retain more of the information than with traditional curriculum: -
They learn all dimensions of the topic, not just important names or dates.
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Students develop a profound understanding and keep it for a lifetime -- SUCCESS!!
All ages of students can be taught simultaneously: -
Older students will have more difficult assignments and be expected to learn at higher levels.
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Younger students will pick up what they are ready to learn and their assignments can be adjusted accordingly.
I've written a new series of unit studies that has all of the research and preparation done for you! They are easy-to-use, designed to make your day simpler and your load lighter, while guiding your students along an exciting and successful road of learning. You can begin using these studies immediately!
Would you like to learn more about the basics of unit studies, as well as how to create your own unit studies?
"I love this!
It has helped me learn so much about unit studies, and now I'm off to
write my
own.
The wealth of research links is amazing!"
Homeschool Mom
"I love this! It has helped me
learn so much about unit studies, and now
I'm off to write my own. The wealth of research links is amazing!"
Homeschool Mom
"I have started trying to
develop my own unit studies for next year... The Unit Studies 101 guide
and
suggestions have become a valuable resource in a short time. Thanks
for all you do."
Homeschool Mom
Open up the
WORLD to your child
Encourage
thinking skills as well as imagination
Build a strong tree of knowledge
Help develop
lifelong learners, thinkers, wonderers.
What
are you waiting for?
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