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Unit Study Basics
Copyright 2005 by 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.  

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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! Follow this link to learn more about the studies. 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? Read on!

NEED A BOOK THAT IS A GUIDE TO UNIT STUDIES? ANNOUNCING:

UNIT STUDIES 101

    Exciting news -- the long-awaited book from Amanda Bennett - Unit Studies 101! In this book, she offers a world of knowledge on the basics of unit studies, how to research and create your own unit studies, how to use unit studies effectively, and much more! After more than 12 years of homeschooling, authoring more than 25 books and speaking to thousands of parents and teachers across the country, Amanda has assembled a very useful and helpful tool for understanding, creating and using unit studies.

    This new book includes the basics of unit studies as well as many helpful resources for creating your own studies. You will find helpful forms for developing and using unit studies, and they are printable from your computer. Amanda has also included a treasure trove of research methods and Internet resources (clickable!).

Some of the topics in the book include:

o    What is a unit study and how does it work?
        -    What is the difference in textbook study and unit study?
        -    How do we learn?
        -    The role of hands-on learning in today's children
o    Why are there so many kinds of unit studies available, and how are they different?
o    Basics of using a unit study successfully
o    Creating your own unit studies
        -    Choosing a topic
        -    Researching your topic
        -    Building your study
        -    Using your study
o    Help - I don't know how to research!
        -    Basics of planning your research
        -    Forms to use that make your research easier
        -    Online resources for your unit study research
o   Bringing it all together for success!
o   Amanda's unit study starters for ten favorite study topics
            Horses, dogs, quilts, cowboys, space, electricity, trains, flight, entrepreneurs, and toys
o   Research tips from Amanda, along with brainstorming forms and much more!

    This helpful book is offered on CDROM (Adobe pdf format) so that you can print the chapters, forms, ideas, and resource lists for repeated use as you build and 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

With all of the possible topics for unit studies, I will never be able to cover every interest for every child. To help you create unit studies on cowboys, or dinosaurs, or this week's curiosity, I have developed Unit Studies 101 - an interactive book on CDROM that will help you build your own unit studies. With clickable links, simple tables and forms, you can create thorough unit studies for your family.

"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?

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Copyright 2008 Amanda Bennett
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Phone: 423-554-3381
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