Unit Study FAQs

What is a unit study?  A unit study is also commonly called a “theme,” a “thematic unit” or “integrated studies.”  With unit studies, a topic, or theme, is studied as a whole, rather than broken down into various “subjects.”  For example, when completing a unit study on horses, one might study the anatomy of horses (science), look at horses in art (art), figure units of measure involving horses (math),  read books on horses or biographies of authors who wrote about horses (language arts), learn how horses have provided transportation for man throughout history (social studies), and so on. 

      Unit studies work particularly well for families with children of varying ages because each child studies the same subject, but on his or her level.  For example, a preschooler might color a picture of a horse, while an elementary-aged child labels the anatomy of a horse and a high school-aged student writes a report on the usefulness of horses throughout history. 

      Because unit studies usually provide so many options for studying a given topic, they are well suited to a variety of learning styles.  And, because studies have shown that students who study a topic as a whole retain up to 45% more information than traditional methods, unit studies can save time “re-teaching” concepts.

What about math and phonics?  Because math and phonics are subjects that are built upon previously learned concepts, most unit studies do not include instruction in these two subjects.  

Is it possible to do unit studies along with other methods?  Yes!  Because unit studies are so versatile, it is possible to use them along with other methods.  Unit studies can cover the spectrum from those who prefer a school-at-home method to those who prefer a more child- or interest-led learning style.  Those who prefer a more school-at-home style can enjoy unit studies by covering the various subject areas as related to the study, while those with a more interest-led learning style can enjoy the flexibility that unit studies afford by allowing the child’s interests to lead the direction of the topic study.

Is preparing a unit study very time consuming?  The preparation time required for a unit study depends on the length of the study and how in depth the study will be.  Obviously the time required to write your own unit study is going to be greater than using a prepared unit study or other curriculum.  However, most families who write their own unit study agree that the studies are well worth the time investment because they are written specifically for your family, with your family’s needs and interests in mind.

How do you prepare a unit study?  How to prepare a unit study can be as varied as the people who write and use them.  Many people begin with an idea of the topics they wish to cover, gathered either from their children, based on their interests, or from what the parent wishes the children to cover, based on their own ideas or those from a “scope and sequence” or “typical course of study.” 

      Most people will begin preparing for their unit study topic by perusing their local library.  Some people avoid the Internet when preparing unit studies due to the overabundance of information, while others find the Internet a valuable tool.   

      One of the biggest helps in preparing a unit study is deciding what you hope your students will learn about the topic.  Once you decide what your learning goals are it is much easier to narrow down the type of information you need for the study. Click here for some ideas.

How do you know when a unit study is completed?  Most people consider a unit study to be complete once the learning goals have been met.  However, it is okay to quit a unit study if is obvious that no one is enjoying it and it’s okay to continue after the learning goals have been met if there is still a high interest in the topic.

How far in advance should one begin putting together a unit study before actually using it?  This varies from teacher to teacher.  Many parents plan the topics they intend to cover for the upcoming school year.  This list is generally just a basic outline of topics that is “fine-tuned” closer to the time the actual unit study is to begin.   

      Many of parents say that they spend a two to three week period planning units for the upcoming “quarter” or “semester.”  While other parents compile unit studies continually throughout the year for future use. 

      However, most parents would probably agree that if a new interest arises, a unit study can be quickly put together for use within a week or two.

How do you determine the length of a unit study?  The length of the unit study is often decided by the interest level and the amount of information involved in the topic.  For example, a unit study on a more specific subject, such as “hurricanes” would probably not last as long as a broader subject, such as “the human body.” 

      Some unit studies may last as little as a week while others might last several weeks or even be an ongoing study over the course of a year.  The factors to take into consideration are the amount of available information, the interest level of the students and the learning goals of the study.