Using
Unit Studies with Multiple Ages
©2009 Amanda Bennett
More and more homeschooling parents are beginning to use the unit study approach as a primary instructional method, leaving behind the piles of textbooks and workbooks for each child. 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.
My unit studies are typically divided into four weeks of study. Designed for all ages, from early elementary through young adult, each day has a basic structured learning plan for Elementary Grades (Lower Level) and one for Jr./Sr. High Grades (Upper Level). Depending on the ages and needs of your children, you can choose to use all or just a few of the daily assignments. For example, a six-year-old student might be assigned only one or two spelling words and perhaps just one of the Read and Discover questions, while a ten-year-old student might do most of the Lower Level assignments for each day. The same holds true for Jr./Sr. High school students. While most high school juniors or seniors should be able to complete all of the daily assignments on the Upper Level, a fourteen-year-old might not be ready to handle that much work in a day. Use these lessons as a tool, and customize them to fit your family and your children’s needs. What doesn’t get completed this year can be left for further study next year.
Many of us have a broad age-range to consider when teaching our children. Unit studies work well with all ages of children, and are very effective when used this way. The whole family can work on a unit study together, studying the same topic but varying the assignments based on each child’s abilities. While the youngest child might draw pictures of the story, the oldest child might be writing a brief summary of the book and its author.
It is such an interesting time at home when everyone is pursuing a common topic. Dinner conversation is never dull and the ideas that the kids come up with are priceless. I will never forget some of the daily stories that the children shared with Dad at the dinner table. Like the time they told him about their lessons in the phase change of metals that day – learned as they watched me melt a pot through an electric burner when I forgot that I was boiling water for tea!. Learning together as a family can provide a wonderful experience for everyone, and memories that last a lifetime.
Take a moment to look at some of my unit study titles and descriptions, and please let me know if you have any questions!
