A big thank you to Apologia for sponsoring this series…
I find unit studies work really well for our family. I can incorporate different subjects into the one theme and can teach all of my kids at one time. When I am planning for a unit study, nurse the first step is to choose the theme. Sometimes there is a field trip that I want to take the kids on in the future so I plan a theme around that with the field trip as a fun hands-on way to finish it, discount other times, troche I follow the lead of my kids and choose based on something they are interested in, and other times, I see an idea for something on a blog or Pinterest and choose my theme from there.
Once my theme is chosen, my first step is to set up a Pinterest board for that unit. I can then add ideas as I find them and use those ideas for inspiration. I can also keep track of places to find printables and other resources on the subject. I am planning to do a Farm Unit this coming year with a field trip to a working farm at the end of it. I began with a Farm Pinterest Board:
Once I have enough ideas, I then start a file folder for printables that correspond to the theme. I store these files in filing crates. I already have two of them and they are starting to get pretty full! I will sometimes also add books or audiobooks to the file if they are thin enough.
For some of our bigger units, I also use file boxes that were very inexpensive and that I can keep stacked in our homeschool classroom. I use this for larger items like puzzles, board games, craft supplies, larger books, even toys or small objects that I may want to use in a sensory bin to go along with our theme.
I use a label maker to add the theme to the box so that when we are done with that unit, I can take it off and re-use the box for another upcoming unit study. I have five boxes as I find that I need about that many for upcoming unit studies.
By having a place to store my ideas (a dedicated Pinterest board), a place for all the papers I will need and a place for any larger items, I am prepared when the time comes for us to begin a unit study.
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