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Unfolding of a Unit Study + Meso-America {printable}

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I think the longer you homeschool the more you rebel start making your own pathways. It’s no secret we absolutely love unit studies. I am not an “all or nothing” girl when I homeschool and I try to encourage ones I lead to not be either. Taking an all or nothing approach like only using textbooks, or only lapbooks or only unit studies, I feel, can burn you out or not make you spread out and enjoy the flexibility of other approaches. I enjoy my unit studies because I do use workbooks and lapbooks and some laid out lesson plans. I don’t have all of my children use only one math program or one language arts program no more than we choose only one approach. I do think most of us tend to favor one approach over the other one.

After I homeschooled for a while and moved away from comfort zones, I find a delightful zone. Are you there yet?

I think some shy away from unit studies because they may feel it is so time consuming. True, at times there may not be “day to day” lesson plans but that is the very thing that makes me breathe and be able to wiggle. It’s really weird I know, because my personality by nature is structured, routine and I have to be organized. But there is a wild side about unit studies that draws not just me, but my boys back each year. I believe what some may feel is mayhem or chaos in subjects is actually unchartered territory and I am so up for a challenge every day.

I want to give you a glimpse into the way our unit studies develop so that you can see the freedom and flexibility of them. Maybe it will help you take a plunge on the wild side.

What comes to my mind in how the information and approach is processed. The way we learn a unit study is like a funnel. There tends to be a lot to start off with and I strive to funnel it to bring it down to my family.  I divided the process of a unit study into just 4 steps to make it easy for you to see the progression.

unfolding of a unit study

Immersion. This really is the step that takes the longest. So take long. Do not set up strict requirements like “only x number of days or weeks to cover this”.

I journal or write lesson plans sometimes AFTER we finish or as we go along.  Immersion means to jump in wholly into this topic. It also means that you investigate the interest of subtopics that would fall under this very broad and general topic. I had use the Rain forest as an example in explaining about my unit study printable {by the way I have fallen in love with that printable.} But let me share our newest unit , Mesoamerica, that we just started so you can see how this develops. We may want to cover the Aztecs and Mayans in the Mesoamerica unit and we may or may not want to cover the Incas. We have not studied any of these cultures in depth so it’s all up for grabs so to speak. Too, we may decide to just focus on one culture like the Aztecs.

At this step, look at your reference books you have on the subject. Investigate with your children websites, library book and hands on activity to immerse you and your kids in this subject. As mentioned in a previous post about unit studies, I do tend to investigate on my own before introducing the topic. I think teachers should teach, even teens. I believe in independent learning but I still believe that even in highschool they need direction and supervision. I tend to be a hands-on parent and teacher.

This is the step we are on right now with Mesoamerica. I don’t have to rush my boys because this is the step where they can learn about any topic they choose. It may also be the only time they cover some topics they may be less interested in but may want to be familiar with to some extent.

My sons gathered up these books in the picture above without any preparation on my part. This is all we have in our home, besides of course our wonderful reference history books. It really is enough to build a very in-depth unit study.

I don’t feel compelled to go the library every time.

Separation. Aww, now sanity and my much need organization at this stage. There is where after immersion, your subtopics have emerged. After days or weeks, hopefully not months as I feel that is too long to spend on Step 1 because you lose your main topic or Unit Study, subtopics or themes have emerged. You separate what is most important to learn. Points of interest YOUR family or your child finds interesting want to now be investigated. Because we are just two days in the immersion process it is hard to say right now. I do know my youngest, of course, is interested in the games using the rubber made ball.  Leave it to teens to be interested in the gory details of human sacrifice. But I do see a teachable moment of comparing the valueless, vain and God dishonoring sacrifices of human blood made to pagan Aztec gods to the most valuable sacrifice of human blood ever made by Jesus Christ. I also see the topic of a floating garden for some science. Pretty creative if you ask me to have a floating garden. This time period would also be good for some art study. The physical geography of these countries influences the dress and the food. I see quite a few subtopics to pursue.

We can narrow down our choices after we tasted what we wanted to in the immersion step. The separation step can take just a few days to a week to narrow down your focus.

Investigation. Satisfaction here. Here is the delight of learning for intrinsic value. You are now investigating ONLY subtopics you have narrowed down. This is where you keep from getting overwhelmed and not discussing, investigating and writing about EVERY topic you discussed in immersion. This is also the step where each child can be on a different point. If you have older kids it is easier to have separate topics. If they are younger, stay on one subtopic at a time. This is where a child learns because of intrinsic value. It means something to them because THEY chose it.

This is the step where you use day to day lesson plans if you want to write them out.  You now have fine points you have narrowed down.

Not that learning has not taken place up to this point, but this is the step I make sure some learning does take place. Assign vocabulary words, recall back facts they have read about. Write reports and do our lapbooks or notebooking pages.

Hands on activities are here also.This is where you can “show the world” what you learned, i.e. lapbooks and notebooking pages.

Personalization. This is more of a step for me as the teacher. Up to this point I can see what each of my sons were interested in and tie it to something they have learned in the past. This is not really something I can “show the world” as far as what my sons took away from this unit because it may have been something personal my sons shared. It may be a point we learned that I can use to reach their heart. It may not be so private if it was just more information. Whatever it is, I want to be sure as the teacher they “own  it”. If they picked the subtopics they already WANTED to own it. So it comes easier to point out something to make it apply to my family or Christian values. In other words, make it matter by tying this unit study to something that is personal for my family.

That is it generally. It is not as daunting when you can put it into 4 basic steps.

Because we are just a few days into our unit, I created a printable for our Meso-America Unit. Not all printables will become part of a lapbook or notebooking, but they might. Since this unit is just starting we have the option of deciding. Another facet of unit studies I find attractive.

You know I have to share with you. This is a card game I created about the Aztecs. Part of the cards are true and false and the other part, your child supplies the word. The answer key is attached too.

Meso America Unit Game Cards

Download Aztec Printable Game Cards with Pocket here.

Unfolding of a unit study is a process that once understood moved me from comfort zone to delightful zone. I don’t give up the comforts of laid out lesson plans, I just take them with me. Abandon snoring boring curriculum in favor of an unchartered unit study, you might like it.

 

Our new bee homeschoolers need some love since August is around the corner. So I have an article in my how to series coming.

Also, some new Student Planner Covers for the girls are coming.

I was inspired by this today,

“When things just don’t work out as good as you really thought they would… It’s not rotten, it’s not over, it’s not finished, or the end. All it means is something better is waiting for you around the bend.”

~Doe Zantamata~

Hugs and you know I love ya,

Homeschool Organization + {Storage,Spaces and Learning Places Part 3}

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I got a little eye candy for you today. I have two other parts in this series that I started last month. I will link them for you at the bottom. I really like this series because there are so many different things and rooms we can look at to get ideas for our learning area. The ideas are endless once you step outside the box. You do have to take several ideas from many different types of area to make a unique learning place.

This is the time of the year most people get the itch to organize or set up a school area. I get it ALL year long but end up making little adjustments this time of the year. So I made a slight tweak to our school area and will share when I am finished with it.

This first picture I like because besides the colors being gender neutral, I have been swooning over that map on the wall.

Source – Censational Girl

This is the playroom of Kate at Censational Girl. Even though it is not a homeschool area, it is pretty close to being one with a few changes. For a younger household, I would make the couch a love seat or rocker recliner to free up some room. Then shelving would be sorted by boxes for each child. Also add a smaller desk for mom to keep her teacher goodies. Though I have sat on many a small kid’s chair while homeschooling, it is nice to have my own desk when the kids were young. The tushy will thank you later on that one the longer you school.

There is so much natural light you may need to worry about lighting which is another huge concern in a school area. This could be a WOW school room with not much effort. She shares her before and after picture and her budget of about 800.00. Still swooning over the map…on to the next one..

Source – Joyfilled Family

Even though I love play areas, I like to keep it real and that means seeing other real homeschool rooms. I love this area because, like a lot of us, she turned a formal dining area into a school area. Another tip for hanging storage, like she uses in her school room, is fishing line and clothes pin to show off arts and crafts. A good example of mixing a learning area with furniture used for everyday living too. Above her storage units she has a week at a glance system for all the members of the family to see.

Source – Homeschool Creations.

Keeping it real in this next homeschool room I love Jolanthe’s new up do last year. She really changed the area into a beautiful learning space. Besides the beautiful color, I love the fact that each child has their own work space which gets to be important as they get older. You have some kids that need an organized desk before they can think clearly and others that can put up with a little more left out. This pleases all learners.

Source – Learning with Charlotte

This room takes a Charlotte Mason learning approach in her set up. I have to admit I heart dark wood. I love the look of bright white wood but something about popping color in dark wood gets me to pause. Too, I think heart things old fashion, timeless and precious. Incorporating her solid wood bookcases into her living area just looks cozy and warm.

Source – Satori Smiles

Also do not forget all the other myriad of ideas we need to use to create unique areas. This one I love the reading wall and area set up for an all day reading day. There are some benefits to homeschooling an only and you have so much room to create beautiful spaces.

Source

I love this arrangement, though not a homeschool room, it easily could be. Using the center of the room frees up wall space but too this is so creative grouping several work areas together. This would work well for older children or teens if you can keep them busy enough from fighting talking to each other.

Source

Built-ins are nice if you can have them too. Again, here is separated learning areas. If you can do it that way from the start, then it minimizes your budget. There are some subjects like math and some language arts that are better learned by having each child having their own table or desk. A lot of subjects can be taught together and when the children are real young, one table does the trick but you out grow that in a few short years. It is good to start with that when they are young just keep those purchases to a minimum because they will use individual spaces longer. Even if it’s a not a separate desk in your school room, it could be their bedroom with a desk or learning area.

Source – New Life on a Homestead

Though I love color and want a homeschool area to be beautiful, budget is a real factor these days for most folks. These pictures are timeless because they show what can be done a modest budget and how bright a homeschool area can still be.

I want to share one “set up” tip that I did notice about this room in this last picture above which is why I put it here. See how high those days of the weeks and numbers are? That is too high for a preschooler or elementary aged child to be engaged with them. Setting up a room should be not only age appropriate but HEIGHT appropriate. You want an engaging interactive place. A child wants to feel those numbers, see the days of weeks and interact with by either using a pointer

Source Source Source

or just being able to see them. We don’t have to abandon everything about the set up of a public school. Have you noticed how their rooms are set up for children and the adults desk is there incidentally? We do want to take that to our home school room. One chart is height appropriate but otherwise the child can’t see all the beautiful learning tools she has. It is not easy because, like me, you may have a monster sweet toddler who loves to tear and shred when you start schooling. After the “new” has passed on the school area, most of them won’t bother it anymore.

Source Gennine Art Blog

Don’t forget to make desks unique as well. Often times I have used flowerpots for pen,pencils and supplies. You can find them less expensive and sometimes more colorful than pencil holders. Here she used bright flower pots from Ikea and the desk from Ikea.

Source – A little Busy

Again, a very simple but cheery school area. The shelves are unique and reachable by the youngest learner.

Source – BHG                                                                      Source – BHG

Source – Something is HIding in Here

Do not forget nooks, crannies, moving storage and what you have just hanging out as trash around the house can be turned to treasure making your own organization bins unique. From top to bottom, left to right, Magazine Holder on the door, potato chip containers wrapped in pretty paper creates unique storage, a mobile desk on wheels if you don’t have room for a teacher desk, old paint cans turned fabulous storage and then making your own unique storage system by using peg board, hooks and is that plastic cheap inexpensive glasses? Swooning again….

I hope you were a little inspired for your school room. School areas do a lot to brighten and bring harmony to my day and are just as important to me as choosing the right curriculum. If you have not created a place yet, take time before you start school.  Remember, you have to look at it every day and it counts.

Small changes count too. I know I must have homeschool-itis {is that such a word?} when I go crazy over a small thing like file folder change. Do you have any changes you want to share?

As promised, here are the links if you need to continue your homeschoolitis. Click on the pics.

I was inspired by this today as I get ready for my school year and because I want real things around me that are beautiful too.

“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

~William Morris~

Hugs and you know I love ya,

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Homeschool Organization + {Storage, Spaces and Learning Places Part 2}

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When you homeschool ANY length of time you find out that you have to take ideas from every different type of room like an office, craft, sewing and playroom to combine and get what we need to make a cozy learning place at home. I have some more favorites to share. If you missed Part 1, go here to drool over some more places.

 

Homeschool Organization part 2

 

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Though this is set up for use as a craft area, I find parts that could be used at home. First that desk just looks like something that could be bought inexpensively and redone to be smokin’ hot. Those stands on the floor I believe are umbrella stands and could be used to rolled up masterpieces of art.

There is not much room taken up horizontal, it is all vertical. Great idea for a teen who likes to be in his room for school  or if there is a small area to work in. LOVE the color choice to brighten up the room.

Contemporary Kids design

I have my school room upstairs that has roof slant like this room and though I have all clear storage there now, I have been mulling over the idea of having something like this. Even the center part that has only two drawers, could have more drawers for more closed storage if you wanted.

The room on top can store, globes, lapbooks and even a microscope. The tv screen is a great addition to a room for group science videos. As much as I love how open it is, I think that one part of this unit though should utilize more wall storage by going up higher.

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Don’t you love to actually see homeschool rooms like this one? These next couple of pictures come from Suitcases and Sippy Cups. What I like about this is that she just incorporated their school into their everyday life. When I first started homeschooling and had a newborn and a toddler, a comfortable couch in the same room we were learning in was a must. I could nurse there, change a quick diaper and just rest as my oldest son worked at the table.

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Here is another actual home school area. I think some of the best use of spaces is a built in or diy project . And that is what Cha Cha at the Heartfelt Home did for her school desk. She explains on her blog how it was built. This is a clever use of a half wall or center wall. Though there are three chairs, I see this working better for two students if they were older because of the need of space on top to spread out books.

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Here is another true homeschool room that I love. I love the fact that even though the room is small, she utilized it to the full. She has closed storage using the boxes and kept the seating in the center and kept the light by using a smaller shelf area.

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I find this photo inspiring because it used a u shape space with built in seating. So much again in a small space.

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Then I wanted to share a few creative nifty finds. I heart Murphy beds when you have limited room. Why not a Murphy desk? Great for traveling and schooling, or just to have a another work area for a laptop. I lived in a small log cabin when we first started and this would have worked ideally.

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I spend so much time telling New Bee homeschoolers and even those not so new to move away from public school and don’t copy it, but hey some things we just should. These lockers make great storage and add that element of school to our room.

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This next idea is so creative and I could imagine some really bright colored fabrics to make these crate seats. These crate seats only have 3 steps to make AND you have a seat and instant storage. Check out how this public school teacher made these and they so could be used at home.

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This next group of pictures I heart because it is a Montessori inspired learning environment that is organized so that a young child can easily explore and learn.

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I love how colorful caddies are used to make the area bright and cheery. And I love that low lying art line.And one more thing I heart……

This adorable owl art line from Etsy. would look so cute hanging on a wall.

 

Just a few things I heart today, anything inspire you in a school room?

Hugs and love ya,

Homeschool Organization + {Storage, Spaces and Learning Places Part 1}

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Learning at home presents unique storage needs. We are always wanting more book space and spaces used creatively. If you are wanting to set up a homeschool room or just change it around you find out that ideas that come from playrooms are sometimes too playful, a home office can be too office-y {is that a word} and a craft room is too crafty.  If we don’t have a school room because we school at the kitchen table and part living room we still need creative spaces for storage.

Homeschool Organization part 1

What I do is take inspiration from all the rooms mentioned above and create a learning space. I can never get enough tips and ideas for spaces and learning places. I will be rounding up unique finds and then just some ordinary tips as reminders and putting them in a series.





Some tips from a public classroom will work at home and visa versa. Hopefully you can find something that inspires you to use your area to the full. Where possible, if a link  was given, I have linked each image so you can read about the space.

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You may recognize this school room from Confessions of a Homeschooler by Erica. What you soon find out is that your kids outgrow those sweet little desks and tables sooner than you realize. But they are still not tall enough to sit a high kitchen table. A craft table is a great idea because there is tons of room on top and chairs can be adjusted. Look at all that storage by using the center of the room. Do you see that trick? Free the wall to haul in more stuff.

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This honey pine trestle table is ideal as well. The storage baskets under the table work out good. I would take notice of the sharp corners with a toddler that is using the table to pull up like my little ones did.  To me this works good for several preschoolers.  Look at this cool idea for the storage back with writing material . It hooks right beside the desk. Pretty, but something more durable would even be better.

Eclectic Kids design by New York Interior Designer Esther Sadowsky

Now this is one of those rooms that I mean by a play area. But there are several things that can be used. I love the color combinations and use of the chalkboard wall. The whole area is just bright and cheery.

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Johnnia at Giggles, Wiggles and Wonder has a nice laid out school area. The area along one wall utilizes a lot of area for storage. I like the fact that some of it is closed storage. That one built in could easily accommodate two teens or one teen and younger sibling.  Again the colors are bright and cheery .

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This area is so soothing and peaceful I could see an older student cuddling here to read or study. I love the bookshelves too.

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Homeschool Organization

Don’t forget high spaces and out of the way spaces. An over the door organizer turned school storage is what I used when we lived in a cabin that was 800 square feet for 5 of us. Use every inch of space. At the blog bowl full of lemons she lists where she purchased this cute overhead storage and there is one that is hot pink.

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Homegrown mom uses the space in her loft. One wall holds a good majority of her books  but she also has closed storage by using the boxes. How do you like the table is turned ? Again it is not against a wall but by coming off the wall unit she utilizes more of the center of her room.

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I love, love this room. It looks like a schoolroom but may be a craft room. But look how the small wall is used and each kid could have their place to study. There is only two sets of drawers but if you used workboxes those drawers could be used for shared supplies. Surround shelves make this room have tons of storage.

Are you going to make changes this summer while school has slowed down some? I am still pondering. Have a picture you want to share of your school room make over?

Switching gears here, I love the fact that our blog is hosted on a website so that when I get a twitch I can change our blog header anytime without completely redoing our website. I updated the blog header, what do you think? Keep it or go back to the other one?

Thinking about convention time, I wanted to share this with you.

By Todd Wilson

Hugs today and coming up next, MORE planner forms and a few more covers!

Love ya,

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Ancient Civilization Unit – Free Ancient Egypt Minibook

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The longer I homeschool, the more fond I become of returning to topics that we have studied before especially if it is about history. Don’t you think it takes a while to get a good skeleton or outline of some of the basic empires or civilizations of history? After that, it is all about adding in the details you enjoy the most. Oh yes, I still have to cover some of the basic accomplishments of each civilization as each kid gets older, but there is always a unique angle to presenting the information the second, third and fourth time around. I think a lot of us start off doing worksheets or only doing writing, then we evolve into hands-on projects, plays and skits and cooking recipes from that time period. It is hard to do all the fun things, I think anyway, the first time around in a history cycle because so much time is taken up by learning the basics. Don’t exhaust yourself trying to do it all if it is your first time around in a history cycle. Build a solid foundation and there will be plenty of time for enrichment activities like lapbooks or notebooking.

Too, even though history and geography were my favorite courses in school, I still feel like my education lacked in early civilizations. So I am aware of that as I teach my sons the second and third time around in our history cycle and try to hit some of the main points in my minibooks. Again, relax and don’t rush learning about important civilizations because their impact even on American History is significant.

Here is the next minibook for the Ancient Civilizations Unit and it about Ancient Egypt. Most of the time, I try to include some information I find with each minibook in case you are short on time. I know I am not impressed when I am short on time with a bunch of blank mini books to present to my kids.

However, my minibooks are flexible as I explain in the download. If you are doing a more comprehensive unit and this unit is part of their writing, then they can use the minibook to write in their own information. On this minibook though I do include information if you are using your lapbook like we do for enrichment and not interested in testing their writing skills or coloring skills. Just saying.

Download the Ancient Egypt Minibook here.

(One thing I did want to mention to you and that is I try to use fonts that are intended to help your child grow in recognizing cursive.  As a side point, I feel it is important for a child to learn to read cursive because many primary history sources are in cursive. I vary in using part print and part cursive also so that the minibooks are not babyish and can be used for a wider variety of ages.)

On my next post about Ancient Civilizations I will have to share with you how the planning is coming along for the Ancient Civilizations/Great Empires co-op. I have much to tell you about that too, but hope you enjoyed the post I did yesterday on successful co-ops.

I like this quote today because it reminds me of the lack of candor and humility reflected by some of the ancient civilizations of the past that wanted to highlight only their accomplishments and tout great physical or personal features even if they didn’t exist.

“Half of writing history is hiding the truth”

  ~Joss Whedon~

Hugs and you know I love ya,