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Middle School Homeschool

A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

March 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

These summer unit study ideas will keep kids of all ages having fun learning with topics they will be eager to study. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

Summer is a perfect time to get in some relaxed themed learning with unit studies.

You can make them hands-on with outdoor activities or beat the heat with a trip to an air-conditioned library to pick out the books you’ll need.

A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

And if you pair a living book with a summer topic, you can have an easy summer learning activity.

Too, many homeschoolers prefer to start their homeschool year during the summer.

There are many advantages to beginning your homeschool year in the summer.

Advantages to Begin Your Year in Summer

For example, look at these advantages.

  • There is a slower start to the year.
  • You can cover one unit study for a few weeks before any other curriculum.
  • Also there is more time to give 1:1 to each child.
  • The day can be shorter to allow time for swimming and other fun summer activities.
  • In addition, some subjects like science and geography are better done outside during the summer season.

Start with this ultimate list of A to Z Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas and let your imaginations run wild!

A

  • Ants
  • Apples. You can grab my Apples Unit Study and Lapbook.

Summer Unit Study Ideas

  • Archaeology. You can grab my free What is History and What is Archaeology minibook here.
  • Art

B

  • Bears. Add my Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop activity.
  • Beaches. Add my Free Super Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook to your study.
  • Berries. This strawberry unit study and lapbook is a fun start.
  • Barbeque
  • Bees. Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids can be used to study bees.
  • Butterflies. Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids is a hands-on activity to add along with Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft.
  • Bats. Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook is a fun study in summer too.
  • Birds. You can grab my free American Robin Unit Study and Lapbook here.

C

  • Cats. Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah.
  • Cows
  • Creek life
  • Camping (National Parks or outdoor survival). How to Create a Fun Yosemite National Park Camping Curriculum | DIY Firestarter
  • Character
  • Clouds

Summer Themed Unit Study Topics

Next, add some of these fun living books to your summer day.

Summer Reading List for Kids

Add one or two of these books to your kid's summer reading list.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures
along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

Summer of the Monkeys

The last thing fourteen-year-old Jay Berry Lee expects to find while trekking through the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma is a tree full of monkeys. But then Jay learns from his grandpa that the monkeys have escaped from a traveling circus, and there’s a big reward for the person who finds and returns them.
His family could really use the money, so Jay sets off, determined to catch them. But by the end of the summer, Jay will have learned a lot more than he bargained for—and not just about monkeys.
From the beloved author of Where the Red Fern Grows comes another memorable adventure novel filled with heart, humor, and excitement.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (The Vanderbeekers, 1)

The first book in the bestselling series that the New York Times Book Review hails as “delightful and heartwarming.”

The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are.

And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home.

Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers

Ralph was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes, the pleasures and perils of ranching in the early twentieth century are experienced... auctions and roundups, family picnics, irrigation wars, tornadoes and wind storms all give authentic color to Little Britches. So do wonderfully told adventures, which equip Ralph for the path his life will take.

The Children of the New Forest

When Jacob Armitage, a local verderer, hears that Parliamentary soldiers looking for King Charles I are planning to burn down the home of the Beverley orphans he saves the children and rears them as his own grandchildren in a small cottage in the woods. But can aristocratic children, used to being served, learn to survive as simple foresters?This story was one of the first historical novels written for younger readers and has endured until today. Its classic themes of chivalry and bravery and the examples the children set are sure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.This edition features the gorgeous illustrations of Paul Hardy throughout to add extra charm to an already incredible tale.

Trilogy (Boxed Set): Dragonsong; Dragonsinger; Dragondrums

For centuries, the world of Pern has faced a destructive force known as Thread. But now the number of magnificent dragons who have protected this world and the men and women who ride them are dwindling. As destruction falls from the sky, Menolly has only one dream: to sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily—she wishes to become a Harper. But despite her great talents, her father believes that a young girl is unworthy of such a respected position and forbids her to pursue her dreams. So Menolly runs away, taking shelter in a cave by the sea. Miraculously, she happens upon nine fire lizards that could possibly save her world…and change her life forever.

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

It’s been five years since the Sweep disappeared. Orphaned and alone, 11-year-old Nan Sparrow had no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days sweeping out chimneys. The job is dangerous and thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again. When Nan gets stuck in a chimney fire, she fears the end has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash.

Where the Red Fern Grows

Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan’s brawn, Little Ann’s brains, and Billy’s sheer will seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past.

To Kill a Mockingbird

One of the most cherished stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

Emily of New Moon

Lucy Maude Montgomery's classic tale, the first in her "Emily" series of novels, about an orphan girl on Prince Edward Island. In contrast to Montgomery's other famous series that began with "Anne of Green Gables," Montgomery wrote the character of Emily to be closer to her own personality, and elements of the narrative are autobiographical. The story introduces us to Emily Byrd Starr, who is orphaned after her father dies of tuberculosis. Moving to New Moon Farm to live with her aunts and cousin, Emily meets new friends and engages in adventures as she grows. "Emily of New Moon" was followed by two sequels: "Emily Climbs" and "Emily's Quest".

Strawberry Girl

Strawberries—big, ripe, and juicy. Ten-year-old Birdie Boyer can hardly wait to start picking them. But her family has just moved to the Florida backwoods, and they haven't even begun their planting. "Don't count your biddies 'fore they're hatched, gal young un!" her father tells her.

Making the new farm prosper is not easy. There is heat to suffer through, and droughts, and cold snaps. And, perhaps most worrisome of all for the Boyers, there are rowdy neighbors, just itching to start a feud. The land was theirs, but so were its hardships.

Teachers, grandparents, and homeschooling families continue to reach for Lois Lenski's Strawberry Girl.
As one fan commented, a reason for its continued success is that it's "a touching, realistic tale of the power of neighborly love and kindness."

The Princess and the Goblin

"The Princess and the Goblin" by George MacDonald is a classic fairy tale novel first published in 1872. The story takes place in a medieval kingdom and follows the adventures of Princess Irene, the only daughter of a queen, who lives in a castle on a mountain top. One day, Princess Irene begins to see goblins lurking in the shadows who want to capture her and take her to their underground kingdom. She eventually meets Curdie, a miner's son, who helps her to overcome the dangerous creatures. Throughout their journey, Princess Irene and Curdie face various challenges and magical events that test their courage and friendship. They encounter a wise old woman who gives them important advice, a magical thread that guides them through the darkness of the underground tunnels, and a cunning goblin king who wants to keep Princess Irene captive in his kingdom.

Wingfeather Saga Boxed Set

This collection of Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga includes all four novels in hardcover: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, North! Or Be Eaten, The Monster in the Hollows, and The Warden and the Wolf King.Janner Igiby, his brother, Tink, and their disabled sister, Leeli, are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice. The Igibys hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

D

  • Dogs
  • Dragonflies. 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

E

  • Elephants
  • Eggs. Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet.
  • Exercises
  • Earthworms

More Summer Learning Activities

  • 20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial
  • A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • 25 Summer Homeschool Ideas To Keep The Learning Spark Alive
  • 30+ Summer Activities for Middle School Kids
  • 11 Fun Summer Activities for Middle Schooler

F

  • Frogs. You can grab my free Loads of Toads and Frogs Unit Study and Lapbook here.
  • Fish
  • Fossils. Fun Facts About Mold Fossils & 4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids
  • Fireworks
  • Fishing
  • Fireflies
  • Fire (how to build, science behind it).  Look at Lewis and Clark: Hands-on History. Make a Char Cloth.
  • Firefighters/dispatchers

G

  • Garden studies. You can grab my free Feasting and Foraging Unit Study and Lapbook here.
  • Grass
  • Grasshoppers

H

  • Hurricanes
  • Horses. Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids
  • Hogs
Summer Unit Study Ideas
  • Hiking
  • Hygiene

More Summer Learning Activities

  • Hydration/heat
  • Herb garden

I

  • Insects. You can grab my free Amber Unit Study and Lapbook here.
  • Ice cream

J

  • Jewelry making. How to Make a Civil War Style Upcycled Necklace | 7 Little Women Book Facts
  • Juice, jelly, and jam making. Fun American Civil War Crafts for Kids and Make Raspberry Jam

K

  • Kites
  • Knots

L

  • At the lake
  • Lighthouses. 5 Cool Lighthouse Facts and Make a Chip Can Lighthouse

M

  • Mountains. Look at How Does the Power of Ice Shape Mountains here.
  • Mice
  • Moon
  • Mammals

N

  • Nocturnal creatures
  • Night study (astronomy). Start your study with Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.

O

  • Ocean studies. You can grab my free Ocean Unit Study and Lapbook here.
  • Outdoor movie theater
  • Ocean animals
  • Otters

P

  • Pizza. How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model.
  • Peninsulas
  • Popcorn. Popcorn Science Mini Unit Study Which Brand Pops the Best
  • Picasso. Grab free Art Study Curriculum and Notebooking pages here.
  • Precipitation
  • Police
  • Pond life. Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook is a way to include all ages.
  • Picnics
  • Punctuation

Q

  • Qatar
  • Queens in history. Grab my free Famous Pharaohs and Queens lapbook here.

R

  • Rivers
  • Reptiles
  • Rainforest. Grab my free Amazon Rain Forest Unit Study and Lapbooks here.

S

  • Sea shells. Check out my post How to Dissolve a Seashell – Beach Hands-on Fun Activity
  • Shores
  • Sailboats
  • S’mores

And we always love nature walks anytime of the year and love this series of nature books!

Our Journey Westward
  • Stars
  • Sun/sunscreen
  • Spiders

T

  • Turtles vs tortoises. Grab my free From Egg to Sea Turtle Unit Study and Lapbook here.
  • Tortillas
  • Trees

U

  • Underwater creatures
  • Underneath the ground
  • Underwear (history)

Summer Unit Study Ideas

V

  • Vision

W

  • Water sports
  • Water crafts
  • Waves
  • Watermelon. How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning
  • Whales

X

  • X-rays

Y

  • Yaks

Z

  • Zebras
  • Zoology
  • Zoos
  • Zip lining

You’ll love these other ideas:

  • How to Use Summertime to Put a Foot in Homeschooling
  • Free Ocean Unit Study and Lapbook

I hope this list of 100 ideas will get you thinking about hands-on A to Z summer unit study fun!

This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Summer is a perfect time to get in some relaxed themed learning with unit studies. Kids of all ages can have fun learning with topics they will be eager to study. Click here to look at this A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas!
Summer is a perfect time to get in some relaxed themed learning with unit studies. Kids of all ages can have fun learning with topics they will be eager to study. Click here to look at this A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Choose Curriculum, Hands-On Activities, Homeschool When Nobody Wants To, Middle School Homeschool, Plan For & School Year Around, Teach Unit Studies, Teach/Which Subjects to Teach/Cover EVERYTHING Tagged With: 100, 100 Lists, A to Z Lists, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, summerideas, summerschool, unit studies

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School – 3 Questions Worth Asking

October 1, 2023 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Beginning homeschooling in middle school can be challenging for many reasons. I’m sharing three questions worth asking and answers. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips.

Having helped new homeschoolers on both ends of the learning spectrum from those struggling in public school to those not being challenged, beginning homeschooling in middle school can be demanding.

Across the board tips can help when beginning homeschooling in middle school because a lot of pressure is put on the teaching parent to perform.

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School – 3 Questions Worth Asking

3 Questions to Ask When You Start Your Homeschool Journey in Middle School

First, look at some of these resources to help you.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

Homeschooling for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

Homeschooling is a wonderful, worthwhile pursuit, but many homeschool parents struggle with feelings of burnout and frustration. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone! Most of us need to be reminded of the “why” of homeschooling from time to time—but "The Unhurried homeschooler" takes parents a step further and lifts the unnecessary burdens that many parents place on themselves.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn’t have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives.

Look at these questions and practical tips that help to start your year on a positive note.

1.
Do You Really Want To Only Experiment With Homeschooling?

Fear can cause a paralyzing effect on a positive mind-set.

Whether your child was overlooked in middle school and getting more behind by the day or if your child was making above average grades and you felt like he wasn’t being challenged, none of that is going to go away anytime soon.

Instead of focusing on the fear that you might mess your child up for life, jump into homeschooling with all the bravado that your child deserves.

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School - 3 Questions Worth Asking @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Middle school is half-way between childhood and adulthood.

Though you can’t do anything about the past, you can change their future and prepare them for adulthood.

It takes devotion to read about how to homeschool.

And to make curriculum choices, to fill in any gaps you find along the way and look ahead to high school.

Instead of homeschooling by looking back at public school, give all the time and energy you have to keep moving forward.

Why would you want to return to something that is not working?

Keep your new goal bright and burning because it will spur you ahead to adopt a relaxed homeschooling spirit.

2.
Is It Really Necessary To Teach All The Subjects Yourself?

Encouraging you to jump head long into homeschooling doesn’t mean you have to jump right into teaching every subject.

Being in public school for a while, it takes time for a child to develop a teacher and student relationship with you now.

It is an understatement to say that it can be quite challenging.

I have seen children who outright resent the teaching of a parent.

On the other hand, some children thrive right away when a parent takes control of the teaching.

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School – 3 Questions Worth Asking

Whatever the case is, ease the new teacher student relationship by appreciating the fact that they have been learning independent of you for a while.

More Homeschooling in Middle School Resources

  • How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School
  • A to Z List: Middle and High School Homeschool Electives
  • Fun Winter Craft Ideas for Middle School Homeschool
  • 10 Best Science Movies for Middle School
  • Which One is Really the Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum (a comparison)
  • How to Choose the BEST Homeschool Middle and High School Language Arts Curriculum & Options
  • Free Middle School Science Curriculum and Magazines

Though you may want to right all the wrongs of public school immediately but taking full control, I find it is better to build the relationship first.

It takes energy to foster the time you now have with your middleschooler and to renew your relationship.

Divide up your subjects into ones that you teach with your child and subjects that give him some breathing room that he can do independently.

For example, choose a subject that he needs help with right now.

This eases his stress with this transition by doing the subject on a one-to-one basis which he is struggling with the most.

He may not value it it now, but he will appreciate your support with a subject he is struggling in

Then, give him some breathing room by allowing him to do part of his subjects through an online or an interactive class.  

Look at my post Digital Homeschool Curriculum – Big Ol’ List for some more ideas.

Not only will this tip keep your day varied, but it allows you time to get familiar with teaching without getting overwhelmed.

3.
How Many Extra-Curricular Activities Does Your Child Really Need?

I made the same mistake though my child was only in kindergarten which was thinking I had to join every activity that was offered.

Afraid that my child would not be socialized and well rounded, I just knew that I had to keep the roads hot as we traveled back and forth for homeschooling activities.

Though homeschooling activities are a vital part of homeschooling, the timing is not always right each year.

Homeschool activities can be a tool for enrichment or an offensive break in the day depending on the needs of your family at the present moment.

Weigh each homeschooling activity carefully because your child has not been with you for a good part of the day up until this point.

Deepening and strengthening your parental bond with your precious child is the most important thing you want to accomplish this year.

I know you have curriculum worries, socialization worries and high school may be looming overhead.

However, in homeschooling you can advance quickly to accomplish those things.

I have many blog posts here that will help you sail through your concerns.

Relationships are different.  Unlike learning about homeschooling, there are no short cuts.  It takes time to water, nurture and rekindle any strained relationship.

As your child matures, graduates, and leaves your home, you will eventually stop homeschooling him.

However, your relationship will not stop growing.  

Too, he will remember fondly your love for learning and he will be infused with that passion.

It is possible to have it all even when you begin homeschooling in middle school.  The beginning is what matters.

Are you beginning to homeschool with a middle schooler?

 

2 CommentsFiled Under: Kick Off Your Homeschool Year, Middle School Homeschool Tagged With: middle school, middleschool

How to Rock Homeschool Creative Writing (when you don’t feel like THAT creative mom)

June 26, 2023 | 8 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have tips for homeschool creative writing. Also, you’ll love the tips on my post Which One is Really the Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum (a comparison).

Have you ever fumbled your way through teaching a homeschool subject?

Then realize later that you gave your children an amazing start?

It’s not a teaching method I tout because blunders don’t always turn out so productive.

However, teaching is partly influenced by what we were taught growing up.

And homeschool creative writing was a painful process for me.

How to Rock Homeschool Creative Writing (when you don’t feel like THAT creative mom)

In middle school, I wasn’t given a specific and detailed explanation of what is creative writing.

For example, I was told to write creatively.

But as a child I thrived with details, planning and wanted specificity.

My teacher was naturally creative and it was almost a lethal combination for me.

My middle school teacher thought I couldn’t relax and let thoughts flow or so it seemed.

And I thought my teacher didn’t know how to teach because she was unclear in her assignment and didn’t mind the details or so I thought.

How to Rock Creative Writing When Homeschooling (and when you don't feel like THAT creative mom) @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Until I started homeschooling my own children, I didn’t really grasp what my teacher was excited about.

Hoping to bridge the difference between exceptional homeschool teachers who are naturally creative and those who can be when they clearly understand the assignment, look at three things I learned the hard way.

Freedom from the Homeschool Curriculum Box

Progress can be made only when both the homeschool teacher and student understand that creative writing is a natural inward expression of creativity unchained from rules.

That is powerful if you think about it.

It is about emotions, thoughts, and self-expression. It’s about you and who doesn’t like talking (or writing) about their self.

In explaining creative writing to my boys, I used the example of a group photo taken by one of their friends.

When my boys’ friends show them the photo, can you guess what my boys look at first? Yep. They look for themselves first in the picture.

We can’t help it, it’s natural. We want to see how we look.

What is Homeschool Creative Writing

Creative writing is like finding yourself in that photo.

Naturally creative teachers know that putting thoughts on paper is the outside of what is brimming on the inside of an individual.

Once explained to a child, he can bring comical thoughts, deep emotions and even fears to the surface for writing topics.

Digging up those thoughts in a child’s mind may require effort on the part of a teacher.

Key to unleashing creative topics for your child to write about is reading aloud to your child.  Not only will reading aloud foster their imagination, but it helps your child to find their inner voice for writing.

Though I didn’t fully understand all the benefits of reading aloud when I started homeschooling, I reaped the benefits of doing it each day.

When I turned my boys loose, my sons could write pages and pages of stories based on their wild imagination that was stimulated by excellent literature.

How to Rock Homeschool Creative Writing (when you don’t feel like THAT creative mom)

After they would write pages and pages, I failed again. I switched to teacher mode. Correcting grammar and errors is what I thought writing was all about.

That wasn’t working because I almost created a resistant writer with my first son because I had stifled his creativity.

I learned after a battle of wills to not be part of the problem. Be part of the solution.

Thinking that my oldest son had to make a point to the endless stories he was penning was the second mistake I made.

Being a product of my schooling, I had been taught to be clear, concise and brief in my speech and writing.

Those qualities are important as I learned, but not to the extent that they diminish my son’s love for words and expressing emotions through artfully contrived words.

Being part of the solution is to let your child write without fear of being overly corrected, mechanical or trying to make their writing fit your boxed curriculum.

More Homeschool Creative Writing Tips

  • Which One is Really the Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum (a comparison)
  • 5 Creative Ways to Boost Handwriting in Older Kids
  • Cursive Matters; Handwriting Style Doesn’t + Free Resources
  • Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 3

From my childhood and experience teaching my first child who was similar to my learning style, I knew that if told him that creative writing was like painting with no rules, he would add his flair to his writing. And he did.

Also, I learned to not bring my teacher mode to the table and start correcting his paper or in other words smother an ember before it becomes a flame.

And I always added in a good dose of reading aloud each day to help all my boys find their style for writing.

Adding creative writing to your curriculum can be challenging but having confident writers years later has been worth every effort.

But I learned a few more things too. 

I learned to use my teaching strengths as a spring board to creative writing ideas.  And I learned how to help my kids create and brainstorm for writing topics.

8 Writing and Composition Resources For All Ages

Whether you’re teaching handwriting, composition, or creative writing solid tips come from having an abundance of composition and materials to choose from.

Aesop for Children: Story and D'Nealian Copybook Volume I (Aesop for Children Story and Copybook)

The Aesop for Children Story and D'Nealian Copywork Book, Volume I, includes seventy-three original unabridged fables illustrated by Milo Winter. Also included are copywork selections using the moral of each fable in D'Nealian style manuscript with adequate space for students to copy the included examples in their best handwriting. How to Teach Copywork:Copywork can seem simplistic. Give your child a sentence or two and have them copy it. It can also seem like busy work, but the benefits are great! Copywork is a simple introduction to handwriting, spelling, and composition. Have children copy only the best authors, with the best writing, and ideas to fill their growing minds. When to begin copywork:Once a child learns how to write their letters comfortably, they are ready to start simple copywork. Start with very short sentences and have them copy it, always in their best handwriting. 

Writing Strands: Beginning 1

Learn basic communication skills with this updated Writing Strands curriculum for a new generation!

This Beginning 1 course was created for students learning to write sentences and paragraphs on their own. The assignments gently guide students through their work each day, helping them master basic writing with unique exercises on dialogue, reporting, interviews, role playing, persuasion, story writing, and organizing and grouping ideas.

Writing with Ease: Level 1 Workbook (The Complete Writer)

In Writing with Ease, Susan Wise Bauer lays out an alternative plan for teaching writing, one that combines the best elements of old-fashioned writing instruction with innovative new educational methods. The Complete Writer workbooks (each sold separately) complement this plan with lessons, student worksheets, and teacher instructions for every day of writing instruction. Each covers one year of study. Used along with Writing with Ease, The Complete Writer, Level One (first in a four-volume set) complete the elementary-grade writing curriculum.

Jump In, 2nd Edition: Middle School Composition

ump In, 2nd Edition retains the step-by-step features of the first edition and its conversational style, along with some humor to ease the fright of writing! Students master the art of writing paragraphs, different types of paragraphs, topic sentences, and main ideas (thesis statements). They also practice writing nine types of essays and one research report. Proofreading lessons are included, along with suggested writing schedules and specific student checklists for each essay assignment.Let student-directed Jump In, 2nd Edition teach composition for you. A suggested writing schedule and checklist come with every essay assignment.Teachers will enjoy the new grading grids for each essay in the Teacher’s Guide, making grading much easier.Middle school. Two semesters. 98 daily lessons.

The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School, 2nd Edition

Finally, your teens will write without dread! Have they almost given up on writing? Do they reach for the tissue box when you say, "Write an essay"? Do you worry they won't be ready for high school or college writing? Do they say they think of things to write but can't write them down? With THE POWER IN YOUR HANDS: WRITING NONFICTION IN HIGH SCHOOL, 2ND EDITION, they'll learn essay writing in a relaxed, nonthreatening atmosphere with a little humor thrown in. This 2ND EDITION includes proofreading marks and exercises, a new chapter on common grammar mistakes, and numbered lessons to easily keep track of daily lessons. This course teaches your teens what they need to know for high school and will be prepare them for college writing: persuasion, compare-and-contrast essays, literary analysis, a research paper with MLA documentation, and much more. In addition, students will learn how to write description and narration essays. Beginning writers will feel safe, and advanced writers will enjoy Digging Deeper lessons.

Photo Credit: www.writingrockstars.com

Writing Rockstars

Homeschooling Students Improve Writing Skills With Our Online Writing Program

The Art of Poetry

If you have ever felt mystified by, or unable to enjoy the significance of poetry, this book will lead you step by step to understanding and love of this branch of literature, guided by a gifted poet and teacher. The Art of Poetry is an excellent middle school or high school curriculum; it will teach the practice of reading a poem slowly and carefully, introduce students to the elements of poetry (such as imagery and metaphor) and the many forms that can make a poem, from sonnet to open verse. In the belief that practice is the best way to learn, this book is rich with explications, exercises, and activities. A biography of each poet is also included, and we are providing audio files of many of the poems.

Cover Story Set

Curriculum is a creative one-year writing curriculum for middle school students

Later I realized that I don’t have to give up details, planning or specificity when writing. I will share specific details in an upcoming post about how I used my strengths to make creative writing flourish.

What about you? Are you afraid to step out of the box and teach creative writing?

You can do it!

8 CommentsFiled Under: Middle School Homeschool, Teach Homeschool Language Arts Tagged With: composition, handwriting, homeschoolanguagearts, language arts, languagearts, teachingwriting, writing

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

May 8, 2023 | 8 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 100 free unit study resources. Unit studies have a way of taking any topic from drab to fab. Grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies pages

They can bring life to the most seeming lifeless topic.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

So today in sharing toddler to teen 100 free unit study resources, I hope you find something that inspires you and your kids.

A good amount of the work has been started for you already with the resources I have listed below. And no, I just couldn’t stop at 100 resources!

Free Unit Study Resources

General Information & Unit Study How-Tos

  • 10 Days of Diving Into Studies Into By Creating A Unit Study Together
  • Ultimate Homeschool Unit Study Planner – Which Lesson Planning Pages to Use?
  • Unit Studies vs. Textbooks
  • How To Plan Unit Studies with Project-Based Learning
  • 5 Days of Building Preschool Unit Studies

Free Unit Studies

A

  • A Busy Year by Leo Lionni ~ Seasons & Months Printables
  •  Abner Doubleday
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Africa
  • Alpacas
  • Amazon Rain Forest and many lapbooks
  • Amphibians and Reptiles Unit
  • Ancient Egypt Unit
  • Ancient Greece
  • Animal Classification Unit
  • Another Ancient Egypt Unit Study
  • And My Ancient Egypt Unit Study
  • Annie Oakley
  • Ants
  • Apples
  • Arctic
  • Asia – Free Learning Resources
  • Australia
  • Autumn Unit Study
  • Celebrating Autumn
  • Alice in Wonderland

B

  • Beatrix Potter Unit Study Resources
  • Birds
  • Bubbles
  • Birds

C

  • Cooking Unit Study
  • Charlotte’s Web Unit Study
  • Chemistry
  • Chemistry Unit Study
  • Chronicles of Narnia Resources
  • Chocolate Unit Study
  • Civil War Unit Study
  • Chronicles of Narnia Free Learning Resources
  • Historical Fiction Series: Columbus
  • Columbus Unit Study Resources
  • Coral Reef
  • Camouflage

Also, look at Beautiful Feet literature for some fun literature, history and geography unit studies.

Homeschool Unit Studies

D

  • Daniel Boone and lapbook
  • Desert Animals Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Dinosaur Unit Study for Elementary Kids
  • Davy Crockett and the Alamo

F

  • Fall Unit Study (Includes Apples, Sir Isaac Newton, Art, and Appleseed)
  • Farm
  • FBI Unit study for middle and high school
  • Five Senses Unit Study
  • France Geography Unit Study
  • France
  • France another one

Unit Studies for Multiple Ages

G

  • Greece Unit Study and Lapbooks
  • Gardening Unit Study
  • Geology Unit Study
  • Greece another one
  • Goldrush

H

  • Harrison Ford
  • Historic Philadelphia, Independence Hall
  • Huge Human Body study and lapbook
  • History based for middle and high school

I

  • Iroquois Confederacy
  • Ian Fleming
  • Indian Corn
  • Insects Unit Study
  • Italy

J

  • Free Jamestown Unit Study
  • Jim Thorpe
Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

K

  • Keanu Reeves
  • Kentucky History Unit Study

L

  • Leonardo Da Vinci
  • Les Miserables
  • Lewis and Clark and several lapbooks
  • Literature Based Kindergarten Unit Studies
  • Little House on the Prairie Unit Study
  • Lost in the Solar System – Magic School Bus
  • Literature based

100 Unit Studies

M

  • Martin Luther King Jr Unit Study Resources
  • Medieval Unit Study
  • Michael J. Fox
  • Middle Ages Unit Study
  • The Mitten
  • Moon and Stars

N

  • Natural Disaster Themed Unit Study
  • Native American Plains Indians Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Neil Armstrong
  • New Zealand Unit Study
  • Norway

In addition, look at the Holling C. Holling Geography Unit Study Using Living Books.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

O

  • Oregon trail and Westward expansion lapbook
  • Owl
  • Ocean Unit study and Lapbook
  • Ocean Animals Unit

P

  • Phantom of the Opera
  • Pirates
  • Presidents of the United States Unit Study
  • Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Puzzles

R

  • Renaissance
  • Roger Moore
  • Revolutionary War
  • Russia Unit Study
  • Rainforest
  • Roller Coaster

S

  • Sharks
  • Slavery
  • Solar System Unit Study
  • Space and the solar system
  • Squirrels Free Learning Resources
  • Stellaluna
  • Spring Activities
  • Smores
Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

Free Unit Study Printables

T

  • Teach Bugs and Insects Using Eric Carle
  • Teeth Unit Study
  • The Titanic Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Tom Hanks

U

  • US Geography Unit Study
  • US History Unit
  • United Kingdom

V

  • Viking unit study and lapbook
Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

W

  • Weather Unit: Books, Videos, and Projects
  • Westward Ho Huge Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Winston Churchill
  • World War I
  • World War II Unit
  • Worm Unit Study
  • Weather

Z

  • Zoo Animals Unit

Don’t forget that I have the Ultimate Unit Study Planner. Having an eye for detail and creating many unit studies with multiple levels of kids, I know you’ll love it.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources. I have 100 free unit study resources. Unit studies have a way of taking any topic from drab to fab. Grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies pages. They can bring life to the most seeming lifeless topic. So today in sharing toddler to teen 100 free unit study resources, I hope you find something that inspires you and your kids.
  • This is a DIY printable Ultimate Unit Study Planner in COLOR.
  • Undated pages, so it is a 1 Time Purchase
  • You do not pay for “Fluff” pages like calendars found freely on the internet and provided here on my blog. Only unique working forms are part of your comprehensive download.
  • Lesson Pages are divided by lower, middle and higher grades.
  • Learning Objective Forms & Assessment Forms
  • Brainstorming Maps
  • 2. Ultimate DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

    2. Ultimate DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

    $5.99
    Add to cart

Feel inspired to try one or two or . . .?  You’ll be hooked!

You’ll love these other posts and tips too:

  • Helpful Homeschool Unit Study Spines to Plan in a Few Hours
  • How to Easily Add Language Arts to Homeschool Unit Studies (& Resources)
  • What You Must Know to Teach High School Unit Studies
  • 7 Budget-Friendly Language Arts Curriculum to Pair with Unit Studies (with printable)
  • 3 Things To Remember When Homeschool Unit Studies Get Complicated
  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids
100 FREE Toddler to Teen Homeschool Unit Studies. Your kids will love these ideas and you’ll find plenty of topics to keep homeschool planning easy. CLICK HERE to grab one or two!
100 FREE Toddler to Teen Homeschool Unit Studies. Your kids will love these ideas and you’ll find plenty of topics to keep homeschool planning easy. CLICK HERE to grab one or two!
Ultimate Homeschool Unit Study Planner - Comparing Two Different Lesson Planning Pages @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus


This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

8 CommentsFiled Under: Do Unit Studies, Free Homeschool Resources, Geography, Hands-On Activities, History Resources, Homeschooling, Middle School Homeschool, Other Unit Studies Tagged With: earthscience, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolhighschool, homeschoolhistory, homeschoolscience, middle ages history, middleschool, physical science, unit studies

Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study

April 16, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have some fun outdoor activities for middle schoolers today. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Besides, National Trails Day is April 22nd and that is a great time to start hiking the trails if you have never been or find a new one in your area if you have.

Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study

I also want to introduce or reacquaint you with another couple of fabulous outdoor activities for middle schoolers that go hand in hand with hiking trails which are geocaching and nature study.

In addition, I have another idea for outdoor activities for middle schoolers which is to teach them what to pack in your hiking pack list.

Too, I highly recommend a good quality comfy pair of shoes for everyone before you head out.

Hiking for Middle Schoolers

Hiking is a wonderful way to get exercise, fresh air, and get in a nature study.

Also, you also don’t usually have to go far to get some hiking in.

Check out this list of state parks by U.S. state that you can visit to get a hike in on the trails.

Or use it to find different trails near you. You can see the links location mark off the trail when you’ve completed it.

  • Check out local state and national parks in your state here for trails.
  • The National Parks Service also has an extensive listing of parks for each state.
  • You can use the All Trails APP to find different trails near you, get reviews for the trail, details like if it’s dog or stroller friendly, and mark off as you complete a trail.

What is Geocaching

Additionally, one fantastic addition to hiking is geocaching. It can also be done on its own.

If you don’t know, geocaching is simply a GPS-based activity.

People create and hide small trinkets or even just a logbook just off trails at parks and other public places for you to find.

They can be official containers or camouflage DIY containers like coffee cans.

Look at this one we found on our last hike.

Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study

The app gives you directions to follow and the distance to get you pretty close to the hidden cache.

In addition, we have found them hanging in trees, in hollowed-out logs or stumps, inside a hole cut in a telephone pole, covered by limbs or palm fronds.

Geocaching Container Ideas

There were large caches that contained toys, keychains, and other little things.

And there are small ones like this one where you unscrewed the behind part and there was a little rolled-up paper for you to log the date and a name for the cache owner.

Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study

Geocaching etiquette is that if you take something you leave something of equal value.

Then sign the logbook and replace the container just as you found it.

It can become quite addicting as you find small, camouflaged caches with little trinkets, you can’t wait to find the next one.

Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study

Moreover, here are some great small items to carry with you to leave behind.

  • small plastic animals
  • a yo-yo
  • fast food toys
  • keychains
  • change
  • iron-on patches
  • pretty stones or shells
  • rain poncho
  • tiny rubber duckies
  • beads or handmade bead jewelry
  • and hot wheels.

Nature Study for Homeschool Science

While you are hiking trails and geocaching it is a natural step to do some nature study.

You honestly can’t avoid it.

Surrounded by trees, flowers, birds, and small and large woodland creatures you will be taking in so much of the local flora and fauna you may as well turn it into a lesson.

  • You can create a fun scavenger hunt ahead of time or simply call out an object, for instance, poison ivy or a woodpecker and see who spots it first.
  • Observe how many different flower species you can find on your hike.
  • One of my favorite apps for identifying plants and animals is iNaturalist, it is a good resource for crowdsourcing to identify what you may be unsure of.
  • Use a camera or a sketchbook for your child to capture and identify what they see as they explore the trail.

5 Peterson First Guides for Nature and Hiking Studies

Add one or two of these nature and hiking resources to your field trip. Getting outdoors is the best way to learn about nature, change of pace, and savor the moments of learning which come naturally.

Peterson First Guide To Trees

Now there is a guidebook to trees--one of the most popular subjects in the Peterson Field Guide series--for the beginning naturalist. The 243 trees are grouped into six categories by leaf type and arrangement, making it easier for the beginner to identify unknown species. 200 color illustrations.

Peterson First Guide To Urban Wildlife

Peterson First Guides are the first books the beginning naturalist needs. Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see. They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides.

Peterson First Guide To Reptiles And Amphibians

From mudpuppies to rattlesnakes, this fascinating guide for young nature lovers describes the habits and habitats of these secretive and sometimes bizarre animals, and includes tips on how to catch and care for frogs, snakes, turtles, lizards, salamanders, and toads.

Peterson First Guide To Butterflies And Moths

Peterson First Guides are the first books the beginning naturalist needs. Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see. They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides.

Peterson First Guide To Insects Of North America

A simplified version of the full-sized field guides makes it easy and fun to get started in the field. Peterson First Guides are the first books the beginning naturalist needs. Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see. They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides.

More Activities for Middle Schoolers

Also, here are some more activities for middle schoolers.

  • Science Fiction for Middle School Fun Jurassic Park Quick Unit Study (DIY Insect in Amber)
  • How to Teach Science Through A Story – Middle & High School
  • Middle School Hands-on Science : Extreme Winds + Free Minibook
  • How to Create Easy Back to School Basket Ideas for Middle School (Anatomy)
  • Human Body Books for Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
  • Free Middle School Science Curriculum and Magazines
Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study

Furthermore, here are more ideas for nature study.

Nature Study Activities

What’s more is that nature studies are good to do for multiple ages. You’ll love these other nature study activities.

  • 26 Free Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages
  • Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study
  • Homeschool Kindergarten Life Science – Hands-on Fun Nature Tree Study
  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • Facts About Wildflowers And a Fun Felt Texas Bluebonnet Craft
  • How to Easily Make a Simple and Fun Kids DIY Flower Press
  • Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs

How to Make a Hiking Bag

Finally, look at these items to prepare you middle schooler for a day outdoors.

  • Bug spray-Dark and often damp woods are magnets for mosquitos, ticks, and more.
  • Chapstick- Sun and wind can be hard on your lips, especially if you aren’t staying hydrated enough.
  • Sunscreen- Even if it is overcast it’s a good idea to protect your skin.
  • Field guides- depending on where you were going and what’s in your area you might want to pack a long, one or two light field guides. You can grab field guides for common birds, trees, or wildflowers in your area.
  • First aid kit-You don’t need a large one unless you’re going on a multi-day hike. A few hours or a day-long hike would require a few Band-Aids, an alcohol wipe or two, and some kind of travel-sized antibiotic ointment.
  • Epi-Pen- If this is something you generally need to keep on hand anyway you do not want to get stuck out on a trail without it.
  • Water- Take plenty of bottled water along to stay hydrated or rinse off small scrapes, etc.
  • High-protein snacks- Seeds, nuts, protein bars, and beef jerky are all good high-energy snacks to replenish energy.
  • Camera-You would hate to miss an amazing shot of a deer crossing the trail or a bird rare to your area.
  • Cell Phone- I don’t think you will have to tell your teen twice to pack their phone, another great option for photos, and emergencies, and as a GPS for trail apps and geocaching.
  • Extra battery pack – If you will be out hiking for a long day you will want to grab some kind of backup battery pack.

Optional Hiking Items For Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers

  • Waterproof Binoculars
  • Flower Press- In many states it is illegal to remove flowers, animals, and any other park property but for fields and other locations that are not protected you may want to have one with you.
  • Pocket microscope
  • Notebook/Pen
  • Hat/Sunglasses

Ready to take your learning outdoors?

Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Middle School Homeschool Tagged With: hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, middle school, middleschool, nature, nature study, science

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