unit study

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

September 18, 2022 | Leave a Comment
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This fun apple lapbook and hands-on unit study for multiple ages is another one to add to your lineup of lapbooks for the fall season. Don’t forge to look at my apple unit study and lapbook here too.

Besides, studying about apples doesn’t have to be a lapbook just for young children.

When we studied apples the first time, I included my middle and high school kids.

So when deciding what to include in your multiple ages apple lapbook, you can decide if it is one lapbook for multiple ages or one lapbook per child.

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

And include a fun field trip like apple picking or do apple activities like baking applesauce, make apple pie or make apple butter.

It makes for such a fun and memorable time.

Add in a few apple books too like Farm Anatomy and Food Anatomy which have a couple of pages on apples to learn from.

Apple Unit Study Ideas

Next, add some topics to make this apple unit come alive for multiple ages.

Look at these ideas for a science apple unit study.

Science about Apples

For ideas on science cover these topics.

Cultivating, Harvesting and Storage of Apples
Is it a Deciduous or Conifer Tree
Important to the Apple Tree label page
Isaac Newton and His Apple
3 Laws of Motion
Life cycle of an apple
Sir Isaac Newton – Father Of Modern Physics Notebooking Page
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

History and Geography Apple Themed

Also, include some geography and history ideas.

Learn about Johnny Appleseed and the states he toured.

John Chapman American Pioneer Notebooking Page
John Chapman Orchardist Notebooking Page
Johnny Appleseed Minibook

Too, include some fun language arts.

Language Arts Apple Themed

I have some gorgeous pages for your Prek kids to learn the alphabet on how to make an apple pie
Do acrostic for older kids
Write about Jonny Chapman’s life and contribution as a nurseryman and define what it means to be an American Pioneer.
Understand what it means an Apple a Day Minibook
Read and do copywork for Proverbs 25:11 Quote Minibook

Also, I created some notebooking pages for writing prompts

Signs of Autumn Coloring/Notebooking Pages
Signs of Autumn Textbox Notebooking Page
Spectacular Recycling Process Notebooking Page

Lastly, besides crafts add in learning about apple themed art and artists.

Art about Apples

Here are some art ideas and artists

Apples and Oranges {Paul Cézanne}
Apple Tree {Gustav Klimt}
Portrait of young man with apple or Portrait of Maria della Rovere – {Raphael}
Virgin and Child under an Apple Tree {Lucas Cranach the Elder}

For math ideas, cooking is a great life skill to do here.

In addition, notebook pages can be used by older children.

Notebooking Pages About Apples

In addition, not all kids love lapbooks.

For your older kids, use my free notebooking pages which I include in this one free huge download.

Remember that any worksheet can be turned into a fun minibook printable.

So if you find a worksheet your child wants to include in this apple lapbook or apple unit study, look at how to do it below.

Easily turn any minibook into a treasured keepsake by following the 4 steps above and glue the back of the minibook anywhere on your file folder.

Other Apple Resources

Adding more hands-on ideas will round out your apple unit study and lapbook.

Too, gardening ideas can be added if you make this lapbook more science based.

Lastly, ALL of the above topics have been turned into ONE 48 page download with the following minibooks and notebooking pages.

Cultivating, Harvesting and Storage of Apples Minibooks
An Apple a Day Minibook
Proverbs 25:11 Quote Minibook
Apple Art/Artists W/Pocket
Apple Pie Alphabet Sheets
Deciduous or Conifer Tree minbook
Important to the Apple Tree label
Isaac Newton and His Apple/3 Laws of Motion Minibook
John Chapman American Pioneer Notebooking Page
John Chapman Orchardist Notebooking Page
Johnny Appleseed Minibook
Life Cycle of Apple Tree Minibooks
Sir Isaac Newton – Father Of Modern Physics Notebooking Page
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
Signs of Autumn Coloring/Notebooking Pages
Signs of Autumn Textbox Notebooking Page
Spectacular Recycling Process Notebooking Page

Free Apple Lapbook and Notebooking Pages

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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

The Ultimate and Beautiful DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

June 29, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

An ultimate and beautiful diy homeschool unit study planner should stand alone as your homeschool planner.

One huge mistake is trying to fit a few planning pages for a unit study into your homeschool planner.

A unit study is a completely different approach than traditional curriculum. The pages should reflect your way of teaching.

What that means is that besides planning a unit study page, your planner should have an objective page, a way to track your unit studies and lesson planning templates.

These are just a few of the unique pages you should have in your unit study planner. But what is a unit study? Here is my definition which I have used before.

Unit study curriculum takes one topic and includes as many subjects as possible. It builds an entire curriculum around the topic covering subjects like language arts, math, reading, art, history, science, and geography with hands-on application.

Next, look at these 5 features of this beautiful planner.

This a DIY planner. You print pages in your download.
It is a colorful planner.
Detailed lesson planning pages are divided for multiple ages.
Learning objective and assessment pages are included.
More than 1 planner cover is included for variety and the BEST
thing is that my forms are VERY DETAILED. I’m not creating USELESS BLANK pages. I create pages which guide you in planning.

The Ultimate and Beautiful DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

Unit Study Homeschool Planner

Moreover, the planner has pages which help you track your unit studies. Planning unit studies is quite different than planning using traditional curriculum.

For example, you may choose topics ahead of time. You need a form to jot down your ideas or topics your children choose.

However, waiting some time to plan the day to day or week to week planning can be smart. Interests may change and your goals for what you want your children to cover may change.

Unlike traditional curriculum, planning for unit studies take place ahead of the school year and should take place during the school year.

Finally, look at the detailed pages included as you put together your planner:

4 unit study planner covers
Checklists and Unit Tracker
Planning unit studies packet
Lesson Planning pages with subjects filled in
Lesson Planning pages with editable spaces for your subjects
Learning Objectives forms
Assessment Form
Variety of Journal Pages
83 pages.

Grab this gorgeous planner to help you plan!

TOS

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2. Ultimate DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner
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Look at these other posts you’ll love :

10 Key Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum (free printable)

April 28, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Unit study curriculum has ten key benefits. Today, I will identify what is unit study curriculum, how long a unit study should last, and what makes a good unit study curriculum.

Besides identifying what a unit study means, you need to know how to use unit study curriculum with your multiple aged children.

And knowing how to identify what is not a unit study or unit study curriculum keeps you from wasting your time.

First, knowing what is unit study curriculum will help you to see the benefits of it.

Unit Study Curriculum

Unit study curriculum takes one topic and includes as many subjects as possible. It builds an entire curriculum around the topic covering subjects like language arts, math, reading, art, history, science, and geography with hands-on application.

Also, unit study curriculum can build lesson plans around a piece of literature, a famous author or person.

10 Key Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum (free printable)

For a history slant, a unit study can be created using an event or learn about a famous person. Regarding science, a unit study can use topics from past or current events, inventions, or focus on a scientist.

Studying character traits is another way to build unit study curriculum. On top of that art can tie in history, science, crafts, and math when art is the main topic.

Extensive Unit Study Curriculum

Next, identifying the differences in extensive versus limited unit studies will help you to make a better choice.

Extensive unit study curriculum can include lesson plans or lesson plan ideas, language arts and maybe math. Math is the only component for both extensive and limited unit study that is normally purchased separately as well as including some aspect of it in daily learning.

In addition, it should include components of hands-on activities and project ideas.

As you can see the topics can be endless which is a huge appeal to learners of all ages.

A few choices I like for extensive unit study curriculum are:

Five in a Row which now includes ages up to middle school and is based on beautiful literature;
Konos is another extensive curriculum and is for learners all the way to high school and is based on character traits;
Gather Round Homeschool is fairly new to the homeschool world and is for learners to high school and takes more of a Charlotte Mason approach;
Tapestry of Grace is another favorite of mine built around the main topic of history, but also has a classical approach intertwined. It too is geared for all ages up to high school;
Christian Cottage blends history time periods with science and lots of hands-on activities. Like KONOS and Five in a Row, it has been around for years. Although initially it was up to middle school, it is aimed for use up to high school and is still a wonderful resource; and
Trail Guide to Learning blends another favorite subject of ours which is geography with language arts and science. When it launched back in the day it was aimed for middle school and still is a great fit for middle school learners.

Limited Unit Study Curriculum

Next, don’t think because a unit study curriculum is limited that it won’t be of value.

The ideas or content may be excellent starting points or give extensive background knowledge. Perhaps limited unit study curriculum just gives an idea for the day versus a daily lesson plan.

Furthermore, the focus of some of unit studies are narrow; that is a huge benefit when too much information is overwhelming.

Not everyone wants day to day hand holding especially if you have an eager learner. You may just want a framework of knowledge on the topic. There are many ways to use limited unit study curriculum.

A few of the ones I like are below;

NaturExplorers was created by a homeschooling mom who gives you a framework of ideas in how to teach multiple children and it’s based on nature. We used it here Hands-On Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity, Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag, and Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds.

Beautiful Feet Literature is another favorite that I’ve used through the years. Although the history is deep, the focus on other subjects can be limited. For example, Beautiful Feet has a science unit study and learning geography through picture books.

Home School In The Woods is another one which is comprehensive in information, but narrow on including other subjects besides history. But you’ll love their hands-on ideas for history. At my post Great Empires Activity Study by Home School in the Woods you can see some of the fun.

In my 25 years of homeschooling, I’ve seen an explosion of unit studies. Some welcomed by me, others not so much.

What is NOT Unit Study Curriculum

What is not a homeschool unit study is busy work and it’s not an approach you do alongside another approach.

Because there are no rules, you can be as detailed or loose in your planning as you desire. There is no one way to do a unit study.

Additionally, because it’s an integrated thematic study, prepared laid our boxed curriculum doesn’t usually align with this approach. You need less all-in-one curriculum and more topical or thematic guides and books.

What Makes Good Unit Study Curriculum

With that being said, what makes a good unit study curriculum is one that makes your job easier. Too, it should give you support to create a richer education for your children while saving you time and stress.

How Long Should a Unit Study Last

Then, depending on the ages of your children and their interests, your unit study could last anywhere from two weeks to several months.

A few topics my children wanted to study longer, I wanted to move on to cover other topics for the year. Just know that sometimes you’re the one that wants to move on.

However, I’ve had topics planned to do for a month which only lasted two weeks.

A good rule of thumb is to plan for at least two unit studies a month. That way if your children lose interest in one topic which you had planned to do longer, you can easily move on to your next topic.

Another tip for you is to use unit studies with all your children. Having these solid tips will show you how to use unit study curriculum with all your children.

Using Unit Study Curriculum with Multiple Aged Children

Aim for a resource which targets the age of your middle child or most mature learner. Tweaking assignments to meet the needs of younger learners is easier than crafting ideas for older learners. Especially if you’re new to unit studies, this sanity-saving tip will help.
Doing unit studies together does not mean you have to be on the same subtopic. For example, your family may be studying about sharks. An older learner could write a research paper, your middle learner could practice his reading on a book he or she has selected, and your kindergartner may be coloring a picture or crafting a shark. Different activities while you’re on the same topic is the sanity-saving secret. All doing the same lesson plan is not.
Let each younger learner stop when he or she is immersed. The unit study approach is immersion into the topic. Like everything else, your youngest learner has limits when interest has piqued. Keep going with your older learners until their interest is piqued as well. Chances are you’ll cover the topic again later in your journey and the younger ones will pick up where they left off.

10 Benefits of Unit Study Curriculum

Lastly, the best part of unit studies and unit study curriculum are the benefits.

Including all of your children together with each working at their individual levels, maximizes time.
Children are immersed in a topic which they chose or better known as delight-directed studies.
Willing participants in learning instead of forced learning nurtures independent learning.
Moving at your family’s pace allows each child to be masters of their material. They are working individually for mastering not in comparison to other children their age.
Through hands-on activities and living books, learning sticks. Retention is higher because children are doing and not just reading about the topic.
Instead of learning bits and pieces about topics, children stay on a topic long enough to connect their knowledge to the greater body of knowledge.
Separated curriculum with various topics have no unifying effect unlike the unit study approach.
One giant reference book which spans many ages can be used with your multiple children saving a budget strain. In addition, the books can be used for several years unlike grade level curriculum.
Learning is a privilege and should not be rushed to stay in step with scope and sequence. Using the unit study approach makes the approach fit your family, not keep up with a curriculum schedule.
My favorite benefit is that the whole family is together with a relaxed pace and fostering sibling togetherness. The focus is on maximizing the time and your kids can easily lose track of the time spent learning. Fabulous!

Ultimate Unit Study Planner

I would love to give you a copy of one of my pages from my Ultimate Unit Study Planner! It is a page I start with when I call bubble planning. I plan my thoughts and possible subjects around the main theme. You can see a sample of it here How to Create a Homeschool Unit Study – Step 2: Separation.

ID: 15102

Free Unit Study Planner Printable Page

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What do you think? Are you ready to give unit study curriculum a try?

Here are some more unit study helps:

unit study

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages