Unit Study

Becoming a
Unit Study...
Sara Rask
Consultant, Rainbow Resource Center
srask@rainbowresource.com
Compiled by Rainbow Consulting Staff:
Deanne Crawford
Donna Krahn
Gina Burmeier
Janice Price
Sara Rask
Contact us at consultants@rainbowresource.com
Unit Study
PRO
What is a Unit Study? It is a thematic or topical approach to teaching as opposed to the
traditional by-subject approach. Rather than teach each subject separately, a unit study
attempts to integrate many or all subject areas into a unified study—usually centered on a
particular subject or event.
Unit Study Categories
1. All Inclusive (or Complete)
Covers all subjects in an organized (chronological) flow. In many cases you may need
to add math, phonics, etc. (Ex: KONOS, Weaver, Trail Guide to Learning, Learning
Adventures)
2. Literature Based
Centered on a child’s book or series of books. (Ex: Five in A Row, Prairie Primer,
Further Up Further In, On the Loose with Dr. Seuss)
3. History Based
Centered on historical time or event. (Ex: History Revealed: Diana Waring)
4. Subject/Topic Based
May be a science topic, event, thing, art/music. Usually not a one year curricula. There
are several publishers that provide guides on a variety of topics/subjects. (Ex: Amanda
Bennett Guides)
Unit Study Resource List
All Inclusive:
Guides for Topical/Subject:
KONOS (C)
Weaver (C)
Trail Guide to Learning (C)
Sonlight (C)
Learning Adventures (C)
Layers of Learning (N)
History Revealed: Diana Waring (C)
The Civil War—by Pat Wesolowski (C)
Introduction to Classical Studies—Memoria
Press (C)
Amanda Bennett: (C)
- Adventures
- Download ’n Go
- Passport Geography
Kym Wright (C)
Galloping the Globe/Cantering
the Country(C)
Friends & Heroes Series (C)
Literature:
Unit Study P.R.O. Resources:
Historical:
Five in a Row (C/S)
On the Loose with Dr Seuss (S)
Prairie Primer (C)
Further Up & Further In (C)
Where the Brook & River Meet (C)
Portraits of American Girlhood (C)
Creating Curriculum Children’s Books (S)
1
Booster Shot Energize Your Homeschool
with Unit Studies
Unit Studies Made Easy
Study Starters CD ROM
Joy of Discovery
Unit Study Daily Lesson Planner
(C)-CHRISTIAN (S)-SECULAR (N)-NEUTRAL
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Unit Study
P
PRO
lan Your Topic
R
R
R
R
Ages of your children
Interests of children and mom
Family dynamics
Available resources and time
Notes:
R
esearch Your Topic
R
R
R
R
R
Internet
Library
Your bookshelves
Field trips
People resources
Notes:
O
rganize Your Topic
R
R
R
R
S
elect books, videos, and websites you will be using
Determine activities to be incorporated
Contact people who are knowledgeable in subject area
Schedule field trips
Notes:
2
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www.rainbowresource.com
Unit Study Tools
Websites:
Activities:
Videos:
Field Trips:
Topic:
Books:
3
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People Resources:
Unit Study Topic
(Topic or Theme)
Spelling/Vocabulary:
History/Geography/Social Studies:
Penmanship:
Science:
Writing:
Math:
Literature/Reading Comprehension:
Music/Art:
Bible/Character Lessons:
P.E.:
4
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Unit Study Tools: sample
Websites:
Activities:
- www.titanic1.org
- www.titanic-titanic.com
- www.onlinetitanicmuseum.com
- Map route of Titanic
- Study ship speed
- Timeline
- Morse Code
- Study hypothermia
- Study styles, clothes and
culture of 1912
Videos:
Field Trips:
- Titanic (1953 version)
- A Night to Remember
- History Channel:
Titanic the Complete Story
- National Geographic
Books:
- Titanic
- Icebergs/Glaciers
- Ships
- Morse Code/Samuel Morse
- Biographies
Contact us: consultants@rainbowresource.com
Topic:
Titanic
- Titanic Exhibit
- Ocean
- US Coast Guard
People Resources:
- YouTube : “Survivors and what
they saw”
- Coast Guard or Navy personal
Unit Study Topic: sample
Titanic
(Topic or Theme)
Spelling/Vocabulary:
History/Geography/Social Studies:
- Nautical terminology
- Hypothermia terminology
- Glacier terms
- Timeline
- Map activities
- Biographies of those on board ( Archibald Butt,
Isidor Straus, Captain Edward J. Smith)
- Learn Morse Code
Penmanship:
- Copywork: quotes from books, Bible verses
Writing:
- Research projects
- Be a newspaper reporter and report on
Titanic disaster
- Compare/contrast Titanic movie with real story
Literature/Reading Comprehension:
- Book reports
- Narration/dictation
- Magic Treehouse guide & book on Titanic
Music/Art:
- Study life of band leader: Wallace Hartley
- Draw Titanic ship and label
- Draw iceberg
P.E.:
- Row boat/canoe one knot per hour
- Energy: move to increase body temp
and battle hypothermia
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Science:
- Hypothermia
- Glaciers
- Salt water vs. fresh water
Math:
- Calculate Titanic’s speed: convert knots to MPH
- Graph answers from experiments
- Number of life boats compared to number
of people
- Calculate number of life boats necessary for
all to survive
Bible/Character Lessons:
- Women and children first
- Leadership and responsibility
- Pride
- Scripture:
Job 37:10
John 15:13
Song of Solomon 8:7
Acts 16:31