Unit Study Ideas

Unit studies can truly light up your homeschooling journey, offering a wonderful alternative or addition to your regular curriculum. They can open up a world of possibilities allowing you to follow your child’s interests and curiosities wherever they may lead – and it’s often in these explorations that the most magical learning moments happen.

Feel free to shape your unit study as broadly or as narrowly as your heart desires. My suggestion? Let it flow organically; don’t stress about fitting subjects into a unit just to tick off a checklist. The beauty of learning unfolds best when your unit study feels like a natural adventure into a new topic.

To help kickstart your journey, we’ve put together a list of inspiring ideas. Plus, we’ve crafted a handy-dandy, absolutely Free Unit Study Template tailor-made just for you (bottom of this page).

Learn more about creating a unit study in Episode 056. How Do You Create a Unit Study? Ready to dive in and make learning a delightful experience? Let’s get started!

Your spine book will be your main go-to when you start working through your unit study. Within it, you’ll be able to find topics or rabbit holes to meander down.

Here are some examples of spine books:

Usborne Encyclopedia books
Smithsonian books
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia books
DK Series books
National Geographic books

Scroll Down for your FREE Unit Study Template

Animals

Animal-Related Topics
Adaptation
Endangered species
Animal habitats
Hibernation
Food chains

Specific Types of Animals
Birds (general)/Backyard birds
Bees
Butterflies
Bugs
Spiders
Bats
Frogs
Penguins
Dogs/Cats
Monkeys
Dinosaurs
Farm animals
Sea animals
Sharks
African Animals
Dinosaurs
Reptiles
Amphibians
Mammals

Plants

Plants (in general)
Trees
Flowers
Edible plants
Gardening/Landscaping
Pumpkins
Apples
Leaves
Anatomy of plant cells
Fungi

Life Science

General Life Science Topics
Human anatomy and physiology
Evolution
Bacteria and viruses
The five senses

People

People/Groups of Historical Significance
Explorers
Pioneers
Indigenous People
Suffragettes
Civil rights leaders
LGBTQ+ History
Egyptians
Aztecs
Mayans
Romans
Greeks

The Work People Do
Composers/Musicians
Artists
Inventors
Writers
Presidents/Prime minister
Community helpers
Healthcare workers
Archaeologists
Scientists
Inventors/Engineers
Architects

Specific People
Albert Einstein
Amelia Earhart
Clara Barton
Harriet Tubman
Helen Keller
Leonardo Da Vinci
Mahatma Gandhi
Marie Curie
Martin Luther King Jr
Maya Angelou
Mother Teresa
Mozart
Shakespeare
Marco Polo
Joan of Arc
Hatshepsut
Nelson Mandela
Pablo Picasso

Geography

The continents
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Oceania/Australia
Europe
North America
South America
The Arctic

Countries
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Egypt
England
France
Germany
India
Israel
Indonesia
Japan
Mexico
Nigeria
Pakistan
Ukraine
Spain
United States

Landforms, Biomes, and Bodies of Water

Seas and Oceans
Ponds, Lakes, and Rivers
Coasts and Beaches
Mountains
Forests/Rainforests
Deserts
Volcanoes
Glaciers
Tundra
Volcanoes
Rocks and Minerals

Space Science

Space (in general)
Earth
Solar system
The moon
The sun/stars
Aliens
Black Holes
Space Travel

Meteorology and Weather

Seasons (general)
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ecosystems
Weather (in general)
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
The water cycle
Snow/Sleet
Clouds

Physics

Physics (in general)
Force and motion
Simple machines
States of matter
Light spectrum

Chemistry

Chemistry (in general)
Periodic table
Chemical reactions
Crystals

Transportation

Transportation (in general)
Transportation Infrastructure
Automobiles
Contruction Vehicles
Trains
Aircraft
Motorcycles
Boats
Rockets
Auto design

Computers/Technology

The Internet
Computers
History/Evolution of Phones
Energy production and harvesting
Photography
Artificial intelligence
Robots
Game Design
Website Design
History of Animation
Music Composition/Recording
Graphic Design

Time Periods/Significant Historical Events

Ancient Egypt
Ancient China
Indus-Valley Civilization
Mesopotamia
Middle Ages/Medieval Period
Viking Age
The Renaissance
Age of Discovery
Elizabethan Period
Industrial Revolution
World War I
The Great Depression
Pearl Harbor
World War II
Decades 50s/60s/70s/80s
The American Civil War
The Gold Rush
The Fur Trade
The Silk Road

Holidays/Events

Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Christmas
Hanukah
Kwanzaa
Diwali
Bodhi Day
Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe
St. Patrick’s Day
Halloween
Day of the Dead
Easter
Yule
Elections
Olympics

Activities

Gardening
Baking
Scrapbooking
Finances (Budgeting, Investment)
Recycling
Sports
Starting a Business
Interior Design
Fashion
Cooking/Baking
Interior Design
Fitness/Nutrition
Artistry (painting/scultping/Jewelry/etc.)
Performing Arts (dance/theater/band/etc.)

Literature

Magic Tree House Books
Roald Dahl books
CS Lewis books
Little House on the Prairie
Charlotte’s Web
Harry Potter
Tolkien books (The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings)
Shakespeare
Poetry
The Wind in the Willows
Anne of Green Gables
The Giver
Red Badge of Courage
Bud, Not Buddy
Wonder
Esperanza Rising
George Orwell Books