Fun, FREE Hands-on Unit Studies

Units Laid out in Yearly Schedules

If you would prefer to see the below unit studies laid out in the order that I did them, check out these:

Earth Science Unit (6 weeks)

Make an edible model of the earth as you study the Earth's layers, bake cookies that demonstrate how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks form, create fossil casts, build marshmallow structures that can withstand a jell-o earthquake, carve gullies and valleys in sand using wind, water, and ice, make presentations on various aspects of the Earth, and more during this hands-on unit study of Earth Science!

Simple Machines and Inventions (6 weeks)

Race cars down ramps as you study inclined planes and wedges, build and test catapults as you study levers and screws, create waterwheels as you study wheels and axles, lift each other using pulleys as you study gears and pulleys, use static electricity lift hair and separate salt and pepper as you study electricity, devise Rube Goldberg machines to place toothpaste on a toothbrush without touching either one, present on famous inventors, and more during this exciting hands-on unit study on simple machines and inventions!

Human Body (7 weeks)

Create edible DNA models, made models of the insides of bones, dissect deer organs, create a working model of the respiratory system, play immune system freeze tag, and more in this fun unit on human anatomy!

Astronomy Unit (4 Weeks)

Make planet pizzas as you study planets, form the lunar phases using Oreo cookies as you study the moon, study and paint Van Gogh's "Starry Night " as you study stars, build and blast off rockets as you study space exploration, make presentations on individual planets, and more during this hands on unit study on the solar system.

Floating & Flying (5 weeks)

Build an aluminium foil barge that can hold the most pennies, experiment with what floats and sinks and why, create working models of various ships and a submarine, create a variety of airplane and parachute models, and more during this 5 week unit on floating and flying.

Plants (1 week)

Go on a seed hunt, act out germination, create seed mosiacs, make and eat a plant parts salad, and more during this lesson on plant growth!

Five Senses (4 weeks)

Build a crawl-through ear as you study hearing, play scales on water glasses as you study music and sound, dissect a cow eye ball as you study sight, try to identify mystery objects simply by their smell, present on various aspects of the five senses, and more during this four week hands-on study of the five senses.

Weather (4 weeks)

Make tornadoes and clouds in a bottle, create and use rain gauges, dramatize a storm front, design and eat clouds, race against prevailing winds, and more during this exciting 4 week unit on weather and meteorology!

Forensic Science (1 week)

Analyze fingerprints and hair samples, take mug shots, solve a real crime, and more during this one week lesson plan on detectives!

Zoology (5 Weeks)

Examine pond water and yeast cells under a microscope, test out various insect mouths, dissect a fish, create an egg model, perform a play about mammals, present on a specfic animal phylum or genius, and more during this five week unit study on animal classification!

Medieval Period/Middle Ages (4 weeks)

Bake medieval meals, create a medieval village, hold a jousting tournament, and more during this 4 week hands-on study of the medieval period!

Explorers (5 weeks)

Build Viking shields and swords and "sail" to Vineland with Leif Erikson, walk the route of Marco Polo (through your house) and collect the items that he saw on his journey through China, go on a compass treasure hunt, dramatize Columbus' journey, make Da Gama Portuguese land markers, create Montezuma's headdress, go on a conquistador hunt for gold, bake constellation bar cookies, dress up as and present on famous explorers, and more during this unit study on Explorers!

Early American Settlers (4 weeks)

Build a waddle and daub house like they did in Jamestown, create pilgrim costumes, set up a beaver trading post as you study Dutch settlers, cook a batch of William Penn's applesauce, perform a play on the Pilgrims, eat a semi-authentic Thanksgiving feast, and more during this fun unit study on Early American Settlers.

American War for Independence (6 weeks)

Make tricorn hats and mob caps, "brew" root beer with Samuel Adams, hold a tea party as you study the Boston Tea Party, reenact the Battles of Lexington and Concord, make ink and quill pens in order to sign the Declaration of Independence, cook hasty pudding, drill with Baron von Steuben as you study Valley Forge, write a secret code and seal it with wax as you study Benedict Arnold, present on the people of the American War for Independence, and more during this exciting unit study!

George Washington and The Constitution (1 week)

Dance a minuet, cook and eat Nelly's Hoecakes, go on a "fox hunt," create the three branches of the Constitution, and more during this lesson on President George Washington and the Constitution!

Native Americans (4 weeks)

Hunt for arrowheads, build teepees, paint totem poles, draw Pueblo chalk drawings, present on specific Native American tribes, and more during this fun four week hands on study of Native Americans.

Westward Expansion & Pioneers (4 weeks)

Fry up Daniel Boone's favorite fried chicken recipe and talk a walk outdoors in search of tracks and you study frontiersmen and tracking. Dramatize the purchase of Louisiana from France and more as you study Lewis and Clark! Build a pioneer wagon and the transcontinential railroad. Pan for "gold" and deliver mail on the pony express (using bicycles rather than horses). Wrap up the unit on Westward Expansion and pioneers with a wagon roundup dinner and presentations on various frontiersmen and pioneers.

World Geography (26 weeks)

Study a county a week as you visit 1 country per letter of the alphabet. Locate the county on a map, color the flag, cook an ethnic meal, create an ethnic craft, read a book about the county, and more! All the maps, flags, recipes, craft ideas, etc. are already listed! All you have to do is follow the weekly lesson plan.

50 States

Over the next few months I'll upload the lessons we did while studying the United States. Since there were so many great resources we found for each individual state, I've also created a webpage featuring our favorite books, YouTube clips, & more for each state. You can find the links for each state on my 50 States Lesson Plans lens.

Japan (1 week)

Make an origami paper crane, a carp fish kite, a Japanese meal, a Japanese doll, and more during this lesson on Japan!

Africa (4 weeks)

Dramatize the mummification process, carve clay cartouches, eat a Tuareg-style meal, act out an Ashanti tale, dramatize the historic gold and salt trades centered in Ghana, paint watercolor paintings of the animals of the Congo, make Nigerian-style tie-dye shirts, hunt like a Pygmy and act out the Pygmy Honey Dance, enjoy an Ethiopian-style feast, create Zulu shields, and more!

Thanksgiving (2 weeks)

Create pilgrim costumes, make stewed pompion (pumpkin), plant corn, eat a semi-authentic Thanksgiving feast (authentic recipes are included), perform a fun play on the pilgrims, and more!

Christmas (2 weeks)

Act out a nativity play, make edible Christmas gifts, form salt dough Jess Tree ornaments, and more!

Unit Studies by Jimmie

There are a number of other wonderful free unit studies out there. Jimmie has many great ones. Here are just a few.

Unit Studies by eclecticeducation

If you couldn't find the unit you were hoping to find, try some lessons by eclecticeducation. She has produced a number of great homeschool units! Here are a few.

Unit Studies by JoyfulPamela

JoyfulPamela has many wonderful homeschool unit studies. Here is a sampling.

Unit Studies by LilliputStation

LilliputStation has compiled some excellent lenses filled with links to great free unit studies, lapbooks, craft ideas, recipes, and more. Here are just a few of her superb lenses.

Unit Studies by Evelyn_Saenz

Evelyn_Saenz has created many wonderful unit studies, many of which are especially geared toward Pre-K and lower elementary aged children. Here are some of her best.