DIY Homeschooler has now been around for over 20 years. Over those years we have posted over 200 free units covering everything from earthworms, arches, inventors, and DNA to composers, horses, holidays, and bread…and practically everything in between.
There are many ways to use these resources. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Choose
You may have time to investigate a subject thoroughly. On the other hand, you may prefer a simple one-day look. Whatever it is you need, take what will work for your situation and leave the rest.
2. Investigate
We tend to think of our units as investigations. Really, the person doing the research is the one learning. Imagine how much we have learned pulling together over 200 units!
Let your child investigate and research on his own. Depending on his age, you can preview and provide appropriate resources and tools.
3. Read
Books. Don’t forget the books.
We always try to provide several book recommendations based on the books we are personally familiar with. Whether our recommendations fit your family or not, try other book lists and add more. The more read (individually or as family read-alouds), the more learned.
4. Interact
Next up, interact with what you are reading. We always get more out of what we interact with.
You’ll find more help at 6 Ways to Get the Most From Your Literature-Based Studies.
5. Practice
Your student has absorbed the content, now it is time for him to practice his skills. The simplest beginning is to have him narrate what he has learned. Here are a few other helps:
- Language Arts the Natural Way
- Writing Helps
- Research Helps
- 8 Ways to Supplement Your Math Program
- 10 Educational Virtual Field Trips
- Interacting with Literature
6. Create
Once something has been taken in (input) it is time for something to come out (output). There are many different forms output can take:
- Booklet.
- Essay.
- Copywork.
- Simple written narration.
- Compare/contrast report.
- Timeline.
- Illustration.
- 3D construction.
- Or our personal favorite: a notebook.
The last question remaining is … which one will you tackle next?
Additional Resources
Free Holiday Helps
Free holiday unit studies. Holidays are a great time to invest in an investigatory unit!
Free Book Studies
These are special to us. We take a book and create a series of lessons (or investigatory units) around the text. Current offerings include nature, history, science, and music.
Free State Unit Studies
Tons of resources to cover a favorite state (even if yours is not currently listed).
Free Unit Studies in Chronological Order
Working your way through time?
Free Unit Studies by Event/Date
Want to know what happened on this day?
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