A Homeschool Co-Op (Co-Operative) is a method of teaching where families come together and teach each other’s children in an area of education where they are specialized. Sometimes parents feel that they are not adequate teachers in specific curricular areas (such as math or science) so they enroll their children with other homeschool parents where the parent who teaches is passionate and specialized in that subject. Sometimes the trade off is having all parents teach in order to offset the costs, however some parents pay for their kids to be in these classes.

Homeschool co-op classes are a great way to introduce topics to your children that they may not experience well with you. For example, I know that I am not gifted in robotics and engineering, so I have enrolled my son (who loves the Discovery show “BattleBots”) in a small group class where the teacher is an expert in that field. He is a father of 2 and his passion is robotics and engineering.

How do I Teach a Homeschool Co-Op Class?

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Where did it all begin?

Several years into homeschooling, I was asked to teach a homeschool co-op class for a group of about 12 mixed elementary aged kids. I had been a public school teacher in my pre-homeschooling days. In fact, I had led 25+ students day in and day out in elementary curriculum and instruction. But when I was asked to teach for a homeschool co-op, I knew the needs and wants would be completely different.

I knew that I would have unlimited creative freedom when planning for my classes. I won’t lie, the excitement and spark of creativity lit up in me knowing that I could create lessons that were completely different from what I had done in the past (you know the ones you dream about in college before you start your first teaching job:-). The public school I taught at had come to the point of scripted lessons and the whole focus was on test scores. My lessons were therefore lacking in passion and creativity.

Homeschool Co-Ops Are an Amazing Opportunity if You Love to Teach!

It has been about 5 years since I started teaching homeschool co-op classes. I have taught about 15 different co-op classes from pre-K to high school. Here are the lessons that I learned from teaching a successful homeschool co-op class.

5 Tips for Teaching a Homeschool Co-Op Class

1. You need to be passionate about what you are teaching.
2. Get creative and focus on hands-on lessons and learning.
3. Get to know your students and what they enjoy.
4. Plan out your lessons and be prepared.
5. Get feedback and adjust your teaching.

BONUS TIP: HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CLASSES!

How Do I Teach a Homeschool Co-Op Class?

Once you find the Co-Op that matches your purpose and reasons for homeschooling, you will need to decide on a topic. Talking with the leader of the Co-Op and other parents as well as their children will give you some pretty good ideas. Teaching a homeschool Co-Op class will require planning and organization.

What Do You Teach in A Homeschool Co-Op?

Because I still homeschool my children, I try to set aside time to plan out my homeschool Co-op lessons so that it doesn’t take away from my kiddos. Sometimes that means getting up earlier or having dad take them out on a special date. I like to plan the entire course I will be teaching before I start so that I can have all the supplies that I need and be more organized. It also helps me know how much to charge each family so that funds don’t leave our savings account :-).

Some of the classes I have taught have been to fill a need for the families I know. For example, I have taught:

Biology, Anatomy, Marine Biology, Art History, A class on inventors, a class on rare creatures, habitats, a high school writing class, and so many others. Talking with other parents is key to figuring out what to teach.

Homeschool Co-Op Lesson Plans

When I first started teaching homeschool Co-Ops I would sketch ideas and lesson plans on scraps of paper. Organizing and planning out the lessons was not really a strong point for me. I decided to design a Homeschool Co-Op planner that I now use to completely organize and plan for an amazing class. Now everything is in one place and I am losing things less.

Planning A Homeschool Co-Op Class

Start with the big picture and the theme of your class. If you are asked to teach something specific, that will help you to narrow it down. However, if you are asked to come up with a teaching idea, survey the families that you will be working with. What are their needs? Some families really dislike teaching the sciences (that is what I have found in my years of homeschool co-op teaching), and since I absolutely love science it works out for me to teach science classes.

What is your reason for teaching?

My goal is always to try my best to get the kids I teach to be excited enough about the subject to start learning on their own. When a student (no matter the age) comes back to you before or after a class with a book about the subject you have been covering to share that they are learning more independently is what makes teaching worth it.

Or to get an email/text message with a cartoon from a high school student that relates to the subject you covered that day is the encouragement you need to keep on teaching. These are great examples of really reaching your students.

Homeschool Co-Op Lesson Planner

Are you looking for an easy way to keep organized as you plan out and teach your Co-Op class? I have created and refined a Co-Op planner that you can use to help you plan and teach your class.

HP Paper Printer | 8.5 x 11 Paper | Premium 32 lb | 1 Ream – 500 Sheets | 100 Bright | Made in USA – FSC Certified | 113100R

Homeschool Co-Op Class Ideas- Elementary

My focus tends to be science related when teaching Co-Op Classes. However, the possiblities are endless!

Homeschool Co-Op Class options for Elementary School are:

The Science of me (anatomy for little kids), Anatomy, art classes, math games, P.E. and sports, literature studies (choose any children’s book or author), Biology, Astronomy, Ocean animals, Marine Biology, sewing, handicrafts, creative writing, and so much more.

Homeschool Co-Op Class Ideas- High School

There is such a huge variety of classes that you can teach for the high school aged student. This is the age where such deep thinking and understanding takes place. There is also an amazing opportunity to form great relationships with them and their families.

Homeschool Co-Op Class Options for High School can be:

Budgeting, cooking, adulting, life skills, finance, biology, chemistry, creative writing, creating an art portfolio, music, theater, history, and so many more.

Have you taught any Co-Op Classes for homeschool students? Do you have any suggestions or tips? Let me know in the comments below.

The post 5 Tips to Help You Teach A Homeschool Co-Op Class appeared first on .

What is a Homeschool Memory Book?

There are two main types of memory books for school. One that you do for your student throughout the year. You include pictures, work, answer questions, etc. These types of memory books are often more involved and require some organizational skills.

The other type of memory book most often used is for your child’s entire school experience: K-12. Usually this type of school memory book is just to document your child’s growth each year and remember some essential memories. These require less work and planning.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

How Can I Create a School Memory Book?

Are you looking for a fun and easy way to create a school memory book? Download this free Printable by subscribing to my blog. This can be used for homeschool or traditional school.

Simply sign up for my newsletter, download the Memory Book Printable, and Print. Simple and easy, just fill in the blanks and add your child’s picture as they go through each grade level!

Your FREE printable memory book template is yours to keep and use as much as you would like for your children.

HP Paper Printer | 8.5 x 11 Paper | Premium 32 lb | 1 Ream – 500 Sheets | 100 Bright | Made in USA – FSC Certified | 113100R

Melissa & Doug Sticker Collection Book: 1,000+ Stickers Seasons and Celebrations

Scotch TL902VP Thermal Laminator, 1 Laminating Machine, White, Laminate Photos, Holiday Decor and Gift Tags, For Holiday, Office and School Supplies, 9 in.

Rayson TD-130 Wire Binding Machine (Square Holes) Punch 12 Sheets/Bind 120 Sheets with Sturdy Metal Construction

Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils, Pre-Sharpened, 2 HB Soft, Neon Colors, 18 Count

Homeschool Memory Book Template

Using a K-12 School Memory Book Template Printable makes following through with your child’s memory book easy.

Before I created this, I tried to make one by hand each year, not only did I struggle to remember to do it (I am not sure I have one for my daughter’s second year), I also struggled to remember where I put each page.

Now all of their pages are printed up and in a bound book. I simply bring it out around school picture time and voila, the page is finished.

Now I also keep a yearly memory book for my kids. This one is way more involved and I am working on a template for that one, so that it is easier as the school year gets under way.

When you are homeschooling, you just don’t have the time to be creating things midyear (At least I don’t :-).

How to Make a School Memory Book?

The key to making a school memory book is ease of use. The simpler the process is, the more likely you will finish. If it is too involved and overwhelming, chances are that you may not follow through.

I know for me, as long as I don’t have to add to much to my homeschooling day in order to complete the memory book, then I can do it.

My hope is that this FREE prek-12 school memory book printable will make it easy for my fellow moms and teachers to put together an amazing keepsake for the child.

Your FREE Printable Homeschool Memory Book PDF

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1 page per year!

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Let me know how your Homeschool Memory book turns out! Is there anything else that you added to it? How do you remember to complete the yearly page? Do you set a timer?

Please let me know if you enjoyed using this free homeschool memory book printable? I look forward to hearing from you.

Looking for a Yearly School Memory Book?

If you are looking for a yearly school memory book, I have created a 70+ page yearbook for each school year that is for sale in my TeachersPayTeachers store. This printable memory book can be used to record memories for one year of school and is great for the lower grades: Preschool to 3rd grade. It can be used every year of school. This is a simple way to keep a homeschool yearbook for the BUSY mom!

See the article: Make Your Own Homeschool Memory Book This Year.

Thanks for visiting. Don’t forget to leave a comment below and subscribe for more freebies and amazing content!

Looking for more creative Homeschooling ideas? Check out these posts: Creating Your Own Card Game to Learn or How to Plan the Perfect Unit Study!

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How to Make a Homeschool Memory Book / Yearbook

Creating a memory book for your kids is a great way to remember all of the fun times you and your family have had during your homeschooling years. Preserving memories throughout childhood and being able to reminisce over them as your children get older is priceless.

Why Should I Make a Memory Book for my Homeschooler?

My Reason…

I spent 7 years in the public school classroom. Five of those years were spent in the wonderful grade of Kindergarten. One thing that we did for our kinder students that the parents looked forward to each year was a thoughtful and thorough memory book. We would present these thick books to the parents on the last day of school. Tears and laughter would flow as their children showed off different memories of the year. Trips to the farm, the first day of school, learning how to write their names, and so much more filled their books.

When I left the classroom and began to homeschool my own kiddos, I tried to keep a memory book on the whim. I didn’t prepare for it, I just started putting random things into a folder. I would forget, however, as the busyness of homeschool life and young children occupied me. When the end of the year came, I opened my “memory folder” to a couple of random pieces of paper. It definitely didn’t look like the memory books I had put together for my kindergarten students so many years ago…

I admit, I was sad that years went by and I never had a complete memory book (or even a partial one for that matter) for my own kids. How sad!

SOOOO…. I learned how to make a template that I could simply follow. I chose one day of the week to work on a page or two. And I learned to start printing up photos as I went.

NOW, tada! I have memory books for my kids. AND I must say that the joy we get from looking over them is priceless.

DIY Homeschool Memory Book PDF Printable

I created this Printable Homeschool Memory Book for my children so that we could start creating a beautiful way of remember all the fun that we had each year. Memory Book Time became a regular part of our homeschooling and my children looked forward to creating the pages that filled it.

I know that you are busy. Whether you homeschool, work, or are simply busy with the duties of a household and children. Starting a memory book can be overwhelming. Where do you start?

Or you can buy it at one of the sites below.

When Should We Start Making Our Homeschool Memory Books?

I think that starting a Homeschool Memory Book at the beginning of the year is ideal. However, just because you don’t start it on time, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t start one at all. I suggest that you JUST START!! You may regret not starting a memory book at all. At least if you start the memory book mid year, you will have a starting point.

Starting the Memory book at the end of the year may prove to be overwhelming and it may cause you to give up. At least that is how I would be.

Tips and Tricks to Create Your Own Homeschool Memory Book

The #1 tip to creating your own homeschool memory book/ yearbook is consistency. I chose one day a week (it is what worked for our family).

Integrating the writing portion of the memory book into your actual writing plans for the week is another way that you can make the memory book a consistent part of your homeschooling. You can use the memory book to practice penmanship, spelling, and so much more. Let your kids take ownership of their memory books. You will end up with a fabulous (and probably hilarious) end product.

Allow your children to be creative. Put on some music or an audio book while they draw their pictures each week. I read aloud to my children when they are working on their memory books.

I give them art supplies, pictures, and stickers.

I am available to help them with the writing. My 3rd grader is capable of writing her own answers to the questions or filling in her memories. My first grade son requires a bit of help. I often write for him, or I allow him to do copywork- I write his answers and then he copies it into his book.

Side note: My daughter always draws her self-portrait with her stuffed animal Toothless. It has become her trademark. I know we will look back on those cute additions with such sweetness!

How do I keep up with a Yearbook? I am so busy!

Don’t overthink your child’s yearbook.

Let your child take control of it (as much as they can).

Purchasing a high quality printer that you can hook up to your phone is a simple way to add pictures to your yearbook easily. While it is an investment up front, it will make printing pictures easy for you.

Finally, choose one day of the week (or every other week) to work on your memory books. The consistency will ensure that you will have a completed yearbook by the end of the year.

Making a Memory Book —Supply List

You have a ton of freedom in how your memory book turns out.

My kids use the following items to create their memory books:

Prismacolored pencils (we don’t use markers because they sometimes bleed through the paper)

Fun and colorful stickers

A mobile printer that hooks up to my phone so that we can easily print pictures

high quality paper to print the memory book pages on

Laminator and sheets

binder and spiral bindings

optional- 3-ring binder

(see below)

Who is this Printable Memory Book For?

I created this printable memory book for grades K-3. I am currently working on an updated version for the upper Elementary grades and Middle school. Since my own children aren’t that age yet, I do need suggestions for what is appropriate at that stage of life. Feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments below or drop me an email using the contact me section of my website.

How to capture good memories with these photography tips

I will admit, I am not the best at taking high quality pictures. However, as I started taking more pictures, I wanted to get better at my photography. I found this amazing photographer who has lots of tips on her website. I have learned a lot from her, so I wanted to share with all of you! Her name is Courtney Slazinik and she is the owner of Clickitupanotch.com. Her site is a great resource for those of you who want to create lasting memories with amazing pictures.

What Pages are Included in the K-3 Memory Book Available for Purchase?

Don’t let this extensive list overwhelm you. Choose only the pages that suit your homeschooling. Place the pages in an order that works for your family.

ADD any additional pages such as artwork, stories, or poems that you may want to remember from your child’s year.

You can even print up more copies of pages that you would like, such as the field trip pages, monthly memory pages, birthday pages, etc.

Organizing your Memory Books

I bind my children’s memory books together at the beginning of the year. However, I have a friend that uses a 3-ring binder so that she can continually add to her child’s memory book.

I keep my children’s memory books in their school rolling cart Language Arts drawer. They know that on Thursdays we will spend 10-15 minutes working on them.

What if I Don’t Want a Detailed Memory Book?

I have a great solution for you. I have also created a FREE PDF pre-K through 12th grade homeschool memory book. It is one page per year. You can complete the page at the beginning of the year or at the end. It is really up to you. Simply subscribe to my website and you will receive it in your inbox! Bonus: It now comes with 2 banners, one for the first day of school and one for the last day of school. I hope you enjoy them!

Get the FREE Homeschool Memory Book Printable for K-12

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Check out this article on the memory book for k-12. One Page per year.

Do you keep a memory book for your children? What are some ways that you keep up with it?

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Beginning the habit of organization and time management comes at different times for different kids. When your child is ready to take on the responsibility of time management, getting them a simple and easy to use planner may be an effective strategy.

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

My daughter, when she hit nine years old, asked me if she could have a planner. She always saw me filling in my planners and I guess that sparked her interest. I love planning and so some of my habits may have rubbed off on my daughter. I have always believed that I am more productive when I write out my tasks and goals. If I neglect to do that, I find that my productivity level goes way down. I don’t know if everyone is like this, but I have met quite a few other women who share my love of to-do lists, check-off boxes, and post-it notes.

I like to use fun pens, stickers, and really get my planners to work for me. While I used to buy my planners, once I discovered how to make my own, I never looked back. I now create and design planners for myself (and now my children) to suit my needs. I decided to use this same strategy to create a planner for my daughter.

Benefits of Your Child Using a Planner

Learning to organize and prioritize activities in life is an important life skill. We are not born with this skill, it has to be taught to us. Many of us learn our organization skills by simply observing our parents. This could be good or bad, depending on the style you followed. Luckily there are so many resources available to help us grow in our organization skills. We should always be learning.

I wanted to make sure that I gave my children the opportunity to learn the skills of organization. I still have a lot of growth to do myself and feel as if I am always learning how to better organize my life. (Many times us creative folk struggle to keep our plentiful ideas in an orderly way).

Teaching Your Child How to Use a Planner and Prioritize Tasks

When your child is ready to take on the task of organization, here are some tips:

Allow them to personalize their planner in any way that they want. Add color, stickers, drawings, etc. Allow the planner to be theirs (not yours You can even use colored paper to print their planner on if you choose one that is a printable.

Fill in the dates for their monthly pages. Add in any important events for the month.

Go over any budget goals they may have (if you are working on budgeting with your child)

Guide them at the beginning of each week. Go over what tasks they need to complete each week. Help them to plan out any goals that they may have or any daily items they may need to accomplish. Ask them guiding questions such as:

“What is the most important thing you want to finish this week?”

“Is there anything that you need from me to help you meet that goal?”

“What is in your schedule for the day?”

“Are there any supplies that you need to help you accomplish what is necessary in your planner for the week?”

You know your child best, if daily help is necessary at first as they learn the habit of organization, then set aside some time each morning to go over the tasks for the day.

I Have Designed This Simple Printable Planner For My Child:

Items Your Child Can Place in Their Planner:

Birthdays

Holidays

Homework

Chores

Money-Earning opportunities (yard sales, entrepreneur fairs, etc.)

Church Events

Supplies You Can Purchase to Make Keeping a Planner More Engaging

Stickers

Highlighters

Fun and colorful pens

Erin Condren Kids Planner (if you are looking for a very thorough and comprehesive all in one planner)

See my picks below:

“When we teach our children how to be organized and prioritize their daily activities, we set our children up for success in life.”

ACreativeLearner.com

Other Websites that have great information on Planning and Goal Setting for Children:

BigLifeJournal.com

TeachsKidsHow.com

Connect With Me!

How do you help your child with their organizational skills? Do you have any advice to help with this skill?

Other posts you may like:

Free Minimalist Homeschool Planner

New to Homeschooling? Click Here.

The post Student Planner – Helping Your Child Get Organized appeared first on .

If you are anything like me, planning for school (or anything really) is a highlight! Nothing brings me more satisfaction than filling in boxes and writing in my plans for school and for our year. I LOVE PLANNING!

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.”

Simple Homeschool Planner

I just love the simplicity of this planner. I created this to include the basics of what a homeschooling mama would need to keep organized as she homeschools her children. Print it up and organize it in a way that suits you.

What is included in this freebie:

Front Cover
Page 2: Planning out your Educational Purpose and Mission
Page 4: Growing in your knowledge as a homeschool mom
Page 5: Child Information page. Use this to help your child achieve their educational and
personal goals, encourage habits, etc. Keep track of their curriculums as well.
Page 6: Blank Chore Chart
Page 7: Blank Assignment Chart
Page 8: Blank monthly planner. Print multiple copies of these.
Pages 9-10: These pages are your weekly lesson plans for your homeschooling and I think the
most important. Print up the corresponding number of weeks that you will be homeschooling.
You may want to print these up separately and print them Front and back so that they lay
nicely in your planning book.
Page 11: This is a Monthly planning page for all subjects. Having this on one sheet, allows you
to see how your subjects coincide for the month.
Page 12 : Lesson Planning Page. Use this page when you have your own lessons you want to
plan out and teach your child.
Page 13: Master Read Aloud book list to help you keep track of the books that you are
reading
Page 14: List your favorite websites here
Page 15 : Note taking page

Supplies to Help You Plan For Your Homeschool Year

I love having nice pens and paperclips to help me plan and organize for my year. Here are my amazon choices.

HP Paper Printer | 8.5 x 11 Paper | Premium 32 lb | 1 Ream – 500 Sheets | 100 Bright | Made in USA – FSC Certified | 113100R

SHARPIE Felt Tip Pens, Fine Point (0.4mm), Black, 4 Count

Samsill Earth’s Choice, 1-Inch Durable D-Ring View Binder 4 Pack, USDA Certified Biobased, Eco-Friendly, Boho Assortment

Avery 8-Tab Binder Dividers, Write & Erase White Big Tabs, 1 Set (23078)

Swingline 3 Hole Punch, 20 Sheet Capacity Three Hole Puncher 3 Ring, Paper Punch, SmartTouch Low Effort, Black & Silver (74133)

Some Suggestions for your Minimalist Planner:

I suggest printing up this planner on a high quality paper and binding it or placing it in a 3-ring binder with tabs to separate sections.

The Perfect Minimalist Homeschool Planner was designed with the busy homeschool mom in mind. I know what it is like to worry about all the tasks of home, a small business, and homeschooling. It helps to have a simple way to plan out the curriculum you are using and lessons needed for your child.

Looking for a more detailed planner?

Get the free Charlotte Mason Inspired Planner by subscribing today.

Looking for a Unit Study Planner?

If you are a homeschool mom that enjoys digging deep into subjects with your kiddos, you may find that this Unit Study Planner is just what you need to keep your unit study focused planned and organized. This Homeschool Unit Study Planner is available for Purchase in my TeachersPayTeachers and Etsy Stores.

NOW…. For your Free Minimalist Homeschool Planner. Simply Subscribe today and receive your FREE PDF Download.

Get the Free Minimalist Homeschool Planner and Get Organized Today!

Send me the planner

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It is a new year, try keeping your homeschool year planned with this Perfect minimalist Homeschool Planner.

Why should I use a planner?

Using a planner in your homeschooling helps you to keep focused and on track. While we don’t always complete everything that we write down in our planners, it still helps us meet both short term and long term goals.

Join my mailing list for this limited time offer for the Perfect Minimalist Homeschool Planner.

14 amazing pages to keep you organized in 2023 and it is FREE!

How do you keep organized and ready for teaching at home? Do you have any tips or recommendations for other homeschool families?

Are there any suggestions that you have to make this minimalist planner even better?

Thanks again for stopping by!

IF you are new to homeschooling you may enjoy this post about the best books for homeschool moms!

You may also like:

The post The Perfect Minimalist Homeschool Planner FREE appeared first on .

With so much going on as a homeschool mom, I need a little extra help keeping every area someone organized. Let me be honest, I do not always feel organized in the kitchen. It is not my strength. I find that when I am not prepared for meals, I end up at the store more times than I should be and I go over budget. Now that I have these meal planning tools, I have found that we are not only feeling prepared for our meals each day, but I have actually been able to save money at the store. Less food is getting wasted and I am making way less trips to the store.

This organization tools lets me spend more time with my kids and less time stressing over what I am preparing for each meal.

While I know that not everyone has this problem, I know that some of you may struggle with keeping organized as I do. I hope that you find this FREE resource helpful.

Teaching Our Kids to be Organized Planners

As a homeschool family, we like to use each opportunity to teach our children important life skills. Organization is one of those life skills that is essential for success in today’s busy world.

I have created a series of planners for each age level. You can print up these forms and use them with your children as well, especially the older ones.

I have created special PDF printable planners for students from elementary through high school available for purchase by clicking on each link below. Each is formatted for 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

I hope that you find it helpful as you plan out your days, weeks, meals, and goals.

I hope to add on cleaning schedules and other household matters in future printables. I will let you know when those are ready!

Thanks for visiting ACreativeLearner.com

Let me know what types of printables you are looking for to help make teaching your children at home a bit easier

The post FREE Printable Life Planner and Meal Organizer appeared first on .

Do you enjoy planning homeschool lessons around your children’s interests? I know that I do. However, sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Where do I begin with planning? What should I include in my unit study? How can I keep track of supplies, books, crafts, and websites?

I developed The Perfect Unit Study Planner to help organize and answer all of these questions.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.

The Perfect Unit Study Planning Packet Printable!

Specific directions for this planning packet can be found at the end of this post. Don’t forget to subscribe for more homeschooling tips tools.

What is a Homeschool Unit Study?

Unit studies (also known as thematic unit studies) are a popular tool for teaching around a particular subject of interest. They allow students to see what they are learning as a whole and they provide an excellent alternative to textbooks.

Why Should I add Unit Studies to my homeschooling day?

Are you looking for a way to teach multiple children at different grade levels? Do you want to encourage a love of learning and engage your child’s interests? Homeschool Unit Studies are the answer!

What Are the Benefits of a Homeschool Unit Study?

My kids and I love Unit studies! It allows us to dig deeply into subjects that we are interested in. We are able to integrate so many of our subjects into our unit study. It not only encourages a love for learning, (sometimes my kids just can’t get enough) and it actually saves time in our schedule. For example, when we centered our learning around deep sea adventure, writing, spelling, reading, science, history, and even math were integrated all together, saving us time when compared to our normal homeschooling schedule. My children are able to learn together as well.

Why I Love Homeschool Unit Studies:

Perhaps my favorite part of Homeschool Unit Studies is that it allows my children to be creative and be hands-on. I make sure that I include free time in my unit study plans so that my children can play or create around the subject we are learning about. For example, for the deep sea unit, I may give them a large cardboard box to create a deep sea submarine or provide crafting material so that my children can make the animals or deep sea exploration tools for survival. This is really a child-focused free time, let them decide what they want to create and how they want to create it.

Here is a List of Some of the Benefits of a Homeschool Unit Study:

• less expensive than traditional curriculum and more tailored to your child’s interests
• freedom for children to take their time and learn at their own pace
• learn as a family- all ages can learn through unit studies
• hands-on learning is primary- this is proven to be the best way for children to learn
• in-depth learning
• Creating lasting memories
• Opportunities to learn in a less traditional way

How Long Should a Unit Study Last?

A Homeschool Unit Study can last as long as you and your kiddos want it to last. When we covered a unit study on birds, it seemed to last for months because my kids fell in love with birds. In fact a year later and my daughter still asks for bird learning. Some unit studies can be quicker: a couple of days or a week. Plan according to your children’s abilities and interests. Also, know when you stop your unit study and don’t drag it on longer than you need to.

How often should I plan out unit studies?

This is just my opinion, however, I suggest only planning out 4-5 unit studies a year. Sometimes they will last several weeks, depending on how much depth you and your children want to go into. They can work around you and your children’s schedules. Depending on the type of educator that you are, planning a unit study that you are happy with can take a good amount of time, so start planning ahead. Complete the planning of your unit studies during a time where you are less busy.

Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Topic Based

• Space
• Exploration
• Civil War
• Mammals
• The Ocean
• Pets
• The Civil Rights Movement
• Government
• Habitats
• Insects
• Dinosaurs
• Dragons in History
• Honeybees
• Australia
• Shark Week
• Weather
• Missionaries in China
• Microbes
• The Constitution
• Money
• Finance

Literature Based

• Anne of Green Gables
• Pedro’s Journey
• Shakespeare
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
• Charlotte’s Web
• Little House on the Prairie
• Any C.S. Lewis Book
• The Hobbit
• The Green Ember Series

Directions: How do I use the Homeschool Unit Study Planning Packet?

Thank you for downloading the planning packet. Here are the directions for using this tool:

Step 1. Look at the topics you will be covering this year with your children. Talk with your kids about their interests and what they would love to learn about. Feel free to give them ideas and ask guiding questions.

Step 2. Decide on your topic/theme. We chose the “Deep Sea” for ours. You can go many different routes. For example, you can base your unit study on a piece of literature and then learn around that or you can choose a specific topic and check out a variety of books on that topic. For the Deep Sea, I did not use a piece of literature to guide our unit study, instead I chose a variety of books that were interesting to my kids and we learned that way. Both ways are great, so choose what you think will work better for your family.

Step 3. Go over the KWL chart with your children. Fill in the first two columns: What you know already and what you want to learn. You will fill out the final column, “What I learned” at the completion of your unit study.

Step 4. Take some preliminary notes as you prepare your research (this you will do without your children). What should you know as background knowledge as you guide your children through this study. What do you need to research further? Take learning notes on your planning page. You can also record ways to integrate all subject areas into your unit study. How can you intertwine writing, reading, spelling, phonics, history, and science? Unit studies can be a very efficient way to integrate cross-curricular study.

Step 5. Start filling in what you need to accomplish for your unit study. Do you need to purchase books or check some out at the library? Do you need to shop at the Dollar Tree or Amazon.com? Do you need to research field trips or talk with another homeschool family who is learning the same thing?

Step 6. Research good quality books that you can use. Take an inventory of those books that you will use in your unit study. Write them on the planning sheet. I suggest keeping these books in a specific place, such as a basket or space on the shelf. This allows you to find them quickly when you need them.

Step 7. Research Youtube and Pinterest for ideas. You can create a playlist on Youtube and a board on Pinterest to keep track of what you want to use. Fill out the planning form as a reminder.

Step 8. Brainstorm board games and card games that correlate with you unit of study. Record them you your planning sheet. You can even create your own. For instructions on making your own educational card game, click here.

Step 9. Research and jot down any websites that might be helpful as you study your unit. For example, we visited Nationalgeographic.com often when we studied the deep sea.

Step 10. Keep track of movies, audiobooks, dvds or online movies that are useful for your study. Are you kids going to watch “Wild Kratts” on Netflix as they study? Write that down on your planning sheet.

Step 11. CRAFTS and HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES!!! This is my favorite part. I spend a lot of time correlating what we learn to hands-on activities. I have books that

Step 12. Field trip ideas and notes. Where can you go to support the learning that has taken place? Take lots of pictures when you go

Step 13. How can you integrate yummy food and recipes? Are you learning about the Goldrush? Could you learn how to make coffee or the bread that they used to eat? You can center a meal or a tea party around your unit/theme. Don’t forget to take pictures!

Step 14. Having an idea of how many days you want your unit study to be is a good idea. But make sure that you are flexible and know when to either end it or extend it. Use the Unit study daily overview planning sheet to start taking all of the ideas you have found and record what you want to accomplish or cover each day.

Step 15. Keep track of the supplies you will need for each day and keep them in a tub or basket.

Step 16. Create Daily lesson plans. While I do not use these for each lesson I teach with my children, sometimes I like to organize my thoughts and how I want to teach, so I use the daily lesson plan template. You can use this template for any subject and for any grade. You can also use it as a guide if you teach co-ops or in a classroom setting.

Step 17. Have fun, be creative, and enjoy learning with your kids!

Other Amazing Homeschool Websites for your reference when learning about unit studies

OurJourneyWestward.com has good introductory information on Unit Studies.

Homeschool-your-boys.com has a great article on the benefits of Unit Studies as well.

Links to Free Unit Studies

Faith and Good Works is a great website that features a “Giant List Of Free Unit Studies”

It’s a Mother Thing is a website that has a “100 Free Unit Study for all ages.“

Some Paid Unit Studies

CareitPatch.com has an Apple Unit Study available for purchase on Etsy.com

Do you and your family use unit studies in your homeschooling? Do you have any suggestions for planning a homeschool unit study? I look forward to hearing from you.

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I began this website as a tool for those of you who have creative children

My daughter, from the moment she was able, has been a creator. Homeschooling her has been an amazing journey because I have seen the amazing talent she has been born with. If she has a free moment, she will choose something artistic or creative. Whether she is sketching a peregrine falcon or a sperm whale, or trying to invent a robot with a cardboard box, creating is essential to who she is. I wanted to make sure that I encouraged those important imaginative and creative skills while homeschooling her. Hence, A Creative Learner was born.

My son, although not as naturally artistic as my daughter, benefits as I seek to encourage his creative skills as well. Every child needs the opportunity to be creative. Our world is an ever changing place and in order to succeed, our children have to be creative in their problem solving skills.

My Homeschooling Philosophy Inspiration

I knew that education my children as I had when I was a classroom teacher, just wouldn’t work! I had to start thinking out of the box. I could not rely on worksheets, direct instruction, and other teacher-led instruction that I had been so accustomed too in my 8 years in the public school classroom. I began researching and reading everything I could get my hands-on about how to teach my children at home. I asked questions (lots and lots of questions), I listened to criticism, and I started to be willing to change my mind about what education meant for my family. This website is the formation of that change.

Homeschooling Your Children is a Precious Gift

I hope that as you are reading this, that you know how important you are and that the steps you have taken to homeschool your precious children will be the most amazing gift to you and your family. Homeschooling your children is a huge responsibility, but know that you are capable and equipped to do this special task. And remember you have an entire community of people that are willing to help and encourage you through the process.

Lessons, Tips, and Tricks for the Homeschool Mom

Let me share with you the lessons and ideas that have helped me to teach my children passionately and creatively. If you are like me, then you chose to homeschool because you knew that it was the route that would allow you to do what you believed was best for your children. With each passing year, I realize more and more how thankful I am to have the privilege to meet my children where they are at academically and prepare them for a bright and successful future. Each year I also continue to grow as an educator and refine my teaching skills. I am always learning with my children.

Lessons, Tips, and Tricks for the Educator Who Wants to be More Creative

While my primary focus is teaching my children through homeschooling, I continue to educate other children through enrichment classes and co-ops. I design these classes in the same way I have been homeschooling. I want to cultivate a creative way of teaching and allow my students to learn in a fun and engaging way. While my site is still new, I plan to integrate lesson plans and strategies for the educator and parent who teaches classes or co-ops, so stay tuned!

Grab a cup of coffee and come Along for this exciting journey!!

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