Meagan Tauber,a veteran homeschool mom who founded the Hub of Curiosity online co-op and runs homeschool groups locally and globally, believes that the goal of education is to prepare children for future careers and to become productive members of society. However, the current U.S. education system, organized into subject silos, often fails to connect concepts across different areas of study, unlike in the real world where information is blended.
Unit studies, popular in homeschooling, offer an alternative by building around a central theme and integrating multiple subjects into organic learning opportunities. For example, a unit study on early colonial life might include activities like preparing period recipes, understanding historical garments, making candles, exploring BIPOC voices, writing and performing skits, and learning about cartography and historical events. These activities not only cover various academic subjects but also engage students in hands-on learning, improving retention and engagement.
The unit studies have several benefits: they can accommodate learners of different ages, maintain children’s interest, foster imagination and creative thinking, and are often less expensive than traditional curricula. This approach better mimics real-world information utilization and provides a more engaging learning experience.
Meagan, who is also co-hosts a podcast titled “Homeschool Moms Unfiltered,” available on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and Amazon Music, concludes that “when we can build unit studies that involve interesting topics and structure activities that suit the needs of our individual learners, we have a magical recipe for success that more closely mimics the way information is utilized in the real world.”