Unit Study Approach

[mimaja]

Wondering if anyone here follows a Unit Study approach in any way. Do you choose the units, do you let dk's choose topics or do you suggest some and let dk's choose from those? Also, what topics to you use for your unit studies?

I created a huge list of topics I considered following when DS1 was only 2yo and I was still pregnant with DS2 (they're now 6.5 and almost 4 yo). I still have that list filed away but am interested in what others might be doing too, to get fresh ideas.

I'm mostly unschooling now, but considering a bit more structure to our days and weeks. I'm not sure if this is more for me or them, or a bit of both.

TIA
Kristine

[jenfl]

We're doing a combination Montessori/unit studies with my 3yo. I'm picking topics, but ones I know she'll like.

Our topics:
- Human body/senses/needs
- Plants
- Animal groups (insects, reptiles, etc)
- Continents

[NightOwlwithowlet]

DS is 8 yo, last year we did ancient civilizations Egypt, Greece, Rome, China and the Vikings. The Vikings aren't really an ancient civilization, but "How to train your Dragon" was coming out and we compared that story to the history he learned. We also did insects, the solar system, volcanos, and Komodo dragons.

This year we are doing continents and endangered animals as an unit study and classification of animals (reptiles, mammals etc) which has branched out to vertebrae and invertebrate animals. I'm not sure what else we are doing this year. Sometimes, I let DS pick and other times I pick, but let him go in a different direction if he wants.