How to Plan a Homeschool Unit Study (+ Free Printable Planner!)

One of the things I love most about homeschooling is how flexible and creative it can be—especially when it comes to homeschool unit studies. If you’ve ever thought about trying unit studies in your homeschool but felt a little overwhelmed about how to plan one, this post is for you! ☺️

If you missed the first post in our All About Homeschool Unit Studies series, you can catch up here: What Are Homeschool Unit Studies?

In this guide, I’ll walk you through a simple, step-by-step process for planning your own homeschool unit study. I’ll also share a free printable planner you can use to organize your ideas and make the whole process easier.

Let’s dive in!

If you’re new to the idea, a homeschool unit study is a way to focus learning around one central theme—like space, the rainforest, or famous artists—while integrating multiple subjects such as reading, writing, science, math, and art.

The beauty of unit studies is that you can make them as simple or as detailed as you want. Some parents plan a whole month around a topic; others choose a smaller theme for just a week or two. Whether you’re following your child’s interests or covering specific academic topics, planning your own unit study gives you the freedom to tailor learning to your family. ❤️

And the good news is, it doesn’t have to be complicated! With a little structure and our homeschool unit study planner (or free mini planner here), you’ll be ready to go in no time.

The first step in planning a homeschool unit study is picking a theme or topic. You can choose something your child is already excited about or something that ties into what you’re studying.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• The Solar System
  
  

• Rainforest Animals
  
  

• Simple Machines
  
  

• Kitchen Chemistry
  
  

• Famous Inventors
  
  

• Seasons of the Year
  
  

If you need even more inspiration, don’t forget to grab our free 100 Unit Study Ideas PDF —it’s packed with creative topics you can use anytime.

Once you’ve chosen a topic, think about what you want your kids to learn. This doesn’t have to be formal or complicated. Just jot down a few learning goals like:

• Learn the names and order of the planets
  
  

• Understand how bees help pollinate flowers
  
  

• Identify animals that live in the Amazon rainforest
  
  

• Write a story about a desert adventure
  
  

These goals will help you choose activities and keep your unit study focused. 👍

Next, gather a few good books to read during your unit study. You can find picture books, nonfiction books, chapter books, or even audiobooks that relate to your theme.

You’ll also want to look for any other resources that will help bring your topic to life—videos, documentaries, printable activities, or even field trip ideas. For educational shows and movies, PBS Kids and the Nat Geo section on Disney+ are great places to look!

Helpful tip: Don’t feel like you need a huge stack of books! A few well-chosen resources can go a long way. Our Knowledge Crates unit study kits come with all the books you need for your unit study (although you can always add more from the library if you like!).

One of the best parts of a homeschool unit study is the hands-on learning. Kids remember what they do—and it makes learning fun!

Here are some activity ideas you might include:

• Science experiments
  
  

• Art and craft projects
  
  

• Writing prompts
  
  

• Math activities related to the theme
  
  

• Nature walks or field trips
  
  

• Games and puzzles
  
  

You can plan one or two activities per week or more, depending on how deep you want to dive into the topic.

Now that you’ve gathered your ideas, it’s time to map out your plan. This is where our free Unit Study Mini Planner comes in handy!

In the planner, you’ll find space to:

• Write down your theme and learning goals
  
  

• List the books and resources you’ll use
  
  

• Plan out hands-on activities
  
  

• Track any additional notes, supplies needed, or field trip ideas
  
  

You can download the planner for free here. 🎉 Also check out our more comprehensive unit study planner, with reflection pages, reading logs, and more.

Once your plan is in place, spend a little time gathering your supplies:

• Library books or books from your shelves
  
  

• Craft materials or science experiment supplies
  
  

• Printable games or writing templates
  
  

• Any extras like sensory bin materials or field trip info
  
  

If gathering supplies feels overwhelming, remember—you don’t have to do it all! Some families love the planning process, and others prefer to use open-and-go options. That’s why we created our homeschool unit study kits—so busy families can jump right in without all the prep.

Once everything is ready, dive in and start learning! The beauty of a homeschool unit study is that it can flex and flow with your family. Some days you might spend hours on a hands-on project; other days, you might just snuggle up with a good book about your topic. 🥰

The goal isn’t to complete every single activity but to make meaningful connections and enjoy learning together. That’s what homeschool is all about, right? ♥️

To make planning your homeschool unit study even easier, be sure to grab these resources:

And if planning feels like too much, our ready-to-go homeschool unit study kits include everything you need to explore fun, engaging themes without all the prep work.