Homeschooling upper-grade students just got easier — and more exciting! 🎉
We’re thrilled to introduce our brand-new series of free, full week-long unit studies designed specifically for upper-grade homeschoolers (grades 7–12). Each month, we’ll release a brand-new, themed unit that’s packed with engaging lessons, suggested activities, reading and video resources, writing prompts, and more. These units are ideal for:
Best of all — these units are completely free and require minimal prep!
✨ How It Works
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One new unit study is released each month throughout the year.
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Each unit focuses on a high-interest theme that blends history, science, literature, the arts, and critical thinking.
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Units are designed for 5 days of learning, but they can be stretched over 2 weeks if you prefer a slower pace or want to use them in a "Fun Friday" format.
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Activities include reading, writing, hands-on projects, research, and reflection.
📅 Year at a Glance – Monthly Unit Study Themes
January: Scandinavia – Culture, Geography & History
Explore the northern European region known for its fjords, folklore, and forward-thinking societies.
Topics Covered:
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Geography of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland
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Viking history and Norse mythology
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Cultural traditions and holidays
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Contributions to art, architecture, and design
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Modern-day Scandinavian politics and quality of life
Sample Activities:
Create a Viking rune stone, compare Nordic myths to Greek mythology, map the region, cook a Scandinavian recipe.
February: Love in Literature
Dive into how literature explores love across genres, time periods, and cultures.
Topics Covered:
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Classic and modern love poems
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Romantic relationships in novels and plays
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Friendship, self-love, and sacrifice in literature
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Literary devices used to express love
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Cultural attitudes toward love through literature
Sample Activities:
Read excerpts from Romeo & Juliet, write a modern love letter or poem, analyze a famous love-themed short story.
March: Spring Nature Study – Biology & Observation
A seasonal science unit that blends nature journaling with biology and earth science.
Topics Covered:
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Signs of spring in plant and animal life
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Phenology: observing natural cycles
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Photosynthesis and plant growth
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Pollinators and ecosystems
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Journaling and sketching in nature
Sample Activities:
Start a nature journal, dissect a flower, observe pollinators in your area, create a chart of seasonal changes.
April: Classical Music – Composers, Instruments & Influence
Travel through time with the music of the masters.
Topics Covered:
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Overview of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern periods
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Profiles of major composers (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, etc.)
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Musical instruments and how orchestras work
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Music theory basics
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Influence of classical music on film and pop culture
Sample Activities:
Listen to selected works, compare musical eras, create a composer biography poster, design your own concert program.
May: Robotics – Engineering, Programming & Innovation
Introduce students to the world of robotics, design, and AI.
Topics Covered:
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History and development of robots
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Basic robotics components (sensors, motors, circuits)
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Introduction to programming (logic, commands)
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Real-world applications in medicine, industry, and space
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Ethics and future of robotics
Sample Activities:
Build a simple robot (using kits or DIY parts), explore a virtual coding platform, design a robot for a specific task.
June: Art History – From Cave Paintings to Contemporary
A visual journey through human history using art as the lens.
Topics Covered:
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Prehistoric, Ancient, and Classical art
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Renaissance and Enlightenment movements
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Impressionism, Cubism, and Modernism
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Global perspectives: Indigenous, African, Asian art
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How art reflects societal change
Sample Activities:
Timeline of art movements, analyze a painting, recreate a famous artwork using modern materials, write an artist reflection.
July: History of Computers – From Early Machines to AI
Uncover how computing evolved from mechanical devices to today’s AI.
Topics Covered:
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Early computing (abacuses, mechanical calculators)
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Pioneers: Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing, Bill Gates, etc.
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Evolution of personal computers and the internet
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Programming languages
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Artificial intelligence and ethical concerns
Sample Activities:
Create a tech timeline, write a short report on a computing pioneer, explore early coding using Scratch or Python.
August: Great Inventors – World-Changers Through Time
Meet the thinkers and tinkerers who changed the way we live.
Topics Covered:
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Inventors from various fields (science, transportation, communication, etc.)
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The invention process (problem, prototype, testing)
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Invention case studies (e.g., lightbulb, telephone, airplane)
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Patents and intellectual property
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How innovation impacts society
Sample Activities:
Invent something new, write a mini biography of an inventor, present a Shark Tank-style pitch.
September: High Holidays – Jewish Autumn Festivals
An interfaith cultural study of major Jewish holidays and their significance.
Topics Covered:
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Overview of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot
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Jewish calendar and symbolism
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Themes of reflection, repentance, and renewal
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Traditional foods, rituals, and stories
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Comparative religious studies
Sample Activities:
Create a paper shofar, make symbolic foods, write a reflection on forgiveness, build a mini sukkah model.
October: Autumn – Nature, Folklore & Seasonal Science
Celebrate the fall season with a rich blend of ecology, culture, and tradition.
Topics Covered:
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Leaf color changes and the science of photosynthesis
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Harvest festivals around the world
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Folklore and legends of fall (e.g., Halloween origins)
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Weather and the changing seasons
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Nature walks and journaling
Sample Activities:
Leaf identification guide, write a fall-themed story or poem, research a cultural harvest festival, fall scavenger hunt.
November: Political Science – Government, Civics & Citizenship
A timely unit to help students understand power, government, and participation.
Topics Covered:
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Branches of government and the Constitution
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Political systems around the world
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Elections, voting, and civic engagement
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Political philosophy (liberty, equality, justice)
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Debates and media literacy
Sample Activities:
Create a mock government, analyze a political cartoon, write a speech on an issue, compare global political systems.
December: Winter Holidays – Global Traditions and Celebrations
Explore how different cultures celebrate light, family, and renewal.
Topics Covered:
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Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Diwali, Lunar New Year
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Themes of light in darkness, generosity, and tradition
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Symbolism and food
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Crafting and storytelling
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Reflection on family customs
Sample Activities:
Create a winter holiday around a fictional culture, compare customs, cook a holiday dish, build a global holiday timeline.
🎁 BONUS UNITS (Email Subscribers Only)
These exclusive units dive into rich and unique topics:
Ireland
Explore Irish history, legends, the fight for independence, and cultural contributions (music, dance, literature).
Italy
Study the Roman Empire, Renaissance masters, Italian geography, food, and modern culture.
Espionage
Uncover the secret world of spies, codebreaking, Cold War intelligence, and ethical dilemmas in espionage.
Traditional Energy Sources
Examine fossil fuels, nuclear power, and hydroelectric energy — how they work and their environmental impacts.
Mental Health
Focus on emotional well-being, understanding depression, self-care, coping strategies, and how to ask for help.
Fundamentals of Coding
A beginner-friendly intro to logic, syntax, and writing simple programs using block coding and Python.
Renewable Energy
Investigate solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy sources and their role in a sustainable future.
📬 Stay in the Loop!
These unit studies are:
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What topics are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!
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