I am not crazy about the term “unit study.” I much prefer “integrated study” but it’s really just semantics, so for the sake of the search engines I will use unit study here.
As I was considering again this whole idea of unit study, related to Principle Approach and most importantly to my little lambs, I had some thoughts. Unit studies can be enjoyable. They can also take over your life. If you are not careful they, like anything else out of balance, suck every ounce of enjoyment out of education. I came up with a list of things I am printing out to keep in my teacher’s notebook concerning this.
Education is not about the activities but about the learning. More activities does not equal more learning. Simple is almost always better.
I want my unit studies to be:
- not fun, but interesting (Ps. 16:11, Prov. 2:10, Ps. 145:18, 19)
- not complicated, but complete (Mt. 11:29, Job 37:16, 2 Tim. 3:16)
- not only temporal, but eternal (2 Cor. 4:18, Eph. 5:15-17)
- not fact-based, but based on Biblical principles (Is. 28:10,13; Ps. 119:40,94)
- not standard issue but customized (Prov. 22:6)
When my plans are led by the Holy Spirit and based on the Word of God, they will do all of that and more.
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Is 55:11
Thank you Anna Marie! This is so good and I have enjoyed your posts about family prayer also!
Simplify- this is my life motto! ( : I have always seen the best results from those simple lessons rather than the overloaded ones.
Blessings,
mandi
What wonderful insights! Thank you! I love the theme of simplicity God keeps bringing to my attention.
Sincerely,
Renae Deckard
I think these points are important. Themes can sometimes take over education…and particularly math and spelling seem either neglected or the lessons seem forced, at least when I attempt to integrate them, although it occasionally works out.
Also, this is just me, but there seems to be a tendency to organize the theme around a subject rather than a principle. So for example, I might start a theme on “Jamestown.” But that sort of puts the focus on the effect rather than the cause, if that makes any sense.
Recently, I’ve tried more to focus on a principle and let the various aspects of our studies emphasize the same principle in a different light. So our theme right now is “How the seed of local self-government is planted.”
Thanks to all for your comments.
Mandi, good point. I know the same is true for me. It’s not about the details but the principles.
Renae, love you and thanks for the kind words. I agree that simple is better.
Dana, amen amen amen! I totally agree with that. I am working on doing the same thing. We need to focus not on the effects but the causes, not the facts but the principles, not the topic but the Maker. Thansk for the reminder about math and English as well. We need to step up in that dept. (spelling).