Homeschool Portfolios

A quick update to let you know that I uploaded a document to the Homeschool Portfolios page.  You can view and download it below as well:







Click the upper right corner (the pop out arrow) to download the document.

Please let me know if you see anything that is confusing or if you have other questions that I might help answer.  Thank you!

I've also updated the Homeschool Evaluators page.

Local Theater/Performance Field Trips

The new school season calendars have been posted for many venues and productions around town.   Take a look and see what your family and friends might enjoy attending together this year.  There is nothing quite like live theater, ballet, or musical experiences! We have enjoyed our share of TheatreWorks, Symphony, and Artist Series shows in the past and look forward to more in the future.

If you know of other performances taking place during the school year, please leave a comment and let us know!  When Nutcracker season approaches, I'll post different performance options for that special holiday show.

Alhambra School Performances
Find Alhambra Theatre school matinee information here.

Artist Series-
FSCJ Artist series for school groups information and teaching guides can be found here.

Friday Musicale-
Friday Musicale concerts are free.  Reservations are required.  Morning and evening performances for most events---field trip or date night.  You pick!

Jacksonville Symphony-
Learn more about educational opportunities and concerts at the Symphony here.

TheatreWorks Jax-
Make reservations online for the 2016-2017 school year performances here.

Thrasher Horne School Performances-Information should be posted soon here.

Learn More About Homeschooling

If you are new to homeschooling or are considering homeschooling (or know someone who is), there is an upcoming opportunity to talk with homeschoolers in our area, ask questions, and get more information on local educational opportunities for homeschoolers. 

On July 30, 2016 there will be experienced homeschooling parents waiting and ready to talk with you between 12:00 and 3:00 PM at the West Branch Library.  It is a drop in event, so come when you can and learn more about homeschooling in the greater Jacksonville area.

New Facebook Page

Clay County Homeschooling has a Facebook page!  If you are on Facebook and would like to follow the page, you can find it here:

https://www.facebook.com/CCHBlog/

I hope to include helpful general homeschooling information, local events of interest to homeschoolers, and blog updates on the page.  The page will likely contain more information on local events simply because it is a faster and easier way to share than writing a blog post.  So be sure to "like" and "follow" the page if you are on Facebook.  You are welcome to post relevant information to the page as well.

See you there!

2016-17 School Year

I hope everyone is having a nice summer!  Happy almost new (school) year to many---and for year rounders---happy year, wherever you are!  :-)

Though I have tried to update the static pages on the site in the past, it has been a long time since I've made regular blog posts, and I hope to get back to updating information more regularly this school year.  However, I need help from readers and local businesses and groups that provide services or resources to homeschoolers.  If you would like for something to be posted on the blog or site, please send an email to kimclayhs (at) gmail (dot) com.

Meanwhile, as we are embarking on high school this year in our own home school---I have started a Homeschooling High School page on the site.  While there are many, many online resources and books---this list is a basic starting point.  I hope others may find it helpful.

Speaking of homeschooling and high school, ROCK Solid is sponsoring some high school workshops during their annual hotel show which will be held on August 6th this year.  I received an email yesterday mentioning that the workshops would include: High School 101, Curriculum Choices, Time Management and others.  You can register for workshops and find out more here.  Speakers include Joanne Mastronicola, Amy Clay, and Lindley Rachal.  Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to learn (and shop)!

2015 HERI Convention

Picture source:  Wikipedia

The HERI (Home Education Resources and Information) Convention will be held in Jacksonville, Florida at the Prime Osborne Convention Center on July 24-25, 2015.  This convention is a great place to spend time with fellow homeschoolers, to listen to unique and encouraging presentations, and to browse through homeschooling curriculum and resources.

You can view the convention program, register and find out more information by visiting the HERI website.

R.O.C.K. Solid - Homeschool Curriculum Provider

When R.O.C.K. Solid had a physical store locally, I spent many hours pouring over curriculum there.  I loved being able to see so many different things all in one place!  They no longer have a storefront, but they have held a local "hotel show" each year since the store closed.  If you want to look over curriculum, it is a great shopping option!

This year's show will be on August 1, 2015.  You can find out more by visiting the ROCK Solid site here.

The HERI convention is back this year, and ROCK Solid always has a great booth there too!  You can check them out there on July 24-25, 2015.

Of course, you can also shop year round at the website!

Clay County Area SAT Testing 2015

Clay County
SAT TESTING for GRADES 4-12

Mark your calendars:

April 20-21 2015

We will administer the TIMED version of the standardized test used to evaluate students academically. This test is an approved test with the State of FL and Clay County and can be used to meet the state required yearly evaluations.

Testing dates will be April 20-21 from 8:30 am-12:30 daily, except for high school (9-12), which have the option to stay later and complete the test in one day on Monday.  

Early Registration: $55 per student (January-February)

Late Registration: $65 (March 1-27th)
 

Where: First Baptist Church Middleburg – 2645 Blanding Blvd. Middleburg, FL (please do not contact the church for information)

Register EARLY BEFORE  March 1st and reserve your student’s testing seat and save $10.00. All payments and registrations must be received BEFORE final deadline, March 27th in order to participate. You must send in reservation form to complete registration for testing.

Space is limited so reserve your student’s seat now.

Fill out attached testing reservation form found HERE (PDF) . Payment information and mailing address are on the bottom of the form.

A confirmation email will be sent to you that your student are registered for testing. If you do not receive it, please contact Vanessa (mveaka (at) bellsouth.net to confirm registration.  Please feel free to contact Vanessa with any questions you may have.

Testing will be administrated by Barbara McCabe, FL certified teacher through St Jude Christian Academy.

Career Day

Prospering Oaks, a local homeschool co-op, is hosting a career day for all junior high and high school students in our area.  Whether you have students in a public school, private school or at home-----you are invited to attend!  There will be fun for the whole family, so younger children are welcome too.

The career day will be held on June 21, 2014 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Oakleaf Baptist Church.  Over 30 professionals will be available to tell students about their jobs and to answer questions.  Tickets can be purchased in advance and are $5.50 per family.  Tickets at the door on the day of the event are $10 per family.

To find out more information, see a list of professions represented, and purchase a ticket, please go to http://www.prosperingoaks.com/career-day/.

If you'd like a flyer to help spread the word to other families by email or in person, you can download one here.

Site Seeing: Good Books Good Times!

Site Seeing:  An Online Tour of Educational Resources
Today's Focus:  Book Lists
Please be sure to thoroughly preview all links before using them with your children.

Our family loves to read! This post will highlight some of the online book lists that have been helpful to me:

1000 Good Books List-
http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html
Book list compiled by the Classical Christian Education Support Loop
The list is divided into four levels:  primary, elementary, junior and senior.

Paula's Archives is home to several helpful book lists:

• Literature to Supplement History
  http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/history.htm
• Living Books for Science
  http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/sciencebooks.htm
• Easy Chapter Books
  http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/easychapter.htm

Living Math-
http://livingmath.net/readersbyconcept/tabid/268/default.aspx
The Living Math website is a wonderful resource for connecting math and literature---and more!  (For now, I'll focus on the books.)  The site has many book lists based on different math concepts such as probability, multiplication, and fractions----just to name a few.

The Scholastic Book Wizard
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/homePage.do
This fantastic site enables visitors to generate customized lists of books based on reading level, genre, subject, and book type.

The Great Books.com
http://www.thegreatbooks.com/
This site is one I have bookmarked for the future----a wonderful resource for high school level study of the great books.  Not only are books listed on the site, there are also study guides avaiable for many of the books.   This site is maintained by Worldview Academy, and there is a list of ten suggested books for better understanding the Christian faith as a worldview on the site as well.

And in a post about how to find good books, I feel I would be remiss in neglecting to mention some wonderful curriculum sites I have frequented so regularly that I have committed many of their book recommendations to memory.  My favorites are Ambleside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason, Veritas Press, Heart of Dakota, and Sonlight.

Do you have a favorite online booklist?  Please share it in the comments below.

Registering with the District to Homeschool

One option for educating children at home in Florida, is to register as a homeschooler with your local school district (county).  Registering is very simple, and should be done within thirty days of beginning your homeschool program.

To register you may simply write a dated "Letter of Intent" to your district superintendent stating these things:

• Child's name
• Child's address
• Child's birthdate

Then sign your letter and mail it to your superintendent at the county office.*  Though it is not required, it is a good idea to send your letter "certified, return receipt requested", so that you  know the district received your letter and you have written verification of this. 

Your district may provide forms for you to fill out instead of writing a letter, but please know that these forms are not mandatory----they are completely optional.  By law, you are only required to write a letter containing the above information.  You can see a sample letter of intent on the Florida Parent- Educators Association's (FPEA) site.

The date of your letter becomes the due date of your annual evaluation, so be sure to keep a copy of your letter and write the date on your calendar.

 
At this posting, Clay County homeschoolers are asked to send letters to the Clay County Home Education Office, 2306 Kingsley Avenue Building #20, Orange Park, FL 32073) or you may email hscinfo(at)myoneclay.net.  (District Home Education Website)

If you have any questions or concerns about where to mail your letter of intent, please call the district office directly to confirm the mailing address. (I will update this post if the policy changes.  Last update:  July, 2016 to update county contact mailing and email address.)

Site Seeing: Curriculum Review Sites

A Online Tour of Educational Resources with a different focus area for each "tour".

Today's Focus:  Curriculum Review Sites
Please be sure to thoroughly preview all links before using them with your family.

When making decisions about different curriculum choices, it always nice to be able to view your choices first hand whether it's shopping at a convention vendor hall or local store; or sitting in a friend's home.  However, it is not always possible to come across what you are looking for in person; and as a next best choice----curriculum review sites can really help to give you a variety of viewpoints on materials.

The following sites may provide just the help needed:

Cathy Duffy Reviews-
http://www.grovepublishing.com/
Cathy Duffy's review site is very helpful.  She gives thorough reviews and is a trusted source of information.  As a side note, her book 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum has a great section on helping the homeschooling parent discover preferred methods of teaching and learning----and then recommends curriculum based on the results of questions answered.

Homeschool Reviews-
http://homeschoolreviews.com/
Homeschool reviews is a fabulous resource for reviews written by fellow homeschoolers.

The Curriculum Choice-
http://thecurriculumchoice.com/curriculum-reviews/
Although the format is a bit different than the previous two sites and searching for information may take a little longer, The Curriculum Choice is an excellent collection of reviews. Since the site is hosted/written in blog format, you can also subscribe for future updates.  And, if you are interested in writing curriculum reviews, they are looking for more regular writers.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Reviews-
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/
A categorized listing of over 4,000 educational products.

The Well Trained Mind Forum-
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/
I know this isn't a review site, but if you are willing spend a few minutes searching for information, your efforts will likely be rewarded.  The forums at the Well Trained Mind are some of the most active on the internet and they are a wealth of information.  Just use the "search" feature to find posts about a particular curriculum.  And even though it is the Well Trained Mind board non-"classical" curriculum is discussed there as well.

Many other curriculum companies host forums as well, and those can be a place to find really good information too.  Most posters are interested in helping others and give very frank reviews of materials.

Do you have a favorite source for curriculum reviews?  Please feel free to leave it in the comment section to share it with others.  Thank you!

Clip art source:  http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/--Thank you!

Fourth of July Fun!

I recetnly received the latest "Celebrating Holidays" newsletter, and discovered a treasure trove of Independence Day resources-----so nice, I wanted to pass them along!  The site has a section on Independence Day history, symbols, songs, stories, recipes and crafts.

The folks at Celebrating Holidays hope to continue adding content to the site, so you may want to susbcribe to their newsletter to receive future updates as well.
Enjoy!

Site Seeing: Bible Study

Site Seeing:  A Online Tour of Educational Resources with a different focus area on each tour.

Today's Focus:  Bible Study and the Christian Faith for Children
Please be sure to thoroughly preview all links before using them with your family.
There are some wonderful resources for Bible study online, and today's highlights feature study tools for children and those who lead them. 

Teaching With God's Heart for the World-
http://harvestministry.org/twghw
A FREE one year unit study curriculum.  All lesson plan content is online in PDF files.  
From the website:

The curriculum includes 160 day-by-day teaching plans, missionary highlights, motivational mission stories, crafts, songs, prayer projects, and hundreds of ways to incorporate a passion for the lost into nearly every subject (including Bible Study, Family Devotions, Reading, Writing, Geography, History, Art, Science, and even highlights for Math).
The curriculum presents a “whirlwind tour” of God’s enduring passion for missions, all-the-way-through-history and all-across-the-globe. Using weekly unit-studies, this curriculum is created to be used over a one-year school year, although it can be easily adapted to be used throughout two years. It can be used as a core curriculum guide (for elementary children), or as a supplement to another curriculum. It is written especially for elementary grade levels, but it can also be used for the whole family to study missions together.

Calvery Chapel Children's Ministry Curriculum-www.CalvaryCurriculum.com

325 Bible lessons from the Old and New Testament available in English and in Spanish.  Each lesson includes a Scripture references, a coloring page, questions and other activities.

Devotions from Josh McDowell-http://www.josh.org/resources/daily-devotional/

Keys For Kids Devotions-
http://cbhministries.org/kfk/home.php
Daily devotions for children from CBH Ministries.  You can read each devotion at the website or sign up for email delivery of devotions.

WonderZone.com-
http://www.wonderzone.com/

Bible devotions, a Bible Reading Club, video clips, games and other activities----plus a feature length film about Jesus for children.  Hosted by Child Evangelism Fellowship.  Some activities require site registration.

Wycliffe Bible Translators-Children's Lessons
http://www.wycliffe.org/Resources/Kids/FreeCurriculum.aspx
Ready, Set, Pray- A group of lessons on prayer including a wonderful monthly prayer journal for children (PDF) to lead them in prayer for Bible-less people groups.  There is also a prayer journal for older children (grades 6-9).  Site also includes a group of lessons on Bible translation, service learning project ideas, and more!

Impressionist Art

I originally wrote this article when an impressionist exhibit was coming to town.  It has since come and gone, but the list of resources might still prove helpful for art studies, so I am reposting it now.  :-)

If you know of other resources, please feel free to share them in the comment section below.

(Thank you so much to those who have organized curriculum, written about their own art studies or shared notebooking pages and other resources freely!)

• Nadene at Practical Pages has a wonderful Famous Impressionists page with many resources. 

• Jimmie's Freeebie Page includes an art section with a general art museum trip tips page and artist pages.

• Ambleside Online's art study page has several impressionists listed through the years.  If you visit this page you will also find links to their art print yahoo groups where you can make prints for your own studies.

Books that your family might enjoy (please preview before using with your family):

• Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt
• Van Gogh and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt
• Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt
• Cezanne and the Apple Boy by Laurence Anholt
• and other books by Anholt (there are several others to choose from)
• Linnea in Monet's Garden by Cristina Bjork
• Katie Meets the Impressionists by James Mayhew
• Smart About Art:  Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Paintings that Smile and others in the Smart About Art series (Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Cassatt)
• Edgar Degas by Mike Venezia and others in the Getting to Know the World's Great Artists series

DVDs (another reminder to preview....some may be more suited for adults.  I am just listing what I've come across to help others find them too)

• Linnea in Monet's Garden (available on Netflix streaming)
• Netflix also has video called "The Impressionists" on streaming and a BBC mini-series called "The Impressionists" which is different from the streaming title.  Also there is a series available for DVD rental called "The Impressionists:  ARTIST NAME"  Artists available are Renoir, Manet, Pissarro, Degas, Monet, Seurat and Van Gogh (a post impressionist)

Hands On Art Ideas:

• Discovering Great Artists: Hands On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (check out the table of contents at the Amazon preview...there are 9 impressionist artists listed and several post impressionists as well)--This is a great book that I have personally used.

• Monet and the Impressionists for Kids: Their Lives and Ideas:  21 Activities

The Cummer Museum offers FREE ADMISSION* each Tuesday from 4:00-9:00 p.m. so plan a visit while this unique exhibit will be in town!  (And then check the calendar for upcoming exhibits as well....there is always something wonderful to see at the museum!)

*Free Admission on Tuesday is available at the time of this post.  Please check the museum website before you visit to find out current admission policies.

Thanks to Wikipedia for Images in the Public Domain

Homeschool Methods: Traditional

The traditional method of homeschooling is also known as school-at-home and most resembles the structure of a typical public or private school classroom.  The day and subjects are organized and scheduled much as if one was in attendance at school.  For example, a set amount of time spent on language arts, math, science, and social studies daily; with time set aside for art, music, physical education and other "electives" as well.

Those wishing to follow a traditional method of homeschooling often use textbooks for most if not all subjects and may order all subjects from one publisher.  Some traditional homeschoolers may also seek to closely follow the scope and sequence of their local public school or a private school and will order materials based on that sequence.  Other traditional homeschoolers may choose to enroll in a local umbrella school that prescribes curriculum or to enroll in a private school distance education program.

Some reasons that families may choose traditional homeschooling are:

• comfort in knowing that curriculum is thoroughly planned and presented through the publisher/school
• a desire to teach content similar to that in the local schools
• a plan to have children return to school outside the home at some point and a desire to prepare them similarly to the school system
• a desire to keep things familiar to students who begin homeschooling after attending school for a time

Some textbook publishers are:

• Abeka
• Alpha Omega Publications
• Apologia
• Bob Jones University
• Christian Light Publications
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Saxon
• Peace Hill Press
• Pearson Homeschool
• Rod and Staff

 Some traditional distance education-school at home options are:

• Abeka Academy
• The Academy of Home Education (Bob Jones University) 
• Christian Light Publications Homeschool Plus
• Calvert School
• Lighthouse Christian Academy

This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family.

If you would like to write an article to share with others about how you implement a particular method of homeschooling, please contact Kim:  kimclayhs(at)gmail(dot)com   Curriculum/materials reviews are welcome as well!

Homeschool Methods: Literature Based

The term "literature based homeschooling" describes exactly what it is:  using literature as the base for your homeschooling.  Instead of using textbooks to drive the curriculum, in a literature based home school most subjects are studied through whole books; and even for those subjects that might be textbook based, literature is often used as a supplement whenever possible.  In the younger years, literature might very well be the base of the entire curriculum. 

Parents that wish to use literature based studies may develop their own plans by finding fiction and non-fiction books that bring the subject or topic alive for their children or they may choose to use a program that has done the planning part of the work for them.  There may be an overlap in learning about various subjects in a literature based home school (unit studies) or the parent may choose to follow a set scope and sequence for subjects (similar to a traditional method).   Whatever the route taken to planning, literature based home schools are filled with read aloud, independent reading and discussion time----vital components to literature based education.
The study of history lends itself nicely to a literature based approach, and you will often find it as the organizational center of many curricula.  It may be surprising to find that science and even math can be studied through literature, but it is possible.  It may take a bit more research and a thorough grasp of the subject yourself, but for those so inclined----it can be done.  There are so many good books available to us in our day, that the possibilities are limitless!
Some literature based* curriculum companies/guides are:

• Beautiful Feet Books
• Sonlight
• TruthQuest History
• WinterPromise

• All Through The Ages (an excellent book which guides one in the study of history through literature)

Free Curriculum guides that are literature based:

• An Old Fashioned Education
• Guest Hollow
• Please see the Charlotte Mason (CM) method post for many more curriculum guides that utilize great literature using CM methods

This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family.

Clipart from:  http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/  Thank you!

Homeschool Methods: Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason was a Christian British educator who lived in the late 1800s/early 1900s.  In many ways, she was far ahead of her time, as she thought all children deserved a wide and varied curriculum that would not only engage their minds, but enrich their lives; no matter their station or background.   Today, those that follow her methods, use her name in describing their home schools or public/private schools.

Charlotte Mason advocated the use of living books (well written, engaging, whole books) in education and said that education was a life, a discipline and an atmosphere.  She thought that children should come mind to mind with the best authors through their books and primarily used great books to study most subjects.  Children in her schools studied artists, composers, foreign languages, poetry, Shakespeare, nature and handicrafts alongside the Bible, literature, history, science, mathematics and writing.

Charlotte Mason set out twenty principles she used in developing her educational philosophy, and these can be read at the Ambleside  (AO) site.  In fact, all six of the books Charlotte Mason wrote on education can be read at AO in the original text or as a modern paraphrase.

Those that use a Charlotte Mason (CM) method in homeschooling generally use whole books for as many subjects as possible, engage children through age appropriate lesson times that develop the habit of (full) attention, use narration to help cement learning and gauge understanding, and provide a broad and generous curriculum.  There are other distinctives of a CM education (such as nature study), and there is so much wonderful information available online, that I will simply link to some of the best sites I've found below.

• Ambleside Online-Here you can find the full texts of Charlotte Mason's writings, many articles from the Parent's Review, and a free curriculum guide
• Simply Charlotte Mason-Another site with abundant information about CM and CM methods.  A free curriculum guide is available here as well.
• Charlotte Mason Help- A free curriculum guide is available here as well as numerous articles written by a home educator about how she implements CM methods in her family
• Mater Amabilis-A free Catholic CM curriculum guide is available here
• Milestones Academy-CM resource for LDS families-free curriculum guide available here
• Penny Gardner's website-Lots of great book lists and articles on CM education
• ChildLight USA- Blog, articles, lectures and home to the annual Charlotte Mason Educational Conference (also working to develop a CM curriculum)
• Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Headquarters on Squidoo-Lots of links and resources compiled by Jimmie (all of her pages on Squidoo are excellent!)
• The Tanglewood School Curriculum-Classical and CM curriculum
• Secular CM- Resources for those who wish to utilize CM methods in a secular home school

Curricula that utilize CM methods available through publishers:

• Ages of Grace-Orthodox Christian, CM inspired curriculum
• Heart of Dakota
• Living Books Curriculum
• Queen Homeschool Supplies
• See also the Literature Based method post----You can use any literature based curriculum and implement CM methods.

Although reading Charlotte Mason's own writings will give the clearest understanding of her methods, there are numerous books available that are also helpful in understanding a CM education.  Some to look for at your library or local bookstore are:

• A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
• More Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
• When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper (editor) Excerpt (PDF file)
• A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
• For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family. 

Homeschool Methods: Unit Study

 A very basic definition of a unit study is taking a topic or subject and studying it through as many of the academic disciplines as applicable for a specified length of time.  The goal is to relate as much learning as possible to the chosen topic or theme.  This works very well for most disciplines with the exception of mathematics (though mathematics is a great lens to examine many topic through as well).

For example, one might plan on studying "Ancient Egypt" through history (people and events), geography (maps, cultural geography), science (irrigation practices, medicine), art, and literature.  Another example might be studying "horses" through history (the uses of horses throughout history, the history of horse racing, famous horses in history), science (the care of horses, types of horses, biological needs and systems of horses), literature (stories of horses in literature), etc.

Other unit study approaches examine character traits through different disciplines (such as KONOS), or use a piece of literature as the base for the study (such as Five in a Row) and branch out from there.
Many who use unit studies in their teaching also try to incorporate hands on projects related to the study and schedule related field trips.  Some involve their children in the planning of a unit study and largely base their plans upon the interests of their children.  Unit studies are very popular in traditional school settings as well, and there is abundant information online for anyone wishing to plan their own studies or to see samples of unit studies.

Some curricula organized into Unit Studies are:

• Amanda Bennett Studies (Topical-Subject based)
• Christian Cottage Unit Studies (History based)
• Five in a Row (Literature based)
• The Itty-Bitty Bookworm (Literature based preschool curriculum)
• KONOS (Character based)
• Learning Adventures (History based)
• My Father's World (History/geography based)
• The Prairie Primer (based on the Little House series)
• Steward Ship Unit Studies (Topical-Subject based)
• Tapestry of Grace (History based)
• Trail Guide to Learning (History based)
• Weaver (Biblical theme based)

Some free resources for Unit Studies are:

• Homeschool Share (Literature based)
• Stone Soup Homeschool Network Unit Study Database (HUGE!)

Unit Study Helps for those who might like to plan their own studies:

• Homeschool Unit Study Planner forms at DonnaYoung.org
• How to Create a Unit Study (PDF File from Home 2 Teach)
• Learning Success with Unit Studies (article)
• Unit Studies Made Easy by Valerie Bendt (a great book!)--PDF Preview here

This article is a part of series of overviews on different homeschool methods.  As many homeschoolers are eclectic in method and materials chosen, hopefully highlights from this series will offer insight into what is available to families educating children at home so that they might choose what will best meet the goals they have set for their family.