Online Unit Studies by Techie Homeschool Mom ~~ A New TOS Review!!

If you know our family you know that we have used unit studies on and off throughout our entire homeschool journey. Online unit studies are a staple for us and we were pleased to be chosen to review a brand new company to us -- Techie Homeschool Mom. It was created by Beth Napoli, a homeschool mom like you and I, who wanted to teach homeschoolers about the tech world in a healthy way. We were blessed to review an online science based unit study with Solar System Online Unit Study.

So what is a unit study? And how can it possibly be done online? Well a unit study is a study into one topic or area that integrates multiple subjects  providing an in-depth and well-rounded dive into that subject. Through the ones available at Techie Homeschool Mom you will access online videos and websites as well as commenting with others who are also working on the same unit. This community provides an avenue of camaraderie that isn't always available to homeschoolers. And since the study is all online there is no need for outside books or worksheets that you will need to gather and print. However, you may have to collect some items to complete the hands-on projects within a unit. In my belief, these hands-on projects are what make the unit study come to life and be cemented in your students life forever.

The online unit studies created by Techie Homeschool Mom have been developed for children in late elementary through middle school age so that they can access them on their own and be able to navigate through the site along with the additional videos and links added within. Those younger could also use these unit studies, but would probably need a little help on the computer. The courses are self-paced so you can decide how long each unit will take. It was suggested that each module (there are about 7-9 in our Solar System Online Unit Study) would take about 2-3 hours. The older your student, the more capable they are in using a computer, and the length they engage in the projects will determine whether the time will be shorter or even longer.

One thing that I valued from the Solar System Online Unit Study we received was that once we have access to the course it is ours forever. And it can be accessed from multiple devices. That is a great value. There are several one module online unit studies (like Helen Keller and Easter) that are just $8. We received a longer unit called the Solar System Online Unit Study which has about 10 modules and costs $35. She even has bundles available as well.

Here is the Welcome Screen. On the left is the menu bar. On the top is the
 complete and continue bar which moves you from one section to the next. 

Once you login to your course there is an introductory module with some links to her Pinterest page and her Facebook page. She also has a group you can join just for more community. You literally just have to click the complete and continue bar after each section to move on in your course. If you want to jump around (which is totally up to you since it is self-paced and for your family to make as your own) you can just scroll down the course menu on the left hand side and click where you want to go next. Easy-peasy!

This is the layout of the course. The green bars on the right show what is ready to be started.

As I mentioned above we have been working through the Solar System Online Unit Study which includes learning about the solar system, Copernicus, Galileo, the sun, planets, gravity, and even comets, asteroids, and meteors. My son has greatly enjoyed this unit study and I am glad to know that we have accomplished a little more science in a fun and engaging way.

While discussing the beginning module he had to draw the solar system. There were plenty of examples and there was also included a chalk art tutorial, but how he did it was completely up to him. Here are some pictures of his progress and his finished project.

Just starting and watching the tutorial.

Working on the solar system.

Finished product!

Since he is in the 4th grade a few of the hands on projects are a little harder because they wanted him to create a data table. The good thing is that all the directions on HOW to create it were given to us step by step. We just hadn't had time to fully complete them since I had a family emergency that came smack dab in the middle of this review. He did tell me he read through the instructions and thought he could create it, so I think next week I'll let him have at it.

We are about half-way through the program, mostly to my family emergency, but one thing we are both looking forward to is completing the solar system model as the end of unit big project. There are so many ideas given on how to complete the model, but it is solely up to my son (or your student). I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Watching a video where this guy is doing a "to scale" model of the solar system.

The planets were all lit up and this ball represents Neptune.

The planets are all orbiting.

One of his favorite parts of this unit was a few videos and a website we went to that showed how far away each of the planets are from the sun and each other. He still asks if he can view the website where he had to scroll and scroll and scroll to travel several million miles to go from the Sun all the way to Pluto (even though he's now not a planet, but might become one again soon)!!

It's just a speck!

See there's Pluto!

I know that we will be exploring more of the online unit studies that Techie Homeschool Mom has to offer. Others on the Crew were reviewing several other units including Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome, Famous Artists Vol 1 and Vol 2, and Famous Inventors, along with the Solar System Online Unit Study, so be sure to check them out by clicking the link below. As well as finding Techie Homeschool Mom on Facebook and Pinterest you can also find them on Instagram, Twitter, and even YouTube. I'd love to hear from you if you do one of these studies so comment which one and what you loved most about it!