Homeschool Unit Studies for August
I’ve collected 35 resources (paid and free) to help you build out your unit studies for May.
Most of these products are from homeschool moms/business owners!
I’ve also added some book recommendations, because what’s a unit study without some books?
Here are my top 5 engaging unit study ideas for older homeschooled kids that get them outside this August!
Use all the recommended resources in a unit study, or pick and choose to customize your own.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from some of these links, I may receive a small commission.
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My 5 Unit Study Picks (Grades 3rd-6th)
🌺 Jungle Unit Studies 🌺
Adventure into the jungle of Southeast Asia with these unit study picks. Kids will love encountering elephants, snakes, and beautiful birds!
BUILD YOUR OWN UNIT STUDY
🌺 Monkey Patterns of Motion Project (Science, Physics, STEAM) by ARTventurous Animals
🌺 Jungle Trek Narrative Writing (Writing, ELA, Geography) by ARTventurous Animals
🌺 My Jungle Adventure: A Project-Based Math Activity for Google Classroom (Math, Word Problems) by Mr. Mault’s Marketplace
🌺 Roll a Jungle Landscape Roll And Draw Printable (Art, Drawing) by Draw and Paint with Tammy
FULL UNIT STUDIES
🌺 Rainforest Unit Study | Reading, Presentation, Worksheets, Activities (Art, ELA, Grammar, Reading, Research, Science, Spelling, Writing) by Heather Huhman
🌺 Lorikeet Unit Study | Build a Love Bird Craft | Rainforest Animals (Art, ELA, Grammar, Reading, Research, Science, Spelling, Writing) by Heather Huhman
🌺 Panda Unit Study | Endangered Animals Lesson Plan, Videos, Activities (Art, ELA, Grammar, Reading, Research, Science, Spelling, Writing) by Heather Huhman
BOOK RECS
🌺 24 Hours in the Jungle by Lan Cook, Anastasia Thomas
Join a brother and sister in Borneo as they help their mother and other scientists with their work in the jungle, and encounter orangutans, a very stinky flower and a clouded leopard. Find out what makes the jungle and the wildlife that lives there so special, and learn about the work being done to protect it.
🌺 The Jungle Book (MinaLima Edition) by Rudyard Kipling (Author), MinaLima (Illustrator)
For fans of all ages, legendary British writer Rudyard Kipling’s complete collection of enchanting fables set in India—the basis of the beloved animated Disney film and a modern cinematic retelling from director Jon Favreau—now available in a deluxe four-color illustrated collectible edition. The Jungle Book features stunning artwork and nine 3-D interactive elements crafted by MinaLima Design, the award-winning design studio behind the graphics for the Harry Potter film franchise and the illustrated classic Peter Pan.
🌺 Spin to Survive: Deadly Jungle: Decide your destiny with a pop-out fortune spinner by Emily Hawkins
With nothing but your instincts and your trusty Survival Spinner, do you have what it takes to make it out of the jungle alive? Find out in this latest adventure in the thrilling game-in-a-book series, Spin to Survive: Deadly Jungle!
🦋 Butterfly Unit Study 🦋
Explore the world through butterfly wings. Create a unit study that your kids will love learning from!
BUILD YOUR OWN UNIT STUDY
🦋 Monarch Migration Project (Science, Zoology, STEAM, Writing) by ARTventurous Animals
🦋 Summer Birds - Butterflies of Maria Merian Character Study (Science, ELA, Literature) by Sweet Integrations
🦋 BUTTERFLY ANATOMY & LIFE CYCLE, Body parts, Insect study, Animal printable (Science, Zoology, Anatomy) by PsychoScreen
🦋 Butterfly Spring Time Directed Drawing |ELA Writing Pages (ELA, Writing, Art, Drawing) by Happily Ever Elementary
🦋 Backyard Birds, Butterflies, and Bugs (Science, Writing, Research) by There Is No Box
FULL UNIT STUDIES
🦋 Butterfly Unit Study Bundle Charlotte Mason Nature Study (ELA, STEAM, Research) by RikiTikiArt
BOOK RECS
🦋 What's Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon?: And Other Questions About Moths & Butterflies by Rachel Ignotofsky
With warm and heart-fluttering illustrations, discover the next nonfiction picture book about butterflies and moths from the creator of the New York Times bestseller Women in Science!
🦋 The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman
One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly.
🦋 The World Encyclopedia of Butterflies & Moths by Sally Morgan
Butterflies and moths captivate nature enthusiasts with their beauty and variety, but in addition to being attractive they are also of huge biological importance. This superb book, in a sumptuous new edition, covers the lifecycle of these creatures, with information on anatomy, feeding, flight and breeding. It then profiles some of the world’s best-loved and intriguing butterflies, moths and skippers, with a geographically-split directory of detailed entries, each containing useful identification summaries and quick-reference panels on distribution, habitat, food and wingspan.
🦖 Dinosaur 🦖
Unit Studies
ROAR your way into learning with these dinosaur unit study picks! Your kids will RACE to the dining room table to learn from these.
BUILD YOUR OWN UNIT STUDY
🦖 Fossil Record Discovery Project (Science, Zoology, STEAM) by ARTventurous Animals
🦖 FREE Pterodactyl Video Art Lesson (Art, STEAM, Zoology) by ARTventurous Animals
🦖 Mentos & Dinosaur Toothpaste Hands-On Science Activity Journal With Instructions (STEAM, Chemistry, Writing) by Elizabeth McMann
🦖 The Commutative Property of Multiplication Activity Worksheets with Dinosaurs (Math) by RTSLC
🦖 Dinosaurs | STEAM Biomimimicy Project Based Learning Digital Activities (Zoology, STEAM) by Asa Jomard
🦖 Possessive Pronouns | NO PREP Directed Drawing | Dinosaur Theme (Grammar, Zoology) by Heather Huhman
FULL UNIT STUDY
🦖 Family Unit Study: Dinosaurs! (All Subject Areas) by How Wee Learn
BOOK RECS
🦖 The Girl and the Dinosaur by Hollie Hughes
“In a town by the seaside, Marianne is often seen digging for buried treasure on the beach. One day, she finds the most wonderful treasure of all--a dinosaur skeleton!
That night, Marianne makes a wish upon a star that her dinosaur will come to life. She wishes it with all her heart--and it comes true. Together, Marianne's adventures with her new friend are limited only by their imagination.”
-Amazon description
🦖 Whats Where on Earth? Dinosaur Atlas by Darren Naish
“The prehistoric world as you’ve never seen is before.”
-Amazon description
🦖 Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers
“A beautifully illustrated picture book biography of Mary Anning that will enlighten children about the discovery of the dinosaurs and the importance of female scientists, perfect for fans of The Girl Who Thought in Pictures”
-Amazon description
🦖 Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1) by Mary Pope Osbourne
“Where did the tree house come from?
Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them to the prehistoric past. Now they have to figure out how to get home. Can they do it before dark…or will they become a dinosaur’s dinner?
The Magic Tree House series has been a beloved favorite for over 25 years and is sure to inspire a love of reading—and adventure—in every child who joins Jack and Annie!”
-Amazon description
🦖 Science Comics: Dinosaurs: Fossils and Feathers by MK Reed and Joe Flood
“This volume: in Dinosaurs, learn all about the history of paleontology! This fascinating look at dinosaur science covers the last 150 years of dinosaur hunting, and illuminates how our ideas about dinosaurs have changed--and continue to change.”
-Amazon description
🐒 Zoo Unit Studies 🐒
Take your kids to the zoo and learn about animals from around the world through these unit study ideas.
BUILD YOUR OWN UNIT STUDY
🐒 Animal Art Journal (Art, Zoology, Geography, Writing) by ARTventurous Animals
🐒 Travel Art Membership for Kids: Animal Art Projects (Art, Zoology, Geography, STEAM) by ARTventurous Animals
🐒 EdZOOcating Adventures Membership (Science, Zoology, STEAM) by EdZOOcating
🐒 Zoo Animals Endless Creative Writing Prompts (ELA, Writing, Zoology) by Heather Huhman
🐒 Endangered Animals Species Research Project Based Learning Science Activities (Science, Research, Zoology) by Sweet Integrations - Sandy Cangelosi
full unit study
🐒 Types of Animals Mini Posters, Picture Task Cards, and Worksheets Unit Study (Zoology, Art, Writing) by Having a Fields Day
BOOK RECS
🐒 The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick
A fast-paced and exciting read for middle grade fantasy, mystery, and animal buffs. Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood—but what are they looking for?
🐒 Animals by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics by Steve Jenkins
How many species are there across the globe?
How much do all of the insects in the world collectively weigh?
How far can animals travel?
Steve Jenkins answers these questions and many more with numbers, images, innovation, and authoritative science in his latest work of illustrated nonfiction. Jenkins layers his signature cut-paper illustrations alongside computer graphics and a text that is teeming with fresh, unexpected, and accurate zoological information ready for readers to easily devour. The level of scientific research paired with Jenkins’ creativity and accessible infographics is unmatched and sure to wow fans old and new.
🐒 Life Cycles: Everything from Start to Finish by DK
Take a look into the circle of life through the life cycles of the planet and everything on it!
Everything begins and everything ends ― but what happens in between? Find out in this stunning nature book. Learn about human life and development, processes in nature, how animals change over time, how the universe was formed and so much more.
🐯 Tigers 🐯
If you have kids who would totally love to have a pet tiger, you have to try a tiger unit study!
BUILD YOUR OWN UNIT STUDY
🐯 Tiger Inherited Traits Project (Science, Zoology, STEAM) by ARTventurous
🐯 Henri Rousseau Jungle Art Project Famous Artist Elementary Art Lessons (Art, Design) by Kids Art Projects 101
🐯 Math Activity Endangered Animals Tiger Symmetry Math Center (Math, Zoology, Art) by Gentle Oddities
🐯 The Tiger Rising by Kate Dicamillo Novel Study (ELA, Creative Writing, Literature) by Joy in the Journey
FULL UNIT STUDY
🐯 Tiger Unit Study | Rainforest Animals | Lesson Plan, Activities (Art, ELA, Grammar, Reading, Research, Science, Spelling, Writing) by Heather Huhman
BOOK RECS
🐯 The Last Tiger by Beck Davies
This book has a beautiful art style that brings the rainforest to life. The story follows Aasha as she contrasts how life used to be enjoying the forest and playing with other tigers compared to the way it is now - after scorching hot days, floods, and smoking creatures with silver teeth. The journey she takes leads her from despair and confusion to the deforestation that is occurring in her home to hope and optimism that the rainforest may recover and she may find "home" again.
🐯 The Big Book of Beasts by Yuval Zommer
In The Big Book of Beasts, Yuval Zommer’s wonderful illustrations bring to whimsical life some of the grizzliest, hairiest, bravest, wiliest, and most fearsome beasts in the animal kingdom. Brimming with interesting facts from beast consultant Barbara Taylor, this charming picture book is a beautiful way for parents to introduce young children to the animal world―and for older children to learn by themselves.
🐯 National Geographic Kids Everything Big Cats by Elizabeth Carney
Bring on the Big Cats! No tame tabbies, these four big predators, the lion, leopard, jaguar, and tiger, are known for their powerful roars. Kids can prowl through the lion's to-do list and the tiger's steak dinner to learn all about the big 4, then move beyond the big cats to see how they stock up against the pretty kitties. Elizabeth Carney shares real-life wildlife tips, so kids can become big eat experts themselves.
Let me know in the comments below if you try out any of these unit studies!
Got your own educational resources that would fit into these unit studies?
Email me at artventurousanimals@gmail.com and let me know your suggestions!
Thanks for being a part of this adventure!