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A Beginner’s Guide to Unit Studies for Homeschoolers

By Nancy ~
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When I first began homeschooling, the term “unit study” kept popping up, and I had no clue what it meant. I kept wondering, Is it a curriculum? A workbook? Something expensive? It wasn’t until I dug in, asked other homeschooling moms, and eventually tried one for myself that I truly understood the beauty of unit studies. If you’re new to homeschooling or looking for a fresh way to engage your kids, this beginner’s guide to unit studies will walk you through what they are, why they work, how to start one, and where to find ideas and resources. I’m sharing everything I wish I knew when I first started—because once you try a unit study, there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with this method too. 🌿 What Is a Unit Study? A unit study is a homeschool approach where you center all (or most) subjects around a single theme or topic. Instead of learning math, science, reading, and history separately with unrelated materials, a unit study ties them all together through one central ide...
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Simple 1 Hour Summer Learning Routine for Busy Homeschool Moms

By Nancy ~

Summer can be a magical time—sunshine, slower mornings, and plenty of family memories in the making. But if you’re like me, you also don’t want all that hard-earned learning from the school year to slip away. That’s why I created a simple summer learning routine that keeps our homeschool flowing without overwhelming me—or my kids.

If you’ve been searching for an easy summer homeschool schedule or a homeschool summer daily routine that’s truly doable, this 1-hour-per-day plan might be exactly what you need.

Let me walk you through how we keep learning alive in the summer without sacrificing our peace or flexibility.

Why a Simple Summer Routine Works

Let’s be honest—most of us homeschooling moms are pulled in a dozen directions, especially in the summer. Between vacations, camps, playdates, and just trying to enjoy the season, it's hard to commit to anything time-consuming.

That’s why I made this routine realistic. I knew I wouldn’t stick to anything complicated. So instead of long lesson plans or strict schedules, we focus on just one intentional hour a day. That’s it. It’s enough to keep the learning gears turning without burnout.

Our 1-Hour-Per-Day Summer Plan

Here’s how our homeschool summer daily routine breaks down. It’s flexible, easy to customize, and includes a mix of reading, life skills, and hands-on learning.

0:00–0:20 Reading Time (20 minutes)

We always start with quiet reading time. It’s peaceful, it sets the tone, and it’s something I don’t have to plan.

Depending on your child’s age, they can:

  • Read independently

  • Read aloud to you or a sibling

  • Listen to an audiobook (great for reluctant readers or younger kids)

  • Follow along in a picture book

Tip: I keep a summer basket of fresh books from the library or a few old favorites to keep it exciting.

For my younger child, I’ll sit with her and read together, often adding some discussion or asking her to retell the story. With my older child, I might ask a question or two afterward, just to keep comprehension sharp.

0:20–0:40 Life Skills or Real-World Learning (20 minutes)

This is my favorite part of our summer homeschool routine because it blends learning with life.

Some of the things we’ve done include:

  • Teaching my 12-year-old how to use the microwave safely

  • Letting my 6-year-old practice sorting laundry by color

  • Planning a grocery list and budgeting for a recipe

  • Taking care of a small garden

  • Learning to sew a button or make a snack

The goal here isn’t perfection—it’s confidence and independence. These are things I don’t always have time to teach during the regular school year, so summer is perfect for it.

And yes, these absolutely count as learning. They build critical thinking, math, reading, and communication skills—all from real life.

0:40–1:00 Hands-On Fun (20 minutes)

We wrap up our hour with something hands-on and fun—something they look forward to.

Here are some of our favorite summer activities:

  • STEM projects (like building with Legos, making slime, or creating a simple volcano)

  • Art and crafts (painting rocks, water coloring, chalk art outside)

  • Nature walks with a journal

  • Simple science experiments (mixing baking soda and vinegar never gets old!)

  • Cooking or baking together (doubling a recipe is a great math lesson)

Sometimes I rotate based on the day of the week—like “Maker Mondays” or “STEM Fridays”—but often I just follow their interests. When they’re involved in choosing the activity, they’re naturally more excited.

What Makes This Routine Work (And Why It’s Not Overwhelming)

  1. It’s Short and Sweet
     One hour a day is manageable. Even on busy days, we can squeeze it in. And if we miss a day? No guilt. This isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency over time.

  2. It’s Flexible
     You can move things around, skip a day, or swap activities based on your family’s needs. If you’re traveling or visiting relatives, this routine can go with you.

  3. It Covers the Essentials
     Reading keeps literacy strong. Life skills build independence. Hands-on learning keeps their curiosity alive. These three components balance each other beautifully without a worksheet in sight.

Sample Weekly Easy Summer Homeschool Schedule

Here’s an example of how a week might look using this 1-hour plan:

Monday

  • Reading: Library books

  • Life Skill: Organizing the bookshelf

  • Hands-On: Make slime

Tuesday

  • Reading: Audiobook with sketching

  • Life Skill: Meal planning + budgeting

  • Hands-On: Bake banana bread

Wednesday

  • Reading: Read-aloud time together

  • Life Skill: Water plants and track growth

  • Hands-On: Nature journal walk

Thursday

  • Reading: Quiet reading time

  • Life Skill: Folding laundry and sorting

  • Hands-On: Art—paint with watercolors

Friday

  • Reading: Chapter book discussion

  • Life Skill: Learning to write a letter and mail it

  • Hands-On: Build a Lego structure with a theme

You can switch things out depending on your child’s age or interests—make it your own!

How to Get Started (Even If You’re Tired or Behind)

If you’re reading this mid-summer and thinking it’s too late—it’s not. You can start this routine any time, even if it’s just for a few weeks.

Here’s how to start today:

  1. Pick 5–10 books your kids can read this month.

  2. List a few life skills they’re ready to learn.

  3. Choose some fun hands-on activities to keep ready (Pinterest is your friend here).

  4. Set aside one hour a day, ideally in the morning.

  5. Stay flexible. Adjust as needed and give yourself grace.

Remember, the goal is connection, not perfection.

Final Thoughts

Summer learning doesn’t have to be formal or stressful. With this easy summer homeschool schedule, your kids can keep growing academically and personally without long hours at the table.

And as a busy homeschool mom, you deserve a break too. This 1-hour-per-day plan helps you keep things simple, structured, and joyful—so you can actually enjoy your summer and feel good about your child’s progress.

If this homeschool summer daily routine sounds like something that might work for your family, give it a try this week and make it your own.

Have your own simple summer learning ideas? Share them in the comments! And if you’d like more realistic homeschool tips like this, don’t forget to subscribe or follow me on Pinterest @cleverlykindred.

Thank you for reading my blog! Stay tuned for more tips, resources, and printable materials to help make your homeschooling experience enjoyable and effective. Check out my store for a variety of educational products and printables to assist you on your homeschooling journey.

~With love,
Nancy at Cleverly Kindred ❤️

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