60 Must-Try Unit Study Ideas for Kindergarten: A Fun & Stress-Free Homeschool Year

Homeschooling a kindergartener is such a sweet season—so full of curiosity, energy, and (let’s be real) short attention spans. If you’re anything like me, you want to keep learning fun while sneaking in some structure. That’s why unit studies are my go-to! They make it easy to dive deep into topics, adapt lessons for all ages, and create hands-on learning moments that actually stick.

To make planning easier, I’ve put together a whole year’s worth of engaging unit study ideas—five per month! These are designed for kindergarteners but can be adjusted for older or younger siblings, making them perfect for multi-age homeschooling.

January – Cozy Learning & Winter Wonders

❄️ Winter Animals – Learn about hibernation, migration, and animals that love the snow. Read The Mitten and make animal tracks in the mud or snow!
🥶 Weather & Seasons – Track the daily temperature, make a weather journal, and explore why we have seasons.
🩺 Community Helpers (Doctors & Nurses) – Play doctor with stuffed animals, learn about germs, and practice proper handwashing.
🗺️ Maps & Globes – Explore basic geography by making a simple map of your home or neighborhood.
🍞 Bread Around the World – Bake different kinds of bread and learn about cultures that eat them. (Hello, sourdough starter!)

February – Love & Curiosity

❤️ Valentine’s Day & Kindness – Write love notes to family, read books about kindness, and do small acts of service.
🦷 Dental Health – Talk about teeth, practice brushing on a model, and visit a dentist’s office.
🚀 Solar System – Learn about planets, phases of the moon, and make a paper mâché solar system!
🦜 Birds & Migration – Set up a bird feeder, observe local birds, and learn about their songs.
💰 Money & Math – Play “store,” practice counting coins, and start a tiny savings jar.

March – Spring into Learning

🌱 Gardening & Plant Life – Start seedlings indoors, explore what plants need to grow, and taste-test different veggies.
🌦 Rain & Water Cycle – Make a rain gauge, do fun water experiments, and learn about the power of rain.
📚 Famous Authors & Illustrators – Focus on a favorite author (Dr. Seuss is an easy pick!) and create a book in their style.
🐄 Farm Life – Learn about farm animals, visit a local farm, and plant something simple like lettuce or radishes.
🎭 Fairy Tales & Folklore – Read classic tales and act them out with puppets or dress-up clothes.

April – Springtime Fun

🐝 Bugs & Insects – Go on a bug hunt, learn about life cycles, and raise butterflies or ladybugs.
🌎 Earth Day & Recycling – Make crafts from recycled materials and talk about ways to care for the planet.
🐸 Ponds & Wetlands – Learn about frogs, ducks, and fish, and visit a pond to observe wildlife.
🦖 Dinosaurs – Dig up “fossils” in a sandbox and learn about different prehistoric creatures.
🎶 Music & Rhythm – Explore different instruments, listen to classical music, and try making your own songs.

May – Outdoor Explorations

🦋 Butterflies & Pollinators – Raise caterpillars and release butterflies or learn about bees and their hives.
🏕 Camping & Outdoor Safety – Set up a pretend campsite in the backyard and learn basic survival skills.
🌊 Oceans & Marine Life – Learn about tide pools, sharks, and coral reefs, and do an ocean sensory bin.
🍓 Farm-to-Table Eating – Visit a farmer’s market, cook with fresh produce, and learn where food comes from.
🎨 Art Around the World – Try different styles of art from various cultures (Japanese ink painting, African mud cloth).

June – Summer Adventures

🏄‍♂️ Beaches & Seashells – Collect shells, learn about tide patterns, and create beach-themed crafts.
🦕 Caves & Rocks – Study different types of rocks, make a crystal-growing experiment, and learn about caves.
🍦 Ice Cream Science – Make homemade ice cream and explore how freezing works.
🐞 Backyard Bugs – Get a magnifying glass and investigate what’s living in your backyard!
⚓ Pirates & Treasure Hunts – Learn about real-life pirates, create treasure maps, and go on a scavenger hunt.

July – Exploring the World

🗽 Patriotic Symbols & US History – Learn about the flag, national monuments, and early American history.
🌋 Volcanoes & Geology – Make an erupting baking soda volcano!
🍉 Summer Fruits & Veggies – Try different summer produce and learn about seasonal eating.
🏜 Desert Life – Explore animals and plants that thrive in extreme heat.
🐘 African Safari Animals – Study giraffes, lions, and elephants, and create an animal mask craft.

August – Getting Hands-On

🎭 Shakespeare for Kids – Read A Midsummer Night’s Dream and act out a scene.
🚂 Transportation & Travel – Learn about trains, planes, and automobiles.
🏰 Castles & Knights – Build a cardboard castle and learn about medieval life.
🎨 Famous Artists – Explore Van Gogh, Monet, or Frida Kahlo and recreate their art.
🍞 Baking Science – Experiment with yeast and rising dough (great excuse to bake bread!).

September – Fall Learning Fun

🍁 Leaves & Trees – Collect and press leaves, identify different trees, and explore why they change colors.
🌍 Continents & Countries – “Visit” a different continent each week with food, music, and crafts.
📜 Tall Tales & Legends – Read and retell folk stories like Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed.
🚜 Harvest & Farming – Learn about crops, harvesting, and how food gets from farm to table.
🌙 Moon & Space Exploration – Study astronauts, the phases of the moon, and stargazing basics.

October – Spooky & Seasonal Fun

🎃 Pumpkins & Gourds – Cut one open, count seeds, and explore textures.
🦇 Nocturnal Animals – Learn about bats, owls, and foxes!
👻 Classic Monster Stories – Read Frankenstein (the kids' version, of course) and create silly monster crafts.
🕸 Spiders & Webs – Observe webs outside and learn how spiders help the environment.
🔬 Mad Scientist Experiments – Do simple chemistry experiments, like making slime!

November – Cozy & Creative Learning

🦃 Thanksgiving & Gratitude – Keep a gratitude journal and learn about the holiday’s history.
🥧 Baking & Measuring – Practice simple recipes and learn about fractions.
🐻 Hibernation & Animal Homes – Create a cozy den for stuffed animals and learn why animals hibernate.
🎭 Acting & Drama – Put on a family play or puppet show!
🧵 Simple Sewing Skills – Try lacing cards or basic hand-sewing projects.

December – Festive & Fun

🎄 Christmas Around the World – Explore holiday traditions from different countries.
🕯 Light & Shadows – Learn about the science of light with flashlights and shadow puppets.
🎁 Handmade Gifts & Giving – Make simple DIY gifts for loved ones.
❄️ Snow & Ice Science – Try freezing experiments and learn about snowflakes.
🎶 Holiday Music & Carols – Learn festive songs and their history!

I hope this list makes lesson planning a little easier for you! Let me know which unit studies you’re excited to try. 💛