October Unit Factory

Dive into Learning

I love seasons and holidays--so much that it’s difficult to not get caught up in them to the point of neglecting other things.  Always on the lookout for ways to have my cake and eat it, too, I’ve got lists of ideas for “festive schooling,” ranging from the obvious and traditional to the wild and crazy.

Below is a list of a few unit suggestions for the month of October.  The beauty of units is that they can last a day, a week... even a lifetime.  So whether you’re looking for something for the entire month, or just a way to pass the daylight on October 31st, try some of the following.

The Night – October is a good month to study a different aspect of nighttime each day.  This can include nocturnal animals, nighttime occupations, bedtime (rituals, dreams...), night festivals, night skies, and its opposite – light (Daylight Savings Time, fire, candles, electricity...).

The Skeletal System

Bats, Cats, Owls and Fowls

Fantasy and Fiction – Now is a perfect time to learn about and decide what is real and what isn’t.

Costuming – Learn about fashion through the ages, how to sew a costume, or see how imaginative you can get in creating a costume.

Mystery – Study some of the greats:  Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes.  Find out what makes a great mystery and try writing your own.

Times and Seasons – Obvious, but it can be expanded.  If you like nature walks and journals, relish them in October!  Sketch the same tree every day, detailing the differences after time, wind and weather.  Chart sunrise and sunset.  Learn about the history of Daylight Savings Time.  See if the Farmer’s Almanac is correct in its predictions.  (By the way, Ben Franklin had something to do with Daylight Savings, almanacs, electricity, and more!  You could learn about him and cover several things at once!)  Learn leaf and tree identification.  Take up photography during this beautifully colorful season, either by taking a professional class, or by handing your kids disposable cameras for “documenting” the signs of autumn in a book of their own.

Frankenstein – While Mary Shelley’s famous novel about a monster is often classified a “horror story,” it is much, much more.  It is poignant, provoking and a masterful look at ethics, behavior, identity and love.  It is said to be the very first science fiction novel, and Shelley wrote it when just 18 years old!

The Celts – A large part of the Halloween “story,” the Celts themselves are a fascinating people.

Fear - Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous words, "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"  is profound to adults, but it's a statement children may find ridiculous.  All creatures fear what they don't know or understand.  October is a perfect time to teach how many of our fears rise from ignorance.  Knowledge is power!

As a family, study something that seems scary.  Demonstrate how to properly research a topic, summarize information, and transfer the new knowledge into a "show and tell" project or paper with proper documentation.  Then allow each child to choose their own object of fear and follow the same steps on their own (or with a little guidance depending on age).  Some suggestions would include snakes, thunderstorms, spiders, and the dark.

You could also learn about the physical responses to fear.  Learn about adrenaline, how it affects us, why some people actually like to be scared, and maybe even discuss “highs” and drug addiction. Discuss safety and prevention (Fire Prevention Week is in October!).  Talk about “fight or flight.” Maybe even learn a little self-defense.

Recommended reading:  What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss

Sounds of October – This time of year the stores have many recordings of scary sound effects.  If you like, make your own recordings of sounds.  It can be great fun for each child to individually make their own tape and then play it for their siblings to have them guess what the sounds are.  It takes ingenuity to create sounds for thunder or wind with nothing but what’s in the house.  

(See "Mood Music" for more ideas for sound in October.)

Tastes of the Season – Go to a local Farmer’s Market and purchase one of every apple variety you can find.  Do taste tests and compare flavors.  Poll your family, friends and neighbors as to their favorite type and make a graph of “apple favorites.”  Learn how new varieties of apples are created.

Pumpkins lend themselves to all sorts of mathematical activities, including estimation, measuring circumference and weight.

Don’t forget the Halloween candy!  For a list of making treats mathematical see "Tricks with Treats."

Halloween History - Regardless of how you personally feel about Halloween and all that seems to go with it, it’s a good idea to learn about its history and origins.  In doing so as a family, you can compare old customs and beliefs with what we know and do today, and more importantly with what you believe and want to foster in your children.  Dispelling ancient myths and superstitions, discovering hidden truths, understanding the value of science, knowledge, enlightenment and testimony--these things can enrich your homeschool.

Halloween isn’t just about devils and demons.  It’s about harvests, new beginnings, loved ones, and eternal life.  Check it out and see what you think!

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"The October Unit Factory" was first published in Right at Home, the Utah Home Education Association's newsletter.  It was then republished in LDSNHA's The Sentinel a few years later.