Why do we blow out candles on a birthday cake? What do children around the world eat on their special day? And has “Happy Birthday” always been a birthday song? There’s plenty to wonder about before you even unwrap a present!
I’m excited to share our Birthday School Family Unit Study with you! Across ten topics, you’ll learn about birthday traditions, foods, games, and more, with a little science, history, art, and geography along the way.
You’ll paint a watercolor birthday card, make a colorful papel picado banner, and see what happens when you place a jar over a burning candle. You’ll even bake a little mug cake and put your ideas together to plan your dream birthday party!
Below, I’m sharing all ten topics and a peek at the hands-on activities you’ll enjoy together. Let’s get this birthday celebration started!
What is a Family Unit Study?
But first… what exactly is a Family Unit Study?
This unit study, like all of our ever-growing library of unit studies, takes one big theme—Birthdays—and breaks it down into ten manageable, bite-sized learning topics. This format gives you the freedom to dive into learning at a pace that works for your family. Perhaps you do one topic per day, perhaps one per week. Whatever suits your fancy! You can learn and explore topics from start to finish in about 1-2 hours each.
Dive in and watch the sparks of wonder ignite. Watch the child-led learning take off. Watch what happens when children are engaged in what they are learning!
Each of the 10 topics includes:
- an interesting fact,
- a discussion question,
- a short, informative lesson,
- a curated YouTube video,
- a recommended book,
- a math or literacy enrichment question (with three difficulty levels),
- and an ultimate-can’t-be-beat hands-on activity!
Plus, all subjects are covered across the 10 topics! Geography, History, Science, Social Studies, Music, Art, Health, Literacy, and Math.
When everything connects across subjects, learning just makes more sense. Kids remember more, understand better, and actually enjoy the process. It’s the kind of learning that really sticks. 🙌
Before we take a closer look at the ten topics, I’d love to share a little something to make your homeschool days just a bit easier (because we all need that, right?).
Our Mini Homeschool Toolbox is a simple, go-to resource filled with helpful printables – like math charts, number lines, and writing supports – to keep your days organized and your lessons running smoothly.
It’s completely free and so handy to have on hand as you move through your homeschool routine. Simply enter your email address below, and a copy will be instantly delivered to your inbox.
Birthday School Family Unit Study
Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect with the Birthday School Family Unit Study. Here’s a peek at what you’ll learn and create together!
Topic #1: Celebrating Birthdays
What do you look forward to most about your birthday? You’ll learn a little about the history of birthday celebrations and think about why we mark another year of growing up. Then, you’ll create a vision board filled with pictures and words showing what you hope to learn, try, and do!
Topic #2: Birthday Cards
A birthday card can make someone feel special, whether it arrives in the mailbox or on a screen! You’ll learn how greetings have changed over time and practice saying “Happy Birthday” in American Sign Language. Then, you’ll use watercolor paints to make a birthday card with a colorful present or cake on the front.
Topic #3: Birthday Candles
Make a wish and blow out the candles! You’ll learn about the tradition of putting candles on birthday cakes before trying a little candle science. In the Rising Water Candle Experiment, you’ll predict what will happen when you place a jar over a lit candle, then watch the flame and water level for clues.
Topic #4: Birthday Games
Do you have a favorite birthday party game? You’ll learn about games children play around the world, from Statues in Greece to Pass the Parcel in the United Kingdom. Then, you’ll turn your hallway into an obstacle course, ducking and stepping through streamers as you find cards about games from different countries.
Topic #5: Birthday Foods
Does a birthday celebration always include cake? You’ll learn about birthday foods enjoyed around the world, including fairy bread in Australia and longevity noodles in China. Then, you’ll play a matching game to pair each food with its country and find those countries on a world map.
Topic #6: Party Decorations
Balloons, streamers, banners… how would you decorate for a birthday party? You’ll see how balloons are made and learn about papel picado, a traditional Mexican paper art used for celebrations. Then, you’ll fold and cut colorful tissue paper to create your own papel picado banner to hang up!
Topic #7: The Happy Birthday Song
Did you know the tune we sing for birthdays was once used for a classroom greeting? You’ll learn the story behind “Happy Birthday to You” and hear birthday wishes sung in different languages. Then, you’ll mix and bake a little mug cake and listen to different musical versions of the familiar song.
Topic #8: Birthday Presents
A handmade gift can be just as special as something from a store! You’ll make a colorful creation using permanent markers and rubbing alcohol, watching as the ink spreads into a tie-dye pattern. Try different colors and designs to create a gift with a personal touch.
Topic #9: Zodiac Signs
What do star patterns have to do with your birthday? You’ll learn about the twelve zodiac signs and the constellations connected with them. Then, you’ll create a zodiac wheel with colorful symbols for each sign and find the one associated with your birth date.
Topic #10: Extra Special Birthdays
What is a golden birthday, and when do people born on February 29 celebrate? You’ll learn about milestone birthdays and what can make a particular birthday extra special. Then, you’ll plan your dream birthday party, choosing everything from the location and theme to the food, games, and guest list!
Birthdays give us a chance to celebrate the people we love, look back on how much we’ve grown, and dream about what comes next. And as you’ve seen, there’s plenty of learning tucked in among the cake, candles, and party games!
I hope our Birthday School Family Unit Study brings some extra fun to your homeschool days and gives you a few new traditions to enjoy together. Whether someone’s birthday is just around the corner or months away, there’s always a good reason to celebrate learning with your family!
I’d love for you to pop over to the How Wee Learn shop, take a closer look at Birthday School, and see if it’s the right fit for you and your family.
Birthday School Family Unit Study
https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-birthday-school
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Thanks so much for reading, friend!
xo
Sarah
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