This post covers all of the best unschooling ideas to get you started with this super-flexible approach to homeschooling. These are unschooling ideas that I love, even as a non-unschooler.
So, you have decided to unschool. Now what? You don’t need to set a schedule, purchase homeschool curriculum or stock your homeschool supplies. But what should you be doing?
While unschooling is normally child-led learning, it doesn’t mean that you as a parent can’t set a tone and direction for your homeschool. Coming up with unschooling ideas and activities, based on your kids interests is totally okay as an unschooler.
Better yet, you don’t have to come up with all of the unschooling ideas on your own. These 99 unschooling ideas will keep your kids from sitting at home, wondering what to do next.
Find out what your kids are interested in learning, and give them some of these amazing unschooling ideas to run with.
This post is all about unschooling ideas.
Related: Unlock Your Child’s Potential: The Ultimate Guide to Unschooling
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Exploring the Outdoors: Nature-Based Unschooling Ideas
Many of these ideas are Charlotte Mason inspired, and I incorporate many of them into my homeschool. Outdoor unschooling activities are some of our favorites at My Homeschool with a View.
1. Nature Walks and Hikes
Discover local trails and parks to explore plants, trees, rocks, even types of sand and dirt.
2. Bird Watching
Learn to identify local bird species and keep a journal of sightings. This may not be completely unschooly, but I recommend picking up a birds field guide for your local area.
3. Gardening
Start a garden and learn about plant life cycles, sustainability, and ecosystems. You can find out what kind of pollinators you have in your area and plant specific plants to attract them.
4. Camping
Experience the great outdoors with camping trips, learning survival skills, how to use a compass and star navigation.
5. Beachcombing
Collect shells, sea glass, and learn about marine life. This is one of our favorite activities when we get to travel to a beach.
6. Insect Observation
Create a bug collection and study their habits and environments.
7. Rock Collecting
Identify and categorize different types of rocks and minerals.
8. Nature Photography
Capture the beauty of nature through photography projects.
9. Tree Identification
Learn to identify various trees and understand their role in the ecosystem. Observe trees in all seasons and see how they change throughout the year.
10. Eco-Projects
Participate in local conservation efforts or start a recycling project.
Creative Arts and Crafts: Unschooling Activities for Artistic Expression
11. Painting
Explore different painting techniques and styles. If your kids have an interest in diving deeper, you can use these Discover the Greatest Artists Units to learn about artists and their techniques.
12. Drawing
Improve drawing skills with sketchbooks and online tutorials. Art for Kids Hub on Youtube is free and has been a favorite of my kids over the years.
13. Sculpture
Create sculptures using clay, wire, or found objects.
14. Jewelry Making
Design and create custom jewelry pieces.
15. Sewing and Knitting
Learn to sew and knit, creating clothes and accessories.
16. Pottery
Take pottery classes or try hand-building at home.
17. Digital Art
Use software like Photoshop or Procreate to create digital artwork.
18. Photography
Study composition and lighting to enhance photography skills.
19. Crafting
Make homemade crafts, from candles to soaps.
20. Music
Learn an instrument or compose original music.
Scientific Exploration: Unschooling Ideas for Budding Scientists
The great thing about science exploration is that it gives plenty of opportunity for hands-on learning. Young kids especially love to get their hands dirty with messy science experiments.
21. DIY Science Experiments
Conduct simple experiments to understand scientific principles.
22. Astronomy
Use a telescope to explore the night sky and study celestial bodies.
23. Robotics
Build and program robots with kits like LEGO Mindstorms. My kids have enjoyed building battle bots with the LEGO Mindstorms kit. My oldest one our county robotics competition a few years ago using the Mindstorms kit too.
24. Chemistry Sets
Experiment with chemistry kits to learn about reactions and compounds.
25. Physics Projects
Explore concepts like gravity, motion, and energy through hands-on projects.
26. Biology Labs
Dissect plants and learn about anatomy through practical experiments.
Related: 10 Great Reasons to Use Virtual Science Labs for Homeschool – My Homeschool with a View
27. Environmental Science
Participate in clean-up projects and study local ecosystems. Clean-up projects are also an excellent way to involve our kids in community service projects.
28. Meteorology
Track weather patterns and learn about climate science.
29. Geology
Study rocks, minerals, and the Earth’s layers.
30. Marine Biology
Visit aquariums and study marine ecosystems.
Literary and Language Skills: Unschooling Ideas for Young Writers and Readers
As a writer myself, these are my best ideas for budding writers. I have always preferred a natural approach to writing over bland formulaic composition. Those techniques can be taught later as needed. Giving space to put thoughts on paper and present ideas without constraints produces good writers.
31. Creative Writing
Write stories, poems, or start a blog.
32. Book Clubs
Join or start a book club to discuss and analyze literature.
33. Journaling
Keep a daily journal to improve writing skills and self-reflection.
34. Public Speaking
Practice public speaking with family or join a local club.
35. Language Learning
Foreign language is my favorite subject to unschool. We all learned our native language naturally, and foreign languages can be learned the same way. We use apps like Duolingo, since it has a game-like feel to it, to learn foreign language.
36. Storytelling
Engage in storytelling sessions to develop imagination and narrative skills.
37. Reading Challenges
Set reading goals and explore different genres. Check with your local library for challenge opportunities.
38. Poetry
Read and write poetry, exploring different forms and styles.
39. Scriptwriting
Write scripts for plays, movies, or podcasts.
40. Book Writing
Start writing a novel or short story collection.
Historical and Cultural Exploration: Unschooling Activities for Understanding the World
While I love history and have always used history curriculum, these are ideas that I incorporate to enhance history learning.
41. Historical Reenactments
Participate in or watch historical reenactments.
42. Museum Visits
Explore local museums and learn about history and art.
43. Cultural Festivals
Attend festivals to learn about different cultures and traditions.
44. Genealogy
Research family history and create a family tree.
45. Documentary Films
Watch documentaries on various historical and cultural topics. Our favorites are The Men Who Built America and The Foods that Built America.
46. Ancient Civilizations
Study ancient civilizations through books and online resources.
47. Local History
Research and explore the history of your local area.
48. World Religions
Learn about different religions and their cultural impacts.
49. Archaeology
Participate in or simulate archaeological digs.
50. Art History
Study different art movements and their historical contexts.
Practical Life Skills: Unschooling Ideas for Everyday Learning
Related: Life Skills for Kids: Six Essential Skills Every Kid Should Learn
51. Cooking
Cooking is like the Swiss army knife of unschooling. There are so many subjects and topics you can cover in the kitchen including math, geography and cultures, and chemistry.
52. Budgeting
Teach financial literacy through budgeting and saving.
Related: 17 Compelling Reasons to Teach Your Teens Financial Literacy
53. DIY Projects
Engage in home improvement or crafting projects.
54. Car Maintenance
Learn basic car maintenance skills.
55. First Aid
Take a first aid course to learn emergency skills.
56. Entrepreneurship
Start a small business or engage in an entrepreneurial project. I find this so much more productive than having my kids find a job. This can be as simple as a lemonade stand or mowing lawns, depending on your kids’ interests and abilities.
57. Household Chores
Teach responsibility through daily household chores.
Related: Homeschool Mom’s Cleaning Routine – My Homeschool with a View
58. Time Management
Develop time management and organizational skills.
59. Gardening
Grow vegetables and learn about sustainable living.
60. Volunteering
Engage in community service projects.
Technology and Engineering: Unschooling Ideas for Tech-Savvy Kids
My oldest is an extremely tech-loving teenager. He has actually always loved all things technology. I’m going to give him credit for these ideas, as I am not the tech savvy one in the family.
61. Coding
Learn to code with platforms like Scratch or Code.org. These are the books my oldest used to teach himself to code when he was really young. Today as I write this, he is in class learning how to program AI. He always recommends starting with Scratch for kids interested in coding.
62. Game Design
Create video games using game design software.
63. 3D Printing
This is a great way to learn design and it’s useful for a lot of things, even board game designing. But I have to warn you, half of the life of a 3D printer owner is spent fixing the 3D printer. Ask me how I know…
64. Web Design
Learn to build websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You can set your kids up with a blog and combine web design with writing. I love when an activity hits multiple topics at once.
65. Electronics
Use a breadboard to build simple circuits and learn about electronics. Snap circuit kits are perfect for beginners learning about circuits.
66. App Development
Develop and publish mobile apps.
67. Cybersecurity
Study cybersecurity principles and ethical hacking.
68. Virtual Reality
Explore virtual reality and create VR experiences.
69. Digital Animation
Create animations using software like Blender.
70. Tech Repair
Learn to repair computers and other tech devices.
Social Studies and Humanities: Unschooling Ideas for Civic and Social Learning
71. Debate Club
Start or join a debate club to discuss current events and issues.
72. Political Science
Study government systems and political theories.
73. Community Projects
Engage in local community projects and initiatives.
74. Philosophy
Explore philosophical ideas and ethical questions.
75. Cultural Exchange
Connect with people from different cultures and exchange ideas.
76. Sociology
Study human behavior and social structures.
77. Anthropology
Learn about human societies and cultures through time.
78. Economics
Understand basic economic principles and systems.
79. Psychology
Study the human mind and behavior.
Sports and Physical Activities: Unschooling Ideas for Active Learning
I am all about incorporating physical fitness into any homeschool program. As a trainer and health coach (yes, I do other things besides homeschool), I grasp the importance of starting young with health and fitness.
80. Team Sports
If your kids are interested in a sport, join local sports teams to learn teamwork and physical fitness.
81. Martial Arts
Learn discipline and self-defense through martial arts.
82. Dance
Take dance classes or learn new dance styles.
83. Hiking
Explore nature through hiking and outdoor activities.
84. Swimming
Improve swimming skills and enjoy water activities.
85. Biking
Go on biking adventures and explore new areas.
86. Skating
Learn to skate, either on ice or inline skates.
87. Gymnastics
Develop flexibility and strength through gymnastics.
88. Fitness Challenges
Create fitness challenges to stay active and healthy.
Travel and Adventure: Unschooling Ideas for Real-World Learning
89. Road Trips
Take road trips to explore new places and cultures. This doesn’t have to be a big and expensive road trip. You can go to a neighboring town or city and explore new things there. You just have to sell it with a sense of wonder and adventure.
90. International Travel
This isn’t realistic for everyone’s situation, but if given the opportunity I highly recommend it. My husband’s work took him to Ireland when our boys were 10 and 8. I ended up taking the boys over there for two months, and we didn’t bring school books. We immersed ourselves in the experience, learned some stuff, and made the sweetest memories.
91. Historical Sites
Visit historical landmarks and learn their stories.
92. National Parks
Explore national parks and learn about conservation.
Related: Homeschooling in Yellowstone National Park – My Homeschool with a View
93. Travel Journaling
Document travel experiences through writing and photography.
94. Backpacking
Go backpacking to learn about self-sufficiency and exploration.
95. Adventure Sports
Try adventure sports like rock climbing or white-water rafting.
96. Language Immersion
Travel to places where a new language is spoken for immersion learning.
97. Missions Trips
Participate in missions programs abroad to learn and help communities.
This post is all about unschooling ideas.
Other posts you may like:
Make Nature Study A Part of Your Homeschool – My Homeschool with a View
16 Creative Ways to Embrace Nature in Your Homeschool – My Homeschool with a View