Introducing the Watch & Learn Series: Engaging Unit Studies for Middle and High Schoolers
We are so excited to finally share these new unit studies with you! If you have been homeschooling middle or high schoolers, you know how challenging it can be to find great resources. Suddenly, they’re too old for the cute little unit studies we did before, but you still want something engaging, something that doesn’t feel like work, and something that doesn’t take hours to prep.
Add in the fact that older learners crave more independence (and honestly, we want that for them too!), and it starts to feel like there’s a big gap in the middle and high school years. Preschool morning baskets are behind us, but complex, rigorous units on every single subject aren’t realistic either.
If you’re spending too much time searching for videos and printable resources that are actually good and not just entertaining fluff, you’re going to love the new Watch & Learn Series. This new series for middle and high schoolers makes it easy to keep learning and having fun.
What Is the Watch & Learn with Crash Course Series?
It’s a collection of unit studies built around YouTube playlists. We took our favorite Crash Course YouTube playlists and turned them into open-and-go lessons for older homeschoolers. These are well-researched, in-depth, and still a whole lot of fun.
Each unit includes an introduction, so you’ll know what you’re getting. Then, there’s a list of supplemental books, games, and a QR code your kids can scan to watch the YouTube playlist. It’s filled with great ideas to keep the learning going on one easy-to-use page.
Next up, you’ll find an overview page you can read together. This is a great way to dive into the topic and a chance to spark discussion with your middle and high school learners. Then, they can watch the videos. Finally, there’s a printable activity page to check retention and give teens a chance to respond with what they’ve learned.
That’s all there is to it. There’s no elaborate lesson planning for you to do. Just print, press play, and let them dig in to something new.
Interest-Led Learning with Watch & Learn Unit Studies
We have started this new series with six topics that cover a wide variety of interests for middle and high schoolers. You’ll find science, history, and even gaming!
Biology
Do you have a science kid? Watch & Learn: Biology is perfect for teens who want to know how living things work, from cells to entire ecosystems. This unit covers everything from molecules to cells, from meiosis to mitosis, from photosynthesis to taxonomy, evolution, protein synthesis, genetics, natural selection, and animal development.
Chemistry
Watch & Learn: Chemistry uses the same setup as the biology unit, but it’s all about chemistry. This is a great introduction to the subject for teens who are curious about molecules, chemicals, and chemical reactions.
This unit covers the history of chemistry, the periodic table, electrons, moles, chemical equations, acids and bases, chemical reactions, ions, chemical compounds, the Ideal Gas Law, the van der Waals Equation, Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures, thermodynamics, and more.
Film History
Do you have a future filmmaker at home? Science isn’t the only subject you can watch and learn with teens. Our Watch & Learn: Film History and Production helps kids explore filmmaking and learn about the evolution of cinema from the days of silent films to green screens.
In this unit study, teens will get a crash course in camera history, filmmaking terms, the German Expressionism movement, the Soviet Montage, the Silent Era, the Golden Age of Hollywood, independent films, and home video.
Plus, learn about important leaders in film like Georges Méliès and the Lumière Brothers. It’s such a fun study for creative kids who want to dive into how movies are made and why they still captivate us today.
Games
Is your teen a gamer? Watch & Learn: Games was a huge hit with our family! If you’ve been a fan of The Waldock Way for long, you know we love games. This unit study investigates game design and the history of gaming.
This unit is all about how gaming incorporates real storytelling and how it can function as a cultural medium, not just “screentime.” You’ll get to explore ancient games, video games, home consoles, connected consoles, MMORPGs, educational games, card and board games, and the psychology of gaming.
US History
Have you got a history lover at home? Watch & Learn: US History is anything but boring. Teens will learn about key people, places, and the moments that have shaped our nation. The best part is that all this important information is shared in a way that will really hold your attention.
So what’s included in this US History unit? It begins with topics like colonization, Native Americans, Jamestown, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and colonial America. Then, dive into the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Market Revolution.
Next, learn about slavery, reform movements, Manifest Destiny, westward expansion, the Civil War, and emancipation. Then, dive into the Reconstruction Era, the Wild West, immigration, and the Gilded Age. The learning doesn’t stop there!
This unit study also covers American Imperialism, World War I and II, the Great Depression, the New Deal, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Regan Era, the War on Terror, Obama, and the 2008 financial crisis. You could spread this unit out over the entire year!
World History
Finally, don’t miss Watch & Learn World History. This unit for middle and high school dives into world history from the earliest civilizations to the modern world with a flexible study that kids can explore all at once or use as a supplemental resource.
In this one, you’ll get lessons about the agricultural revolution, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Greece, Persia, Ancient India, and Ancient China. Plus, learn about important historical figures like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and Ivan the Terrible.
There’s something for every kind of learner in your homeschool. That’s exactly what we were hoping for when we started these units. We wanted a little bit of everything, so no matter what your kids are into, you have a unit study that’s ready to open and go.
How We Use These High School Unit Studies In Our Own Homeschool
When we first started these, we weren’t sure what the outcome would be. What we found is that the structure does the work for you. The reading is short and filled with information, the video is truly engaging, and teens get to share their thoughts in the response section.
The conversations after a Watch & Learn Unit Study are the best part. You can use them as a stand-alone resource on a lighter day or to supplement a lesson you’re already covering. Both methods work really well. That’s why this resource is truly flexible for older learners in middle and high school.
Whether you dive into one of these units and finish it all in one sitting or stretch it out over a few days, these studies make learning feel exciting and new. It’s way better than another workbook page your teens just have to get done.
Which Watch & Learn Unit Study are you most excited about? We can’t wait to hear how these are working in your homeschool, so don’t forget to come back and tell us which one your teens liked best.
Frequently Asked Questions About Watch & Learn Unit Studies
What ages are the Watch & Learn Unit Studies designed for?
Watch & Learn was created specifically for middle and high school homeschoolers. The series gives older learners engaging, age-appropriate content without relying on dense textbooks or hours of traditional schoolwork.
Can Watch & Learn be used for high school credit?
Yes. Subjects like Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, and World History can be incorporated into a high school course and used toward credit when paired with the appropriate hours and additional learning your state or homeschool requires. The flexible format makes it easy to add books, projects, labs, games, and other resources as needed.
Can my teen use Watch & Learn independently?
Absolutely! Independent learning is one of the reasons Watch & Learn was created. Teens can work through the reading, scan the QR code to watch the corresponding video, and complete the activity on their own, while you can still jump in for discussions or explore a topic together when something sparks their interest.