Benefits of Thematic Learning and Reading for Kids

One great way to inspire learning at home is through thematic learning. We’ve loved using this simple approach for years because it’s a fun way to encourage a love of reading and help kids see every moment as a chance to learn. You can practice thematic learning with your curriculum choices, reading selection, or by adding in a fun unit study once in a while. You can pick topics that your child is excited about, seasonal themes, or even draw inspiration from a favorite book or story.

In this blog post, I’ll share ideas on how to take a single theme and expand it across different subjects, helping you spark inspiration and fun through thematic-learning.

In this blog post:

Benefits of theme-based learning for children
Thematic learning ideas for preschoolers and early readers
Thematic learning for the intermediate years
Favorite curriculum and unit studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Benefits of theme-based learning for children

Thematic learning is a fun and engaging way to explore new topics. Instead of just learning facts, learning revolves around a central theme or idea that you can explore through books, activities, or projects. For example, in this approach to learning you might read several books about manatees and do a related project, or dive into a unit study that touches on science, math, and stories all related to the same subject.

This approach helps kids see how everything is connected – facts, stories, and ideas all overlapping. By encountering the same theme from different angles, children can better remember what they learn and understand how different subjects relate to each other. Reading books around a common theme lets kids explore how an idea shows up in different ways, sparking new connections along the way.

For preschoolers and younger kids, thematic learning softly introduces new topics and helps them see how all parts of the world are linked. As they explore through books, songs, and hands-on activities, they also develop their language skills- picking up new words in a natural, meaningful way.

Older children benefit as well, as this approach boosts their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Looking at a theme from different perspectives encourages them to compare ideas, make connections, and really dive deep into subjects they’re interested in. It makes learning more meaningful, deeper, and more exciting, especially if they are involved in deciding what they learn.

Thematic learning ideas for preschoolers and early readers

Thematic learning helps toddlers and preschoolers learn because it mirrors how their young minds naturally explore and make sense of the world. Little learners thrive by making connections and learning at their own pace. Gently introduce children to the world around them and early learning concepts like the alphabet and math skills by following a single idea in various ways.

Here are my favorite ways to introduce young children to learning through themes.

Curate a book basket for your children based on a single theme. Gather books about apples, trucks, bears, or their favorite things to help encourage learning and engage them with new ideas and stories about their favorite subjects. Change out the books from time to time as their interests change or after you have read all of the book thoroughly. (Or when books are due back at the library and it’s time to pick out new ones!)

Sing songs and hand rhymes related to their favorite subjects. Children learn so much through music, songs, and repetition. Engage with your children by learning simple nursery rhymes or songs that relate to their favorite books, characters, or something you are learning together. Enjoy and delight in these special moments with your child and they learn something new with you.

Try a new life skill that coordinates with their favorite books. Young children love to help if we let them in, and they can do so much more than we give them credit for. Notice what activities you are seeing in the books your children love and look for small ways to replicate them or give your child a try. Go blueberry picking like they do in Blueberries for Sal, or try a kid-friendly sewing technique like they do in Charlie Needs a Cloak or The Kindness Quilt. Use these opportunities as invitations for real-life learning with your children and see how far they can go.

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Pull out early learning concepts from literature your children love. If you are gently introducing your children to the alphabet or teaching them the numbers or counting, look for ways you can connect this to stories and literature. Make these concepts come to life through sweet stories your children will love. Learn about the letter “S” as you read Stone Soup or count all of the hats as you read Caps for Sale. Surprise yourself at how much your children can learn as you spend time together in books.

For early readers, consider Treehouse Book Studies. Treehouse Book Studies are guides to living literature with connections to themes in science, nature, history, geography, and language arts. Engage with familiar chapter books together like Charlotte’s Web, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, and Winnie the Pooh. See all of the Treehouse Book Studies primary selections for this year here, coming this fall.

Theme-based learning for the intermediate years

Thematic learning can also be applied to more complex learning concepts and more advanced concepts. This approach to learning can help children dive deep into historical subjects, develop solutions to real-world problems, explore scientific studies, expand on their reading knowledge, and more.

Here are some ways I love to use thematic learning with older children.

Use literature as a jumping-off point for learning. As children are exposed to new information through read-alouds, novels, and storytelling, take time to learn about the events and context of the book. Learn about themes that the main characters in your stories are facing. In Summer of the Monkeys, learn about the Cherokee Nation, the telegraph, and the Red Cross, or learn about horses and the Kentucky Derby by reading The Black Stallion. Provide additional picture books or simple reading to deepen understanding of any topics your children show interest in.

Use nature as a lens for learning. Introduce children to the world around them through the seasons and elements of nature that are present all throughout the year. As seasons come and go, seek to understand the rhythm of the world presented in nature, and expose children to science, literature, art, and more as you notice and learn about the natural world. Tailor this in the way that is most appropriate to your children’s learning levels. Younger children can learn about nature through poetry, art study, and hands-on activities, and older children can engage with science, advanced language art studies, and more extensive reading. Learn about your local environment and the world at large. Connect nature themes with books and stories to add more learning.

Plan a seasonal unit study. Adding in a unit study is a fun and refreshing way to explore a subject and break up regular studies. For example, in the fall explore pumpkins – complete with a trip to a pumpkin patch and dissecting and labeling the parts of a pumpkin. Over the holidays you can learn about the origins of holidays like Thanksgiving, or how Christmas is celebrated around the world. As children learn about the world around them, unit studies can provide resources to go deeper on an event or subject that they are seeing in their own life and allow for a greater understanding.

Use themes to encourage family-style learning. If you love learning together with your children and giving them opportunities to bond through learning, use themes as a way to practice family-style learning. Study a theme together by reading books and explaining topics together, and then select activities that are appropriate for different interests and age levels. Let children learn together and from one another as they explore concepts together.

Favorite curriculum and unit studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Treehouse Story School: Preschool

Treehouse Story School: Preschool is a gentle, literature-based preschool curriculum that invites children to learn through the themes in stories they love. Each week will focus on a picture book, inviting children into connection and learning through music and movement, play-based narration, alphabet and number play, motor skills, practical life development, crafts, and baking together.

It would be a great fit for your toddler or preschooler if you are looking to incorporate multi-sensory, play-based learning while introducing them to timeless stories. From toddler through upper preschool, this curriculum can be used year after year as you dive deeper into beloved, classic stories your family will cherish.

Treehouse Nature Study, Primary Years

Treehouse Nature Study, Primary Years is a seasonal nature study curriculum designed with family-style learning in mind. It is a gentle guide meant to invite various ages to connect with each other and the world around them through living books, nature notebooking, hands-on projects, and beauty subjects such as poetry, picture study, and folk songs.

From preschool through upper middle school, it appeals to every age and is easily used with multiple ages at the same time.

It would be a great fit for your preschool or kindergartener’s core curriculum or your whole family’s home education Morning Time and Nature Study. It also provides supplemental work for your children’s language arts through poetry memorization, recitation, copywork, and notebooking.

Treehouse Nature Study, Intermediate Years

Introducing Treehouse Nature Study, Intermediate Years geared towards grades 4th-8th. Experience a seasonal study that invites your older children to connect with each other and the world around them through living books, nature notebooking, hands-on projects, poetry, and picture study. Deepen your child’s learning through advanced language arts and scientific experiments.

It would be a great fit for your upper elementary or middle schooler’s science curriculum or your whole family’s home education Morning Time and Nature Study. It also provides supplemental work for your children’s language arts through poetry copywork, creating an Illustrated Science Dictionary, creative writing prompts, notebooking, and internet research.

Treehouse Book Studies

Treehouse Book Studies are digital download book studies of classic children’s literature for ages 6-12. Use in your homeschool as literature curriculum or as book study with a small group. Create lasting connections through rich stories while you study themes such as science, nature, geography, history, and language arts. Each download includes: Book Study with weekly lesson plans, recipes, Book Report Template, Extension Book List, Multimedia Reference Materials links, and Book Club Meet-up Guide.

What themes will you choose for your homeschool this year? Share your favorites in the comments below.

Benefits of theme-based learning for children

Thematic learning ideas for preschoolers and early readers

Theme-based learning for the intermediate years

Favorite curriculum and unit studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Treehouse Story School: Preschool

Treehouse Nature Study, Primary Years

Treehouse Nature Study, Intermediate Years

Treehouse Book Studies

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