Hello, there! My name is Kaycee Hobbs and I love to teach children! My favorite way to teach kiddos is by using a unit study. We have a large family who we homeschool and I have found that teaching with unit studies makes things a lot easier for me.

This method allows me to teach my children together while incorporating their five senses with hands-on activities. Easter is coming soon and I love turning these special occasions and holidays into learning opportunities.

What is a Unit Study?

Well, let me see if I can explain this simply. A unit study is when you look at one topic and everything that surrounds that specific subject. It allows you to put a “magnifying glass” over the topic and explore every little part of it.

When the kids are doing this, they are learning a variety of different subjects like science, language arts, art, and digital media all while learning about Easter Peeps. Talk about teaching with efficiency!

For example, the main topic of this unit study is Easter but I have broken it down into a smaller mini-topic, Easter Peeps. Learning about famous candy peaks the children’s attention immediately!

Now, let me just put this out there… We still use a guided box curriculum for Language Arts and Math but most of our other subjects are learned through unit studies.

As I said above, this allows all of our children, no matter their age, to learn and experience together but in their specific developmental age.

Easter Peeps Unit Study

In this study they will learn the following things:

• How peeps are made
• A vocabulary activity for the word “peep.”
• Build a tiny house
• Write a fiction story about their peep and its house.
• Present that story on camera for a storytime.
• Have a watch party while they eat their creations.

This is so exciting and I love watching the children get engaged! This study can be as easy as you want it to be or you can make it more challenging for those older children.

Science

Our kids really enjoy learning how something is made and so whenever I have that opportunity to show them I take it! In this study, they will watch a YouTube video explaining the peep making process and how it has changed over the years. They have become much more efficient and are able to make them much more quickly.

Plus, did you know that Peeps now come in sixty favors? They even have a mystery one which is one of our kiddo’s favorites. That can be an activity all in itself! Guess the flavor of your peep.

Art

They will also need to build and design a tiny house for their little peep. The difficulty of this task all depends on the age of your child. For our three-year-old, playing in the frosting and crackers is going to be enough for her. However, I have a ten-year-old who is fascinated with building things and so making him think about how it is going to be done is my goal.

So for my middle children, I expect a sketch of the tiny house they intend to make. I want them to present it to me by explaining what their plans are and why they are going to do it that way. Once they have presented it, they will get the supplies they need to start building their tiny house.

Language Arts

We have a couple of language arts activities built into this unit study because I have found my children are more cooperative when I mix in some fun and creativity.

Vocabulary

I love to teach vocabulary words through games. I think if the child can act out the meaning of the word it tends to stick with them. In this study, after looking up the word “peep” in the dictionary, they will get to act it out by finding Easter Peeps hidden by their leader. These peeps will be used in the rest of the lesson so following the order of the unit study is important.

Writing

They are assigned to write a fiction story about their peep and their house. This is a good time to teach the child the difference between fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is not based on facts but instead uses a person’s imagination to write the events of the story. Their peep can be whoever they want them to be from a superhero to a princess. Encourage the student to go crazy and let their imagination do the talking.

If they are unable to write yet, encourage them to still come up with a story. They can simply say who their peep is and what they are doing.

Digital Media

Then they get to tell everyone all about it! If there is one thing I have learned in my years of teaching kids, it’s that they like to watch themselves on video. This is a great incentive for them to write it out and then present it to the camera!

They can also share this with their friends and family or even post it on YouTube. Either way, it is a memory that will last forever and someday maybe their kids will even get to see it!

Peeps Unit Study Supply List (per child):

I like to keep my supply list as easy and as inexpensive as possible. Here are the items you will need for this study:

• Printed Unit Study
• Pencils
• Paper
• 1 package of peeps
• Graham Crackers
• Frosting
• Ziploc bag
• Scissors
• Miscellaneous Decorating Supplies for the tiny houses such as sprinkles, M&M’s, jellybeans, or Dots
• Video Camera

Easter Picks:

Peeps Unit Study Preparation Directions and Summary of Activities for the Leader

This unit study is designed to lead the group in hands-on activities, discussions, and other learning. As the activity presents itself, have the child stop and complete it.

Can you “peep” the Peeps?

Before you start the lesson, hide 1 package of peeps for every child to find. If you can cover them up, so the student has to “peep” inside that would work perfectly. The students will use these peeps in the Tiny House Activity.

Build a Tiny House Activity

The student is to sketch a copy of their tiny house for their peep on a piece of paper. This can be as detailed as you would like it to be. They will be using graham crackers for the walls and roof of the house and frosting for the glue. We place the frosting in a Ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the corner to use as a piping bag. Then they can decorate their house however they would like too.

Write a Fiction Story

The students must write an imaginary story about their peep who lives in their house.

Camera Storytime

Have the student present their story and tiny house on video. Encourage them to be animated and to try and relax. This is supposed to be fun!

Watch Party!

Have the students watch the videos and eat their tiny house creations. Encourage them to give thoughtful responses to the other people presenting.

Another FREE Easter Unit Study!

Easter Eggs Unit Study

Easter Peeps Unit Study for the Student

This is the unit study and activities and it can be downloaded as a free PDF lesson plan.

How are Peeps Made?

Can you “peep” the Peeps?

Game Directions:

Your leader has hidden peeps nearby. Can you find them?

Build a Tiny House

Your Peep needs a place to live. Build your peep a tiny house using the supplies given to you by your leader.

Activity Directions:

1. Draw a sketch of a tiny house you would like to build for your Peep.
2. Take it to your leader and explain to them what you plan to do.
3. Once it is approved, build it like the drawing you made.

Write a fiction story about your Peep and their house.

Camera Storytime

Activity Directions:

• Read your story and record it on video. Don’t forget to show your peep’s tiny house!

Watch Party!

Activity Directions:

• Watch everyone’s presentation and enjoy eating your tiny house and peeps!

Bonus Activity:

Watch these YouTube video and learn how to draw Peeps!

I have some real artists at my house and so they love to learn to draw. This YouTube channel is our favorite because he takes you through step by step and really makes it easy. Since we have started watching it, they have become more skilled.

This unit study is available for you to download, print, and do in your homeschool today! Even if you don’t homeschool it is a great way to make some memories with your children.

Subscribe to our newsletter below to download the PDF of the Easter Peeps Unit Study.

Check out this FREE unit study!

Racing Through Creation Unit Study Part One: Heavens and Earth