Unit Studies by Susan Kilbride

Susan Kilbride's author website describes itself as an online resource for homeschoolers and teachers. Her catalog includes a science unit-study book for ages 4 to 13 and the Our America historical chapter books for ages 10 to 13.

Last updated: 2026-10-29 · Every Homeschool Editorial Team

At a glance

Method	Unit studies / topical integration
Worldview	Secular (Every Homeschool classification)
Grades	Science book spans ages 4 to 13; Our America chapter books are for ages 10 to 13
Formats	Print books and Kindle editions; free downloadable PDF activities
Cost tier	Budget (science book $16.95 per publisher site, retrieved October 2026)
Parent intensity	4
ESA-common	Not confirmed for any state program; see the ESA eligibility notes
Accredited	Not listed as accredited on the publisher's site
Established	The author's site has a post dated March 2013
Website	funtasticunitstudies.com

Our scoreboard (1-5)

Criterion	Score	One-line reason
Academic rigor	3	In our assessment, the content suits elementary learners rather than advanced learners or middle-school depth
Ease of teaching	3	In our assessment, the hands-on activities call for parent preparation, though the author says they use common household items
Content quality	4	In our assessment, the writing is clear and the activities accessible
Flexibility	5	In our assessment, the units can be used on their own or alongside a base curriculum
Value for money	5	In our assessment, the books give good unit-study content for the price
Worldview scope	5	In our assessment, the unit-study topics are science and history rather than faith instruction
Visual/design	2	Not stated by the publisher
Support resources	2	Author website with free activity PDFs; in a January 2026 post the author wrote that she will not respond to anyone who tries to contact her via the website

Who the publisher is

Susan Kilbride has a degree in biology, according to her About page. Her catalog centers on Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers, a book of twenty chapters in which the first ten are for children ages 4 to 7 and the second ten for ages 8 to 13, and the Our America series, historical chapter books for ages 10 to 13 that follow twins Finn and Ginny as they search through time for their lost parents, beginning with the Pilgrims. The About page also lists a Kindle eBook titled How to Teach About Electricity, and the author's site offers free lessons and activities. The author's site lists the science book's new edition at $16.95 (the old price was $24.95) and links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble for purchase, retrieved October 2026.

In our assessment, the publishing model is small and personal. The author's website serves as the catalog and blog. In a January 2026 post, the author wrote that she will keep the site up but will not respond to anyone who contacts her through it. In our assessment, this model keeps the catalog small and the prices low.

In our assessment, the audience is specific: secular homeschool families looking for affordable unit-study content, families using a primary curriculum (Charlotte Mason, classical, eclectic) who want supplementary topical studies, and families piecing together a budget elementary curriculum without committing to a full publisher's program.

The core pedagogy

Kilbride's science book is organized by chapter, each filled with hands-on activities that teach a particular science concept, and her history series teaches American history by telling the story of the people involved rather than asking children to memorize facts and dates.

The pedagogical posture is hands-on and activity-led. The science book's activities are designed to use common household items, so families do not need to buy expensive scientific equipment or chemicals. The Our America series is narrative, a set of chapter books whose twins visit the Mayflower, King Philip's War, the Salem witch trials, the Revolutionary War, the Oregon Trail, and the Civil War, with a free activities download listed for each book.

Signature mechanics: (1) Separate titles. The science book and each Our America title are listed with their own purchase links. (2) Activity-led pedagogy. The science book has a hands-on approach, with free Plant and Atoms and Molecules unit studies offered from it. (3) Common materials. Activities are designed to use common household items, so no expensive scientific equipment or chemicals are needed. (4) Story-driven history. The Our America books carry the history through a continuing narrative, and the author's site pairs each with free activities.

What they do exceptionally well

Budget price point. In our assessment, the books are priced for families that want an inexpensive alternative to full curriculum subscriptions; the science book's new edition is listed at $16.95.

Activity design with common materials. The hands-on activities are designed to use common household items.

Honest scope and pricing. In our assessment, Kilbride's catalog does not over-promise.

What they do poorly

Limited scope at the upper grades. The science book's activities run through age 13 and the Our America books are written for ages 10 to 13; the author's site lists no high-school titles.

Minimal publisher infrastructure. The author wrote in January 2026 that she is keeping the site up, as folks still seem to find it useful, but will not respond to anyone who tries to contact her through the website. In our assessment, families that want active publisher support and community are unlikely to find it here.

No assessments or scope-and-sequence documents. The science book has twenty chapters, the first ten for ages 4 to 7 and the second ten for ages 8 to 13, each filled with activities that teach a particular science concept; the author's site does not list assessments, scope-and-sequence documentation or alignment to state standards. Families that need documentation for portfolio reviews or for ESA reporting will need to construct their own. This may be inconvenient for families with administrative reporting obligations.

Who it fits / who it doesn't

• Pick Susan Kilbride's unit studies if: you are a secular family looking for budget-friendly elementary unit-study content; you already have a primary curriculum and want supplementary topical studies; you can do hands-on activities with common household supplies; you are using a Charlotte Mason or eclectic approach; you want stand-alone units you can mix and match; you are not concerned about polished production values.

• Skip Susan Kilbride's unit studies if: you want full-color illustrated curriculum from a major publisher; you need a complete K-8 program with scope-and-sequence documentation; you have older students (the catalog tops out in middle school); you want active publisher support and convention presence; you want a unit-study program from a publisher that states a Christian perspective (look at Konos or Five in a Row).

Cost honest assessment

Susan Kilbride's science book is listed on her site at $16.95 for the new edition, retrieved October 2026, with Amazon and Barnes & Noble named as places to buy it, and each Our America title is listed with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kindle purchase links. Prices change at the retailer, so check the listing at the point of purchase. Titles can be found on Amazon.

ESA eligibility notes

We have not confirmed Kilbride's books as eligible expenses under any state ESA program. Families should ask their program administrator whether a purchase of the books with a receipt submitted for reimbursement is allowed before ordering. Each program sets its own rules for curriculum purchases: Arizona law lets ESA funds pay for curricula and supplementary materials, Iowa Code 257.11B counts curriculum fees and materials for a course of study among qualified educational expenses, and Utah Code 53F-6-401 lists textbooks, curricula and other instructional materials among scholarship expenses.

Alternatives

• Five in a Row, a family would choose Five in a Row over Kilbride because Five in a Row's literature-based unit studies built around picture books offer, in our assessment, a more structured curriculum, and its FAQ says "We are Christians, but FIAR manuals are used successfully by both Christian and non-Christian families," suiting families that want a published-curriculum experience.
• Beautiful Feet Books, a family would choose Beautiful Feet Books over Kilbride because Beautiful Feet's literature-based history programs include curated reading lists, study guides, and timeline integration, suiting families who want a fuller literature-based history program.
• Konos Curriculum, a family would choose Konos over Kilbride because Konos's character-based unit studies offer a comprehensive multi-subject integration framework built around a "Godly Character Trait Focus", suiting families that want a complete unit-study program rather than topical supplements.