2013-2014 Curriculum

Our curriculum choices for 2013-2014 
Tera- 7th Grade
Daniel- 6th Grade
Michael- Preschool

Math:  

Tera- Saxon Algebra 1/2

Daniel- Saxon 7/6

Language Arts:

Tera- Spelling Power

Easy Grammar Plus

Daniel- Spelling Power

Daily Grams

A Reason for Handwriting D

(He needs to finish last year's book and then we are switching to some free cursive handwriting printable)

I'm still trying to figure out how I want to do "reading" this year.  My kids are avid readers, so I'm not worried they "won't" read.  I just need to come up with my approach for the year.  

Bible:  

  My Faith (Nazarene catechism curriculum)

Science:

Tera-  Exploring Creation with General Science with Notebooking 

(This is doubling as her handwriting this year)

Daniel-  God's Design for Science- Inventions and Technology

Various astronomy resources

Foreign Language:

Spanish for You! Estaciones

Visual Latin

History:

America From the Beginning

Tera asked to study American History chronologically this year.  This is a new curriculum designed for grades 3-8.  It has everything I'd want in a history curriculum.  Readings with comprehension questions, timeline, map work, hands-on activities.  She is really excited about this one! 

Extras:

• Art lessons at a local studio (2- 6 week sessions)
• Private music lessons (Tera- piano; Daniel-flute)
• Art and Music projects directed by yours truly
• Web Design Programming curriculum
• Swim lessons (6 weeks each semester)

Michael:

Michael is starting his second year of preschool.  We have already been working through Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, so we'll finish that probably before Christmas.  

His weeks/days are broken down very easily:

• Reading lesson
• Song of the week from Do You Know the Muffin Man?
• Bible story of the week with activities from pinterest
• Book of the week with activities and crafts from pinterest 

We read to him, play with him, and play some more.  He begs to do "activities", so I definitely have to have things planned for him.  He's starting taking a phonics notebook that a neighbor gave us to bed every night.  He sits there in bed sounding out words, driving Daniel crazy!

I'm sure we'll tweak things as we go through the year, but that's the great thing about home schooling.  
 Flexibility!  


To see similar posts, check out the Not Back-to-School Blog Hop

  

Also linked up to Hip Homeschool Hop

50+ Enrichment Ideas for Homeschool Students

We've all had those days...

You thought you had enough planned, but the kid just flew through their assignments.   They're done and asking the dreaded question, "What do you want me to do, now?"  You're up to your eyeballs in reading lessons and math explanations with younger children and can't think straight!  

Ideas for those days when you just need something extra for your independent learners:

Art:
 
Step by step art lessons- Art Projects for Kids
Drawing
Art trading cards
Art history websites
Virtual art museums
NGAkids Art Zone
Make a collage- Something you're studying, colors, shapes, etc.

 

Music:
 
Listen to a musical composition by a great composer
Research a composers life
Draw a listening map to a piece of music
Watch a musical performance on YouTube
Make your own musical instrument out of things found around the home
Practice an instrument

Science:
 
Science Experiment books:  Pick an experiment 


 


Nature study- Take a journal and sketch whatever you want from nature...birds, flowers, plants, animals, landscapes or click on the link for seasonal ideas. 
Nature scavenger hunt
Make an invention, be able to explain what it's purpose is and how it works.
Science kits:  Snap Circuits,  Mind Blowing Science, Pop Bottle Science, etc.

Virtual surgeries
Virtual dissections

Games:
 
Board games: Monopoly, Sorry, Trouble, etc.
Educational Games:  No Stress Chess, Geography games, Sci-ology,
Card games:  Skip Bo, Phase 10, Professor Noggins games, Trivia games
Make your own games
Puzzles


History:
History for Kids website
History games online
Make a timeline
Biography Scrapbook Project- Pick a historical figure and make a scrapbook page about their life.


Math:
Hands on Math activities
Computer games- Timez Attack, Sheppard Software games, Math skills arcade games
Flashcards
10 Unusual Ways to Explore Math ideas


Home Economics:
 
Cooking/ Baking- reading recipes and using math skills

Sewing or Quilting


 







Knitting
Crocheting
Handicrafts- knotting, friendship bracelets, weaving

Language Arts:
Write a Haiku
Write a letter to a friend
Free Reading
Audio books 
Learn to type
Memorize a poem or scripture to recite
Start a novel- Participate in the National Novel Writing Month anytime.


Hobbies:
Coin or stamp collecting- cataloging and organizing collection
Sign Language
Juggling
Magic Tricks
Origami

Virtual field trips, here, here, and here! 


Teach a younger child

 

P.E.- Work your way through a list of exercises:  jumping jacks, 5 minutes running in place, 5 minutes walking in place,  push ups, sit ups,  touch your toes
Sports practice

Building Sets:  Legos,  K'nex, Erector Sets

Have I gotten your creative energies flowing?  

Make a list at the beginning of the week/month/year of enrichment activities for your individual child based on their interests, passions and giftedness. 

Then, when you hear THAT question:  "What do you want me to do, NOW?"; you'll have some suggestions ready.  

Maybe one day, they'll think of their own ideas. 

Down at the Dump...I mean, Landfill

We took a fieldtrip to the landfill this last week. The first thing we learned was that this was not a dump, but a landfill. Dumps are illegal in Tennessee. A landfill is a more eco-friendly way of disposing of trash. They dig holes in the ground that are then lined with plastic to prevent leakage into the soil. The mounds of garbage are piled about 15 feet deep, then covered with a layer of earth before they repeat the process. Then, when a certain area is full they cap it off by covering it with a layer of earth. They install pipes to release the methane build up. This landfill is preparing to use the methane as a renewable energy. The landfill is the highest point in our county other than the mountains. Also, the certain cell that is being filled has lasted longer than they thought because people are reducing, reusing and recycling.

Recycling bins, the incinerator used for wood debris, and plastic being laid down for a new cell at the landfill to prevent leechate (sp?) from leaking into the soil.





Crazy fun in the car!





Turkey Vultures and a landfill cell being filled in.




A hands-on demonstration of the different pollutants and their effect on wildlife. Poor Fred the sponge.







All kinds of relays and hands-on activities (litter pick up, compost discovery, and recycle relay)







Again, we had a great tour guide who made the day very fun and educational, too!

Last Day of School

We finished up our last day of school on Friday studying about Native Americans. The fun stuff focused around all the games and toys Native children played. They made miniature toys/dolls out of found things. Odd/Evens- They took straw bundles and tried to guess how many reeds they pulled out. Basket weaving, yo-yo's, spinning tops, mini-dolls, homemade instruments, blow the feather (see how long you can keep your feather in the air) and many others.



Foot races were popular.



Hoop and Darts- trying to hit a hoop hanging from a tree or propped against a rock with handmade darts. Tera decorated all her darts.





Ice Cream Sundaes---what's the last day of school without ice cream?