Homeschool Curriculum 2013-2014
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It’s August and it’s time to get busy putting plans in place for the new homeschool year. We are not official year-round homeschoolers, so we use the summer to enjoy the good weather and rest- though are there really any homeschoolers who have no scholarly pursuits in the summertime?
In NY State we must turn in an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) for every school aged child. So, this Not-Back-to-School Hop is just in time to help me complete this necessary task.
You’ll see that we try to ride the wave of interest these days and less so on keeping everyone together. We have a lot of independent learners even if I do need to help them find motivation now and then.
10th Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Ancient Studies– this course will use Greenleaf materials along with Mystery of History as a guide, TruthQuest, and Story of the World. We’ll use a stack of literature and special projects to create a great course in Ancient History. Included will be ancient civilizations from all over the world.
Geometry/Trigonometry– E14 started Life of Fred Geometry last March so he will finish the course before the end of the school year. He’ll be starting Trigonometry in late winter.
Arabic– using iTalki lessons and other resources
Greek– He will continue Biblical Greek with Hey Andrew Teach me Some Greek Level 5.
Biology– Combined with finishing up Chemistry, E14 will be doing biology using CK12 which is an open source text book. It’s free textbook materials online. We use the Calibre reader so it’s easier to read on the pc. We’ll be doing a four day schedule with the text. On Fridays he will be doing indepth nature studies along with reading and writing abstracts from current research. Biology is my area of certification and I have a BS in biological sciences. How can this not be fun?
Excellence in Literature– selections to match his Ancient Studies course work plus others if he needs a change.
Other Worlds– this is the next step after One Year Adventure Novel. Ethan is dying to do this one and I agreed as long as he would do other writing as well. This one focuses on fantasy and science fiction. He’s very excited for this.
Essay Rockstar– he will be completing the modules for this writing mentoring program. I’ll be sharing our experience with this in a few weeks.
First LEGO League– this is E’s last year as a team member since he will age out of the program after this season. However, he’ll be returning as a team mentor.
Project Time– E14 enjoys making custom LEGO Star Wars minifigs and he spends free time writing. Some of his project time will be devoted to writing his new novel. Stay tuned for details on this after Other Worlds arrives and he begins.
8th Grade Homeschool Curriculum
World History– Renaissance & Reformation using materials from WinterPromise and Greenleaf Press. We’ll be reading a lot together and R13 will focus on fashion of the time and making reproductions along the way.
Above & Beyond Five in a Row– Hitty the First Hundred Years
Pre-Algebra with Life of Fred Physics and Pre-Algebra 1 with Biology
Cover Story– this is the new curriculum for middle schoolers by One Year Adventure Novel in which the kids will author a magazine during the course of the year. We are all very excited about it!
Physics/Biology/History of Science– R13 will be doing some science along with her math this year. We will focus on concepts as we meet them in her math books.
Art/Nature Study– using Harmony Art Plans and garden/wildflower studies
Project Time– R13 loves to sew (that can’t be news to regular readers!) and she will be working on any number of ideas during her project time.
6th Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Beyond Five in a Row– literature based unit studies with chapter books
Time Travelers– America in World War II CD, I11 is still into WWII planes and is very eager to do this study.
Other Unit Studies– for example a unit on exploration and colonization.
Life of Fred Fractions & Decimals and Percents– he started fractions in the spring so we’ll just continue. We’ll also being doing Math on the Level adventures.
History of Science– a literature based introduction to Scientific Principles and their Discoverers.
Cover Story– we are looking forward to this format after using One Year Adventure Novel with our oldest.
Project Time– mostly devoted his hobbies of flight. I can’t wait to see what he chooses to construct and learn this year.
3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Five in a Row– literature based unit studies using picture books
Beyond Five in a Row– literature based unit studies using chapter books
Life of Fred – finish up Goldfish and move on to Honey and beyond. He’ll also be doing lots of concepts using Math on the Level instruction.
Language Arts– focus on paragraph writing and research/book reports. He will probably tag along with Cover Story.
History of Science– we’ll stop at those listed and those not listed this year I’m sure.
Entomology Club– J8 has joined a 4H entomology club and we’ll get to do serious collecting with other kids who love insects. It’s a pretty big commitment, but he is beyond excited. We’ll learn how to preserve and pin from an entomologist!
Project Time– J8 will have entomology work to do at home, but he is never without a project. Full of ideas and always ready to see them come to life, our engineer will keep pressing the limits of 3rd grade invention.
Whole Family, Multi-Aged Homeschool Time
We try to come together at least once a day to do something together as a family. We usually do art and nature together along with reading aloud. This year I’m going to add in Geography. We’ll pick a way we want to tackle it together and then we’ll set out to reach our goal using the resources we already have on hand.
Nature Studies– we use the Handbook of Nature Study and Barb’s plans for those, NaturExplorers (we have a new creek study to enjoy), FIAR nature studies among other resources. We also just study what we observe.
Art– Harmony Art plans to be incorporated some with their history studies, Chalk pastels from Hodgepodge, Artistic Pursuits, blogs, etc.
Geography– to be honest, our kids are pretty good with geography. Our 10th grader used to pour over geography constantly when he was about 6 or 7. There’s not a lot I can teach them that will be new. Some of our favorite resources include WonderMaps, Trail Guides to Geography, Google Earth, atlases, The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide and Hands on Geography to name a few.
Everyone will be busy this year. We have homeschool co-op for two hours each Monday for ten sessions each semester. Otherwise, we try to stay home!
If you are not already an email subscriber, sign up today and don’t miss any of the rest of the hop or Geography Quests this month!
I love your choices. It looks like a wonderful year ahead.
Blessings, Dawn
Thanks Dawn! I’m especially excited about the History of Science. I know my kids are going to love it!
thanks for sharing these selections! i love that you all try to stay home…us too! might try to join the hop later in the week 🙂
Fabulous Kort! Love to see what others are doing.
I’m looking forward to seeing the creations your daughter comes up with re costumes. We try to make costumes for each era we study, but they are small ones for the children’s dolls. I look forward to them being able to create life size clothes from scratch. If nothing else, it will save on our dressing up budget!
I’m excited to see what she does as well. Not sure if she is going to do doll size only or try her size! I think that’s a great idea. 🙂
Wow! So many fantastic choices. Some I’ve heard of and some I’ve not. We looooooove TruthQuest History, but then again, we are all big library fanatics around here. I was not aware that FRIAR had an Above and Beyond program. Hmmm…definitely gonna check that out. Thanks for sharing!
Five in a Row has Beyond and Above and Beyond which is a unit study of the book Hitty the First Hundred Years. It’s written to the student and it’s lovely.
Looks like a great school year in store for you and your homeschool! I see many family favorites in you list. I’m looking forward to hearing reviews on Cover Story. I have 2 that I may use it with next year.
Linda we are very excited about Cover Story. I will be sure to let everyone know how it’s going!