Years 1 to 3

This is a work in progress.

As we change to a family style of learning, I need to make changes to the curriculum plans. Although some subjects will be done with the whole family, some will also be done with year groups, or "forms". Years 1-3 will do some things together, also Years 4-6, Years 7-9, and Years 10-12. A few things, like Shakespeare, will be done with Years 4+ together.

So, here are the plans for Years 1-3. (work in progress)

Scriptures:
Penny Gardner Storied Scriptures
Scripture Memorizations (your choice)
Optional:
Reading from Church Magazines
Singing Primary Song (Select 1 per month. Can also sing in Foreign Language or ASL)

History:

History Rotation

Family History (Genealogy)

Natural History/Science:
NATURE STUDY - Can do the Nature Challenge from here. Note that this is the most important science to do at this age range!

("Wild Days" - Karen Radcliffe as a reference for parent)
("Pocket Full of Pinecones" - Karen Andreola as a reference/inspiration for parent)

Christian Nature Reader Book 1, 2, 3 - done individually by each child for reading practice - WHEN child is ready to read it.

Burgess Bird Book / Burgess Animal Book for Children / Secrets of the Woods (1 per year)

James Herriot's Treasury for Children / Pagoo / By Pond and River (1 per year)

Science Rotation

Geography:

Holling C.Holling books (Paddle to the Sea, Seabird, Tree in the Trail, Minn. of Mississippi) over the 3 years

(may add more)

Phonics: (Reading Instruction) - done individually!
See Maple Hill posts on teaching reading
Christian Nature Reader Books at appropriate level - for science as well as reading practice)

Math: - done individually!
We strongly recommend the Mathmatics Enhancement Programme
Another free choice is Khan Academy which is nice for a little change, but can also be a stand-alone online program.

Foreign Language:
We are doing German, but do what makes sense for you. There are free lessons here for Spanish, French, and German. Also recommend getting a few fairy-tales with Audio CD to read over and over.
My Very First Little German Book

There are Scripture Readers in various languages available here. (not all languages listed have the readers). German, at this time, has the New Testament reader. It is in PDF, with MP3's of each chapter. We listen as we look at the pages.

Pimsleur also seems to have good language training.

Our plan is to add another foreign language in each form... Probably French in Year 4, Latin in Year 7, and ? in Year 10. Probably the whole family will be working with the newest language at once, but details are not worked out.

Poetry:

TBD

Literature:
This list is going to be a lot more flexible, and is currently "under construction". We will be mostly choosing books from various lists. I might not have the entire plan for the year worked out ahead. Here are some things I definitely want to do...

"Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know" - edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie (8 per year)

"Follow My Leader" by James Garfield / "Just David" / "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1 per year)

Aesop for Children by Milo Winter - 1-2 per week for all 3 years

[***] a lot more will go here!

Canadian Literature: (this will be updated soon)

see Canadian Literature Plan

Shakespeare

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare (Nesbit) and Tales from Shakespeare (Lamb) - 9 per year

Writing/Copywork: - done independently
Peterson Directed Handwriting
Selected copywork from readings/scriptures/etc.

Sketching/Painting
Draw Write Now series
OR
1-2-3 Draw books by Freddie Levin - pick 3 or 4,
OR
Drawing with Children
OR
Basic Observation Drawing - some resources

Music(read how-to) [note this How-to is on Milestones Academy]

Recommended - Violin, Piano OR Recorder (inexpensive) OR other similar instruments
Do NOT start more than one instrument at once! We have been doing Suzuki Violin for three or four years before getting to year 1!

Violin
- Suzuki Violin [we do this with an instructor ] Recommended Resource "Step-by-Step" series by Kerstin Wartberg

Piano
- Suzuki Piano [we do this without an instructor] Recommended Resource "Studying Suzuki Piano: More than Music" by Bigler and Lloyd-Watts
another option is My First Piano Adventures - Information and Video Lesson Guide here!

Recorder
option for a very inexpensive music alternative, or for the parent that is too uncomfortable trying to teach something else on their own...
Nine-Note Recorder method [note, we haven't tried this yet]

Other
Similar instruction in another instrument. (ie, Suzuki Cello)

Scouting
Scouting Plan for their age

Canadian Literature

Books being looked at for possible Canadian Literature selections. This is not a final list by any means, and will change.

(Note added: Although most selections are set in Canada or are about Canadians, some are not. All have been written by Canadian authors.)

Year K

• The Hockey Sweater - Carrier - (?) - Hockey in Canada - Picture Book
• Something from Nothing - Gilman - (2-8) - Reuse, reuse, reuse! - Picture Book
• Just like New - Manson - (4-7) - WWII - Child gives cherished doll - Picture Book

Year 1

• Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt - Smucker - (?) - Family leaves States to avoid war Picture Book
• A Fiddle for Angus - Wilson - (?) - Picture Book
• Very Last First Time - Andrews - (4-8) - Inuit Story - Picture Book
• Dragonfly Kites - Highway - (4-8) - Cree Story - Picture Book

Year 2

• Owls in the Family - Mowatt - (7-12) - Life in Saskatchewan
• The Fishing Summer - Jam - (6-9) - Atlantic Fishing - Picture Book
• The Fabulous Song - Gillmor - (4-7) - Child becomes Composer - Picture Book

Year 3

• Beethoven Lives Upstairs - Nichol - (6-10) - Beethoven - Picture Book
• The Secret World of Og - Pierre Berton

Year 4

• Emily - Bedard - (6+) - About Emily Dickinson - Picture Book (although this is a picture book, it is well worth it.
• Incredible Journey - Burnfield - (9-12) - already on AO schedule
• Charlotte - Lunn - (7-10) - 1783, American / Loyalists - Picture Book
• Bully Boys - Walters - (?) - war of 1812
• Jeremy's War - Ibbitson - (?) - war of 1812

Year 5

• Underground to Canada - Smucker - (10-12) - Young girl / slavery
• A Bushel of Light - Harrison - (10-13) - Twins Separated - Barnardo Children
• The Root Cellar - Lunn - (10+) - Civil War time
• Emily of New Moon - Montgomery - (10+) - life in 1890's.
• Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery - (?) - orphan girl - already scheduled in AO
• Rilla of Ingleside - Montgomery - (?) - - already scheduled in AO

Year 6

• Hana's Suitcase - Levine - (10+) - Holocaust - non-fiction
• A Foreign Field - Chan - (11+) - WWII RAF pilot friends a Cdn. Child. note he dies
• Wish me Luck - Heneghan - (10-14) - WWII - English child shipped to Canada, incl boat ride.
• The Secret of Gabis Dresser - Kacer - (8-12) - WWII - Hiding from Nazis (noted as good for "younger" children intro to this topic)
• A Child in Prison Camp - Takashima - (10+) - WWII Japanese Internment - non-fiction

Year 7 or 8?

• The Dream Carvers - Clark - (10-13) - Viking boy captured by Indians to "replace" their son
• Lost in the Barrens - Mowatt - (10+) - Inuit life

Year K

See the Updated Version Here

More Drawing Instruction

In an earlier post, I had recommended doing drawing instruction without any formal curriculum, but by practicing observing and drawing what you see.

I have to admit that I am getting nervous about doing that myself however, so I am looking at some more resources.

I have not yet made a selection, but I am looking into the following resources....

Drawing With Children - Mona Brookes

Teaching Children to Draw - Barbara Ward

Draw Write Now - ?

Illustrating Nature - Irene Brady (for about year 4+?)

I would really appreciate any opinions on these resources, or other resources that are suitable to teach drawing - especially of nature. I would prefer resources that use observation as its main focus. Thanks!

Resources I want to use

Here are just a few notes on resources I want to use, but have not yet placed into the program.

Economics

• The Wealthy Paper Carrier
• The Wealthy Barber

Ground School

• From the Ground Up

Character

• Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends - Mally
• Preparing Sons to provide for a Single Income Family - Steve Maxwell

Science

• The Mystery of the Periodic Table - Benjamin D. Wiker

Booklist

This post is shamelessly for my own use. I am listing here the books I have found and now own, and (eventually) an indication for which year I may use them.

• Anne of Green Gables - Year 5
• Black Beauty - Year 4
• The Call of the Wild - Year 6
• Charlotte's Web - Year 1
• The Cricket in Times Square - Year 1
• From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Year 3
• Hans Brinker - Year 5
• Heidi - Year 2
• The Hobbit - Year 3
• The House at Pooh Corner - Year K
• The Incredible Journey - Year 4
• The Jungle Book - Year 3
• Kidnapped - Year 4
• Little House in the Big Woods - Year 1
• Lord of the Rings - Year 6
• Now We are Six - Year 1
• Peter Pan - Year K
• Robin Hood - Year 2
• The Secret Garden - Year 4
• Treasure Island - Year 5
• Watership Down - Year 5
• The Yearling - Year 4?

Science Rotation

Years 1 to 6

Because we already own the World Book Childcraft series, we will be using this wonderful resource for Science in the early years. If you do not happen to own this series (which is WELL worth getting if you can find it) - I would recommend the Noeo Science series or Fulbright "Exploring Creation" series.

Nature Study is a major part of science at this stage. Note that there are other readings for Science and Nature in each year of study as well, which may not be "aligned" with the rotation. That is fine, the student will be able to handle it.

Rotation 1

• World and Space
• Find the Constellations - H. A. Rey AND/OR
• * The Stars - H.A. Rey

H.A. Rey's constellation books draw the constellations differently than most astronomy books - and in a way that makes more sense. If you can find them, they are WELL worth it! Find the Constellations is great for the young student. The Stars is a great reference for mom or dad, works well for older students in the rotation, or is a nice addition if your student wants more after reading "Find the Constellations". I do recommend adding the Latin "true name" of each constellation into the pages of "Find the Constellations" (they are in the index)

Rotation 2

• Green Kingdom

Rotation 3

• About Animals
• Feathered Friends

Rotation 4

• About Me [anatomy]

Rotation 5

• How Things Work [physics and mechanics]
• Scientists and Inventors [from an older set]

In year 6, the student continues the rotation, doing the same rotation they did in year 1. They will understand the material much better.

Years 7-12

to be determined.