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And just like that, the school year is upon us again! Charlotte Mason once said, “And all the time we have books, books teeming with ideas fresh from the minds of thinkers upon every subject to which we can wish to introduce children.” This is the feast of ideas for the first twelve weeks:
TERM ONE: AUGUST 20 – NOVEMBER 9
MORNING BASKET
- Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost
- The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia
- First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind: Level 2
- Art History
- Read Alouds:
SIXTH GRADE HISTORY
We are continuing this program from last year. I haven’t decided yet, but we probably could fill an entire school year just on WWII to current day. There’s so much to learn!
Books:
Books:
- Air Raid–Pearl Harbor!
- Number the Stars
- The Little Riders (and then watch the movie)
- Louis Zamperini: Redemption
- Twenty and Ten
- Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two
K-FOURTH GRADE HISTORY
We’re finishing up the last few books in American History before moving onto Western Expansion.
Books and Field Trips:
- George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides
- The Winter at Valley Forge
- The Fourth of July Story
- Abraham Lincoln
- Buffalo Bill
- field trip to Jamestown
- Abraham Lincoln’s World
- Daniel Boone: The Opening of the Wilderness
MATH
- 6th grade: Teaching Textbooks 7
- 4th grade: Teaching Textbooks 4
- 2nd grade: Abeka 2
- K: Math Lessons for a Living Education: Level 1, Grade 1
WRITING
- 6th grade: Writer’s in Residence (part is done at co-op, part is done at home)
- 4th grade: Usborne Creative Writing
- 2nd grade and K: illustrated narrations
LITTLE KIDS READING & PHONICS
- J: Explode the Code Level 2.5 and Level 3 (this is largely review, but we’re working on his confidence)
- S: Get Ready for the Code A & Get Set for the Code B
- S: ABC See, Hear, Do
- tons and tons of picture books
SCIENCE
All of the kids will have their primary science curriculum through co-op. We’ll supplement with extra reading and/or activities at home.
All of the kids will have their primary science curriculum through co-op. We’ll supplement with extra reading and/or activities at home.
- 6th grade: Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Physical Science
- 4th grade: Earth Science
- 2nd grade and K: various scientific activities with our co-op
- Nature Study: Outdoor Hour challenges using the Handbook of Nature Study
RELIGION
The three big boys will also be attending religious education at our parish.
- The Great Adventure Storybook
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
- St. Patrick’s Summer: A Children’s Adventure Catechism
GEOGRAPHY
Books:
I love curriculum posts! So many good recommendations. I'm curious what your morning basket time looks like – how long does it last? Is it everyone sitting down together?
Morning Basket is the first task of the school day for us. We gather around the table and the kids will generally all bring something to keep their hands busy: typically pencil and paper or Lego guys. We read a chapter of the read aloud every day (and we'll do grammar 3x a week), but the other things are on a weekly loop. So poetry is on one day, learning about a president is another, art history is another, geography is another, etc. We usually read the little kids' history aloud at this time too. It typically lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the length of chapters. Then we take a snack break and go our separate ways for math and reading. Hope that helps!
So helpful and inspiring to see curriculum from other mamas! And thanks for your morning basket peek. Trying to implement it this year for the first time. How do you pick your read alouds?
Sometimes I try to match it to topics we're learning in other subjects, but often they're just fun reads. I get inspiration from the books on Bravewriter, Real Aloud Revival, and other mamas on Insta!