My fourth grader has chosen to study the desert for a research paper. Enjoy the links!
Videos: BBC Nature I enjoyed the toads, but my son appreciated the seed germination. Wild Kratts This inspired my children to go on a Wild Kratts binge after school. PBS Nature National Geographic Moving rocks? Fox News on the rocks Online Activities: Scholastic Free Webquests, Lesson Plans, and More NPS.gov Free Web Ranger Activities Learning Pages & Lapbooks ABCTeach Some free pages and some cost Homeschool Share Free Lapbook download A Journey Through Learning Free Lapbook download
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The younger two are beginning their Biology - Anatomy Study. The others are scheduled for this study during the second semester. Many do not know what to teach their children and when.
My high school student is using curriculum I developed based on a syllabus for a "Credit By Examination" course by Texas Tech University and an AP Biology Syllabus. I also enrich with other activities from outside sources like HERE and HERE. One day soon I will write a blog on how to do that. Thus, much of his curriculum is pulled from online sources. I do include hard copy labs and activities when needed. My middle school student is covering a series of text books I bought online (one of the few things) from Half.com. It is called Science Explorer by Prentice Hall. Next year though, I will have him complete the High School Biology Curriculum. My younger students use a fourth grade textbook I found at the thrift store. I use this only as an outline for the material I need to cover. I then supplement with material I think they are capable of understanding. I teach to a higher level. You would be amazed at what they can understand. Thus, the links below are tools I will use with all four of the children, depending on their abilities, as we cover this material in addition to the ones linked above. Prepare for the Unit
Read Texts (Depending on the child's abilities)
Discover and Explore
Use Activities and Labs
Assess
Enjoy! Our six year old is now working on multiplication.
Over the years, I have discovered that if a secure foundation is not established at this stage, they will struggle in higher grades. So, I think we will spend a bit more time on multiplication this time around. Here are some free online resources: School House Rock Videos on YouTube Math-Aids.com Free Printable Worksheets Arcademics Multiplication Games PBS Video to Help with the 9s How I wish I could go back in time. I did the memorization technique with the older two. I thought they had it. Then years later, I see that the memorization didn't stick well. They still have to think and it doesn't come automatically. However, with the younger two, we have been working on a combo of a Singapore math teaching style in conjunction with memorization. We will spend twice as long on it before we move on. It seems to working so far as my fourth grader grasps that 4×8 is twice 2×8 and eight less than 4×10. And he doesn't spend as much brain power thinking of the answer. I don't know if it is the different child or the different technique, but it seems to be working. We will also incorporate and highlight multiples in our lives when we cook, exercise, play, bounce a ball, create, etc. Also, the concept of multiplication "fact families" should be reestablished at this point with the introduction of Algebraic concepts. We love using food in our lessons! Use whatever you have on hand! Legos, cookies, a trampoline, a jump rope, apples, etc. Now they beg to do math ;-) Remember to follow me on Google+ for a steady stream of links and resources! My profile is under ToolsTo Homeschool We started on a new unit today for history.. We will probably take 3 days to complete this unit. For my younger two, we are following the method of teaching "timeline history". We are using a text as our "outline". These units are to expand on what those units. They can be used as "Stand Alone" lessons or with history texts.
Olmec Civilization Study DAY 1 1. PRINT World Map - HERE 2. PRINT North America Map - HERE 3. WATCH the video playlist to prep for the unit - HERE 4. COLOR the printed area for the Olmec Civilization on the blank printed map. Use THIS map for reference. 5. READ the Chapter & Write the Definitions - HERE DAY 2 6. WATCH the Video and Complete the Reading - HERE 7. COMPLETE the Review Found HERE on EduPlace Day 3 8. LISTEN to podcast on BBC - HERE 9. CREATE (depending on age) a glyph, mask, or other art piece Next week I plan on doing some renovations to this blog. However, we worked on this today and I thought I would share. This lesson can be adapted for all grade levels.
1. READ the text on the Education Portal 2. Download and Read Pgs. 12-13 of the Sample Chapter HERE 3. WATCH Full Episode on the Smithsonian Channel Website 4. COMPLETE Questions on Pg 13 of Downloaded Sample Chapter in No. 2 5. COMPLETE a Sample Nazca Art Piece |