We are christian family living and learning in a little Rockwellesque town in the valley below the Blue Ridge Mountains. We currently are homeschooling our youngest daughter, Little Chickadee, who is 12 and in her seventh year of school.
This blog focuses on our curriculum and provides links to ideas and resources that you may find useful in your own studies. Please feel free to browse the archives and enjoy!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.
Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad
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I'm adding this to the menu for the weekend. I love anything with lemon,
and the addition of roasted pecans and tarragon sounds divine!
1/2 cup chopped...
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
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Today is a day of purification, renewal, and hope. On this day, exactly 40
days after Christmas, we commemorate Mary's obedience to the Mosaic law by
subm...
4 months ago
A Considered Childhood
As much as I am able, every day, I will ensure that my child will:
♥ Live the Liturgy
♥ Experience loveliness
♥ Breathe deeply: Fresh air and exercise
♥ Serve others
♥ Listen to, contemplate, and exchange ideas.
♥ Develop expressive skills.
♥ Practice logical reasoning. Math.
♥ Receive focused attention and affection
All of these items are available at the Homeschool Freebie of the Day website. Each resource is available for 24 hours on the dates listed below.
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Monday, Jan 16th:
A HUMONGOUS HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM TREASURE TROVE!
An amazingly large and in-depth collection of homeschool
curriculum with a reformed Biblical perspective. There are
over 100 full length texts in history, government, home
economics, science & technology, literature, art
and much more -- all downloadable in PDF format.
http://www.puritans.net/curriculum/
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Tuesday, Jan 17th:
THE LONG WINTER by Laura Ingalls Wilder (MP3 audio dramatization)
Today's resource is this fine audio dramatization of one of
Laura Ingalls Wilder's best "Little House" books,
"The Long Winter". This Ingalls family is quite different
than the one you saw on TV, but it is a very faithful
adaptation of the book, and is quite entertaining. It is the
ONLY "old time radio" adaptation of any of Wilder's books,
and if you love those stories, you'll treasure this.
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Wednesday, Jan 18th:
DAVID COPPERFIELD (MP3 audio dramatization)
Possibly Dickens' most famous novel, dramatized in this
excellent hour long program from the days of old time radio.
Many elements within the novel follow events in Dickens' own
life, and it is probably the most autobiographical of all of
his novels. It was also Dickens' "favourite child" -- ie. his
favorite book. This version of Charles Dickens' classic book
stars Boris Karloff with a great performance as the wicked Micawber.
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Thursday, Jan 19th:
ONE OF THE 28TH by G. A. Henty (MP3 audio dramatization)
Here's a rare and wonderful find for your listening pleasure
-- a great dramatization of master story-teller G. A. Henty's
classic book of pirates and the War of 1812, "One of the 28th".
Follow the adventures of young Ralph Conway as he becomes the
captive of "King of the Sea" Captain Kelly, aboard the deadly
pirate ship "Belle Marie".
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Friday, Jan 20th:
LITTLE WOMEN (MP3 audio dramatization)
A full hour radio adaptation of Louisa Mae Alcott's
"Little Women", complete with Katherine Hepburn as Jo!
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Little January
Tapped at my door today.
And said, "Put on your winter wraps,
And come outdoors to play."
Little January
Is always full of fun;
Until the set of sun.
Little January
Will stay a month with me
And we will have such jolly times
Just come along and see."
This is a repost from about this time two years ago! Studying the 50 States is something Little Chickadee has always enjoyed. Unfortunately since I wrote that original post, we still haven't visited ALL 50 states yet, but I have plans to finish up this year. In planning our lessons I decided to revisit this post to ensure that the links were still working properly and to add any additional resources I have come across. I hope that this will inspire you to take off on a cross-country journey yourself and learn about the places and people that make up our great country!
On the first day of school I hand my child a copy of this map of the United States and have her list the states that she knows. This is a fun activity to do at the beginning of the year and then have your child repeat at the end of the year. It is always exciting when they compare both maps and realize how much they have learned! Just be sure to reassure your child at the beginning of the year that you don't expect them to know very many of the states and it doesn't matter if they are only able to label a few! Then again, you might be surprised by how many they do know!
For her binder I purchased a simple white three ring notebook with a clear view pocket on the front. I then printed a labeled map of the United States and put it in the clear pocket on the front of the binder. As we study each state I will have her cut and paste a matching piece for each state cut out of construction paper on to each matching place on the map. By the end of the year the front of her binder, which is starting out a little dull (just black and white), will be bright and colorful! If you have smaller children you might consider completing the map using push pin map work which you can read all about here!
The first page in our 50 States binder is a sheet I made using the information from this website, which just lists each state, state abbreviation, capital and date of succession. This is a good quick reference page.
Behind this page we begin our pages for each state. We study the states in their order of succession, beginning with Delaware and ending with Hawaii. My original plan was to cover two states per week, but realistically it ended up being about one a week, and unfortunately very often became one of the things that got cut when other subjects took longer or we had interruptions to the our schedule. Thus the reason we are still plugging away at this two year later! To introduce each state we play a little game using the Mystery State resources from Education World. This is a fun way to learn a few quick facts about the featured state right up front.
Another thing we've always done and plan to do again, is to write the Department of Tourism for each state and ask if they could send us some brochures, catalogs and a postcard about their state. Usually if you explain that you are homeschooling family and you are learning about the 50 States, they are more than happy to send you some information. Getting the packages in the mail and seeing all the neat things they send is a lot of fun. A few of the states we wrote to last year even sent magnets and bookmarks. Until now I've had a form letter that I sent out, but I'm thinking that this year I might have Little Chickadee write the letters herself, which will reinforce her penmanship, grammar and writing skills. You can find the websites and contact information for each state's tourism department, here.
While we're waiting for our packages to arrive, and be forewarned that occasionally you won't get a response, we do some worksheets from a several different websites.
First, you can print out a map of each state here, and here. I like to use the first map, from Education Place to do something similar to the map of the United States we do for our cover, cutting a corresponding shape out of construction paper and having Little Chickadee paste it over the plain black and white image on the page. I use the map from Enchanted Learning as a reference for highlighting major cities, lakes and rivers. You could also use the blank copy of the map I mentioned above and have your child color in just the state you are currently studying on the US map. This helps to reinforce where the state in located.
For facts about each state, you will find that information here (be sure to look for a coloring page for the state stamp at this site. and learn more about Greetings from America, here!) and here. Younger children could use this information to fill in this book (site requires membership, but is WELL worth the cost!). If you don't want to pay for a membership, then you might find some of these resources useful. Older children could write a report on each state, you find some information on what to include and a rubric, here.For younger children you might also enjoy these coloring pages from Crayola.
Another fun activity, and one that we plan to do, is to collect the state quarters! You will find some fun coloring and activity pages for these, here. There are also a number of lesson plans for all grade levels, here.
And here's a little interesting kick for your curriculum, the super graphics that you find on the side of UHaul trucks has its very own website and coloring pages, with more fun facts and information about each state.
And if all of this isn't enough, there's even more
And here are some resources for purchase that you could either use and supplement with some of the other resources here, or just on their own if you don't want to try to put it all together yourself.
I am always on the lookout for resources that include quick, educational activities, poetry, scripture, etc. to read during our Morning Basket Time. Today I came across Leaves of Life, and while we won't be using it this year, I did want to bookmark it here for future reference. You might enjoy it as well!
O Maiden, let thy heart like a fragrant garden be;
Flowers fair of virtue, thy mother loves too see;
Then sweet thy prayer shall sound in that fond Mother's ear,
And when thou needest help, that Mother will be near.
She strengthens thee to conquer in the arduous strife;
And why thou standest at the crossways of thy life,
Thou shalt feel a heavenly breath to guide thee right;
The rough ways shall be smooth, the dark ways be made light.
O Child of Mary, in thy youth's springtide;
Go to that Mother dear, and without fear
To her thy joys, thy grief, thy hopes confide.
In life, in death, whatever may betide -
If foes assail, let not they courage fall,
Her arm will thee protect, her wisdom guide.
Mary, my Mother, grant that my little children may instruct me in the ways of God. Let their innocent eyes speak to me of the spotless holiness of Jesus. Let their open smiles remind me of the great love God has for his creatures. Let their helplessness teach me the unbounded power of God. May their first feeble efforts to speak call to mind the wisdom of the Almighty. May their simple trust in me lead me to cherish a like confidence in God. May my love for God be stimulated by the deep-rooted affection my children have for me. May I in all these things grow in a greater appreciation of my holy motherhood. Mary, I trust in you to obtain this favor for me. Amen. Mother of Mothers, pray for me!
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