Homeschool Curriculum, Materials and Class List
2009-2010 Academic Year
Grade 4 (Younger Son)
Math--
Teaching Textbooks 5 curriculum (complete all lessons)
Flashmaster, Math Drill Practice, multiplication facts and division facts
Language Arts--
Writing Composition
Institutes for Excellence in Writing curriculum (restart)
Nonfiction writing practice with IEW method
Learn note taking skills
Brave Writer method (start)
Freewrite
Creative writing (fiction) at home, self-initiated projects
Poetry
Take poetry workshop classes with SME, professional poet, Rock Wilk
Read poems at home
Write additional poems at home
Spelling
Spelling Power, level F
English Grammar
First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind, level 4
Brave Writer Arrow (start)
Penmanship
Copywork with Brave Writer Arrow
Getty-Dubay Italic Handwriting curriculum level E
Vocabulary and Latin Roots
Word Roots A1 and A2 computer game by Critical Thinking Press (start)
Reading Practice and Literature
Read fiction books of his choice, on grade level, 45 minutes a day x5 days a week
Take class with SME about becoming familiar with language used by Shakespeare (3 hours direct instruction)
Keyboarding Skills
Typing Instructor computer program (start)
History --
World History: Chronological Study years 1700-1850
Story of the World volume 3 story book, do entire book
Story of the World volume 3 Activity Guide (geography mapwork etc.)
Independent reading living books relating to world history topic in SOTW lessons (on grade level), world history nonfiction books, biography, and historical fiction books
US History (above and beyond SOTW vol 3)
Independent Reading, History of US by Joy Hakim (start series volumes 1-11, continue up to year 1850) with family discussion
Independent reading living books relating to US History topic in SOTW lessons (on grade level), world history nonfiction, biography, and historical fiction
Field trip: 5 hour visit to Caramoor Art and Music Center for Renaissance Day
Archeology, History, Culture
India: Homeschool group classes with college professor and SME archeologist from Archeological Perspectives, college level material presented with hands-on and age appropriate teaching methods, 8 hours prep classes, lecture, slide show, hands on activities. Four hours at museum in NYC for field trip and on-class site. Culminating in performing an archeological dig recreation and display of relics in June, 24 hours direct instruction.
Geography--
Trail Guide to US Geography curriculum (start using for first time), Primary Level
Use Trail Guide notebooking method for documentation of work completed, Primary Level
Use almanac, atlas, paper book encyclopedia and Internet for research.
Science--
Read living books on various topics (nature, botany, physics, astronomy, space exploration, weather, etc.)
Real Science 4 Kids level 1 Physics science curriculum including scientific method use in experiments with completion of lab notebook
Astronomy class with SME, 80-90 hours direct instruction, lecture and observation with telescope
Art, Art History and Culture--
Contemporary Art docent led tours of exhibits at three different local museums with homeschool group (about six per year)
Take classes, American Art and U.S. History taught by teacher for Metropolitan Museum of Art (6 hours direct instruction) and a day at the Met in March 2010
Artistic Pursuits art curriculum, level 4-6, do at home
Teaching self traditional cartooning, manga drawing, and realistic drawing skills, at home
Physical Education--
Experiential nature and primitive skills class, botany, wildcrafting, and Native American skills, held outdoors including hiking all day, 120 hours direct instruction (fall and spring). Fall project: using only primitive tools they made themselves by hand, and natural materials they built a structure on a platform in a tree and a ladder.
Class: Learn to play Basketball (community center), 8 hours
Class: Learn to play Lacrosse (community center), 8 hours
Clinic: Lacrosse skills, 12 hours
Lacrosse team private league (spring)
Walk and jog on treadmill
Introduce free weights upper body weight lifting
Floor exercises and Yoga for strengthening core
Nutrition--
Review Food Pyramid
Take active role in meal planning, make better food choices
Begin using food logs to help with menu planning to make better food choices
Religion--
Weekly religious education class at church, one hour per week
Life Skills
With brother, do all the family laundry
Clean the bathroom he uses
Solely responsible to carry compost materials from kitchen to outdoor compost bin
Help with chores as requested, house cleaning, garage decluttering etc.
Cook some of his own meals and help with family meal preparation
Cub Scouts--
Webelos I year
Active in Den and Pack meetings, camping, community service and other activities
Attend summer residence camp, two nights/three days, August 2009
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5 comments:
Thank you for sharing this. It always gives me perspective for my own planning to see what others are doing. The archeology sounds wonderful! My son is 7 and has declared himself a paleontologist.
Thank you for taking the time to post your curriculum. One of the things I love most about homeschooling blogs is the chance to learn about new resources. You list a few here that I will check into further. It's a job in itself to keep these little ones adequately challenged! :)
~ Annie at learnateveryturn.com
Thanks for posting this. As we plan ds's 4th grade year this gives me some ideas we hadn't considered.
Hi Christine, have you started Brave Writer Arrow yet? I just subscribed and am not quite sure what to do with it. Could you tell me how many days you use it per week and what the lessons look like? Thanks so much!!
Hi Beth,
No I haven't started using Arrow yet in 2010 with my now fifth grader but I plan to use it. Arrow has a new look and design starting in August 2010.
I have the full year of Arrow from 2009-2010. I slacked on it and didn't use it last year. I plan in 2010-2011 to use old issues I already own (the old design look of it).
If you go to the Arrow page on Bravewriter.com there is a sample of one week of work.
Hope this helps.
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