Kathryn – 3rd Grade:History, Geography, Literature: Winter Promise’ “Children Around the World.” We’ll be reading wonderful literature about the history and culture of many countries around the world, from Australia to Zimbabwe. Kathryn will study maps, learn the location of these countries, and create an international “travel” notebook to document what she learns about each country. We’ll also do crafts, make foods, and have fun “cultural gatherings” week based on the country we’re studying that week.
Bible: Kathryn and Lindsey will keep a Prayer and Personal Involvement Journal (also part of the Winter Promise curriculum) as we learn about the needs of children around the world. We will also study a Biblical character trait each week.
Math: Kathryn will finish up Horizons 3 and move into Horizons 4, doing four lessons each week. We’ll also incorporate about one lesson each week from Family Math, based on what math concepts we are learning or if we need to work on a particular concept.
Science: We’ll do a lesson each week from Christian Kids Explore Biology. We’ll supplement that with fun experiments from Janice VanCleave’s The Human Body for Every Kid and Science Around the Year. We’ll also continue doing nature studies (some of Barb’s Outdoor Hour Challenges and some of our own) and nature journaling. Lindsey has never done any nature study or nature journaling, but she says she thinks it’ll be fun. I do, too!
Art: One day each week, Kathryn and Lindsey will do a drawing lesson, using Mona Brookes’ Drawing with Children. I plan to participate, too. My drawing skills could use some work, and I like to try to stretch my brain by doing things outside of what I “normally” do.
Additional: Kathryn will do about one page each day in the Italic D workbook, and we’ll enjoy poetry from Favorite Poems Old and New, among others.
Lindsey – 8th Grade: Lindsey will attend classes two days each week in the “Independent Studies” homeschool program at our church. We believe it’ll be a great transition for her from public school last year, but it will definitely be more of a challenge. She’ll be taking the following classes:
English 8 (using Rod & Staff’s Preparing for Usefulness)
Algebra 1 (using a textbook from Glencoe)
American History (using A Beka’s America Land I Love plus historical literature books)
Spanish (using Paso a Paso)
Physical Science (using Apologia’s Exploring Creating with Physical Science)
She’ll also participate in Bible study, art, nature study, and poetry with us at home (see above). I can’t wait to get started! So far, as I go through these books and curriculums, and as I do more week-by-week planning, I am just tickled with everything. I love the variety, the freedom, the flexibility, and the joy we have in homeschooling!
