Saturday, April 28, 2012
Foreign Language
Under construction!
My husband and I are both fluent in Spanish, so, that's what they're going to learn!
My husband and I are both fluent in Spanish, so, that's what they're going to learn!
Science
The four years of science are divided into subjects that roughly correspond to the history periods. First graders, who are studying the ancients, learn about those things that the ancients could see- animal life, the human body, and plants. They make collections, take nature walks, and sprout beans in jars. Second graders collect facts about the earth and sky, a division designed to go along with the medieval-early Renaissance period, when Copernicus and Tycho Brahe observed the heavens. Third graders work on basic chemistry- atoms and molecules, what elements are and how they interact. They're also reading history from the period spanning 1600-1850, the years when the first great chemists lived- Robert Boyle, Georg Ernst Stahl, Antoine Lavoisier, John Dalton. Fourth graders, studying modern times, learn basic physics and are introduced to the elements of computer science.
Grade 1 (and 5, 9): Life Science/Biology (Animals, Human Beings, Plants)
Grade 2 (and 6, 10): Earth Science and Astronomy
Grade 3 (and 7, 11): Chemistry
Grade 4 (and 8, 12): Physics
These are the years to explore. The foundation laid now has to do with basic facts, but also involves enthusiasm!
To organize your study, you'll need four science notebooks (one for each year), notebook paper, and art supplies. You'll be making notebook pages on the information you read and the observations you make.
Instead of using a single text for science, it is suggested that we use encyclopedia-type works or "spines" as guides, and supplement them with a number of different science books designed to make science clear and interesting for children. However, I'm looking into other curricula options and am reading various reviews. We want our children to have a strong foundation in science. I never liked science growing up, so I want to make it enjoyable and fun for our kids!
I'm interested in learning more about R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey and Nancy Larson Science. I want especially want our kids to be familiar with all the theories surrounding young earth, intelligent design, and evolution and be able to intelligently discuss them all. But it's extremely difficult to find a curriculum that teaches these things, and doesn't subscribe to one method! There are very few non-secular programs to choose from.
Grade 1 (and 5, 9): Life Science/Biology (Animals, Human Beings, Plants)
Grade 2 (and 6, 10): Earth Science and Astronomy
Grade 3 (and 7, 11): Chemistry
Grade 4 (and 8, 12): Physics
These are the years to explore. The foundation laid now has to do with basic facts, but also involves enthusiasm!
To organize your study, you'll need four science notebooks (one for each year), notebook paper, and art supplies. You'll be making notebook pages on the information you read and the observations you make.
Instead of using a single text for science, it is suggested that we use encyclopedia-type works or "spines" as guides, and supplement them with a number of different science books designed to make science clear and interesting for children. However, I'm looking into other curricula options and am reading various reviews. We want our children to have a strong foundation in science. I never liked science growing up, so I want to make it enjoyable and fun for our kids!
I'm interested in learning more about R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey and Nancy Larson Science. I want especially want our kids to be familiar with all the theories surrounding young earth, intelligent design, and evolution and be able to intelligently discuss them all. But it's extremely difficult to find a curriculum that teaches these things, and doesn't subscribe to one method! There are very few non-secular programs to choose from.
History and Geography
The classical approach to history is as a story. Start at the beginning, and continue onward. The goal of this curriculum is multicultural in the true sense of the word: the student learns the proper place of his community, state, and country by seeing the broad sweep of history from its beginning and then fitting his own time and place into that great landscape. The systematic study of history in the first four years lays the foundation for the logic stage, when the student will begin to understand the relationships between historical events.
World history is divided into four segments, one segment per year of study. In 1st-4th grades, the child will study history from 5000b.c. through the present day. In 5th-8th grades, he'll study it again, concentrating on cause and effect and chronological relationships. In grades 9-12, he'll repeat it yet again, this time studying original sources and writing thoughtful essays about them.
Grade 1 (and 5, 9): Ancients, 5000bc-400ad
Grade 2 (and 6, 10): Medieval - Early Renaissance, 400-1600
Grade 3 (and 7, 11): Late Renaissance - Early Modern, 1600-1850
Grade 4 (and 8, 12): Modern, 1850-present (Also plan to spend a few weeks studying the history of your own state)
To study history and geography, you'll need a 3", 3-ring notebook with lots of paper. Make 4 dividers for each of the 4 periods above (use this one notebook for 4 years). This notebook will contain the child's pictures, compositions, and narrations about history.We will need The Story of the World, and the Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia, geography resources (globe, maps), and a library card.
For each chapter in The Story of the World, we'll follow the same basic pattern.
1. Make a narration page about what we've just read. Put in notebook.
2. Ask the child to illustrate what he's just read, make a caption about it, or let him color a picture related to the story. Put in notebook.
3. Find the geographical area under discussion on a globe and wall-map, and color the appropriate black-line map. Put colored map in notebook.
4. Go to the library to find out more about the subject. (For the books the child reads on their own about the subject, remember to make a narration page for the Reading notebook 2-3 times a week.)
This process will take a week, ideally three days a week for an hour each day, or two days for a slightly longer period.
Consult the WTM for lists of important biographies to read, events to thoroughly go through, and lists to memorize.
Resources to purchase:
The Story of the World Vol. 1 by Susan Wise Bauer ~$8
The Story of the World Vol. 1 Activity Book (Activity books contain comprehension questions and answers, sample narrations, cross references to the Usborne and Kingfisher history encyclopedias, maps and map exercises, coloring pages, reading lists, history activities, and review cards.) ~$23
The Story of the World Vol. 2 ~$8
The Story of the World Vol. 2 Activity Book ~$22
The Story of the World Vol. 3 ~$9
The Story of the World Vol. 3 Activity Book ~$21
The Story of the World Vol. 4 ~$11
The Story of the World Vol. 4 Activity Book ~$22
The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History for grade 1 (In place of library visits, you cans use this encyclopedia to explore topics- the visual learner will enjoy looking at the pictures.) ~$10
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia as a ready reference ~$16
World history is divided into four segments, one segment per year of study. In 1st-4th grades, the child will study history from 5000b.c. through the present day. In 5th-8th grades, he'll study it again, concentrating on cause and effect and chronological relationships. In grades 9-12, he'll repeat it yet again, this time studying original sources and writing thoughtful essays about them.
Grade 1 (and 5, 9): Ancients, 5000bc-400ad
Grade 2 (and 6, 10): Medieval - Early Renaissance, 400-1600
Grade 3 (and 7, 11): Late Renaissance - Early Modern, 1600-1850
Grade 4 (and 8, 12): Modern, 1850-present (Also plan to spend a few weeks studying the history of your own state)
To study history and geography, you'll need a 3", 3-ring notebook with lots of paper. Make 4 dividers for each of the 4 periods above (use this one notebook for 4 years). This notebook will contain the child's pictures, compositions, and narrations about history.We will need The Story of the World, and the Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia, geography resources (globe, maps), and a library card.
For each chapter in The Story of the World, we'll follow the same basic pattern.
1. Make a narration page about what we've just read. Put in notebook.
2. Ask the child to illustrate what he's just read, make a caption about it, or let him color a picture related to the story. Put in notebook.
3. Find the geographical area under discussion on a globe and wall-map, and color the appropriate black-line map. Put colored map in notebook.
4. Go to the library to find out more about the subject. (For the books the child reads on their own about the subject, remember to make a narration page for the Reading notebook 2-3 times a week.)
This process will take a week, ideally three days a week for an hour each day, or two days for a slightly longer period.
Consult the WTM for lists of important biographies to read, events to thoroughly go through, and lists to memorize.
Resources to purchase:
The Story of the World Vol. 1 by Susan Wise Bauer ~$8
The Story of the World Vol. 1 Activity Book (Activity books contain comprehension questions and answers, sample narrations, cross references to the Usborne and Kingfisher history encyclopedias, maps and map exercises, coloring pages, reading lists, history activities, and review cards.) ~$23
The Story of the World Vol. 2 ~$8
The Story of the World Vol. 2 Activity Book ~$22
The Story of the World Vol. 3 ~$9
The Story of the World Vol. 3 Activity Book ~$21
The Story of the World Vol. 4 ~$11
The Story of the World Vol. 4 Activity Book ~$22
The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History for grade 1 (In place of library visits, you cans use this encyclopedia to explore topics- the visual learner will enjoy looking at the pictures.) ~$10
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia as a ready reference ~$16
Math
The first four years of elementary math lay the foundation for the high-level abstract thinking required by algebra, trigonometry, and calculus later on. Basic mathematics- the skills of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, the knowledge of basic geometrical shapes and patterns, the ability to think through word problems, a firm grasp of the relationships between numbers- as as vital to high-level mathematical achievement as an understanding of punctuation and sentence structure is to high-level language use.
The goal of early elementary math is to move the child from manipulating real objects to picturing those objects mentally. You achieve this through lots of practice with real objects. Therefore, manipulative use will be important during this time. You can't force a child to develop abstract thinking. Instead, lay the foundation for it with practice and much repetition, and the child will have a strong foundation on which to build those higher-order skills.
Resources we plan on using:
I am still reading through a lot of different curriculum reviews. It's hard to say what will work well for my child, as my daughter is still so young and has a lot of time to develop her own learning style. I would like to use Saxon math for older grades. It seems to be more suited for independent working at that age, but really difficult to teach for the lower grades. For the younger grades, I'm interested in either A Beka Math or Singapore Primary Math. They both have their pros and cons, and I'm glad I have some time to figure out what will be best.
The goal of early elementary math is to move the child from manipulating real objects to picturing those objects mentally. You achieve this through lots of practice with real objects. Therefore, manipulative use will be important during this time. You can't force a child to develop abstract thinking. Instead, lay the foundation for it with practice and much repetition, and the child will have a strong foundation on which to build those higher-order skills.
Resources we plan on using:
I am still reading through a lot of different curriculum reviews. It's hard to say what will work well for my child, as my daughter is still so young and has a lot of time to develop her own learning style. I would like to use Saxon math for older grades. It seems to be more suited for independent working at that age, but really difficult to teach for the lower grades. For the younger grades, I'm interested in either A Beka Math or Singapore Primary Math. They both have their pros and cons, and I'm glad I have some time to figure out what will be best.
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