Our 2016-17 Curriculum

Because of our big country-to-country, across-the-Atlantic move last summer, I never did get around to posting our curriculum for this school year!  To make this quick and easy, I'm going to briefly list what each child is using on this one post.

3rd Grade

1.  Bible:  Wisdom With the Millers (book and activity book)--studying the book of Proverbs
2.  Reading:  Doors to Discovery
3.  Seatwork:  Spectrum Test Practice, Grade 3
4.  Math:  Primary Mathematics 3 (Singapore)
5.  Storytime:  We're doing lapbooks along with each of the following books (I stopped lapbooks after grade 3 because they were too much work; however, each of the kids has wanted to do them, so I'm back to lapbooks again!):

• Abraham Lincoln (Anne Colver)
• Stone Fox (John Reynolds Gardiner)
• Door in the Wall (Marguerite de Angeli)
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)
• Key to the Treasure (Peggy Parish)
• Horse Heroes: True Stories of Amazing Horses (Kate Petty)
• Mr. Popper's Penguins (Richard Atwater)
• Justin Morgan Had a Horse (Marguerite Henry)
• The Apple and the Arrow (Conrad Buff)

6.  Language:  Language Lessons for the Elementary Child, Volumes 1 and 2 (we're finishing Volume 1 from last year)

7.  Spelling:  All About Spelling, Level 3

8.  Science:  Christian Kids Explore Earth & Space (unfortunately for my sanity, we do lapbooks for each science unit, too!  At least this is my last year doing lapbooks.)

9.  History:  The Story of the World, Volume 2: The Middle Ages (we use the CDs, the activity book, and other supplements)

10.  Geography:  I make my own geography units.  This year, we are studying the following countries:

• United Kingdom (sad that we moved from the UK just before starting this one)
• Saudi Arabia
• France
• Norway
• New Zealand
• Australia
• Netherlands
• Japan
• Russia
• Spain
• Mexico
• Germany

11.  Extracurricular:  We do these as we have time:

• Art
• Spanish--Teach Them Spanish 1
• Music--Singing Made Easy and piano
• P.E.--Right now, we're making use of our small town's basketball and tennis courts
• Health--Heath, Safety & Manners 3 (A Beka)

7th Grade

1.  History:  British History (I made my own course using a number of books--click link to view)
2.  Reading:  She's reading the following books and doing book reports on them:

• George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans (Benge)
• Swiss Holiday (Yates)
• The Bronze Bow (Speare)
• Watership Down (Adamas)
• The Windy Hill (Meigs)
• The Hound of the Baskersville (Doyle)
• Tales of the Greek Heroes (Green)
• Full Steam Ahead: The Race to Build a Transcontinental Railroad (Blumberg)
• Stories of Don Quixote Written Anew for Children (Baldwin)
• Old Yeller (Gipson)

3.  Math:  Teaching Textbooks 7

4.  Bible:  Explorers Bible Study Quest: Faith at Work

5.  Science:  Interactive Science: Earth Science

6.  Language:  Easy Grammar 6 and Easy Grammar Plus (finishing last year's first)

7.  Spelling:  All About Spelling, Level 7

8.  Extracurricular:  P.E., Typing (Typing Instructor), Ancient Music and Ancient Art (Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool), and guitar (instruction from her grandma)

10th Grade

*Coming Soon*

Isaac's 7th Grade Reading Log

This is a post mostly for my own records. However, it may also be a good place for someone to find book ideas for pre-teen boys! This will be a running log of the books Isaac reads this school year. The list includes books I require him to read for school as well as books he chooses to read on his own (they must be chapter books to qualify). I'll mark the required books with an * in case you're wondering which I required for school and which he chose himself! If you'd like to see what books Isaac read in past years, click the links for 4th, 5th, 6th.

*Books required for school

1. George Müller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans (Janet & Geoff Benge)*
2. Beowulf (retold, Michael Morpurgo)
3. Beric the Briton (G.A. Henty)*
4. Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
5. Swiss Holiday (Elizabeth Yates)*
6. Escape from the Island of Aquarius (Frank E. Peretti)
7. In the Days of Alfred the Great (Eva March Tappan)*
8. Point Blanc (Anthony Horowitz) Read 2x
9. The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
10. The Bronze Bow (Elizabeth George Speare)*
11. Skeleton Key (Anthony Horowitz) Read 2x
12. In Freedom's Cause (G.A. Henty)*
13. Watership Down (Richard Adams)*
14. Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
15. Young Reader's Christian Library: In His Steps (Charles M. Sheldon/retold by Dan Larsen)
16. The Wool-Pack (Cynthia Harnett)*
17. The Windy Hill (Cornelia Meigs)*
18. The Hound of the Baskervilles (Arthur Conan Doyle)*
19. The Jinx of Payrock Canyon (Troy Nesbit)
20. The Adventures of Robin Hood (Roger Lancelyn Green)*
21. Stormbreaker (Anthony Horowitz)
22. The Golden Key and Other Stories (George MacDonald)*
23. Young Reader's Christian Library: Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe/retold by Dan Larsen)
24. The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day (Scott O'Dell)*
25. The Children of the New Forest (Captain Marryat)*
26. Isaac Newton: Inventor, Scientist, and Teacher (John Hudson Tiner)*
27. Full Steam Ahead: The Race to Build a Transcontinental Railroad (Rhoda Blumberg)*
28. The Door in the Dragon's Throat (Frank E. Peretti)
29. Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred (Frank E. Peretti)
30. Trapped at the Bottom of the Sea (Frank E. Peretti)
31. The Tombs of Anak (Frank E. Peretti)
32. Stories of Don Quixote (James Baldwin)*
33. The Ghost of Grania O'Malley (Michael Morpurgo)
34. Scorpia Rising (Anthony Horowitz)
35. Wulf the Saxon (G.A. Henty)*
36. War Horse (Michael Morpurgo)*
37. Snakehead (Anthony Horowitz)
38. Old Yeller (Fred Gipson)*
39. Twist of Gold (Michael Morpurgo)
40. Theodore Boone: The Abduction (John Grisham)
41. William Booth: Soup, Soap, and Salvation (Janet & Geoff Benge)*
42. Ark Angel (Anthony Horowitz)
43. Boyhood and Beyond (Bob Schultz)*

Summer Holiday Reading:
1. Crocodile Tears (Anthony Horowitz)
2. Eagle Strike (Anthony Horowitz)
3. Theodore Boone (John Grisham)
4. Theodore Boone: The Accused (John Grisham)
5. Spy Stories for Boys (Hamlyn, publisher)
6. Scorpia (Anthony Horowitz)
7. Bartlett and the Ice Voyage (Odo Hirsch)
8. Minn of the Mississippi (Holling Clancy Holling)
9. Seabird (Holling Clancy Holling)
10. The Adventures of King Midas (Lynne Reid Banks)
11. Paddington Marches On (Michael Bond)
12. Paddington Abroad (Michael Bond)
13. Paddington Takes the Test (Michael Bond)
14. Scorpia Rising (Anthony Horowitz)--2nd reading

British History Finalized

I finally finished my lesson plans for 7th grade British history.  I would like to thank SarahElisabeth from delivering grace for pointing me to a free British history outline (written by Kathryn Faulkner and obtained through the Sonlight UK yahoo group).  That outline, which is loosely based on the style of the Sonlight curriculum, was a tremendous help to me in planning.  I am using some of the suggested resources for our British history, but not all. 

My lessons plans are 14 pages, typed, so I’ll stick with just listing the resources I’m using.  This course will be using a British encyclopedia, an old textbook, and a story-based British history (audio).  I’m supplementing this with other books and a few special assignments.  In elementary school, my son rarely took tests, except for spelling and math.  This year, because I’d like him to get used to studying and taking tests, I am working on writing simple study guides and quizzes for each history unit.

So, here are our resources for British history.  This list has been expanded from the list I included in my 7th Grade Curriculum, Revised post.  Five of the books listed are books I have not read yet, but I’m fairly sure they’ll be okay.  That will probably make up my personal reading material for the next month anyway.

Main sources

“Introduction to British History” outline (Kathryn Faulkner)—Sonlight UK Yahoo group

British History Encyclopedia (Nicola Barber and Andy Langley)

Hamlyn Children’s History of Britain (Neil Grant)—This is an older textbook I found at a charity shop.  It is a very secular textbook, which is not really surprising.  There are a handful of objectionable statements which I will skip.  The large section on Darwin I found to be full of inaccurate and unfair statements (definitely not tolerant of other viewpoints). However, I found most of the material to be alright.

Our Island Story (LibriVox)

Supplements

History of Britain: Roman Britain (Brenda Williams)

Castle (David Macaulay)

Cross-Sections: Castle (Stephen Biesty)

Great British Speeches (Simon Heffer)—We’re not reading this book in its entirety.  I’ve picked out a handful of short speeches for Isaac to read and for us to discuss.  This includes individuals such as Elizabeth I, Charles I, William Wilberforce, Churchill, and more.

Animated Hero Classics: Joan of Arc (DVD)

Animated Hero Classics: Florence Nightingale (DVD)

Making Merrye (Medieval Music CD)

The Pastons in Medieval Britain (Martyn Whittock, ed.)—This book is a collection of real letters, written during the Middle Ages.

Tudors & Stuarts (Usborne)

Tales of Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb)—Online

Brain Box: British History game—To be used throughout the year for review

A Charles Dickens movie (A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, or David Copperfield)

War Boy: A Wartime Childhood (Michael Foreman)

Novels/Biographies

Beric the Briton (G.A. Henty)—Gutenberg Project

In the Days of Alfred the Great (Eva March Tappan)—Kindle

Wulf the Saxon (G.A. Henty)—Gutenberg Project

In Freedom’s Cause (G.A. Henty)

The Wool-Pack (Cynthia Harnett)

The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day (Scott O’Dell)

Children of the New Forest (Captain Marryat)

Isaac Newton: Inventor, Scientist, and Teacher (John Hudson Tiner)

Bonnie Prince Charlie (G.A. Henty)

William Wilberforce: The Freedom Fighter (Derick Bingham)--Kindle

William Booth: Soup, Soap, and Salvation (Janet Benge)--Kindle

War Horse (Michael Morpurgo)

Isaac will also be reading a biography of George Muller, but it’s for his biography unit in reading, not necessarily part of our history lessons.

Here are the units we are covering (the first and last units are very short):

1.  Ancient Britain (Stone Age through Celtic)

2.  Roman Britain

3.  Anglo-Saxon Britain

4.  Norman Britain

5.  Medieval Britain

6.  Tudor England

7.  The Stuarts

8.  Georgian Britain

9.  Victorian Britain

10.  Edwardian Britain & World Wars

11.  Modern Britain

I also have a large number of field trip ideas listed (over 50 locations).  Whether we get to take all of these trips depends largely on finances.  At least I can jot down the ideas and dream, right?  It does help that we’re studying British history while living in Britain.  Actually, we’ll be taking one of these field trips this month, as it’s the only time we’ll be near the location.  I’ll tell you all about it when we get back!

I'm linking this post to "History and Geography" at All Things Beautiful.

7th Grade Curriculum, Revised

Okay, I have all of next year’s curriculum purchased for Isaac.  I did make some changes from what I listed in my original POST.  So, here are the final choices:

1.  History:  British History

Main sources

British History Encyclopedia (Nicola Barber and Andy Langley)

Hamlyn Children’s History of Britain (Neil Grant)

Our Island Story (via LibriVox)

Supplements

Tudors & Stuarts (Usborne)

The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day (Scott O’Dell)

In Freedom’s Cause (G.A. Henty)

Bonnie Prince Charlie (G.A. Henty)

In the Days of Alfred the Great (Eva March Tappan)

William Wilberforce: The Freedom Fighter (Derick Bingham)

William Booth: Soup, Soap, and Salvation (Janet Benge)

Isaac Newton: Inventor, Scientist, and Teacher (John Hudson Tiner)

Brain Box: British History game

Monarchs card game

Great British Speeches (Simon Heffer)

2.  Bible: Christian Growth & Logic

Boyhood and Beyond (Schultz)—1 day a week with dad

Dig Deep (9-week study of Proverbs) (Powell)—3 days

The Fallacy Detective (Bluedorn)—1 day a week

3.  Science: Earth Science

Interactive Science: Earth Science (Pearson, pub.)

This was my big change, but I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for Isaac.  My dad, a retired high school science teacher with a doctor’s degree in geology (and he’s also a college professor), has agreed to do Isaac’s science this year via the internet (since we live an ocean apart).  We selected Interactive Science together, and I’m pleased with the choice.  It is not a Christian program, but my dad is a Christian AND an expert in the field of earth science, so he’ll know how to teach the material.  He has taught junior high as well as high school, so I’m confident this will work well.  He is getting a book for himself and one for Isaac so he can give assignments, lab directions, and occasional lectures/explanations via Skype.  In fact, he’s already making PowerPoint presentations to go with it.  I think it will be neat for Isaac to have a partly online  science course from his very own grandpa!

4.  Math

Life of Fred: Decimals and Percents

Life of Fred: Elementary Physics

I’ll be supplementing these with math games, worksheets, and math apps, in order to completely master his math facts and to give practice on the material he’s learning, so that he’ll be completely prepared for Pre-Algebra.

5.  Reading

Drawn Into the Heart of Reading (Heart of Dakota)—I’ll be using this book some of the time, but I’m also going to have him write book reports and reviews.

Biography: George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans (Benge)

Adventure: Swiss Holiday (Yates)

Historical Fiction: The Bronze Bow (Speare)

Fantasy: Watership Down (Adams)

Mystery: The Windy Hill (Cornelia Meigs) AND The Hound of the Baskervilles (Arthur Conan Doyle)

Folk Tales: The Adventures of Robin Hood (Green) AND The Golden Key and Other Stories (MacDonald)

Nonfiction: Full Steam Ahead: The Race to Build a Transcontinental Railroad (Blumberg)

Humor: Stories of Don Quixote Written Anew for Children (Baldwin)

Realistic Fiction: Old Yeller (Fred Gipson)

6.  Language 1 (Grammar/Writing)

Easy Grammar Plus

Daily Grams 7

Wordsmith

7.  Language 2 (Spelling/Vocabulary)

All About Spelling 6-7

Vocabulary Cartoons

8. Extracurricular

P.E. (2x/week): Family Time Fitness along with an out-of-home sport (swimming and/or soccer)

Music:  Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s Music--Ancient

Art:  Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s Art—Ancient

Technology:  Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s Computer along with Typing Instructor

7th Grade Curriculum Choices…for Now

Yes, it’s that time of year when I am (once again) researching for next school year!  Actually, I’ve been researching since last year…  Anyway, I have come up with a preliminary plan for Isaac’s 7th grade year, and it helps me to have it down on my blog, nice and neat, so I can see it and make appropriate changes as the year progresses.  Here’s what I have so far:

1.  History—I had planned to do American History in junior high (split into 2 sections).  However, the thought hit me that we had never done a full British history.  We live in England.  We really OUGHT to do some British history while we’re here.  Yes, we have had some British history included in our 4-year cycle of world history, but we haven’t focused on it by itself.  So, unable to decide for sure, I finally asked Isaac what he would like to do.  He decided on British history, so that’s what we’re doing! 

I’m in the process of putting this course together myself.  While researching, I did find 3 good British history courses, but two of them are more of a high school level, and the other one is a 4-year program, which is not what I’m looking for.  So, I’m pulling from all kinds of sources, including quite a lot of literature, to put this together.  It’s a work in progress, so please do let me know if you have any suggestions.  It will be a full ancient to modern history (if that’s possible)…I hope.  We’ll see.  Here’s list of book ideas I have so far, and I don’t yet have all of these in my house, so my list might change.

NOTE:  All my British history book links are for Amazon.uk, just for your information.

Main sources:  My 2 main sources are books I already own, so I decided to use them, along with other supplemental material, instead of searching for a “perfect” textbook.  I’ll use what I can and skip anything I don’t care for.  Both books adequately cover British history.

British History Encyclopedia (Nicola Barber and Andy Langley)

Hamlyn Children’s History of Britain (Neil Grant)

Our Island Story (via LibriVox)

History of Britain: Roman Britain (Brenda Williams)

Tudors & Stuarts (Usborne)

Biographies:  I’m considering George Muller, Isaac Newton, William Booth, William Wilberforce, William Tyndale, and Eric Liddell

Historical Fiction:  The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day (Scott O’Dell), In Freedom’s Cause (G.A. Henty), Bonnie Prince Charlie (G.A. Henty), and some others I’m looking at on Project Gutenburg.  I’m open to suggestions. 

Other resources:

Brain Box: British History game

Tales from Shakespeare (Lamb)

Monarchs card game

Great British Speeches (Simon Heffer)

A selection of British poetry and literature

I’ll probably head to the local library as well. This British history planning may well turn into another post!

2.  Bible: Christian Growth & Logic

Boyhood and Beyond (Schultz)

Dig Deep (9-week study of Proverbs) (Powell)

The Fallacy Detective (Bluedorn)

3.  Science: Health & General Science

This could possibly change.  I really want a General Science but NOT Apologia (it’s looks too overwhelming for my son who hates math).  Any thoughts (even on Apologia)?  The Great Science Adventures mentioned below have several topics, and Isaac chose those 3 himself.

What is God’s Design for My Body? (Horner)

Passport2Purity Weekend Retreat Kit

Great Science Adventures: The World of Space

Great Science Adventures: The World of Insects and Arachnids

Great Science Adventures: The World of Tools and Technology

4.  Math:  As of right now, I’m planning on leaving Teaching Textbooks behind after this year.  The main reason in the price—I still love the program.  We are currently using Life of Fred: Fractions alongside TT, and we like it, too, so that’s what I will continue with next year. 

Life of Fred: Decimals and Percents

Life of Fred: Elementary Physics

5.  Reading

Drawn Into the Heart of Reading (Heart of Dakota)—The literature selections below COULD possibly change.

Biography: George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans (Benge)

Adventure: Swiss Holiday (Yates)

Historical Fiction: The Bronze Bow (Speare)

Fantasy: Watership Down (Adams)

Mystery: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Doyle)

Folk Tales: The Adventures of Robin Hood (Green) and/or The Golden Key and Other Stories (MacDonald)

Nonfiction: Full Steam Ahead: The Race to Build a Transcontinental Railroad (Blumberg)

Humor: Stories of Don Quixote Written Anew for Children (Baldwin)

Realistic Fiction: We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea (Ransome)

6.  Language Arts (Grammar/Writing)

Easy Grammar Plus

Daily Grams 7

Wordsmith

7.  Word Power (Spelling/Vocabulary)

All About Spelling 6-7

Vocabulary Cartoons

8. Extracurricular

P.E. (2x/week): Family Time Fitness along with an out-of-home sport (swimming and/or soccer)

Music lessons: Guitar or drums IF I can talk someone into giving the lessons for little cost or free; otherwise, he’ll be stuck with piano lessons given by Mom. 

I may also do some Music Appreciation, using Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool.  The current choices are Ancient through Renaissance and Modern Music.  There is also an Early American Music course, but she doesn’t recommend using it until September so she can edit and fix anything on it—that particular course includes European composers from the same time period.  The courses appear to be workable for any grade level.

Art Appreciation & Related Art: As of right now, I may try out Easy Peasy’s Modern Art for Level M as it looks closest to what I’m looking for and is completely free!

Technology:  Computer (Easy Peasy, Grade 7) along with Typing (Typing Instructor)

That’s what I have so far.  Believe it or not, I am already looking for 8th grade and beyond!