Buying a curriculum or making a curriculum or choosing one or using one is a difficult task. When we started homeschooling we were school-at-homers. Slowly we relaxed and started learning through life and our everyday activities. That is great! Life is peppered with a myriad of library books over every subject imaginable, google searches and online videos, trips to museums and parks and lakes, activity kits for planting, painting, drawing and yes, boring cheapo math workbooks. The reason I’m making a plan again… as opposed to this fly by the seat of our pants approach (which works great, mind you) is for people I run into who ask questions like, “Yes, but, what do you do for school?” or a direct question to the kids, “What did you do in school this week?” These are well meaning people with well meaning questions.
Education has been delivered to so many, since generations past, as a separate experience from daily living but not here. We will continue to learn through our everyday experiences. Making pancakes, washing dishes, grocery shopping, planning birthday parties, building forts; all are learning opportunities that enrich and educate young and old alike. To satisfy the curiosity of those who suffered segregated learning I offer up this detailed, homemade plan for the education of my first grader.
This curriculum is inspired by Ambleside Online(CM), Waldorf Schools and Rebecca Rupp’s “Home Learning Year By Year.” Our year is not cut into nine equal parts; instead it changes as the seasons do, with a summer season, fall season, winter season and spring season. I have arranged the dates according to our regional weather. If I lived in Australia the dates would reflect the seasons there. Young children are excellent at seeing similarities and differences in season and everything else! Maybe you have experienced the astute observations of a young child in the middle of a bank line, “Mommy, why does that man ____?”
These observations are springboards for intuitive education, including manners and tact! One of our history/geography books this year, “Paddle To The Sea” starts with the first thaw of the year. To make the book more memorable and to tie it into his day to day life we plan to read it when the first thaw has just happened in our region. If I lived further North I would wait until later in the year. In addition to reading the book and watching the movie we’ll have art projects and other tie ins that bring the book to life. We’ll experience the book in the context of life!
An important point to notice is the gradual increase of structure at the beginning of the year. We don’t start all our subjects on day one and we don’t abandon our summer habits on day one either. We have a gradual transition that eases us into the school year. I would have done a daily planner but I find it to be self defeating. If, at the end of the day, I’ve not scratched off all my to do list I feel like I’ve failed… a curse of my perfectionist attitude. I really don’t see the point in setting myself up for that kind of stress. The weekly plan presented allows for a greater sense of accomplishment without the daily stress!
So without further delay… here is the plan!
Week 1 (8-17 to 21)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: My Fellow American’s: A Family Album by Alice Provenson
math : addition facts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to 12
Foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : name, address, phone, personal information
Science through art : mammalian characteristics drawing or painting my imaginary or favorite mammal
music : Orchestra : strings “Zin! Zin! A Violin” Lloyd Moss + Youtube
handicrafts : popcorn string bird feeder
Literature: Book(s) of choice from the library
Week 2 (8-24/28)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: My Fellow American’s: A Family Album by Alice Provenson
math : addition facts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 to 12
Foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : poem copy work
Science through art : play dough molding my imaginary mammal and classifying mammals/non-mammals
music : Orchestra : brass + Youtube “Meet The Orchestra” Ann Hayes
handicrafts : weaving: picnic placemats
Literature: Book(s) of choice from the library
Week 3 (8-31/9-4)
* * * * * pick out and order latch hook rug kit * * * * *
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: My Fellow American’s: A Family Album by Alice Provenson
math : addition facts 11 & 12, review addition facts 1 – 12 Wednesday Thursday and Friday
penmanship : tell me about your artwork
Foreign language : Spanish
Science through art : dependency of mammal babies, baby collage
music : Orchestra : woodwinds + Youtube “Story Of The Orchestra:” Robert Levine
handicrafts : making oatmeal soap balls (http://www.crafty-moms.com/oatmeal-soap-balls.shtml)
Literature: Blue Fairy Book: “Beauty and the Beast”
Week 4 (9-7/11)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: My Fellow American’s: A Family Album by Alice Provenson
math : addition word problems
Foreign Language : Spanish
penmanship : copy work Mercer Mayer
science through art : Little Critters The Bear Who Wouldn’t share… illustration + hibernation/ food stores/ migration
music : Orchestra : percussion + Youtube “The Orchestra” CD Peter Ustinov
handicrafts : rug kit
Literature: James Herriot’s Treasury: “Moses the Kitten”
Week 5 (9-14/18)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: My Fellow American’s: A Family Album by Alice Provenson
math : addition skip counting by 10 to 100 “From One to One Hundred” Teri Sloat
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : 100 math chart
science through art : sea mammals undersea scene (pastels)
music : whale song… use of echo (reverb) in modern music
handicrafts : rug kit
Literature: Just So Stories: “Whale”
Week 6 (9-21/25)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: My Fellow American’s: A Family Album by Alice Provenson
math : addition skip counting by 5 to 100 “The King’s Commissioner” Aileen Friedman
Foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : alphabet practice, caps and lowercase focus on proper size
science through art : primates, jungle scene (panorama?)
music : singing gibbons the way primates use voice to create song
handicrafts : rug kit
Literature: Blue Fairy Book: “Why the Sea is Salt”
Week 7 (9-28/10-2)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History : Viking Tales ch 1 to 5
math : addition skip counting by 2 to 100
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : birthday list
Science through art : quadrupeds, farm animal depiction… medium of choice
music : American folk songs Disney’s American Legend Movie (youtube)
handicrafts : rug kit
Literature: James Herriot’s Treasury: “Only One Woof” Shakespeare: “Midsummer Nights Dream”
————————————————————-Autumn weather begins————————————————————————
Week 8 (10-5/9)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History : Viking Tales 6 to 10
math : addition/subtract action reverse operations 1-6
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : Birthday invitation (just one, then we’ll make copies)
science through art : marsupials Australia map, satt image with animals maybe
music : Australian Aboriginal Music
handicrafts : rug kit
Literature: Just So Stories “Camel”
Week 9 (10-12/16)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: Viking Tales 11 to 15
math : addition/subtraction reverse operations 7-12
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : his own poem
science through art : mammalian fetal development, human fetal timeline
music : drumming, S African, Japanese, Native American, heartbeat echoed in music
handicrafts : rug kit
Literature: Just So Stories: “Rhino” Shakespeare: “The Tempest”
Week 10 (10-19/23)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History: Colombus by Inggri D’Aulaire
math : addition/subtraction reverse operation mixed
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : timeline labeling
Science through art : mammalian evolution primate evolution timeline
music : music of the 15th century (http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=primate%20singing&hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=tZE&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=music+of+the+fifteenth+century&hl=en&emb=0&client=firefox-a)
handicrafts : no sew felt blanket
Literature: Just So Stories: “Leopard” (removing racial slurs)
Week 11 (10-26/30)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History : Pocahontas, Ingri D’Aulaire; Edgar Pari
math : measurement, length in CM and inches, temp in F, cooking “How Big Is A Foot?” Rolf Myller
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : cooking recipe (copy work)
Science through art : mammals in our region: regional map, satt image? animals maybe
music : Native American Tribal Music
handicrafts : felt Halloween banner/flag
Literature: Just So Stories: “Elephant’s”
Week 12 (11-2/6)
A Child’s Garden of Verses: a poem every day
History : Richard of Jamestown: A story of the Virginia colony, James Otis
math : addition/subtraction reverse operation mixed
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : nature study book
science through art : my favorite mammals nature study book
music : modern music… what do you like? Why?
handicrafts : bookmaking
Literature: Just So Stories: “Kangaroo” Blue Fairy Book: “Prince Darling and Toads and Diamonds”
Week 13 (11-9/13)
Poetry: What Your KG Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : Mary of Plymouth: A story of the Pilgrim settlement, James Otis
math : skip counting by 2, 5 and 10 to 100
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : nature study book
science through art : my favorite mammals nature study book
music : Baroque monody music (popular throughout the 1600’s)
handicrafts : bookmaking
Literature: Just So Stories: “Armadillos” James Herriot’s Treasury: “Bonny’s Big Day” Blue Fairy Book: “The Glass Slipper”
Week 14 (11-16/20)
Poetry: What Your KG Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D’Aulairen D’ Aulaire
math : subtraction facts 12-12= to 7-0=
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : Christmas list
Science through art: Planets Stars and Galaxies Nat Geo
music : movie themes… using music to evoke emotions
handicrafts : paper cutting make our solar system
Literature: Just So Stories: “First Letter”
Week 15 (11-23/27)
Poetry: What Your KG Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : George Washington by Ingri D’Aulaire
math : subtraction facts 6-6= to 0-0
foreign language : Spanish
penmanship : planet names, star names, other space themed words
Science through art : Planets Stars and Galaxies
music : Music of the 20th century 1900 to 1920
handicrafts : paper cutting asteroids and comets
Literature: Just So Stories: “Alphabet” Blue Fairy Book: “Master Maid”
Week 16 (11-30/12-4)
Poetry: What Your KG Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History: Fifty Famous Stories Retold: “The Sword of Damocles” (Greek) “Damon and Pythias”; and “A Laconic Answer” (Greek) “The Brave Three Hundred” and “Alexander and Bucephelas”; and “Diogenes” (Greek)
math : place value to thousands
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : large letters/ small letters review
Science through art : Planets Stars and Galaxies
music : Music of the 20th century 1920 to 1940
handicrafts : paper cutting rocket and space ships, satellites
Literature : Just So Stories: “Crab” Shakespeare : “As You Like It”
Week 17 (12-7/11)
Poetry: What Your KG Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History: Fifty Famous Stories Retold: “The Story of Regulus” (Roman) “Cornelia’s Jewels” (Roman) “Horatius at the Bridge” (Roman) “Androcles and the Lion” (Roman) “Cincinnatus” (Roman)
math : more than less than up to 100. “100 Monsters In My School”
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : labeling space paper cuttings for panorama
Science through art : Planets Stars and Galaxies
music : Music of the 20th century 1940’s
handicrafts : using all the space paper cuttings to make a panorama
Literature: Just So Stories: “Cat”
—————————————————————-Winter Weather begins———————————————————————
Week 18 (1-4/8-2010)
Poetry: What Your KG Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history: Fifty Famous Stories Retold: “King Alfred and the Cakes” and “King Alfred and the Beggar”
math : more than less than up to 1000
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : thank you cards
Science: A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison: Young Inventor, Louis Sabin
music : Music of the 20th century 1950’s
Experiments : from science
Literature: Blue Fairy Book: “Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp”
Week 19 (1-11/15)
Poetry: What Your KG Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History: Fifty Famous Stories Retold: “The Story of William Tell” (Switzerland1300’s)”Arnold Winkelried” (1386)”Bruce and the Spider” (Britain, 1329) “The Black Douglas” (James Douglas, Britain, d 1330) “Whittington” (Britain, 1423)
math : tally/graphing 1) glasses to coffee cups to plastic cups 2) favorite cookies of family members “The Best Vacation Ever” Stuart J Murphy
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : Spanish label post it notes
science : A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison: Young Inventor, Louis Sabin
music : Music of the 20th century 1960’s
Experiments : from science
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Wolf and the Kid” “Tortoise and the Ducks” Shakespeare: “The Winter’s Tale”
Week 20 (1-18/22)
Poetry: What Your KG (and 1st grader) Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history : Fifty Famous Stories Retold: “Casablanca” (1500’s) “The Inchcape Rock” (1500’s) “Sir Philip Sidney” (1586) and “The Ungrateful Soldier”
math : simple two digit addition (no carrying)
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : favorite songs from the 70’s
science : A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison: Young Inventor, Louis Sabin
music : Music of the 20th century 1970’s
Experiments : from science
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Boy and the Filberts” “Hercules and the Wagoner” “The Kid and the Wolf” “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse”
Week 21 (1-25/29)
Poetry: What Your 1st grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : Fifty Famous Stories Retold: “George Washington and his Hatchet”; and “Doctor Goldsmith” (1774)
“Picciola” (1800’s)”How Napoleon Crossed the Alps” (1800’s)”Maximillian and the Gooseherd” (King of Bavaria, 1800’s)
math : simple two digit subtraction (no borrowing)
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : favorite songs from the eighty’s
science : Oil Spills- Ozone- Save The Rainforests
music : Music of the 20th century 1980’s
Experiments : from science
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Fox and the Grapes” “The Bundle of Sticks” “The Ass and his Driver” “The Oxen and the Wheels” James Herriot’s Treasury: “Blossom Comes Home”
Week 22 (2-1/5)
Poetry: What Your 1st grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : Fifty Famous Stories Retold: “Antonio Canova” (1822)”Grace Darling” (1842) “The Kingdoms” (Frederick William, King of Prussia)
math : mixed simple two digit addition and subtraction
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship: favorite songs from the ninety’s
science through art : Solids Liquids Gases- Charnan Simon, What’s smaller than a Pygmy Shrew?- Robert W Wells
music : Music of the 20th century 1990’s
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Lion and the Mouse” (pg. 19 ) and “The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf” (pg. 20 ) “The Gnat and the Bull” (pg. 21) and “The Plane Tree” (pg. 21)
Week 23 (2-8/12)
Poetry: What Your 1st grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : Geography from A to Z Jack Knowlton
math : addition of two digit numbers with carrying
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : favorite music bands of the past 9 years
science through art : Experiments with Magnets – Tocci
music : Music of the 21st century 2000 to now!
handicrafts : map making
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Farmer and the Stork” “The Sheep and the Pig” “The Travelers and the Purse” “The Lion and the Ass”
Week 24 (2-15/19)
Poetry: What Your 1st grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history : Maps and Globes Jack Knowlton
math : addition of two digit numbers with carrying
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : map labeling
Science through art : Experiments With Electricity – Tocci
music : Jazz
handicrafts : mapmaking
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Frogs who Wished for a King” “The Oak and the Reeds” “The Boys and the Frogs” “The Crow and the Pitcher” James Herriot’s Treasury: “The Market Square Dog”
Week 25 (2-22/26)
Poetry: What Your 2nd grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history : Me On The Map Joan Sweeney
math : subtraction of two digit numbers with borrowing
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : retelling the ants and the grasshopper
Science through art : Everybody’s Somebody’s Lunch- Jcherie Mason and Judy Kellogg Markowsky
music : Blues
handicrafts : map making
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Ants and the Grasshopper” “The Ass Carrying the Image”
Week 26 (3-1/5)
Poetry: What Your 2nd grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : Small Wolf – Benchley
math : addition/subtraction of two digit numbers with carrying/borrowing
Foreign language : Spanish
Penmanship : copy work poem
Science through art : Benny’s Animals and How He Put Them In Order- Millicent Selsam
music : Rock
gardening : starting seeds
Aesop’s Fables: “The Ass and the Load of Salt” “The Lion and the Gnat” “The Leap at Rhodes” “The Wild Boar and the Fox” Blue Fairy Book: “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”
———————————————————–Spring weather begins—————————————————————————
Week 27 (3-8/12)
Poetry: What Your 2nd grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history : Paddle to the Sea: (http://www.nighttrainfilms.net/NTFWEB/NTFPages/PaddleToTheSea/TitlePage.html)
math : money identification and addition : Alexander , Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday- Judith Viorst
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : What makes me laugh? + grammar : A is for Angry- Sandra Boynton
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : new wave
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Ass, the Fox and the Lion” “The Birds, the Beasts and the Bat” “The Lion, the Bear and the Fox” “The Hares and the Frogs”
Week 28 (3-15/19)
Poetry: What Your 2nd grader (& 3rd) Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : Paddle to the Sea
math : money identification and subtraction: The Go Around Dollar by Barbara Adams
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : When I’m ten years old + grammar: Kites Sail High- Ruth Heller
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : Electronica
gardening
Literature : Aesop’s Fables: “The Fox and the Stork” “The Travelers and the Sea” “The Stag and his Reflection“ “The Peacock” James Herriot’s Treasury: “Oscar, Cat-About-Town”
Week 29 (3-22/26)
Poetry: What Your 3rd grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history : Paddle to the Sea
math : mixed addition subtraction with money
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : If I was a superhero. . . + grammar: Many Luscious Lollipops- Ruth Heller
Science through art :Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : classical
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Mice and the Weasels” “The Wolf and the Lean Dog” “The Vain Jackdaw and his Borrowed Feathers” “The Monkey and the Cat” Shakespeare: “King Lear”
Week 30 (3-29/4-2)
Poetry: What Your 3rd grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history : Paddle to the Sea
math : basic budgeting… saving for a goal
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : One time I rode on a . . . + grammar: Merry Go Round- Ruth Heller
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : folk
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Dogs and the Hides” “The Bear and the Bees” “The Fox and the Leopard” “The Heron”
Week 31 (4-5/9)
* * * * * Start saving Snapple Bottles * * * * *
Poetry: What Your 3rd (and 4th) grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
history : Paddle to the Sea
math : basic budgeting… addition money word problems
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : When I went to the zoo. . . + grammar: Slither Swoop Swing- Alex Ayliffe
Science through art :Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : country
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Fox and the Goat” “The Cat, the Cock and the Young Mouse” “The Wolf and The Shepherd” “The Farmer and His Sons” Blue Fairy Book: “The Forty Thieves”
Week 32 (4-12/16)
Poetry: What Your 4th grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
History : finish Paddle to the Sea view you tube video parts 1,2 & 3
math : basic budgeting… subtraction money word problems
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : I know a lot about . . . + grammar The King Who Rained- Fred Gwynne
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : A cappella – barbershop
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Goose and the Golden Egg” “The Astrologer” “Three Bullocks and a Lion” “Mercury and the Woodman”
Week 33 (4-19/23)
Poetry: What Your 3rd grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
math : basic budgeting… addition and subtraction money word problems
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : My favorite foods.
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : funk and disco
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” “The Milkmaid and her Pail” “The Goatherd and the Goat” “The Wolf and the Housedog” James Herriot’s Treasury: “Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb”
Week 34 (4-26/30)
Poetry: What Your 3rd grader Needs To Know ED Hirsch (poem every day)
math : review of addition facts 1 to 12
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : If I was a knight . . .
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : playing music – - – Snapple bottle (http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/shockwave/jar.html)
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Quack Toad” “The Cat and the Fox” “Two Travelers and a Bear” “The Dog and His Reflection” Shakespeare: “Twelfth Night; Or, “What You Will”
Week 35 (4-26/30)
101 Famous Poems: The Rhodore p6, The Night Has 1000 Eyes p8, Oh Cap’t My Cap’t p12, The Daffodills p16, Trees p39
math review of subtraction facts 12 to 1
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : I’m happy when. . .
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : reading music, treble scale and playing on xylophone
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Lions Share” “The North Wind and the Sun” “The Hare and the Tortoise” “The Fox and the Crow”
Week 36 (5-3/7)
101 Famous Poems: America For Me p50, The Duel p56, The Children’s Hour p94, Sea Fever p96, Keep A-goin p135
math : year in review mixed worksheets
Foreign language : Spanish
Journaling : This summer I want to. . .
Science through art : Earthways by Carol Petrash
music : reading music, treble scale and playing on xylophone
gardening
Literature: Aesop’s Fables: “The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle” “The Ass in the Lion’s Skin” “The Bees, and Wasps and the Hornet” Blue Fairy Book: “White Cat”
Throughout this post I have called this a plan and that’s what it is. The above is not etched in stone. These are like leaves dancing in a streams reflection. Subject to ripple and shimmer as needed!
Ho hum…
The
I really like music with a political edge and this one is a defiant cry against the recently closed presidential reign. The official video is great too. You can watch it at 
He read, read, and re-read, “The Mighty 12 Superheros of Greek Myth” by Charles R Smith Jr and P Craig Russell. The prose is written like the “Iliad” and the illustrations are like comic books. He really has enjoyed the book. So much so, that I think a copy of it lies in our future. Heeheehee… He also buzzed through “Fred and Ted Go Camping” by Peter Eastman and “I want to Be Somebody New” by Robert Lopshire; the sequel to “Put me in the Zoo!”
She made these two, day before yesterday, for the kitchen. They are titled, Cozy and Cooking, respectively.
