The emails I’ve received have all been similar in the basic four questions I tend to be asked.

1. How do you choose what you study each year?
2. How do you plan your units?
3. Is there any sort of curriculum you follow?
4. How do you not overload?

I’ll take a few minutes to try to answer these questions in a way that makes sense.  (Planning is a very personal thing, so I have a hard time articulating how I plan sometimes.)

How do you choose what to study each year?

Our unit studies typically revolve around history and science.  Although I consider myself a Charlotte Mason style homeschooler, I follow the Classical model of a four-year cycle in the areas of history and science.  Basically, that means every four years we will be covering similar topics with the depth of understanding and expectations growing each time around.  Here’s the plan I’ve followed from the beginning:

• Year 1 – Ancient History / Biology
• Year 2 – Medieval History / Earth & Space Sciences
• Year 3 – Early American History / Chemistry
• Year 4 – Modern American History / Physics

Of course, I don’t limit myself to only doing these units or studies each year.  I do make sure each of these are covered in their appropriate year, though.  I also include nature study (biology) each and every year.

I used to follow The Well-Trained Mind’s plan of history three days a week and science two.  For me, this seemed to drag each study out way too long.  I opted to create my own units to cover the history and science concepts in blocks of time and I haven’t turned back.  (With the exception of chemistry last year.  We did chemistry a couple times a week while history units were done in chunks of time.)

My children and I really like delving into a particular history or science subject.  We’re able to check out all sorts of library books, books on tape and videos that go with the theme.  We’re able to include whatever math, language arts or other subjects that might fit with the unit.  We don’t have to stop learning about something just because we’ve already done history three times in the week.  And, we’re able to end the unit and move onto something else when we’ve soaked in all we can handle.

How do you plan your units?

I always start by gathering information and supplies.  For instance, if I’m going to do a unit on Slavery in America, I’ll start by going through all my files, curriculum guides and bookshelves to see what I already have by way of ideas and resources.   Oh, and I’ll also check my computer files for e-books and other resources I’ve stashed away.

I think I need to stop here and remind you that I keep fairly organized files, shelves and computer files, so the initial gathering of materials doesn’t take long at all.  All my resource books for history are placed in chronological order on a bookshelf.  I also keep file folders on various topics.  As I come across a great idea that I don’t want to forget, I copy it or tear it out from a magazine and file it in the appropriate folder.  You can get a glimpse of my file cabinet here.  I also keep history related literature together on a bookshelf so they are easy to find as well.  And, I suppose you might like to know that I have a folder on my computer for each academic area, so I can stash e-books in an organized way.

If I don’t have many resources on my shelves already, I’ll go to the internet next and type in searches for free units based on the topic I’m planning.  This will usually lead me to more information than I care to have, so I limit internet searching as much as possible.  From my resources, I start a list of important topics I feel need to be covered.  I simply jot them down in a notebook.  As I make topic notes, I’ll also jot down great activity ideas or literature suggestions I run across from the resources.

All of this eventually fleshes out into a full unit!  I NEVER get to all the activities that are jotted down in the initial planning.  As the unit progresses, I pick and choose what will work best based on how my children are responding to the study.

I might note here that during the planning stage, I almost always pick out one or two pieces of living literature for my children to read during the unit.  Plus one or two that I will read aloud and/or we’ll listen to on tape/CD.  All of our units rely heavily on living literature!

Either as I’m planning the unit or as we come to the end of it, I’ll be thinking about final projects.  You can read more about our projects here.

(I know this seems confusing.  I’m trying to write it clearly, but it would be so much easier for me to have you over for some tea and cookies and just show you this process.  It really isn’t as hard as it looks!)

Is there any sort of curriculum you follow?

When we’re talking about unit studies, the answer is yes and no.  If I come across a really great curriculum guide or library book with most of my topics covered, I’ll often make that my “spine”.  In other words, I will use that book for the majority of our studies, but I never hesitate to add or take away from that book.  An example of this would be using a prepared lapbook unit.  That lapbook unit will provide much of the material for our unit.  If I come across a hands-on idea that seems like it will help the children understand something better than the particular lapbook activity, I’ll ditch the lapbook activity and do the hands-on idea instead.

I have used in the past, and probably will use in the future, some really good curriculum for my unit studies.  I just rarely use them “as is”.  In other words, I use them in ways that meet our family’s needs rather than how I’m “supposed” to.  Some examples of great unit study type curriculum would be Story of the World, Mystery of History, prepared lapbooks from any company, Apologia Elementary Science, Considering God’s Creation, Diana Waring elementary materials, and Beautiful Feet units.  I’ve never used any of these “as is”, but they have each been great “spines” at one time or another.

How do you not overload?

Well, this question could actually have two meanings: How do I not overload myself as I go about planning and preparing units? AND How do I make sure not to overload my children with the unit?

1. How do I not overload myself as I go about planning and preparing units?  I’ve been doing this a long time.  In the beginning, I did overload myself.  I spent WAY too much time planning, preparing, scouring the internet, searching the library, etc.  Overplanning will burn you out on preparing your own units faster than anything else!

My best tips are:

• Don’t plan too many units per year. (I only plan approximately six per year.)
• Use a good spine like a prepared hands-on curriculum and tweak it to fit your needs.
• Don’t try to pull in too many resources for ideas.
• Try to get as much planning done as possible during school breaks.  (I get the basic planning done for all units over summer break.)
• Don’t try to teach everything about a subject and don’t try to do every wonderful activity you come across.
• Keep units shorter, rather than dragging them out too long.

2. How do I make sure not to overload my children with a unit?  Oh, I have!  And, believe me, I knew it!  When you’ve planned too much or the unit has gone far too long, your children will not hesitate to let you know they’re tired of the subject. 

I’ve tried to keep my units shorter and save project time for the rabbit trails that interest my children most.  This way they get the basics, while delving deeper into parts of the unit that are most meaningful to them.  We all win that way!

Please feel free to ask questions!  I’m sure I haven’t covered everything.

Update:  You can find answers to several questions from this post by visiting Unit Study Questions Answered.

We took the opportunity on the way home to take a three day I-65 mini-vacation.  First stop, Birmingham.  We visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which is a wonderful walk through the Civil Rights battles of the 20th century.  Photos weren’t allowed in the museum, so I don’t have any to post.  You’ll have to trust me that it’s an excellent field trip if you’re ever near Birmingham!  We also walked through the Kelly Ingram Park just across the street from the museum and viewed the outside of the 16th Street Baptist Church where four children were killed during a violent bombing by the KKK in 1963.  Unfortunately, we also had the opportunity to view several homeless people in the area, too.

Second stop, Huntsville.  I can’t tell you how much all of us from the two-year-old to the 39-year-old enjoyed the US Space and Rocket Center!  Real rockets, hands-on exhibits, life-size models, demonstrations, 3-D and IMax films, three rides, a playground, a rock climbing wall and more kept our attention from open to close.  This is a trip my children will talk about for quite some time!

Third and final stop, Franklin, TN.  It’s a beautiful little town with lots of character!  I wish we could’ve spent more time touring and meandering, but a Civil War reenactment was taking place at the Carnton Plantation and that took up most of our day.   Plus, the troops were beginning to wear down and we knew too much more touring and hotel hopping would send them (and us) into grump city – a place we didn’t want to visit!

Sorry for the picture-intensive post.  I hope it didn’t slow down your computer too much!

Our farm has a rich 1800′s history.  And considering the arrowheads we find occasionally, probably a lot of prior history as well.

I’ve told you before about how we find 19th and 20th century garbage as we plow the garden every year.  Near the garden spot once stood a large red brick home with a rock foundation, several fireplaces, a stately staircase and amazing trim work.  The bricks were handmade from the clay on the farm  – maybe by slaves, maybe by paid help?  There was a basement with two small rooms with one window in each room, rock walls and a small fireplace for heat.  These were undoubtedly quarters for some sort of house help.

Sadly, by the time we moved onto the farm, the once majestic show house was in far too desperate shape to save. This picture is actually the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington.  Although the house on our farm was not this majestic, it at least gives you an idea of the style since we never took a good picture of it before it’s demise.  Shame on us!

As we tore down the house, we saved as many things as possible.  The stone foundation became our fireplace and the poplar floor joists became our flooring.  Many of the other materials like doors, fireplace mantles, windows and even the bricks have been sold to people who are reusing them in loving projects.  We’ve saved some of those architectural pieces for ourselves (if we ever get around to doing interesting projects again.)

After reading a little of the history, I know you’ll find it just as exciting as me that there are remnants of a rock wall on the back of the farm.  History claims that the rock walls in this area were built by migrant Irish workers who came to America because of the Irish Potato Famine.  I’m just in awe every time I go back to see this wall that was built by such strong and courageous people so many years ago.  Even if the rock wall has mostly been washed away and I’m only able to treasure about 20 feet of it!

Two other interesting historical finds on our farm and a neighboring farm…

A rock root cellar – the entrance is nearly caved-in.

A horse-drawn farm wagon that sadly sits below the ruble of a fallen barn.

I love learning the history of our farm, town, county and state.  Just a little research will lead you to so many wonderful field trips, classes and other opportunities to learn about the history in your backyard!

The A Journey Through Learning lapbook was an outstanding spine.  I had never used one of their lapbooks before, but it won’t be the last one!  It was put together in a very organized, simple to implement way – refreshing!!

We also completed some of our own inventions using ideas from the Teacher Created Materials Inventions book.  (You can find links to the books I’m mentioning below.)  The kids LOVED creating their own inventions.  I’ve put together a little slideshow of our lapbooks and inventions….

Below is the list of resources that have been in the sidebar.  We read a few more great books from the library, too…Lights Out,So You Want to Be An Inventor?, I Is for Idea: An Inventions Alphabet, The Berenstain Bears Fly-It! Up, Up, and Away!

Inventors and Inventions

Lesson Idea Links from The Homeschool Mom

Lots of Links from About.com

Next stop, Simple Machines!  You can find the resources for that unit in the sidebar very soon.

Here are a few internet resources that have been useful in the past.

Cindy Downes’ Pilgrim Unit

The Homeschool Mom’s Links

LaCelle Family Unit Study

Eclectic Homeschool Online Resources

Last week we finished a unit on US Government and Civics using The United States Government 7th-12th grade lapbooking unit from Knowledge Box Central.  It was a great refresher for me and a super way to teach my children everything from the history of the Constitution to the design and procedures of our government to the rights and responsibilities we have as citizens.  We should all be teaching US Government and Civics anyway, but in light of so many political issues in our country right now, it’s extremely important to teach our children the fundamentals of how our government is supposed to work and what we can and should do about it when it isn’t working like it should.  (Sorry for the run-on sentence and the soap box.)

Anywho, here are some pictures of our lapbook.

To be sure they understood the wealth of information learned during the unit, I gave the kiddos a test that you can download from my Homeschool Launch page.  Mahayla scored 100% without help.  Caleb was allowed to use his lapbook when he came across a tough question.  With the help of his lapbook, he scored 100%, too!

We’ve moved on to the first of a four-part energy/physics unit – focusing on the definition of energy, heat and electricity.  Some of our resources are posted in the sidebar.  I’ll post about our fun soon!

Free Online Resources

Games to Learn States, Capitals and Landforms

Various US Geography Games

Where Is That? Game

Game that Promotes Speed in Recognizing States

We took some time to learn about famous national landmarks during the unit, too.  For a final project, I gave the kids a list of several landmarks from which they had to choose eight to research.  They created informational postcards to highlight what they learned.  You can see the front of each postcard shows a picture and the name of the landmark.  On the back, they had to write a paragraph of interesting information for each.  It was a simple project, but a nice way to ease into the new year.

This week’s trips were finished before lunch, but both were great fun!

Fort Hill

Fort Hill is a Civil War battlefield where remnants of earthen forts remain.  Earthen forts are walls of dirt that were built to protect soldiers from the penetrating weapons of their enemies.

The soldiers didn’t always live inside the fort.  Their more permanent, albiet rustic “homes” were just outside the fort.  The soldiers only stayed inside when under attack.

Many remnants also remain of a rock wall where soldiers hid from oncoming bullets as they fired back at their enemies.

The fort was built on a hill that overlooked most of Frankfort at the time.  You can see just how far they could see from the main vantage point.

The parks department has been excavating in the fort recently.  There was an early 1900′s house on the property and they located the owner’s dump pile.  I included this picture because we have also located an early dump pile on our farm.  As we dig new garden space each year, we find new treasures like bits of old pottery, china, medicine bottles, jars and the like.  It’s very interesting!

We also found some unsually camera-friendly little friends on our way out!

Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory

So we could say we got in a little science (and because we wanted free candy samples) we headed downtown to the Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory.

We weren’t allowed to take pictures on the tour, but it was great fun seeing how candy is made and packaged.  Is their chocolate worth the very expensive price tag?  Hmm…On some days I would say “YES!”  Most days, though, I think not.

The tour costs $2.00 for adults, but children are free.  It only lasts about 15 minutes, so it’s a very easy tour to fit into your schedule if you’re in Frankfort for other visits.  Oh, and you don’t need a reservation.  Just remember they don’t give tours during lunch hours.

]]> http://ourjourneywestward.com/2009/07/frankfort-field-trips/feed/ 0 http://ourjourneywestward.com/2009/06/fort-boonesborough/ http://ourjourneywestward.com/2009/06/fort-boonesborough/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:32:15 +0000 Cindy http://ourjourneywestward.com/?p=1723

Don’t ever call me completely punctual.  We studied early pioneers and settlers of Kentucky at the beginning of last school year.  A trip to Fort Boonesborough – the first pioneer settlement in KY  – was planned then, but we never made it.  My children never fear, though – eventually I tend to fulfill my promises. 

You can learn more about Fort Boonesborough at:

Kentucky State Parks

Fort Boonesborough Living History

Fort Boonesborough Foundation

We had a great time touring the fort, watching an action-packed film, visiting with reinactors and taking a walk down to the beach located on the KY River.  Field trips are worth their weight in gold!

Outside the fort

Inside the fort

Learning to start a fire

Caleb’s favorite part – the jail

Visiting with Daniel Boone to get our land deed

A view of the beach

African American Journey – Concise History of Slavery, Important Events, and Important Personalities

National Geographic Underground Railroad Interactive

Project Ideas Based on “Freedom Train”

Carol Hurst’s Suggestions for Slavery Literature

Civil War Unit Plan

Civil War Timeline

Civil War for Kids

Eyewitness to History – Nice for Research

Carol Hurst’s Suggestions for Civil War Literature