Our Journey Westward » Literature

Thanksgiving Resources

Cindy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:13:51 +0000

This list of resources will be in the sidebar for a little while, too, but I wanted to be sure those who use blog readers have a chance to see this list before Thanksgiving! We won’t be doing a Thanksgiving unit this year, but several books will be in books baskets and book nooks around the house. Here are some of my favorites.

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

Favorite Toddler Books

Cindy — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:01:36 +0000

These were the toddler book favorites that have been in the sidebar for several months. I’ll be changing the book list in the sidebar to show some of our other favorites soon! (Can you tell I’m in blog clean-up mode lately?)

Winter Book List

Cindy — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:29:24 +0000

Okay, enough of winter! I’m off to think about spring books! For future reference, here’s the list of winter books that’s been in my sidebar for a couple of months. A new spring list will be up shortly.

Westward Expansion Resources

Cindy — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:33:49 +0000

We’re nearing the end of our Westward Expansion unit, so I’m moving the resources from my sidebar into a post for future reference. I’ll be adding Slavery and Civil War resources to the side bar over the next few days.

My Spine – Amanda Bennett Pioneers Unit

Research Questions

Teacher Planet Links

Louisiana Purchase Game

Lewis and Clark Lessons

Lewis and Clark Mapping Activities

Easy Fun School Lewis and Clark Unit

Easy Fun School Santa Fe Trail Unit

Easy Fun School Gold Rush Unit

I’m Afraid I Scared You

Cindy — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:47:47 +0000

Either I’ve scared you or very few people care to receive a wonderful literature-based grammar curriculum for FREE??

In the post below about my Living Literature Grammar and Language Arts Packets, I said you must agree to write a review if you win one of the three giveaways. I bet you’re picturing writing a page-long review, aren’t you? NO WAY! I’d just like you to give me a few sentences about it that I can include on the product’s webpage. Short and sweet, just like the curriculum! LOL

To entice you a little more, take a look at the great pieces of literature used over the course of 15 weeks:

Now then, who wouldn’t want 15 weeks worth of grammar, language arts, reading comprehension, critical thinking and spelling lists for FREE? Comment either on this post or the post below by this Friday if you’d like to win. Remember, if you mention the giveaway on your blog, you will be entered to win twice!

Winter Learning Centers

Cindy — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:17:29 +0000

The time has come to set out some winter learning centers. Even though the kids get outside almost everyday still, it’s just too cold to stay out for long. Without friendly reminders around the house, one of my sweet children will do nothing but beg to watch the TV for hours. (Anyone who knows us can guess which of my lovely children that might be!)

So, in different places around the house, I have stashed a few small boxes and baskets of creative things for my children to do if the desire strikes. (Or if I’m so sick of hearing the TV question that I demand their desire to strike. )

The first four were inspired by LaPaz Home Learning. A small sample of abstract art and oil pastels for recreating the artwork. Another small sample of abstract art, this time with chalk pastels. A few cards of architecture/machines, Sculpey clay and some “around the house” tools for recreating 3-D models. And a bag of marshmallows and toothpicks for creating…. whatever.

There are also math manipulatives that we don’t use often during school time scattered about. Fraction circles, pattern blocks and geo boards.

A few science kits – electricity, chemistry and magic tricks. (Thank the Lord for grandparents who buy these fun kits for gifts!)

I’ve also been checking out more books on tape/CD for the kids to listen to as they knit or sew or clean their rooms.

Don’t get me wrong. My children don’t always flock to these things. If I let them, they (well one of them) will always choose TV over the wonderful extra-fun learning activities I’ve so diligently and thoughtfully placed around the house. Sometimes, real boredom has to be experienced before any of these things seems inviting.

Child Labor – Industrial Revolution Lesson

Cindy — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:40:39 +0000

In researching and making plans for our unit on the westward expansion, I was reminded about another important event in history that I couldn’t possibly leave out of our learning time – the Industrial Revolution, including the subject of child labor. My children were very much moved by the thought of children working so hard, especially when they found out that so many children around the world are still effected by this practice.

We found and read two living literature gems that I had to pass along.

Set in England rather than America, we found The Gate In The Wall by Ellen Howard to be an excellent piece of living literature as well as giving us a clearer picture of the effects of child labor.

Set in 1830′s New England, The Bobbin Girl by Emily Arnold McCulley is a superb picture book on the topic.

And not living literature, we found Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor by Russell Freedman and Growing Up in Coal Country by Susan Campbell Bartoletti at our local library. Both gave information and pictures that made the topic real to my children.

While reading, I found a coloring sheet in The Story of the World Activity Book Three: Early Modern Times to occupy busy hands and the back served as a nice place to notebook about child labor.

If you’re interested, Homeschool Share has a unit on The Bobbin Girl. Mr. Donn has several interesting links, too. And this site looked intriguing, although I haven’t used any of the activities yet.

December Reading and Sidebar Talk

Cindy — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:41:15 +0000

Below is the list of Christmas books that was in my side bar. Before removing it, I wanted to keep a copy for myself so I wouldn’t forget any of the titles come next December.

I think I’ve decided to keep book lists and great links in my sidebar each month for the artist and composer we’re studying. I’ll also link to great resources for our units and seasonal studies. I plan to change the sidebars regularly, but I’ll always copy the info into a post before deleting it so that you (and I) can find it again. Go see some of the things I’ve just added! I’ve been busy!!

December Reading

Oh, and have you met God? Apparently Eli has! Every time he gets his busy little fingers on a Santa ornament he says, “God.” (Very reverently, I might add.) His innocent little eyes looking up at us with complete seriousness that he is holding God right in his chubby little hands.

Book of the Month Club – The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Cindy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:25:58 +0000

We take part in a Book of the Month Club (which is actually a book every two months) that met last week to discuss The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. My children loved this book!

Mrs. Lisa had prepared some very fun activities to go along with the invention – drama – secrecy theme of the book.

Invisible ink messages.

Mask making.

Candy and toothpick inventions.

Next up – The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois!

New Homeschool Share Units!!

Cindy — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Wow! You won’t believe the number of new units and resources that have been added to Homeschool Share. Really great resources, too.

Be sure to take a peek at the two units I contributed: Journey to the Bottomless Pit and The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship. I even won one of the drawings – five great literature books from HSS’s book closet. Very exciting, indeed!

What are you waiting for? See how many of this coming year’s studies are already planned for you!