Jul 21 2006
Plans For Sis- “6th Grade”
Still a work in progress but posting it as we decide things. Thanks
Social Studies/Us & World History/Geography- Sis is a little easier when it comes to History. I would say her main interest has always been the Holocaust. She has read everything ever written about Anne Frank and several other victims. There isn't a whole lot left to teach her about that holocaust but since she has an interest I plan on teaching her about a few of the others that happened as well. While learning about them we will also learn about the countries and cultures involved. I also plan on taking her to the Holocaust Museum here in town.
We'll be doing a Book Of Centuries and Copywork that is geared towards History sometimes. She reads historical books on her own (especially the Dear Diary series) so all I will do is just keep finding new ones for her. No specific books, curriculum, or program just winging it as usual. We also joined a postcard trading group about a year ago and will continue collecting postcards from different states and countries to help with Geography.
Reading/Vocabulary/Language Arts/Literature- I put these all together because we will be criss crossing into each constantly. We will do Silent Reading as usual, Literature will be reading and disgussing a few of the classics, Language Arts will be done through Copywork and various things we find interesting to try, we will be having a weekly Poet on our wall and learning some of their famous poems/quotes during Tea Time, Daily Journals are going down to Twice Weekly Journals where she will write one on what she did during the week and the other will be a Freewrite Friday from BraveWriter.com to help her learn proper writing skills. She also wants to continue with her weekly Spelling and Vocabulary words. Vocabulary words will be on our Weekly Learning Wall.
Science- Sis is somewhat of a free spirit and it's hard for her to "digest" book Science. I did find a brand new Science book (2006) at a local thrift store for $1 that she's going to try using. I would have her take the Science class at the local museum again this year but they doubled the cost so that isn't happening. We’ll be doing some Science experiments at home this year and Nature Sketchbooks will also be used during Nature Walks in hopes of getting everyone more in tune with nature.
Math- This subject is her personal demon and we've had a hard time with it. In public school she wasn't learning anything yet the teacher kept passing her anyway. When Sis started homeschooling we realized this and it has been a fight ever since to get her to learn even simple multiplication. So this year we're going to work with and finish her on Basic Math so next year she will be ready for Pre-Algebra. I want to go slowly so she learns and doesn't end up hating Math more than she already does. We'll use the workbooks she likes, games, DVD's, and anything else I can come up with to help her.
Foreign Languages- It seems everyone in this house can’t make up their minds on what languages they want to learn. Sis has grown bored with Sign Language and really I think just concentrating on the weekly Latin and Spanish lessons we'll have is enough. We’ll be using the Rosetta Stone programs for language, making a game out of finding new words to post on our wall each week, and playing games that involve each of the languages.
Religious Studies- We are starting with Buddhism and then moving on from there. Sis is basically a clean canvas waiting for inspiration. In other words, she wants to learn about all religions and is really into finding one that makes her feel at home. My hope is to cover one religion every month or bimonthly. Enough to raise their knowledge and awareness but not enough to be cramming something they may decide they are against down their throats. We will have discussions about the religions, visit the houses of worship of several, learn about and partake in some of their ceremonies (not sacred ones), and talk to people who live these religions everyday. I have a strong belief in letting my children find their own religious paths and my hope is that during our studies they will find their spiritual “home” and continue learning about it.
Art- We will be making Art Trading Cards but only for ourselves unless some of the local homeschoolers get into doing it too. I am using the book “Discovering Great Artists” this year and plan having the kids make an Art Card using each Artist’s medium and style. I have several canvases that I’m going to allow them to do their own artwork on and use to decorate our home. I figure the best artists I will ever know are my own children. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.
We will also be making trips to the Art Museum here in town and any art shows that may come up. There are a ton of crafts we didn't get to do last year so this year we are pulling them all out and doing whichever ones tickle our fancy! We are all starting Nature Sketchbooks this year and will be using them both for Science and Art as well. The kids have been informed that it doesn’t matter how well they sketch only that they do it and use their imagination and heart for it.
Music- Last year was sorely lacking in Music for Sis so this year I need to do more. There will be a Composer/Musician of the Week on our learning wall and we will listen to works by that artist throughout the week. I wanted to just do Composers but Big B especially just wasn’t having it so we added Musicians as well. Wish me luck and hope my ears don’t bleed from the noise. lol. Sis also received a keyboard from a friend of hers that moved overseas and she has been practicing on that every night. She can easily play the into to Fur Elise which gives her encouragement to try other compositions.
Physical Education- We will pretty much continue the way we have been going. That means the following things will be covered- Walking, Running, Football, Raquetball, Tennis, Cycling, and Climbing. Sis is constantly active at our weekly homeschool group where she partakes in various sports and games. She also has a dogwalking business where she walks dogs pretty much daily around the circle. I guess if you want you can count her fire-spinning practice as part of PE as well right?
Socialization- For all those who think Homeschooled children are un/undersocialized. As I said, we attend a weekly homeschool park day, Sis also hangs out with one or more of her friends at least once a week, will be joining a paid activity this year (possibly belly dancing), and has her Dogwalking/PetSitting business as I said before that keeps her busy five days a week. If that isn’t enough socialization then I don’t know what to tell you. It’s more than I ever got as a public school student I can tell you that much!
