Homeschool W5: A lighter, but productive week

What We Studied

In terms of bookwork, we had a lighter week. Activities got in the way a bit, but we still managed to accomplish most of what I had planned. We are still figuring out our ebb and flow, but I’m always excited when we knock out our core subjects and still have fun with friends.

Literature and Poetry

Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G6 for his language arts this year. While I love H&S, there’s never enough literature in there. Thankfully we have a stack of books just waiting to be picked up and read. Beyond H&S, we are focusing on expanding vocabulary and reading comprehension this year. We are still working on our way through a 19th-Century class. Getting close to the end, but we didn’t quite finish it this week.

• Poetry: Hearth & Story G6
• Poetry: A Child’s Introduction to Poetry by Michael Driscoll
• The Vocabulary Workbook for 6th Grade by Kelly Anne McLellan
• Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G3 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 3 and random books that we have around the house. We are also starting the Reading Explorer series to focus on reading comprehension and word choice. Quentin dove into The Wild Robot Escapes after loving the first book two years ago. We’re about halfway through the book.

• Poetry: National Geography Book of Nature Poetry
• The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown
• In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World by Virginia Hamilton

Math

Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 2. Effectively this is Singapore’s 7th grade math text. We continued Chapter 2 focusing on integers. I think this book will force us to slow down a bit and take more time for mastery. We don’t have formal logic book this year, but are focusing on lots of critical thinking and math puzzles.

• Math in Focus Court 2 Book A

Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 3B and 4A. We also are finishing up our logic book before moving to more complicated puzzles. We moved onto a chapter about Capacity while also finishing our Alice in Numberland book.

• Primarily Logic
• Singapore Primary Common Core 3B
• Alice in Cumberland

Social Studies

Arthur is using Curiosity Chronicles Modern History Vol. 1. Unfortunately CC only has volume 1 published so far. This will take us to Christmas break. If they don’t release volume 2 by then, I’m going to have to do it myself. Our current section really moved into discussing the effects of the British Empire. We covered a chapter about British control of Canada and South Africa.

• Curiosity Chronicles Modern History Vol. 1
• DK History
• DK Timelines of Everything
• DK Timelines of Everyone
• DK A Child Through Time
• A Journey Through Art
• The British Empire by Ellis Roxburgh

Quentin is using Build Your Library Level 5 to begin our two year exploration of American History. We covered the indigenous peoples of the Northeast. We will stay with indigenous peoples for the first six weeks or so. We also continued watching the documentary series Native America. I love how we get to hear about the history of various Indigenous cultures and then see how they are still living today. It’s so well done! And in between the years, a second season was released. I cannot wait to rewatch Season 1 and move onto Season 2. This past week we explored more regions. Getting close to finishing this big unit.

• History Quest United States History
• DK When on Earth?
• DK History
• DK Timelines of Everything
• DK Timelines of Everyone
• DK A Child Through Time
• An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
• A Kid’s Guide to Native American History by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder
• The Earth Under Sky Bear’s Feet: Native American Poems of the Land by Joseph Bruchac and Thomas Locker
• Turtle Island: The Story of North America’s First People by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
• What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
• Native American Stories for Kids: 12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes Across North America by Tom Pecore Weso
• The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James and Joseph Bruchac
• Native Americans: A Visual Exploration SN Paleja

Science

Arthur is using RSO Earth and Environment 2 and later RSO Astronomy 2 for science. We ended up pushing science this week. That’s okay, we’re catch back up soon enough.

• RSO Earth and Environment 2 (August-November; March-May)
• RSO Astronomy 2 (November-March)

Quentin is using RSO Physics 1. Well, that is our plan, but I’m waiting on the plans for Academic Co-op to be solidified before I start. There’s a possibility that the younger kid class (if we get the second classroom) will be doing Physics in a collective fashion. We pivoted to our Story of Science and read about calendars, Ionia, and some famous early scientists.

• RSO Physics 1
• The Story of Science Vol. 1 by Joy Hakim
• Physics: Investigate the Mechanics of Nature by Jane Gardner
• Physics for Curious Kids Introduction

Enrichment STEAM Co-op

This week was a break week for Labor Day.

Art and Music

We are doing something a little different this year. Instead of trying to do music and art every week, we will be trading off. I realized last year these subjects were always the first to be cut when we had time constraints. We moved back to music and covered Bach, one of my absolute favorites. I had planned on finishing half the lesson this week and half next week, but we got so into it that we finished it all. Works for me!

• DK Music and How it Works
• DK The Arts
• The Story of the Incredible Orchestra by Bruce Koscielniak

Field Trip/Activities

We spent Wednesday morning exploring the zoo. We got to see a ton of animals and hang out with some friends. We had a lovely time and it wasn’t too hot (bonus!).

High

We managed to squeeze in multiple friend activities this week. Q had a friend over for playdate on Tuesday (long time coming). Both boys went to a friend’s birthday party on Thursday (rescheduled due to prior illness). And we all went to Vala’s on Friday. We had planned to just stay 1pm-6pm as that was when Nick was working, but ended up closing down the park at 10pm. A friend and her kids join us for dinner and evening fun. Everyone was having so much fun that we just rolled with the night. It was so lovely!

Low

Nothing. I think this week was great!

Next Week

• Finishing our classic (A)
• (Maybe) finishing our current read aloud (Q)
• Learning about European Nationalism (A) and finishing with Native Nations (Q) for history
• Exploring Newton’s Laws of Motion (Q) and climate change (A) for science
• Learning about art at the Joslyn
• Taking a road trip to Beatrice for the Homestead National Monument

Next up on the TBR pile: