Week 1: After

Luckily I'm considering these first two weeks our gear-up weeks, or else I would probably be feeling pretty badly about how our week went, school-wise. We were still in summer-mode, mostly, and still working on fruit, still meeting at the park for homeschool playdate, still lazing around. Plus I had two migraines (two! and I've only had ever had migraines when I'm pregnant, which I'm not, so what is that about? threw us all off sides, anyway!). So, there are the excuses, make of them what you will.
Circle is a resounding success. Smart enough for Avery, silly enough for Miles, wholesome enough for me. I think two hymns in a row almost is a little much, but the boys look forward to "Circle Game" as Miles calls it, and even baby Ansel sits in his Bumbo chair in the middle and smiles and coos and laughs.
Stickeen was a good story for oral reading. Short enough to easily finish in a week, exciting and descriptive. We have a good sense of what glaciers are like, and we're suckers for heartwarming stories about dogs. The reading was easy enough that it was fun for Avery, with still the challenge some new words (mostly Alaskan Native words). I had planned on modeling, and making Stickeen figures, but that didn't happen.
Cursive is fine. Well, the amount of time practicing takes right now is good. Shortish sentences for awhile, building up. We've got a copywork/Character lesson book started, with "Honor thy Father and thy Mother." Character Training is going well so far, too. Simple- a story, tied in with the quote or verse for cursive practice that week, talking about the trait, a project.
Grammar is simple and easy with Simply Grammar, but I'm glad I also bought Word Play, though we skipped that this week. Between the two I think there'll be enough variety to be interesting and educational instead of just review. Maybe. I think next year we'll need a more formal, more challenging approach to grammar.
Spelling was simple. I like the system, but the words I chose for him, expecting them to be not-too-hard were way-too-easy. Still, he's never had spelling as a subject before, so I don't want to go too hard. I think we'll do a bunch orally at the beginning of the week, more than 20, so we work through this part of the book at an accelerated pace, without actually skipping anything, until we get 20 challenging words or definitions for the week. The McGuffey Speller is so old fashioned that a lot of the words aren't in common usage any more, so I anticipate a good amount of easy to spell words will end up in the spelling list just because of their novelty, vocabulary-wise.
Latin was barely started. Rather than try to start where we flailed about and stopped last year, I decided to start again fresh this year. I think I'll actually wait til after our vacation, coming up here. I do like Lively Latin, but you do need to work it every day, and we're still a little too summery and every-which-way yet to settle in.
Math Puzzlers. Mathmania is a dud. They're too silly, too babyish. For some reason I always expect Highlights to come through for me, but they always fall short, one way or another. I need to find some good, cheap books of logic puzzles and diagramming puzzles.
Life of Fred is our favorite Math thing so far. So funny and sweet, and it's a clever lesson in English and Math all at once. Short chapters, few questions, lots of humor. He loves it and so do I! He's working through Fractions right now. Actually, this is more read aloud time, because, as it turns out, even though I already know how to deal with fractions, the story is so engaging and sweet we all (even Miles) want to hear what happens next! He finished the first section, but didn't try crossing the bridge yet.
Avery worked on the "twos" for oral math. Review, speed, review, memorize. Over and over.
Calculus by and for Young People is okay. Not so gentle as I thought it would be, it's more of a mouthful than I thought. But good stuff, great to work with on Math Lab day, if we're going to do it together. We worked on the first lesson but didn't finish it- I wasn't anticipating his nerves and didn't set aside enough time to be there with him, paying attention. An older kid or one more comfortable with reading mathematical notation would maybe not be intimidated and have more fun just jumping in, but all those numbers and notations are a little off-putting to Avery right now. I am glad we lucked out and somehow got the actual worktext instead of the CD-Rom set- I have a feeling we'd never get to them if we had to go on the computer and print stuff off.
Man and Animals Main Lesson Block was simple, not muddied with trying to stuff other subjects into the theme. Just pure and calm. I'm really glad I put all that time getting comfortable with the lesson before we started! It would have been a disaster if I weren't comfortable with it. Not one you can fake, I think.
History's great. I really like Joy Hakim's A History of US. Highly recommend it. I imagine we'll use it again, in a few years, when we study US History again. I'll probably buy the middle school lesson books to go with them, then. For fourth grade the reading is not hard, and is interesting and comprehensive enough that I don't feel the need to add in a ton of other historical text reading, so far anyway. We are just sort of skimming along this year. We didn't get to watercolor painting, which I had planned to tie in to the Inuit lesson, but Avery did write a nice paragraph in the US History lesson book, and paste in a map of the Arctic regions.
Science. Dud week. No Nature story, no nature hike, no nature journals. No science lab. Avery did read a lot about cells, and watch a couple short video things online, and do a little activity, we talked about cells. We ran out of time, with screaming babies, before he had a chance to draw a cell in his Anatomy lesson book.
Art. Double dud. We have the Artistic Pursuits Modern Artists book to use this year, but we were so short of time, and he so didn't want to do it, that we just skipped it. He did the first lesson last year, anyway. Does that count? Even Handwork, embroidery, which Avery was asking for everyday this past week, didn't ever quite happen. Ergh!
Form drawing was a success. It was, really for the first time, FUN and not just tolerable for Avery. I didn't belabor a story, but kept that quite simple and open-ended. He took the form along himself, and made lovely work out of it. Pretty cool for a kid who "hates art" right now.
Guitar. A lesson. A few practices, and lots and lots of struggles about practicing. Seems there's always something more pressing, more interesting, more important than practicing. Anybody have any tips about that?
PE. Lots of running and playing, working and climbing around. No lessons yet, no soccer yet. Still summer. Avery did research bicycle safety, and explain some things to me. A Dad in the homeschool community hear was killed last weekend in a mountain biking accident, and while we didn't know him personally we are still touched by the tragedy of the loss for that family, and a little research about bike safety seemed in order.

The Human Body

Anatomy, Health, and Safety

Week 1- Cells

NOVA movie- Lab Meat

Biology4Kids- Cells Cell Parts and Functions Movie

Science Online Game

Cells Are Us online book

Virtual Cell

The Human Body (THB) Hormones, Growth, and Development p 49-51

The Way We Work (TWWW) p 50-55

Wonders of Science The Human Body (WOSTHB) Unit 1-What Are Bodies Made Of?

Week 2- DNA

NOVA Create DNA Fingerprint & Solve a Crime

DNA to Protein Interactive Zoom in to DNA

Bones & Skeleton Game Book (B&S) p 81

THB p 47-48

TWWW p 32-35

Week 3- Genes

NOVA Epigenetics Movie

Discovery Education Life Cycles Movie

American Museum of Natural History genetics activities Gene Games

Only Human (OH) p29-37
THB Hormones, Growth, and Development p 47-48
B&S p 78-79

Weeks 4 & 5- Skeleton & Bones
Bones Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/SSmovie.html
Bones & Broken Bones Movie http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1033
Label the Bones Print http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=54384&cat_id=20607
Bone Games http://www.childrensmuseum.org/special_exhibits/bones/kids_mazeGame.htm
Dragonfly TV Bone Regrowth http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/bodybrain.html
Muscles & Bones Lessons http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/files/TG_muscles.pdf
WOSTHB p 12-21, 66-69
THB p 31-35
TWWW p 254-259, 267-289
B&S p 10-16
The House We Live In pdf book (THWLI) p 7-17/58, 23-28/58

Weeks 6 & 7- Muscles
Newton's Apple Knuckle Crack Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video_only.php?id=3062
Muscles & Bones Lessons http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/files/TG_muscles.pdf
Kids Health Muscles http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
THB p 35-36
TWWW p 261-265
B&S p 18-22
WOSTHB p 32-39, 74
THWLI p 29-32/58

Weeks 8-9- First Aid

A Sigh of Relief first aid book

Grossology p 12, 42

WOSTHB p 114-124

Weeks 10 &11- Brain & Nervous System

Brain & Nervous Sytem Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/NSmovie.html

Newton's Apple Brain Movie http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1283

Label the brain http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?ic=1&article_set=54391&cat_id=20607 -Ectomy printable brain parts game http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/id90.html
NOVA Sleep video http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3410/01.html
Make NS Models http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html
Reflex Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chreflex.html
THB Nervous System p 3-9, 12-14
TWWW p 150-165, 188-207
B&S p 56-58
WOSTHB p 40-43, 75, 82
THWLI p17-20/58, 51-58/58

Week 12- Sight
The Miracle Worker/ Helen Keller
Louis Braille
Vision Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chvision.html
Vision packet http://www.nei.nih.gov/education/visionschool/schintro/VISIONSchoolProgram.pdf
Vision Experiment http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsplic=1&article_set=44831&cat_id=20574
Depth Perception http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsplic=1&article_set=44827&cat_id=20574
Optical Illusions http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/flash/nill.html
Braille Translator http://pbskids.org/arthur/print/braille/index.html
THB p 10
TWWW p 174-187
B&S p 46-50, 86
WOSTHB p 88-89
THWLI p 20-21/58

Week 13- Hearing
Newton's Apple Hearing http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1414
PBS Movie- Through Deaf Eyes
Hearing Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chhearing.html
Mr. Holland's Opus
Ear Drum Experiment http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=44861&cat_id=20574
Sound and Fury DVD
Grossology p 32
B&S p 42-44
THB p 10
TWWW p 166-173
WOSTHB p 86-87
THWLI p 21-22/58

Week 14- Touch/Skin
Newton's Apple Wrinkling Skin Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video_only.php?id=3099
Touch Lesson Plan http://sln.fi.edu/qa97/me10/me10.html
Touch Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chtouch.html
Kidshealth http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
Grossology p 10, 34, 38, 46
THB Nervous System p 11
TWWW 219-224, 246-247
B&S p 36-37, p 40
WOSTHB p 90-91
THWLI p 33-36/58

Week 15- Smell
Newton's Apple Taste & Smell http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1176
UW Smell Lesson Plans http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chsmell.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
THB Nervous System p 9
TWWW p 102-103
B&S p 51-53
WOSTHB p 83

Week 16- Taste Taste Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chtaste.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
B&S p 54
THB Nervous System p 11
TWWW p 104-105
WOSTHB p 84-85
THWLI p 22-23/58

Week 17-18- Digestive System
Digestive System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/DSmovie.html
Newton's Apple The Liver http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1419
Urinary System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/USmovie.html
Grossology p 8, 14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 30, 36, 40
THB Digestive System p 23-30
TWWW p 111-147
B&S p 62-64, 68-69
WOSTHB p 50-59, 76-81
THWLI p 45-50/58

Week 19- Teeth and Oral Health
Magic School Bus Teeth http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/colgate/print.htm
Oral Health Lesson Plan http://www.thesolutionsite.com/lpnew/lesson/10303/overview.html
Tooth Care http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.35080/t.35080/pr.3.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
Grossology p 44, 50
THB Musculoskeletal p 34
TWWW p 106-107
B&S p 65-67

Weeks 20 & 21- Nutrition
Nutrition Tracker http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/pdf/kids/nutritiontracker.pdf
Monster Nutrition Game http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/activities/monster.asp
My Pyramid Blast Off Game http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/kids_game.html
Fueled For Fun Game http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/activities/fueledforfun.asp
Nutrition Café Games http://exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition/nutrition_cafe.html
Food & Fitness Lesson Plans http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/nsbri.cfm
WOSTHB p 98-101

Weeks 22-25- Immune System
NOVA Pandemic Flu Video http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3302/04.html
NOVA 1918 Flu Video http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3318/02.html
Immune System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/ISmovie.html
Newton's Apple Antibiotics http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1279
Types of immune Cells http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=59042&cat_id=20607
Grossology p 20
THB Immune System p 37-44
TWWW p 224-2553
B&S p 82-83
WOSTHB p 102-105

Week 26- Respiratory System

Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/RSmovie.html Asthma movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/closet/movies/asthma_movie.html
Newton's Apple Asthma http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1655
Grossology p 48
THB Respiratory system 21-22
TWWW p57-69, 92-94
WOSTHB p 44-49, 72-73, 92-97
THWLI p 4/58, 41-45/58

Week 27- Circulatory System
Newton's Apple Heart Attack Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1164
Heart & Circulatory System Video http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/CSmovie.html
THB Circulatory System p 15-19
TWWW p 76-91
WOSTHB p 22-31, 70-71
THWLI p 4-6/58, 36-41/58

Week 28- Blood
Newton's Apple Blood Typing Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1032
Bloody Bits http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/bbits.htm
Blood Drop Games http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/games.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
Grossology p 18
THB p 19-20
TWWW p 69-75

Week 29- Hormones, Growth, Development Endocrine System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/ESmovie.html Newton's Apple Diabetes Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1036
Hair Hygrometer Experiment http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/hair/hair_activity.html
B&S p 38-39, 84-85
THB Hormones, Growth, and Development p 45-46
TWWW p 207-217

Week 30- Reproduction
THB Hormones, Growth, and Reproduction p 52-54
TWWW p 290-318
WOSTHB p 60-65

Week 31- Safety- Drugs
Newton's Nicotine http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=59042&cat_id=20607
Just Think Twice http://www.justthinktwice.com/ (for older kids, parents)
Grade Level pdf books (g5) http://www.aadac.com/552_595.asp
Discovery Ed video http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/deadlyhighs/
WOSTHB p 106-113

Week 32- Safety- Fire
Fire Prevention http://students.resa.net/stoutcomputerclass/3fire.htm
USFA games http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/flash.shtm
Plan trip to fire station

Week 33- Safety- Touch/Strangers
McGruff Safety Info http://www.mcgruff.org/
Plan visit/trip to police station

Week 34- Safety-Internet
Internet Safety http://www.safesurfingkids.com/lesson_plans_grades_3_12.htm
Internet Safety g4 http://www.kenton.k12.ky.us/internet_safety/Gr4_Personal%20Safety.pdf

Week 35- Survival
Survival Preparedness Natural Disasters http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d229a5f06620c6052b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=354c2aebdaadb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1

Week 36- Wilderness Survival
Newton's Apple Arctic Survival http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1282
Wilderness Survival Lesson Plan http://csam.montclair.edu/njsoc/sessions/survival.pdf
15 survival videos http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_4538_hiking-survival-techniques.html

Special thanks for the wonderful resources at Guest Hollow. They have a great 4-day a week Elementary Anatomy lesson plan, with book pages, games, worksheets, movies, everything all laid out. I pretty much copied their curriculum plan, then substituted the books we already had, added in some different online resources, and tweaked the schedule and subjects just a bit. I will be working on curriculum as we go, of course- adding in library books and resources as they fit, and deciding on exactly which games, etc. we'll use.

But this is our plan- not Waldorfy, not taught in blocks, Health/Anatomy will be a one day a week extra lesson this coming year.