Curriculum order Nov 2009

Acorn Naturalists
http://www.acornnaturalists.com
- Take a Walk with Butterflies and Dragonflies
- Take a Tree Walk

art materials: watercolour paper, construction paper

Peggy Kay's Games for Writing

What Your 2nd Grader Needs to Know

Sewing cards

The U.S. Constitution

Constitution Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/uploads/j/Joyfulschool/123388.pdf

Images of the Constitution
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

From wikipedia:
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. It is the foundation and source of the legal authority underlying the existence of the United States of America and the Federal Government of the United States. It provides the framework for the organization of the United States Government and for the relationship of the Federal government to the States, to citizens, and to all people within the United States.

The Constitution defines the three main branches of government: a legislature, bicameral Congress; an executive branch led by the President; and a judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court. The Constitution outlines the powers and duties of each branch. The Constitution reserves numerous powers for the states, thereby establishing the federal system of government.

The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ratified by conventions in each U.S. state in the name of "The People". The Constitution has been amended twenty-seven times; the first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.[1][2]

The United States Constitution is the shortest and oldest written constitution in the world.[3]

The Constitution has a central place in United States law and political culture.[4] The handwritten, or "engrossed", original document penned by Jacob Shallus is on display at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

Space Shuttle

Spacesuit template
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/space/mspacesuit.html

Make your own paper rocket
http://www.groeg.de/puzzles/rocket.html

Famous astronauts
http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks/printables/astronaut_famous.htm

What would you take with you into space?
http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks/printables/astronaut_take.htm

Astronaut food
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/living/spacefood/index.html

Writing Prompt:
"If I could go into space..."

Print photo of shuttle landing at Edwards
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Parts of the space shuttle
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/what-is-the-space-shuttle-k4.html

Look for history of space flight

Genetics Resources

Learn Genetics
Tour the basics, DNA to protein, Heredity & traits

NeoK12
Instructional videos

Genetics - The Science of Genes and Heredity
Standards, Activities, & Mini-Lecture

Basic Genetics in First and Second Grade
Objectives, bibliography, worksheets

American Museum of Natural History
Activites, games

The Gene Scene
games (more for 3rd-5th grades)

Homeschooling 101

A good basic overview of homeschooling in CA can be found here.

You can get more info on homeschooling in LA here.

Whether it's a good choice depends on your family -- it's the best thing that happened to our family.

We belong to a local group of homeschoolers and put together classes for our children. Rachel took wonderful art and science classes this past year. I'm hoping to put together a Spanish one in the fall.

Homeschooling can look very different from one family to the next. It's best to start by identifying your priorities in the education of your children.

I would be happy to answer questions: hijola@yahoo.com

ISPs

One of the ways to homeschool in California is through an ISP. [The four ways to homeschool are here.] An ISP is an Independent Study Program offered through a school district or charter school.

An example of a school district ISP is CHEP. The Community Home Education Program is offered through Orange County's Department of Education.

An example of a charter school ISP is Sky Mountain. Sky Mountain Charter School is managed by a non-profit corporation that has established a number of charter schools in the state.

Long Beach resources

These are inclusive groups in the Long Beach area:

Long Beach Homeschoolers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LongBeachHomeschoolers
- inclusive of all styles of homeschoolers; organizes local classes; has younger children

Bayshore/Long Beach Homeschooling
http://www.bayshoreeducational.com/homeschoolers.html

DragonTree Home Learners
http://www.vilter.us/dragontree/
- this group has been around for more than 10 years; tends toward unschooling; has many older children

This is a Christian co-op group:

Classical Conversations
http://www.classicalconversations.com

New homeschooler resources

California Homeschool Network
http://www.californiahomeschool.net

Homeschool LA
http://www.homeschoolla.org

Homefires: The Journal of Homeschooling
http://www.homefires.com

Gifted resources

Bright Kids at Home
http://www.brightkidsathome.com/

Moving Beyond the Page
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com

Language Arts - K through 2nd

Moving Beyond the Page - curriculum for gifted and creative learners
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/

Writing Topics
http://thewritesource.com/writing_topics/

History Resources - K through 2nd

History Pockets
http://www.evan-moor.com/Series.aspx?CurriculumID=7&WT.svl=3&SeriesID=64

A History of US
http://www.amazon.com/History-US-10-set/dp/0195327268/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241969525&sr=1-5

Learners At Home
http://learnersathome.blogspot.com/2009/07/subject-study-for-summer-learning.html

Lapbooks!

I think I've been resisting lapbooks. I guess I didn't really get why these are so popular. It looked like more busy work when I needed to get some samples into our ES' hands.

Our first lapbook was a complete success. Rachel wanted to use a black marker, so it's not "pretty", but the activity was right up her alley. I followed Alicia's example. I have a little patriotism workbook and I took the first subject: the US flag. I went to the internet and found a free lapbook template and lots of info. I couldn't find a manilla folder, so I used one of Rachel's large drawing sheets and folded that. It worked out beautifully and I think looks better than the folder. We cut and glued the various parts on there, while I imparted some facts about our flag. We didn't do every activity and it's not officially done, but now we have something to show our ES. :-)

Art Resources

SouleMama
http://soulemama.typepad.com/soulemama/kids_crafting/index.html

Art classes by Brenda Benvieniste
http://web.mac.com/bbenveniste1/insideoneart.com/creative.html

Art class

Some of Rachel's work this year.

Science class

Rachel takes a science class through Science2U. This year they are studying rocks & minerals, the body, microscopes, inventions, birds, space, and plants.

This pic from their bird series. Rachel is dissecting an owl pellet. Yuck! Owls eat their food whole. Since birds do not have teeth, they can't chew their food. Therefore, they use their strong and sharp beaks to rip their prey apart and swallow large chunks whole. The owl slowly digests its meal by separating the softer materials (such as meat) from the harder material (such as bones). It then regurgitates the harder material along with indigestible items such as feathers and fur in the form of a pellet.

I think she found a skull and some bones from a mouse.

Homeschooling in California

Check out California Homeschool Network's "Just the Facts" guide for new homeschoolers.

There are different ways to homeschool in CA and it's best to find out about the pros and cons of each method for your family.

The "official" forms of homeschooling are:
1. Establish a home-based private school
2. Enroll in a private school that offers independent study (PSP)
3. Enroll in a public school that offers independent study (ISP or charter school)
4. Use a credentialed teacher/tutor

http://www.californiahomeschool.net