Preparing for the School Year

Today was the day we were supposed to start school.   The kids are itching to start.  Alas, I’m still in planning mode.  

I plan the entire school year in the summer.  If I have to plan during the school year, I end up having very little free time.  Heading into the school year with lesson plans done makes a huge difference in our school days.  

I must admit that I don’t do things the easy way.  I like to make up curriculum for many different subjects and mesh several different resources for one subject.   While it takes longer to put together it is much easier to implement something that is designed for your child.

I am putting together weekly lesson plans this year for each child.  Here is an example of one child’s mid-year weekly lesson plan.  I’m writing out everything to accomplish during that week for each subject.  Some things are done independently and others collectively.

This is one of my 4th grader’s week.

Math/Logic

• Life of Fred Fractions Chapter 18
• Road Rally Race (math fact practice – no longer available)
• Living math book(s)
• Singapore 4A pg 19-30 in text with corresponding workbook pages
• Mental Math 9 (from Singapore Home Instructor’s Guide)
• Grid Perplexors B #41-42
• Logic Liftoff Lesson 6-8
• Chess Kid Chapter 7 part 2 worksheet pg 7, 8, 9

Language Arts

• Read Daily Diagram 81-84
• Grammar Tips for Students – Clauses and Phrases (video)
• Kiss Grammar 1.5 Exercise 8-9 (We ended up replacing this with Rod and Staff Grammar)
• Jump In pg 85-91 15 minutes
• Palmer’s Penmanship 15 minutes
• Palmer’s Penmanship 15 minutes
• R&S Spelling 5 Lesson 3-4
• Killgallon Sentence Combining pg 58-61
• Matching game http://www.quia.com/mc/112859.html Matching game http://www.quia.com/cc/112859.html
• Excavating English Activity 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7
• Mavis Beacon Typing Introducing () -_ keys

Zoology

Didn’t finish this one yet!  We are looking at all the different mammal orders with a focus on classification.  We are using a variety of books, DVDs, and online resources.

Reading/Literature

• Read Aloud Little Lord Fauntleroy Chapters 12-15
• Watch Little Lord Fauntleroy movie (library)

Physical Science

• Physical Science in Action DVD – Characteristics of Waves
• Uncle Albert and the Quantum Quest Chapters 4-6
• Reflection and Refraction of Light DCTTS Activity 69
• Lesson 21:  Kepler’s Three Laws

History

• Black Ships before Troy – Poisoned Arrow pg 104-108  
• Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Monkey and the Cat – The Fox and the Leopard  
• Black Ships before Troy – The Wooden Horse pg 109-117  
• Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Heron – The Mule  
• Black Ships before Troy –The Fall of Troy pg 118-125  
• Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Fox and the Goat – The Farmer and His Sons  
• Watch Helen of Troy movie  

Geography

• Maps, Charts, Graphs H Lesson 21
• Maps, Charts, Graphs E Lesson 20  
• Sri Lanka Study: Explore president’s website http://www.president.gov.lk/index.php
• Look at results from last election and parties http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki /President_of_Sri_Lanka
• Watch presidential campaign ad http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=8RkHtroXXUk
• Cultures of the World Sri Lanka by Wanasundera – Economy pg 40-45
• Watch tea pickers http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=hXl3-290SGw
• Cultures of the World Sri Lanka by Wanasundera – Economy pg 46-51
• Watch stilt fishermen http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=cdNsfXe1r8E

Music

• Music Ace Lesson : any 2 lessons with numbers under 6
• Mel Bay Guitar pg 13-14
• 15 minutes guitar practice
• 15 minutes practice
• 15 minutes practice
• 15 minutes practice
• 15 minutes practice

Music Appreciation

• Watch U2 Documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt8r81guKdM
• I Will Follow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUq929HPEO4
• 1981 Gloria http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=DHZbZAy9fUg
• 1983 October http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mIGIcTBHiA
• 1984 Pride in the Name of Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHcP4MWABGY 1984

Arabic

• Alif Baa pg 60 drill 7, 8 and 9
• Alif Baa pg 9, 10, and listening exercise 7
• Arabian Sinbad DVD #1  

Mandarin

• Pinyin for Everyone Lesson 21
• Tone Drill
• My First Chinese Reader Lesson 5 Listen and repeat story, read and imitate sentences after story
• Lesson 5 Role-play, homework
• Lesson 5 Write characters, make sentences after story

Greek

Lesson 5 5.1 pages 5-2 through 5-4 http://www.inthebeginning.org /ntgreek/lesson5/lesson5.pdf – We ended up switching to Athenaze.

PE

• 30 min run with toddler music
• 30 min run with Arabic music
• 30 min run with math music
• 30 min run with praise and worship music
• Weigh and measure
• 1 hour active play
• 1 hour active play
• 1 hour active play
• 1 hour active play
• 1 hour active play