Secular Homeschool Curriculum Review: Philosophy for Kids
It’s never too early to start studying philosophy in your secular homeschool. Rebecca has the scoop on a resource that helps you get the big conversations started.
Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder about Everything!
Recommended for: Middle School
Four hundred years ago, French Renaissance writer Michel de Montaigne asked society a thoughtful question: “Since philosophy is the art which teaches us how to live, and since children need to learn it as much as we do at other ages, why do we not instruct them in it?”
Tuned-in parents and educators would agree that children are natural philosophers. As a group, young people are highly inquisitive, imaginative, wide-open thinkers. With enthusiasm, they constantly seek opportunities to develop a sense of self and an understanding of the world they inhabit. On many levels, children wrestle, just as philosophers do, with questions of morality, social justice, and human understanding. Oftentimes, they attempt this without a proper context in which to frame their questions.
Even an elementary understanding of philosophy provides the tools our kids need to question and evaluate ideas constructively. Philosophy teaches how to conduct organized and civilized debate. It cultivates appreciation and under- standing of diverse thoughts, and opinions and grows its students into responsible, empathetic, articulate world citizens. Philosophy, it seems, aims to achieve the very goals so many of us aspire to reach each day in our own homeschools.
Philosophy, and the thought-provoking discussions this subject inspires, can lead to deeply satisfying exchanges between you and your child. Fortunately for us, Prufrock Press has published an excellent resource to help families get started — David A. White’s Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder About Everything.
White has been teaching philosophy in colleges and universities since 1967, but clearly he understands the value of providing philosophical understanding to much younger students as well. Written for children ages 10 and older, Philosophy for Kids might also appeal to younger, highly motivated learners who enjoy engaging with thinking of this kind.
Philosophy for Kids is divided into four sections: values, knowledge, reality, and critical thinking. Each of these sections receives a brief overview from the author and is linked to a specific branch of philosophy — ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and logic. Only one page in length, these introductions set the stage for a series of compelling problems for readers to ponder.
Each of the four sections is accompanied by a series of 10 units that open with questions such as “How do you know who your friends are?,” “Do you perceive things as they are or only as they seem to be?,” “If many people believe that something is true, is it true?,” and “Do you have free will?”. The first 29 questions in these units are connected to the work of a great philosopher. Kids will have fun deciding if they agree with such thinkers as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates and will also love defending their own divergent beliefs.
To help learners consider all angles of each issue, White provides various exercises that include true or false and multiple choice questions as well as the chance to rank ideas according to the reader’s individual ideology. Although this traditional approach might sound dry to some homeschoolers, in this context the approach works well. The questions are entertaining, fun to wrestle with, and relevant.
Each short lesson closes with a section called “For Further Thought,” providing opportunities for students to delve deeper with more questions and activities. In one unit students are asked, “Can another person understand your feelings?” After completing several exercises addressing this question, students proceed to the “For Further Thought” section to consider “Is language the best way to express our emotions? Would the arts of music or painting represent emotions more vividly and truly? Select a work of music or art and analyze whether or not this work expresses emotions better than language.”
Additional ideas of great writers, mathematicians, orators, poets, and playwrights pepper the pages of this book and are wonderful aids for launching further thoughtful conversations.
The final 60 pages or so of Philosophy for Kids provide teaching tips, a glossary of terms, and helpful suggestions for further reading. Here White’s writing is as straightforward and pleasant to read as the rest of the book. With minimal effort, parents are able to glean excellent suggestions to enhance and facilitate meaningful discussion.
Whether your family chooses to work through this book chronologically or prefers instead to skip around to those questions of greatest interest, it makes no difference. A particularly fun aspect of a curriculum such as this is that it does not have to be a presented using a traditional format. If you like, simply use the material to foster deeper dinner time conversation or to pass time on a long car ride. However you choose to work with the book, your child will likely develop a new approach to critical thinking and have a terrific time in the process!
Philosophy for Kids could easily be adapted for use with one student or with many. I can imagine using this in a homeschool co-op with great results. Although a student could work through this book alone, I suspect an interactive approach would be preferable and loads more fun.
Very little preparation is required to use this book effectively in a homeschool. Parents may wish to read ahead to obtain a better command of the information. However, opening the book and reading it for the first time aloud with your child is absolutely fine. The book is a solid resource that is thorough enough to stand on its own. Especially enthusiastic students might enjoy supplementing with parts of the original texts cited throughout the book or with biographical information about featured philosophers. On average, expect a typical discussion to last 30 minutes or so.
In the introduction of his book, White writes of his desire to “foster a sense of wonder and to aim it in many directions.” It is my belief that the author achieves exactly what he set out to do. Taking subject matter that many might initially find intimidating, White presents philosophy as highly relevant, playful, challenging and fun.
Bottom line: Philosophy for Kids is a thought-provoking resource that will appeal to curious learners who enjoy puzzling over life’s mysteries. As a parent, you are likely to gain new insight into the wonderful ways that your child views the world as you delve into fascinating new subject matter together.
Curriculum Review: Michael Clay Thompson’s Language Arts
Rebecca loves the nerdy grammar fun of Michael Clay Thompson’s Language Arts. It may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely for word lovers.
Michael Clay Thompson’s language arts curriculum is the sort of treat we homeschool moms and dads enjoy as much as our kids. In my experience, too few people know about this gem of a resource, and I’m excited to have the chance to share it here with you.
Thompson is no ordinary teacher, and this is not your run-of-the mill curriculum. Seeking to introduce students to English language arts in its highest forms, Thompson writes eloquently, with frequent literary references. My 11-year-old son has noticed, “This is like taking a class with a professor.”
Those looking for a secular classical resource to teach language arts will be especially appreciative of Thompson’s approach. Vocabulary lessons based on Latin and Greek stems are far more interesting than those normally found in traditional text books. Classical literature is referenced throughout the program so you’ll want to keep a pen and paper handy just to jot down all the reading suggestions. Thompson’s program might serve as launch pad that sparks your child’s interest in classical history as well.
Thompson endorses the Socratic method of teaching—asking probing questions that encourage students to unearth answers themselves. Throughout the teaching manuals, he provides tips for parents that encourage lively, organic discourse, and critical thinking skills.
For the purposes of this review, I looked at the complete set of texts for Level Two which is written for the 4th grade and up. In all, there are 4 levels:
Level 1 (for 3rd grade and up): Grammar Island, Practice Island, Building Language, The Music of the Hemispheres, Sentence Island
Level 2 (for 4th grade and up): Grammar Town, Practice Town, Caesar’s English I (or CEE 1), Building Poems, Paragraph Town
Level 3 (for 5th grade and up): Grammar Voyage, Practice Voyage, Caesar’s English II (or CEE 2), A World of Poetry, Essay Voyage
Level 4 (for 6th grade and up): Magic Lens 1, 4 Practice 1, The Word Within the Word 1, Poetry and Humanity, Advanced Academic Writing 1
Each level contains texts that can be ordered separately or, for a small savings, as a bundle. Those who purchase the full set will have a comprehensive language arts program that teaches grammar, vocabulary, writing, and poetry at an accelerated level. Thompson designed this curriculum with gifted students in mind; however, by adjusting the suggested grade levels, this program could be adapted for a wider range of motivated learners.
To better acclimate to this program’s unique style, some families might find it helpful to start at the beginning of the series. While each level could serve as a stand-alone program, the material is cumulative and diving into its middle may be difficult for learners accustomed to a more conventional curriculum.
Each student book has a separate accompanying teacher’s manual. Families wishing to save a few dollars could do so by purchasing only the teacher’s manual which includes the student text in its entirety. Much of the information for teachers appears in the back of the teaching manuals. Although text boxes for parents appear throughout the guides, they are small and unobtrusive; most students could still read the books without distraction or difficulty.
Formatting in each book is straightforward with lots of white space and stylized fonts. At first glance, the slim texts might appear to lack substance. However, upon closer inspection, most students will find the content on these pages to be generous, dense, and rich with detail. Photographs of art and important quotations are sprinkled throughout each text and form a significant portion of each lesson.
For those wishing to further enhance their child’s experience, an optional literature component can be purchased separately. Level Two takes a look at the novels Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and The Wind in the Willows. Each book is reproduced to include an examination of poetic techniques, four-level analyses of interesting grammar, and a look at writing strategies. Vocabulary is reviewed at the end of each page. By working through these stories, concepts studied in Level Two’s textbooks can be reinforced in the context of compelling literature. The accompanying parent manual features commentary from Thompson about each novel, advanced vocabulary words, discussion questions, activities, and guidance to support students’ efforts practicing academic writing.
The Royal Fireworks Press website features free videos and sample readings from the books, along with other materials to support parents’ teaching efforts.
Pricing details vary depending on how items are purchased. The complete Level Two homeschool package, which does not include the literature trilogy mentioned above, is $260. If ordered on the publisher’s website, the cost is $225. The Alice, Peter, and Mole Trilogy Set and Parent Manual is an additional $40. For more pricing information, visit the Royal Fireworks Press website.
Not every student will enjoy this program. Some learners may consider the elevated, formal style of prose stuffy or pretentious and the level of detail too difficult. This is a curriculum for a family in love with language and all its complexity who wants to explore this subject in depth. If that sounds like you, this is a curriculum worth checking out. Enjoy!
Review: Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
Do you want to teach your kids science, or do you want to teach them how to think like scientists? Rebecca Pickens has the scoop on an elementary to middle school program that lets you do both.
Do you want to teach your kids science, or do you want to teach them how to think like scientists? Rebecca Pickens has the scoop on an elementary to middle school program that lets you do both.
Writing home/school/life’s curriculum column is great fun. However, I have encountered one problem with the job. Just when I think I’ve got my own kids’ curriculum needs sorted out, I stumble upon a fantastic new resource like Dr. Bernard J. Nebel’s series, Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (BFSU). Suddenly, all of my well-ironed plans are out the window, and I find myself trying something entirely new. Of course, this may well be more of a perk than a problem!
The three-volume BfSU series is a complete curriculum for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Each volume is expected to take three years to complete. Volume I is for kindergarten to 2nd grade. Volume II targets grades 3 to 5. Volume III is for grades 6 to 8. For this review, I looked at Volume I.
Nebel opens Volume I of his series with the words of Carl Sagan: “Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.” In a nutshell, this statement sums up Nebel’s approach to science education.
BFSU provides a comprehensive and integrated approach to the sciences. It relies mostly on teacher-led observation, questioning, and reasoning supplemented with hands-on activities. “Learning terminology,” Nebel explains, “is secondary to gaining conceptual understanding.”
A defining feature of Nebel’s program is this emphasis on integrative thinking. The first volume of BFSU explores four areas of science referred to in the text as learning progressions: Nature of Matter, Life Science, Physical Science, Engineering, and Technology, and Earth and Space Science. Rather than teaching each of these themes as compartmentalized units, Nebel promotes a tandem approach.
Students work on each learning progression for one or two lessons before moving on to the next. Well-organized flow charts, one for each learning progression, indicate the order in which lessons should be presented. Following this suggested sequence helps children see the interconnectedness of the scientific topics that they are exploring.
The way that one chooses to rotate through each flow chart is somewhat flexible. If your student is particularly interested in earth and space science and wants to linger there a while longer, she can. However, in order to glean the most from BFSU’s integrated approach, it is advisable not to stray too far from the suggested framework.
Each lesson plan is presented in an engaging, well-organized manner with the following included features:
An overview of concepts that will be addressed
An estimate of how much time is required to complete the core lesson
A list of key points students will understand upon their completion of the lesson
Background knowledge required in order to begin new material
Materials list
Teachable Moments — suggestions to help students fully engage with the material
Methods and procedures to help students interpret their own observations
Questions, discussions, and activity ideas that reinforce, expand, and assess learning
Notes to Parents and Others — a list of practical ideas adults can use to help kids relate classroom experiences to the real world
A list of books with grade-appropriate, supplemental readings
Throughout the book Nebel shares effective worthwhile teaching strategies. In a section titled “Teaching According to How Students Learn,” Nebel cites research examining teaching practices that both help and hinder students in their attempts to acquire scientific literacy.
The findings in this section are relevant not only to the field of science education, but also to learning in general. Nebel is an articulate spokesperson for finding the joy and intrinsic motivation in learning, and his message will resonate with many homeschooling families. In addition, Nebel moderates a website where BFSU users can communicate further about such ideas. Additional links to relevant photos, videos, and readings also appear on the site.
BFSU explores material that is far more advanced than that of other science programs for this age group. However, its engaging nature ensures that children with a range of abilities can successfully participate. Rather than a reliance on dry, text-heavy materials, BFSU helps students engage directly with the subject matter. BFSU inspires Socratic discussions that move children toward a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Students are encouraged to ask questions, to make connections, and discover concepts through activities and observations. In following this program, most children will develop a strong foundation that enables them to successfully pursue high school sciences.
BFSU will appeal to a wide range of learners; however, some considerations should also be taken into account. BFSU is a teacher’s guide. There is no accompanying children’s text. If your child is a visual learner, you will likely want to seek out pictures and other visual aids in order to support your lessons. The straightforward activities in this program are interesting, relevant, and not needlessly complicated. However, if you have a highly hands-on, kinesthetic learner, you may wish to supplement with additional experiments and activities that correlate with each lesson plan.
The full BFSU curriculum is intended to provide a comprehensive foundation in science for students K-8. As Nebel points out, significant gaps in science education are not unusual. To address this issue, even some families with older children may find it best to begin with the K-2 volume. The subject matter is advanced and well-developed, and a third or fourth grader is not likely to find the text’s format or content objectionable.
Primarily a teacher-led program, BFSU does require a deeper time commitment on the part of the parent than most other science programs for children this age. Parents should expect to spend time preparing for classes in advance and to be highly involved in each lesson with their child. At the same time, Nebel encourages instructors not to over prepare for lessons. Leave lots of room for spontaneous inquiry and observation—this is how scientists are grown.
The activities and experiments in this book rely on inexpensive, common materials, many of which homeschoolers will already have in their homes. As the author wisely points out, “Science does not come in a box. It is a matter of looking at and reflecting on the world around us.” Nebel has given the homeschooling community an engaging, secular science curriculum. And he has made this program highly affordable. Print versions of Volume 1 sell for just $24.95. And remember, this is a three-year curriculum. Kindle editions are $9.99 each, and ebook downloads are only $5 each. Books can be purchased online.
Now it’s time for me to go revise plans for my homeschoolers’ science program. fortunately, this is a plan I think I can stick with!
(We’re Amazon affiliates, so if you purchase something through an Amazon link, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Obviously this doesn’t influence what we recommend, and we link to places other than Amazon.) This column was originally published in the fall 2016 issue of HSL.
Curriculum Review: The Science of Climate Change
Forget alternative facts and deal with actual science: Rebecca Pickens reviews The Science of Climate Change, a hands-on curriculum that tackles one of science’s most important issues.
Homeschooling offers our families wide open space to explore complex and topical issues like climate change. But finding science-based, kid-friendly materials to support these efforts can be surprisingly difficult. Blair Lee’s new curriculum, The Science of Climate Change: A Hands-On Course, has arrived on the scene just in time!
A former science professor with a background in environmental chemistry, Lee has gone on to pursue a career as a curriculum developer. You may know her as an author for the popular resource R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey or as the Smart Science columnist for HSL magazine.
In developing content for The Science of Climate Change, Lee has relied on her own scientific training as well as the research of reputable organizations which include:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Earth Systems Laboratory (ESL)
National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
The Science of Climate Change is a concise 69 pages divided into four parts titled: The Greenhouse Effect; Global Warming; Climate Change; and What Can Be Done to Help? A useful glossary, answer key, and additional resources follow.
Lee’s writing is inviting and succinct. From the start, her admirable objective is clear: to make vital information concerning climate change accessible and relevant to a wide variety of learners.
Like many home educators, Lee believes scientific understanding is developed through “a careful pairing of information with an application of that information.” In order to achieve this balance, Lee has developed 16 hands-on activities to accompany her straightforward, science-based explanations of global warming. Preparation for these activities is minimal since many of the required materials can be found in most households.
Activities include making an empty box and predicting the number of air molecules inside of it. By making a Kool-Aid mixture that models the gas mixture found in air, kids learn about the significant effect a small concentration of greenhouse gas has on our planet. Another activity encourages students to gather and interpret data by tracking the temperature, amount of precipitation, and wind speed in one’s hometown every year for the past 30 years. Other activities include labs, graphing, and scientific modeling. Each activity is supported with helpful charts, tables, illustrations, and substantive data.
“Never in my lifetime has it felt more imperative to provide young people with substantive science and opportunities to develop the critical thinking skills required to make positive change.”
Lee does not sugarcoat the serious threats posed by climate change. At the same time, she provides her readers with a sense of hope and purpose by sharing pragmatic strategies we can all use to help minimize our carbon footprints. Making a case for practices that reduce, reuse, and recycle, Lee also encourages—and shows readers easy ways to—moderate energy consumption.
The Science of Climate Change was developed for a range of age levels. Though the information presented is most suited for children ages 8 to 15, it could easily be modified to accommodate older and younger learners. This curriculum will work well with multi-age siblings and is likely to inspire terrific mealtime discussions.
In an effort to ensure the book’s activities are accessible for a multitude of learners, lee sometimes presents two versions of the same projects. One such example is a graphing activity. Lee explains, “One set of graphs is a dot-to-dot activity for younger learners, where much of the graphing work has been done, and the real work is answering the questions at the end of the activity. There is also a version for older learners who use the information from a data table and to plot data points on the graphs.”
The Science of Climate Change is a secular program containing peer-reviewed, objective science. Even children who don’t yet consider themselves to be “good at” or engaged with science will be able to interact thoughtfully with the material presented here.
The PDF version is $20, and soft-cover copies are $30.
Many times throughout this year I’ve considered what an increasingly complex world my sons are living in. Never in my lifetime has it felt more imperative to provide young people with substantive science and opportunities to develop the critical thinking skills required to make positive change. As moms and dads everywhere put forth their best efforts to raise a new generation of responsible global citizens, they are fortunate to have resources such as Blair Lee’s new book to support them in their efforts.
Disclosure: Blair Lee is a sometimes columnist for HSL magazine. Her work for the magazine did not influence this review.
This was originally published in the summer 2017 issue of HSL.
Curriculum Review: Philosophy for Kids
Start honing critical thinking skills early with a philosophy curriculum designed for elementary-age kids.
Start honing critical thinking skills early with a philosophy curriculum designed for elementary-age kids.
Four hundred years ago, French Renaissance writer Michel de Montaigne asked society a thoughtful question: “Since philosophy is the art which teaches us how to live, and since children need to learn it as much as we do at other ages, why do we not instruct them in it?”
Tuned-in parents and educators would agree that children are natural philosophers. As a group, young people are highly inquisitive, imaginative, wide-open thinkers. With enthusiasm, they constantly seek opportunities to develop a sense of self and an understanding of the world they inhabit. On many levels, children wrestle, just as philosophers do, with questions of morality, social justice, and human understanding. Oftentimes, they attempt this without a proper context in which to frame their questions.
Even an elementary understanding of philosophy provides the tools our kids need to question and evaluate ideas constructively. Philosophy teaches how to conduct organized and civilized debate. It cultivates appreciation and under- standing of diverse thoughts, and opinions and grows its students into responsible, empathetic, articulate world citizens. Philosophy, it seems, aims to achieve the very goals so many of us aspire to reach each day in our own homeschools.
Philosophy, and the thought-provoking discussions this subject inspires, can lead to deeply satisfying exchanges between you and your child. Fortunately for us, Prufrock Press has published an excellent resource to help families get started—David A. White’s Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder About Everything.
White has been teaching philosophy in colleges and universities since 1967, but clearly he understands the value of providing philosophical understanding to much younger students as well. Written for children ages 10 and older, Philosophy for Kids might also appeal to younger, highly motivated learners who enjoy engaging with thinking of this kind.
Philosophy for Kids is divided into four sections: values, knowledge, reality, and critical thinking. Each of these sections receives a brief overview from the author and is linked to a specific branch of philosophy—ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and logic. Only one page in length, these introductions set the stage for a series of compelling problems for readers to ponder.
Each of the four sections is accompanied by a series of 10 units that open with questions such as “How do you know who your friends are?,” “Do you perceive things as they are or only as they seem to be?,” “If many people believe that something is true, is it true?,” and “Do you have free will?”. The first 29 questions in these units are connected to the work of a great philosopher. Kids will have fun deciding if they agree with such thinkers as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates and will also love defending their own divergent beliefs.
To help learners consider all angles of each issue, White provides various exercises that include true or false and multiple choice questions as well as the chance to rank ideas according to the reader’s’ individual ideology. Although this traditional approach might sound dry to some homeschoolers, in this context the approach works well. The questions are entertaining, fun to wrestle with, and relevant.
“Children wrestle, just as philosophers do, with questions of morality, social justice, and human understanding. ”
Each short lesson closes with a section called “For Further Thought,” providing opportunities for students to delve deeper with more questions and activities. In one unit students are asked, “Can another person understand your feelings?” After completing several exercises addressing this question, students proceed to the “For Further Thought” section to consider “Is language the best way to express our emotions? Would the arts of music or painting represent emotions more vividly and truly? Select a work of music or art and analyze whether or not this work expresses emotions better than language.”
Additional ideas of great writers, mathematicians, orators, poets, and playwrights pepper the pages of this book and are wonderful aids for launching further thoughtful conversations.
The final 60 pages or so of Philosophy for Kids provide teaching tips, a glossary of terms, and helpful suggestions for further reading. Here White’s writing is as straightforward and pleasant to read as the rest of the book. With minimal effort, parents are able to glean excellent suggestions to enhance and facilitate meaningful discussion.
Whether your family chooses to work through this book chronologically or prefers instead to skip around to those questions of greatest interest, it makes no difference. A particularly fun aspect of a curriculum such as this is that it does not have to be a presented using a traditional format. If you like, simply use the material to foster deeper dinner time conversation or to pass time on a long car ride. However you choose to work with the book, your child will likely develop a new approach to critical thinking and have a terrific time in the process!
Philosophy for Kids could easily be adapted for use with one student or with many. I can imagine using this in a homeschool co-op with great results. Although a student could work through this book alone, I suspect an interactive approach would be preferable and loads more fun.
Very little preparation is required to use this book effectively in a homeschool. Parents may wish to read ahead to obtain a better command of the information. However, opening the book and reading it for the first time aloud with your child is absolutely fine. The book is a solid resource that is thorough enough to stand on its own. Especially enthusiastic students might enjoy supplementing with parts of the original texts cited throughout the book or with biographical information about featured philosophers. On average, expect a typical discussion to last 30 minutes or so.
The publisher’s price of $29.95 for this 193-page, soft- covered book is reasonable. This is a resource you should be able to find in your library as well.
In the introduction of his book, White writes of his desire to “foster a sense of wonder and to aim it in many directions.” It is my belief that the author achieves exactly what he set out to do. Taking subject matter that many might initially find intimidating, White presents philosophy as highly relevant, playful, challenging and fun.
Philosophy for Kids is a thought-provoking resource that will appeal to curious learners who enjoy puzzling over life’s mysteries. As a parent, you are likely to gain new insight into the wonderful ways that your child views the world as you delve into fascinating new subject matter together.
This review was originally published in the winter 2016 issue of HSL.
A High School History Curriculum that Asks Big Questions: The Big History Project
A free history program that covers 13.8 billion years of history — from the Big Bang to the present day.
Do you have a high school student bursting with big ideas and curiosity? Are you looking for resources that will address her intellectual interests while also cultivating skills in the areas of critical thinking, analytic reading, academic discourse, and abstract thinking? Consider looking into The Big History Project’s (TBHP) free course.
Inspired by the work of historian David Christian and supported by Bill Gates, TBHP is an online, year-long high school course presenting over 13.8 billion years of history. Using an interdisciplinary approach drawing from both science and the humanities, “Big History” spans the time from the Big Bang to the present day. Under a (very) wide and extraordinary lens, the evolution of human existence is examined in the context of the wide universe.
TBHP leaves memorization of facts and small details to traditional curriculum, and focuses instead upon exactly the sort of philosophical, fundamental, giant-sized questions young people find most exciting. “What do we come from? What are we a part of? How do events of the past impact the lives we lead now? How will our actions today impact the world 1,000 years from now?”
Abstract concepts aren’t shied away from in this course, but always the subject matter is grounded with well-produced short videos, interviews, graphics and academic readings. TBHP might most remind you of your favorite freshman college course in which you first encountered stunning ideas with a quirky favorite professor.
TBHP encompasses 10 units which are further divided into individual lessons. The course begins with an overview identifying the goals and purpose of Big History learning. Moving forward, scientific study of the Big Bang and the formation of stars and elements is explored. Students continue on with a look at the Solar System and the beginning and evolution of life on our planet. The impact of agriculture, the expansion of civilization, and globalization’s transformative effect upon civilization is also examined. Finally, students consider how the world will adapt to a future in which increased demands are made of our planet’s limited resources.
Each unit in TBHP is accompanied by readings, videos, activities, and short assessments. Throughout each unit, deep reading and thoughtful discussion are expected. Students are encouraged to become fluent in technical terms and to use them when making points and addressing ideas. Opportunities to revise then discuss one’s perspectives are provided after learner’s complete specific readings.
This course has been carefully designed and constructed. Except in special circumstances, it should be worked through chronologically and to completion. On the other hand, it would not be difficult to expand lessons for especially motivated learners. Suggestions for expansion projects and activities are provided online and home educators and students are likely to have their own ideas about which concepts warrant further investigation.
Among the most helpful features of this website is the teacher dashboard which supports The Big History Project Teacher Online Community. Here educators gather for discussions concerning course organization, lesson plans and more. TBHP teacher blogs are also found on the site and are a spectacular source for extra enlightened support.
Big History's goals and objectives are admiral, and its polished, dynamic delivery is commendable. Beyond the immediate goals of this program, is the opportunity for high schoolers to develop critical analytic thinking skills required in the pursuit of any discipline.
Although TBHP was designed with traditional classrooms in mind, it is perfected suited for home-based learning. The course is a dream come true for families looking for affordable, quality curriculum. However, this is not a course for everyone. As noted, both the concepts and the readings are highly challenging and will be too abstract in some cases. However, with some consideration and supplemental readings, a parent could make the course more accessible. Also, this is very much a secular course with many of its teachings focused on evolution-based science.
If your learner seems like a candidate for Big History learning, get started today. One of the greatest gifts homeschooling affords us is the chance to discuss big ideas with our kids. TBHP will have your child expressing himself in new, wonderful ways that enrich his thinking for many years to come. Enjoy!
Resources for Studying the Supreme Court
With the Supreme Court more relevant than ever, Rebecca recommends a curriculum to understand how the Court works, both philosophically and practically.
With elections finally behind us, many will shift their attention toward the next Supreme Court nomination. It is the perfect time to expand our families’ understanding of this important institution. I’ve got two great resources to help get you started—Our Supreme Court, A History with 14 Activities by Richard Panchyk, written for grade levels 5 and up and Jeffry D. Stock’s Supreme Court Decision: Scenarios, Simulations and Activities for Understanding and Evaluating 14 Landmark Court Cases, written for grades 7 to 12.
Our Supreme Court is part of the fabulous “For Kids” series published by the Chicago Review Press. Divided into eight chapters, author Richard Panchyk introduces readers to such topics as the founding of the courts, free speech and freedom of religion, civil rights, criminal justice, and regulation of business and property rights. Presenting Supreme Court cases chronologically, Panchyk demonstrates the ways that U.S. court opinions have evolved over time.
An especially interesting feature of this book is its interviews with 35 individuals, each involved in landmark court decisions. These include talks with former Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury James Baker as well as David Boies, lead counsel for Vice President Al Gore in Bush v. Gore (2000). Fourteen unique activity ideas, including making a Supreme Court scrapbook, being a courtroom artist, role playing, and creating a neighborhood zoning map are also included in this book.
The text in Our Supreme Court is substantive and full of detail. This is a resource most suited for students intrinsically motivated to learn more about this subject matter. Panchyk’s book is not another dry text book. Well placed text boxes, interesting photography, engaging writing, and opportunities for student engagement make this an appealing, informative guide.
Written for children 10 to 17, Our Supreme Court could be easily adapted to teach multi-aged learners and would work equally well at home or in a larger group setting. Pancyk’s book retails for $16.95 and is available online and in bookstores.
In the opening pages of Jeffrey Stock’s Supreme Court Decisions: Scenarios, Simulations and Activities for Understanding and Evaluating 14 Landmark Cases, the author writes that his intention is “to teach students about important Supreme Court cases and to help them to think critically about the major historical decisions that have shaped the development of the United States.” Supreme Court Decisions is lets students interact with specific landmark cases in order to understand the imprint they have left on the evolution of our legal system.
Stock does not expect his book to be used as a stand-alone text. For a deeper understanding of the complex legal issues referenced in Supreme Court Decisions, he recommends exploring additional resources. Our Supreme Court would complement Stock’s work nicely.
As in Our Supreme Court, cases in Stock’s book are presented in chronological order. Each of the 14 cases is presented in a single chapter. At the start of each section helpful notes under the headings “Quick Reference” and “Background” are provided for instructors. “Quick Reference” succinctly identifies the issue, the players, the ruling, and the significance of the specific case. The “Background” section provides the instructor with historical context and additional information about the case. Both sections are brief and do not require extensive time for preparation.
The student section is divided into two parts. Section one provides a fictional vignette or scenario depicting the circumstances surrounding a specific case. Thoughtful discussion questions follow each vignette. Students are asked to identify what major issues need to be settled, discuss the facts as they’ve been presented, and to anticipate the court’s response.
In Section two of the student section the actual case is presented followed by a write-up of the court’s actual ruling and the aftermath of the decision. Lastly, readers are asked to consider how the particular ruling is still relevant today.
Ideas for 15 follow-up activities, which can be used with any of the 14 cases presented, are also provided. These include writing a letter to the editor in response to a specific verdict, creating a flow chart that shows how a case wound up in the Supreme Court, making a political cartoon, and creating a television news report that describes a Supreme Court ruling.
Stock’s writing is lean. Adroitly condensing multifaceted concepts and details, he delivers information with a straightforward style that most students will appreciate. Supreme Court Decisions is an extremely flexible resource that suits a variety of learning styles. Depending on your child’s level of interest, you may choose to study all 14 cases and attempt all of the activities. On the other hand, you may simply wish to familiarize your child with a more basic understanding of how the Supreme Court functions. It may be enough to review a small sampling of the cases Stock presents here.
Supreme Court Decision is 98 pages. It retails for $19.95 and is available online at Prufrock Press and in bookstores.
Homeschooling provides families the chance to explore whatever issues seem most significant at a particular point in time. An extra special bonus is discovering great resources, like the ones I’ve described here, which address these interests and also help our children to better understand the complicated world in which they live.
The Brain, An Introduction to Neurology: Fun Science for Middle Grades
As the mom of three budding young scientists, each time I open one of Ellen McHenry’s popular books for homeschoolers, I grow more excited. Writing for children ages 8 to 14, McHenry introduces areas of science often deemed too advanced for young students—chemistry, botany, and neurology to name just a few. McHenry recognizes what many homeschoolers quickly come to realize—this science stuff is too much fun to put off till high school!
The Brain, An Introduction to Neurology is one of McHenry’s earlier texts. Although it lacks the colorful content of her more recent works, this is not a resource that you will want to miss. The author is also an illustrator and her black and white sketches are as detailed and informative as the text that they accompany. The result is a superbly balanced layout that succeeds in providing detailed information for older learners, and avoids overwhelming younger readers with text-heavy material.
A reproducible student booklet, a teacher guide and answer key, and a CD rom are the cornerstones of this resource. They come packaged together.
The student booklet is 10 chapters. Topics include a history of brain research, brain anatomy, brain cells, learning and memory, and a look at various brain disorders. Each chapter is divided into two sections. The first section introduces a new topic and is followed by several activities that reinforce new concepts. Wide-ranging activities include viewing videos online, reading additional materials, cross word puzzles, mapping parts of the brain, word searches and more.
The second section of each chapter was developed for more advanced learners or for anyone wishing to delve a little deeper. Additional activities, similar to those found in section 1, follow. Your family may choose to do all of these advanced sections, or you may pick and choose those that most appeal to your child. An answer key for both sections is also included.
The student booklet is followed by the teacher’s section, which opens with a list of recommendations for additional neurology books and websites. From here, McHenry provides unique activity suggestions to accompany each chapter. As one who is forever perusing Pinterest and homeschooling blogs for innovative science projects, I’m certain that McHenry has among the most original ideas out there. Do an MRI of an orange, make a hemisphere hat, memory games and neuron art are just some of the project ideas she includes in the teacher’s section of this book. These activities require minimal materials and prep time. Many of the activities, such as making a human neuronal network, would lend themselves nicely to a co-op setting.
The accompanying CD contains a vocal and instrumental version of “The Brain Song,” to cement the brain’s different functions in the minds of your students. This disc also provides a copy of the student booklet making it easy to produce copies for multiple siblings or co-op students.
McHenry’s books are an ideal resource for groups containing multi-age learners. The Brain contains interesting readings and informative diagrams that are paired with hands-on interactive projects. McHenry’s work is likely to appeal both to academic, bookish learners as well as to active, kinesthetic learners. There is plenty of room for flexibility with this program, however it is realistic to assume one could work their way through all of the material in 10 weeks’ time.
The Brain is available for sale on McHenry’s website. The paperback version is $17.95, and the digital download is $14.95. While you are there, check out all of the free resources McHenry shares with her readers. It is an informative website with lots of great ideas to make your lesson planning tons more fun. The Brain is available at other online bookstores as well.
McHenry’s writing is succinct, engaging, and easy to follow. She has a gift for providing substantive information with a comprehensible delivery. Potentially daunting subject matter, in McHenry’s hands, quickly becomes accessible, relevant and loads of fun.
For more information about Ellen McHenry’s work, see the spring issue 2016 of home/school/life magazine for my review of her book, The Elements: Ingredients of the Universe.
Jot It Down!: A Supportive, Interest-Driven Curriculum for Young Writers
Julie Bogart’s popular Brave Writer resources are favorites among homeschooling families. One enthusiastic mom told me, “Brave Writer is more than a curriculum; it’s also a guide to maximizing all of the joys and rewards that come with the homeschooling lifestyle.”
I finally had the opportunity to check out Brave Writer for myself, and I’m absolutely hooked! We’ll be using this program in our homeschool this fall, and I can’t wait to get started.
Brave Writer products include both home-based and online learning resources ranging from kindergarten through to high school. I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing Jot It Down!, a year-long language arts and writing program for children ages 5 to 8.
Bogart encourages parents to cultivate learning environments in which young writers feel comfortable taking creative risks. By establishing a cozy, supportive space to practice reading and writing, she explains, creativity blossoms and an organic love of language evolves.
Jot It Down! opens with fun ideas to help readers create just the right learning atmosphere—light candles while reading poetry, bake brownies, sing, play, and dance. Bogart’s writing is warm and inviting; it is a celebration of the magic moments made possible through homeschooling.
Before the age of five, writes Bogart, children acquire and develop language skills simply by engaging with others. Family and friends listen appreciatively to toddlers offering them gentle feedback and modeling correct grammar patterns. Throughout this stage of learning, instincts guide us as we help our children master verbal communication.
Writing skills, the author points out, can be developed using the very same painless methods. We enjoy watching young children experiment freely with vocalization and sentence structure. Rarely do we feel a need to edit their words. We recognize this is a valid part of the learning process. Bogart believes that young writers should be encouraged in the same ways. Resist the temptation to pull out a red pen, she urges. Let kids experiment and play with the written word.
Jot It Down! is divided into three areas of learning: Language Arts, Oral Language, and Writing Projects. Although Bogart offers scheduling suggestions, parents are encouraged to work through the program in a manner that best suits their child.
Language Arts
Handwriting, reading skills, and basic punctuation are introduced in the language arts section. To teach these mechanics, Bogart relies heavily on copy work and dictation. Here it is important to note that parent’s must provide all copy work materials as none are included in this resource. For those unfamiliar with copy work and dictation methods, additional research will be required—a guide to these approaches is not provided in Jot It Down! For information about copy work and dictation, the author suggests referring to Brave Writer publications The Wand or A Quiver of Arrows, which are sold separately and as part of a Jot It Down! bundle.
Oral Language
Oral language development is an important feature of the Jot It Down! curriculum. Narrating ideas aloud facilitates vocabulary development and helps children develop their “internal writing voice.” Bogart playfully exchanges the term “narration” with “Big Juicy Conversation.” She refers to parents’ transcription as “catching your child in the act of thinking.” Jot It Down! provides ideas to encourage impromptu storytelling as well as worthwhile extension activities that maximize the value of narration activities.
Writing Projects
Ten writing projects are featured in this final section. These projects can be easily simplified or expanded depending on the needs of the child. One writing project per month is recommended, with each project taking four weeks to complete. These hands-on projects are creative and include appealing project themes such as fairy tales, animals, and art appreciation. Activities include topic selection, research, content development, transcribing, revision, assembling, and sharing projects with friends and family.
Jot It Down! is a 79-page digital download that is visually appealing and printer friendly. It is available to purchase online and retails for $39.95.
Jot It Down! is the sort of resource that appeals to all kinds of families. It can be easily modified to suit a variety of learning styles and can be used with multi-aged siblings. Bogart’s writing is full of reassurance and warmth that parents will appreciate. Kids will love the program’s emphasis on joyful learning and creative self-expression.
The Heroines Club: An Empowering Feminist Curriculum for Mothers and Daughters
The Heroines Club is both an innovative history curriculum and a how-to guide for creating and nurturing a mother-daughter circle.
Melia Keeton-Digby’s new book, The Heroines Club: A Mother-Daughter Empowerment Circle, is not a traditional curriculum—and this is likely to be what you love most about this fantastic resource. Noting children’s innate desire for role models, the author became concerned by the dearth of women role models in her children’s history textbooks. The creation of the Heroines Club is her inspiring response.
Writing for mothers and their daughters, Keeton-Digby takes her readers on a year-long intellectual and spiritual journey examining the lives of extraordinary women athletes, inventors, artists, and revolutionaries. As they explore the groundbreaking accomplishments of twelve great women, girls and their mothers are exposed to the inspiring stories of individuals whose contribution are all too often neglected in traditional curriculum.
The Heroines Club is both an innovative history curriculum and a how-to guide for creating and nurturing a mother-daughter circle. In the context of this book, a circle is a well-established tradition of a group of individuals gathering to co-create community and share knowledge. Keeton-Digby demonstrates how this model of learning fortifies the mother-daughter relationship in profound ways, fostering empowerment and learning.
The uplifting words and work of such figures as Amelia Earhart, Anne Frank, Maya Angelou, and Jane Goodall are explored and used as a catalyst for animated discussion, meaningful ritual, and hands-on creative projects.
Keeton-Digby’s writes beautifully and her messages are hopeful and energizing. She provides pragmatic guidelines for cultivating and nurturing a mother-daughter circle. Tips for managing leadership roles, participant selection, circle size, frequency and duration of gatherings, and other key details are provided.
A sequence of circle events and recommended time allotments are outlined in the book.
Opening meditation signifying the formal beginning of circle.
Reading of commitments to serve as a reminder of group expectations.
Check-ins to give each member an opportunity to speak to the group.
Discussion prompts that generate meaningful dialogue and about the selected heroine’s life.
Quote study in which powerful ideas and expressions of the selected heroine are examined and discussed.
Integrated activities that are hands-on projects designed by the author to reinforce thematic concepts.
Medicine meditation is time set aside to identify the strengths and gifts of the particular heroine. Members are also encouraged to identify how these traits are manifested in their own lives.
Candlelight ritual and songs reinforce the belief that mothers and daughters share traits with these powerful women who came before them.
Closing signifies the end of circle and acknowledgement of the special time that has passed.
“The Heroines Club is both an innovative history curriculum and a how-to guide for creating and nurturing a mother-daughter circle.”
Part two of The Heroines Club is a guide to implementing the twelve-month curriculum. Each chapter opens with a “Dear Mother Letter” in which the author introduces one key heroine and an accompanying affirmation to discuss in circle. For example, month one features Amelia Earhart and the affirmation “I believe in my dreams.” Here Keeton-Digby writes of the value of sharing particular messages with one’s daughters. Insightful questions for mothers to consider are sprinkled throughout these letters providing a lovely way for moms to connect with the material before going on to share it with daughters. Truly, this curriculum is as much a gift for mothers as it is for their daughters.
A brief biographical sketch of the featured heroine is followed by thoughtful discussion prompts for circle leaders to share. These questions start out citing details of the heroine’s life and then connect these to the lives of circle members. For example, in a lesson about Maya Angelou one prompt question is “Maya wrote seven autobiographies in her lifetime, the first of which she titled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Why do you think she chose that title? If you were to write a memoir of your life, what might be a fitting title?”
The spiritual nature of this book means that there are elements that will resonate strongly for some people and that others will find difficult. This is by no means a “religious” curriculum. Families of any faith or belief system will find messages they can relate to. It is primarily a text that celebrates the strength, courage and contributions of 12 spectacular women.
If the ritualistic and emotional nature of this book is not your thing, I believe that the curriculum section of the book alone would be worth the investment. One wishing to explore the lives of important women using more traditional methods can eliminate aspects such as the circle and ceremony and still be left with resource materials rich with substantive information and engaging stories.
Keeton-Digby writes with intelligence and eloquence. Her book is intended for mothers and daughter ages 7 and older and is appropriate for diverse family configurations including adopted and blended family members. It retails for $19.99.
One of the many joys of homeschooling is the chance to use out-of-the box, compelling resources that bring learning to life. Melia Keeton-Digby has not only provided our daughters with access to important historical information, but she has given mothers an opportunity to connect with their daughters in significant and beautiful ways.
Now, Melia, how about a book for mothers with sons!? I’ve got my fingers crossed.
Exploring Nature with Children: A Hands-On Nature Study Curriculum for Homeschoolers
Spring has sprung. My young sons wake up earlier now, anxious to get outside for great big adventures. This time of year dandelion hunting, playtime in the mud, bike riding, and tree climbing fill our days. I am in awe of all of the learning opportunities nature conjures up for us.
The chance to accommodate and encourage our children’s love of nature is one of the many perks of homeschooling. Nature books are a much loved keystone on many homeschoolers bookshelves, and so I’m pleased to have stumbled upon Lynn Seddon’s treasure Exploring Nature with Children.
Exploring Nature with Children is a curriculum chock-full of ideas to take thoughtful learners through a full year of nature studies. Well organized and comprehensive, Seddon’s program takes the work out of lesson planning, ensuring that families have time to get outdoors and play in the dirt.
Seddon opens with tips for making nature studies a homeschooling focal point. Making and maintaining nature journals and keeping a nature display table indoors are two rewarding activities kids (and grownup) of all ages can enjoy. Seddon provides helpful ideas to make these ideas come to life.
Exploring Nature with Children provides 48 weeks of themed and guided nature study. Seddon’s program will help to develop your family’s appreciation of nature a well as to provide a scientific context for your child’s observations.
“The chance to accommodate and encourage our children’s love of nature is one of the many perks of homeschooling.”
Although Exploring Nature with Children is designed to work well as a stand-alone resource, Seddon encourages using it in conjunction with one of my all-time favorites, Anna Botsford Comstack’s Handbook of Nature Study. This would be a particularly worthwhile choice for those using the curriculum with older children.
Each section of Exploring Nature with Children is designed to take students through one week of nature study. Seddon opens each section with a theme. Our family worked through a March unit on birds. The section opens with an informative paragraph about the behavior of nesting birds in early springtime.
Next up is a guided nature walk. Here Seddon suggests details to be on the lookout for during a walk in the wild. My sons and I loved the challenge of watching for birds at work building nests. We also kept an eye open for nesting materials. To find nests off the beaten path, Seddon suggests looking at tree tops with binoculars, carefully examining the woodland floor, and observing holes in the trunks of trees. Seddon encourages readers to spend time afterwards sketching and jotting down observations in their nature journal.
For those wishing to learn more, Seddon suggests readings in The Handbook of Nature Study as well as correlating page numbers to provide more in-depth information about the week’s theme. A themed book list also accompanies each weekly lesson. Whether you choose to use these books or not is optional. Recommended non-fiction, fiction, and biography titles are provided for a range of ages. Even in my rural library, most of the recommended titles were easy to locate. My family enjoyed starting out the day reading books from this list.
A poem and a piece of art relating to the theme of the week are included in each unit as well. Families can incorporate these features into a learning plan however they like. Keep in mind that the suggested artwork itself is not included in Seddon’s book. Rather, she provides the name of the artist and of the painting. A simple internet search will provide prints of all of these works.
Innovative extension activities to help delve deeper into the week’s theme follow next. As my family worked through March activities we enjoyed gifting the birds with small piles of nest-making materials such as twigs and grass. We left these near our bird feeders. Using a field guide we located local birds and researched their nesting patterns. Seddon also suggests creating a map of the nests in your area to put inside of nature journals. The extension activities throughout the book are wonderfully varied, original, hands-on, and substantive.
Living waaaaay up north means we need to tweak the book’s calendar schedule for our uses. In April, for instance, we worked through the March sections of the book. It may take readers a little time to sync up with the author’s schedule; however, once this adjustment is made there should not be any difficulty.
Exploring Nature with Children will work best for those living in regions with somewhat dramatic seasonal changes. Also, the author assumes readers have access to landscapes that provide opportunities to observe, touch, and interact with nature.
Exploring Nature With Children is only available as a PDF. The PDF download costs $15 and can be purchased from the author’s website.
Nature is the perfect classroom. Kids of all ages can find inspiration, information, joy, and satisfaction from time spent learning outdoors. Happy spring!
Curriculum Review: Resources for Young Entrepreneurs
Greetings! I am the Curriculum Junkie at home/school/life magazine, where I have the privilege of reviewing the absolute best of homeschool materials. I am also mom to 3 young homeschooling boys and a writer at www.steampoweredclassroom.com. I love my jobs; there is truly never a dull moment! It is a great joy to write about resources that help enrich the time we spend learning with our kids. There are so many treasures out there that I can’t possibly present them all in the magazine, so I’ve jumped on board at HSL’s blog for some more fun and sharing.It’s my hope you’ll glean information from this feature that truly enriches your homeschool experience. If there are particular subjects or themes related to curriculum that you would like to read about, let me know at rebecca@homeschoollifemag.com. For more in-depth looks at curriculum, check out my column in home/school/life’s magazine. Now on to the review!
The homeschooling lifestyle is ripe with potential for learners endowed with an entrepreneurial spirit. Hands-on opportunities to learn the basics of developing and operating a business can be made abundant. However, for those children wishing to deepen their understanding of the subject, it is helpful to have a guide that provides financial and business vocabulary, terms and concepts and that also guides the development and implementation of strategic thinking.
If your child is asking for such a resource, you might consider Y.M.B.A’s series of business workbooks designed for students ages 9 and above. The 5-volume set includes the titles, Marketing, Finance, Business Law, Business Math and Accounting.
The workbooks, which are approximately 70 pages, contain easy-to-read text with good-sized font and are made all the more user friendly by their many graphs, cartoons, and illustrations explaining key concepts. A motivated child could easily enjoy and work through this program independently, if they wished.
Each concise lesson begins with a one-page introduction to new concepts such as the history of money, how to write a check, loans and invoices and investment strategy to name just a few. The page that follows each lesson is called the “Drawing Room.” These worksheets provide readers a chance to engage with the new terms and concepts presented on the previous page. In completing each of these lessons, a wide use of skills are practiced; computation, creative and strategic thinking, exploration and application of ideas. Examples of Drawing Board exercises found in Marketing and Finance include writing a check, creating an organizational chart, word searches, making a comic strip, identifying the features of a saving bond, pricing a series of items for a shop, identifying a target market, and designing an eye-catching box for a specific sales item. A complete answer key follows at the end of the books. Each workbook is $9.95 and can be ordered on Y.M.B.A.’s website at www.YMBAgroup.com.
In the end, there is no better teacher than experience itself. This series is a comprehensive accompaniment that will reinforce the many concepts and skills a child encounters as they work to establish their own exciting business venture.
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