Due to special requests from Classical Conversations families, we’ve updated our CC Cycle 1 Planner to our new design, which includes reading correlations and a Memory Work Review plan to keep the memory work fresh without it becoming cumbersome and overwhelming. There are two versions of our new planner to choose from: a 4-day-week planner […]
Studying World War II: Maps, Timelines, Projects
I recently mentioned a project we completed five or six years ago covering the Industrial Revolution through the Great Depression. Here’s the other project we completed that same semester, and it fascinated our oldest son so much that he became a little World War II expert over the span of just a couple of months. These two studies […]
Patriotic Poetry, Art Study, & Copywork
While researching art and poetry for our Script-n-Scribe Americana copywork book, I came across the visually stunning artwork of American Impressionist painter Childe Hassam, who painted several patriotic pieces during World War I. I’ve been wanting to share this artist’s work paired with patriotic poetry for some time now. I mean… just look at this: […]
Immigration to America: Ellis Island & Lady Liberty
While on our history trip to the northeastern states, we ferried to Ellis Island to walk in the footsteps of twelve million immigrants who entered the United States through the Ellis Island Immigration Station. After checking their possessions in the baggage room, immigrants headed towards the Registry Room, which began the long process of inspection […]
Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Rough Riding the Dakotas
During our great big ole trip out west, we scheduled into our itinerary a driving tour of the Badlands of North Dakota (aka Theodore Roosevelt National Park). At the South Unit Visitor Center, we visited the Maltese Cross Cabin where Roosevelt often stayed during his trips out to the western frontier. This cabin has quiet […]
The 20th Century in America: Hands-on History
Have you ever wished for a simple and engaging way to embark on a crafty, hands-on history study with elementary-aged children? Four years ago, our family pieced together a hands-on history unit study covering American events, people, and places of the 20th century. Now that we’re revisiting the 1900s with our memory work again this […]
Element Flashcards, Activities, and Notebooking Pages
Six years have passed since we first used this simple method of learning the first twelve elements of the Periodic Table. Our Atomic Cookies and Element Flashcards were a simple, enjoyable way to apply some of what we were learning about the elements a few years ago. Since then, I’ve added some simple notebooking pages […]
American History Spring Semester Plans (Cycle 3)
So here we are, the third leg of the school year. When running a race, the third leg is the hardest. Enthusiasm and motivation have waned, you’ve fallen behind where you want to be, you’re worn out and exhausted, and the end is not yet in sight. It’s so easy to give up in the third lap. […]
Mid-Year Reality Check: How it really panned out
Have you ever wondered how things really pan out in other people’s homeschools? Does it really look like the utopian pictures on the front of the A Beka catalog? Perhaps it does in others’ homes, but… not us. The more I learn to accept that it won’t ever look like that in our home, the […]