Encouragement
Today marks a week of a lot of parents being thrown into the “homeschooling” life. In case you haven’t seen this already, this is not homeschooling. Most homeschooling families, including my own, have outside activities. For us personally, we belong to a theater group. This was to be a our “crunch week” with a production this coming weekend. This has now been postponed. My son and I attend a local CrossFit gym and haven’t been for about a week. I spend weeks in the summer researching curriculum and programs that will work for my son and scheduling it for him. If you haven’t already taken some time to just breathe and figure out the new normal for you, please do that this week. Schools are now closed through the end of April. As long as there are people who are finding these lesson plans helpful, I will continue to write them. So, please do drop me a comment to let me know. Thanks.
I am now also publishing these plans on my website (but you're here already!). I wrote a “welcome” note late last week that gives a bit more about my “credentials” per so. Here is the direct link if you’d like to learn more about me.
I am now also publishing these plans on my website (but you're here already!). I wrote a “welcome” note late last week that gives a bit more about my “credentials” per so. Here is the direct link if you’d like to learn more about me.
On to this week…these plans will be written more like I run my own homeschool. Something to note: If you have children who are ages K-2, school at home should be about 1-2 hours tops. Mix in a lot of physical activity to help them retain what they are learning. Grades 3-5 should be about 2-3 hours. Grades 6-8 might be up to four hours, but I would say closer to 3 hours. High school will take longer as it is harder, but I would so no more than six hours max. This is my opinion, but please don’t make them sit for an hour a day per subject. Let them get their assignment done and be done.
Together School
Homeschoolers of Maine is celebrating Spirit Week COVID-19 style this week!
Monday is: Superhero Day! (Honors health care workers and essential workers)
Together School (start the day with this – all ages)
Read Aloud:
Chose a book to read aloud to all ages. Read 1-2 chapters. Younger students can color or draw or play quietly with blocks. I would suggest a chapter book – don’t worry about younger children. Book suggestions: The Hobbit, Charlotte’s Web, The Chronicles of Narnia (my favorite is The Magician’s Nephew but you can’t go wrong with any of them), Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Little House in the Big Woods, Caddie Woodlawn, Ann of Green Gables, My Father’s Dragon, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. ((If you don’t own any of these or are looking for a new one to read, use the Kindle app on any device to buy a copy from Amazon. If your library is still allowing the borrowing of materials, that is another option.)
Bible (and Art):
Start with Psalm 1. Read aloud. Choose one of these coloring pages to color.
Watch this episode of Drive Thru History.
PE: Go for a walk outside. If it’s snowing, play in the snow!
Art: McHarper Manor is offering live art classes each day. This is their video from last Monday.
Create a card for either a hospital employee or someone in a nursing home. Let them know you are thinking about them! Mail.
Monday is: Superhero Day! (Honors health care workers and essential workers)
Together School (start the day with this – all ages)
Read Aloud:
Chose a book to read aloud to all ages. Read 1-2 chapters. Younger students can color or draw or play quietly with blocks. I would suggest a chapter book – don’t worry about younger children. Book suggestions: The Hobbit, Charlotte’s Web, The Chronicles of Narnia (my favorite is The Magician’s Nephew but you can’t go wrong with any of them), Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Little House in the Big Woods, Caddie Woodlawn, Ann of Green Gables, My Father’s Dragon, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. ((If you don’t own any of these or are looking for a new one to read, use the Kindle app on any device to buy a copy from Amazon. If your library is still allowing the borrowing of materials, that is another option.)
Bible (and Art):
Start with Psalm 1. Read aloud. Choose one of these coloring pages to color.
Watch this episode of Drive Thru History.
PE: Go for a walk outside. If it’s snowing, play in the snow!
Art: McHarper Manor is offering live art classes each day. This is their video from last Monday.
Create a card for either a hospital employee or someone in a nursing home. Let them know you are thinking about them! Mail.
Elementary School
Math – Work on math facts. Figure out where your child is in regard to learning their math facts. If you aren’t sure, start with basic addition and work up.
Drill sheets to print. (Do no more than 20 problems)
Math games using just a deck of cards.
Language Arts: If your child is learning to read, sit with them with an easy book. Use your finger to guide them as they work through it. No easy books at home? I found this site that you might find helpful.
If your child can read, have them read a book. Then have them tell you or a sibling about what they read. Have them read to their stuffed animals.
Have them work on their handwriting.
Have them work on a grammar worksheet.
Have them write a story and illustrate it. They can draw a picture and then write a story about it or tell someone else the story to write for them.
Science:
Spring is here! Even though it may not seem like it today. Learn more about spring in the following videos:
What is spring?
The science of spring!
Social Studies:
We learned about Maine last week so let’s keep going. Today we’ll learn about New Hampshire.
Watch this video.
Print out a US Map (choose which one you’d like from HERE.) Color Maine blue. Color New Hampshire green. Or use this one.
Watch this video to learn 20 more facts about New Hampshire:
Do you know anyone that lives there? Write them a letter or draw them a picture and send it.
Drill sheets to print. (Do no more than 20 problems)
Math games using just a deck of cards.
Language Arts: If your child is learning to read, sit with them with an easy book. Use your finger to guide them as they work through it. No easy books at home? I found this site that you might find helpful.
If your child can read, have them read a book. Then have them tell you or a sibling about what they read. Have them read to their stuffed animals.
Have them work on their handwriting.
Have them work on a grammar worksheet.
Have them write a story and illustrate it. They can draw a picture and then write a story about it or tell someone else the story to write for them.
Science:
Spring is here! Even though it may not seem like it today. Learn more about spring in the following videos:
What is spring?
The science of spring!
Social Studies:
We learned about Maine last week so let’s keep going. Today we’ll learn about New Hampshire.
Watch this video.
Print out a US Map (choose which one you’d like from HERE.) Color Maine blue. Color New Hampshire green. Or use this one.
Watch this video to learn 20 more facts about New Hampshire:
Do you know anyone that lives there? Write them a letter or draw them a picture and send it.
Middle School
Math – Work on math facts. Figure out where your child is in regard to learning their math facts. If you aren’t sure, start with basic addition and work up.
Drill sheets to print. (Do no more than 20 problems.)
Math games using just a deck of cards.
Language Arts:
Choose 2-4 worksheets from this site to complete (answers included).
Grab an empty notebook. Use this website. Pick one prompt and write a one page story using it.
Pick a book (either from the read aloud section above or from this list) Read for at least 30 minutes.
Science:
Learn about the immune system. Watch Crash Course A&P on YouTube:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Social Studies:
Learn more about the history of New Hampshire and New England:
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Print out a US Map (choose which one you’d like from HERE)
Mark the states discussed in the videos. Color them different colors.
Drill sheets to print. (Do no more than 20 problems.)
Math games using just a deck of cards.
Language Arts:
Choose 2-4 worksheets from this site to complete (answers included).
Grab an empty notebook. Use this website. Pick one prompt and write a one page story using it.
Pick a book (either from the read aloud section above or from this list) Read for at least 30 minutes.
Science:
Learn about the immune system. Watch Crash Course A&P on YouTube:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Social Studies:
Learn more about the history of New Hampshire and New England:
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Print out a US Map (choose which one you’d like from HERE)
Mark the states discussed in the videos. Color them different colors.
High School
Math: How are you on your math facts? Do you need to work on them? How about some areas you need to work on? Use this website to find those areas. Print 1-2 to work on today.
Language Arts: Choose a book to read. When you are done, plan to write a quiz. The quiz should have 20 questions. They should be a mix of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer. Use this list to pick a book.
Choose 1-2 worksheets from this website to work on grammar:
Grab an empty notebook. Use this website. Pick one prompt and write a one page story using it.
Science:
Learn about the immune system. Watch Crash Course A&P on YouTube:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Social Studies:
Learn more about the history of New Hampshire and New England:
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Print out a US Map (choose which one you’d like from HERE)
Mark the states discussed in the videos. Color them different colors.
Language Arts: Choose a book to read. When you are done, plan to write a quiz. The quiz should have 20 questions. They should be a mix of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer. Use this list to pick a book.
Choose 1-2 worksheets from this website to work on grammar:
Grab an empty notebook. Use this website. Pick one prompt and write a one page story using it.
Science:
Learn about the immune system. Watch Crash Course A&P on YouTube:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Social Studies:
Learn more about the history of New Hampshire and New England:
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Print out a US Map (choose which one you’d like from HERE)
Mark the states discussed in the videos. Color them different colors.
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