Kinda new to the board

[Mom2myBoys]

Hello ladies!!

I am kinda new to the board. I became a member months ago but i've never really posted anything. I have a very bright 4 yr old who I homeschool (i've been slacking off lately) I am currently using the abeka curriculum for cursive writing and math. I really don't like them because its boring. I feel like it's really lacking in the science, social studies, and history area. and its too strict! He is only 4. So I don't follow it exactly. I basically just go over the letters and numbers with him and let him color the worksheets. I will probably switch after we have finished this one. I honestly don't know why I thought it would be fun. My mother used it on me from 7th grade to 12th and I hated it every step of the way. I just thought for little kids it would be interesting. Anyway I want to know where I can get some cool science,history and social studies stuff. I don't want to have a strict curriculum and I somewhat unschool. I just want some fun science projects and teach him about cultures and occupations. But I am so knew to this stuff I think I need a book to follow. Also any kindergarten curriculum recommendations would be appretiated. Thanks!

[Just Me]

at 4, that is preschool level. Most don't do formal books at that stage. Have a look at Ambleside Online and Muddle Puddle

[avent]

I am basically new too. I also joined months ago but have been lurking. I am really active on some other web sites and I had to prioritize my time or I would be online 24/7. Since my son is turning 3 next month I figure it's time to start spending more time here.

[Rivka5]

There's a wonderful series of children's picture books called Let's Read and Find Out: Science. They are beautifully illustrated, explain science concepts in easy-to-understand language, and usually include a couple of simple experiments or hands-on demonstrations. Most libraries should carry them - you could just see what titles seem to appeal to the interests your son already has.

[Ruthla]

I just want to wish a warm welcome to Mommy2MyBoys and avent!!

[Needle in the Hay]

Originally Posted by Rivka5

There's a wonderful series of children's picture books called Let's Read and Find Out: Science. They are beautifully illustrated, explain science concepts in easy-to-understand language, and usually include a couple of simple experiments or hands-on demonstrations. Most libraries should carry them - you could just see what titles seem to appeal to the interests your son already has.

Yes! We have lots of these, they are great!
There are lots of good books that are science, math or history related, for example
-Magic School Bus series
-MathStart series
-How Much Is a Million?
-Usborne First Encyclopedias (we have the Human Body, Dinosaurs, Space, Seas & Oceans, Our World)
-Mike Venezia's "Getting to Know..." series (composer and artists)
-What's Smaller than a Pygmy Shrew? (we just got this yesterday, it's really great--it introduces single-cell organisms, atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, quarks...)
-Magic Tree House series
-Five in a Row has a great booklist, worth checking out--we have most of the books.
-Step Into Reading books on various topics/people. My DS was captivated by the one about the Titanic.

DVDs:
Popular Mechanics for Kids (great for science)
This is America, Charlie Brown (2 dvd set)
Magic School Bus
Walking With Dinosaurs
some Nat'l Geographic (Baby Tales is a great one for young kids)
March of the Penguins
Winged Migration
Carmen Sandiego (we have the first two volumes--found them for 1 euro each but they're worth more than that!)
(he watches his share of fluff too!)

We just ordered some Liberty Kids and Cyberchase but we haven't received them yet. I've seen them recommended enough times I finally got some!

[elizawill]

when i first looked into homeschooling curriculum, i purchased abeka. i thought i needed a complete curriculum because i was new and this sounded like the safest most comprehensive way to go. plus, i heard about it from everyone. i know many people love abeka so i'm not dissing it....but for me and my dd it was an AWFUL fit. it was too workbook oriented and not enough hands-on. plus, my dd knew most of the K curriculum already...so it was tons of review. we stopped using it pretty quickly, and i've since found separate curriculum for each subject, and most of it is free from the internet. my favorite thing in the world is a scope and sequence (which others probably despise) but it's my security blanket )

[elizawill]

oops, i didn't post my favorite link to answer your questions:

www.coreknowledge.org click on the "lesson plans" tab to the left and then find the grade you want. also, check out the colorado and baltimore lesson plans at the bottom. these are such FUN unit studies. This site is free.

Also, check out:

www.handsofachild.com There are really fun lapbook projects for the grade and subjects you want. If you aren't sure what a "lapbook" is there is info at the site and pictures too. This site costs money but it come complete with all of the information and materials you need for a really awesome and fun unit study! plus, it's really reasonable. you can click "freebie" to the left and get a free one (which if it's still "all about snow" you can adapt it for a younger child as that unit is for older children. my 5 year old did this and loved it!)


lastly, here's a great link for more K unit studies, many with the topics you mentioned. i LOVE this site. it's for NC educators...but anyone can benefit from it! it's a free site too and lots of fun!

http://www.learnnc.org/lessons/search?grade=K

www.learningpage.com become a member for free. lots of worksheets for math, social studies, and science and they are age appropriate for a 4 year old


hope this helps! there's SO much out there! you can also join the yahoo kindergarten group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kindergarten_at_Home

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by Mom2myBoys

Anyway I want to know where I can get some cool science,history and social studies stuff. I don't want to have a strict curriculum and I somewhat unschool. I just want some fun science projects and teach him about cultures and occupations. But I am so knew to this stuff I think I need a book to follow. Also any kindergarten curriculum recommendations would be appretiated. Thanks!

There's not much you need for a 4 yr. old, but you can find a lot of ideas in this page: preschool/kindergarten - be sure to look underneath the box of articles for annotated links to website that have lots of fun ideas. And there are lots of fun things scattered through for little ones in this page: Our World and Beyond and in this one: People, Cultures, and the Making of History.

Have fun! Lillian

[WalkingByFaith]

Winter Promise is nice. Very literature rich and TONS of suggestions for hands on activities. They offer Saxon separately for math, but you can use whatever you'd like also. You can also order a language arts program that is at your ds's level. The program comes with all the literature you need as well as thorough instructor's guides with lesson plans all laid out.

For your ds's age you'd probably want to do Animal Worlds (recommended for K through 2nd) although they will soon be releasing a Cultures/Geography core for the same ages (coming sometime this April).

Here's a link to their site:

http://www.winterpromise.com/index.cfm

[sewingmama]

Welcome!