My planning post
Feb 4th, 2007 by lapazfarm
I have been meaning for awhile to get around to posting about how I plan school around here. I’d like to start with Superboy, since I have been writing alot about the littles lately.
If you saw my earlier post about our new learning stations, then you know how things are set up around here. Basically, Superboy has different stations set up for different subjects, with books and materials needed for projects related to that subject. Superboy and I discussed awhile back that he wanted to do American history for the rest of the school year, and we decided that we were also going to start in on biology pretty rigorously. I decided Superboy also needed a break from unit-studies and notebooking for awhile, and a return to project-based learning. Though he will still keep notebooks, they just will not be as intensive as, say, his sailing one was.
That decided, my planning simply consists of going around with a stack of index cards in my pocket so that when a project idea occurs to me or Superboy, I can jot it down. Then when Superboy finishes a project in a subject, I just tack the next index card up at the appropriate station and he gets to work. It really is that simple!
Here are some examples of index cards in my stack right now, arranged by learning station:
Geostation:
Find out about the different kinds of volcanos, then sketch them in your geology journal. Make models of the different kinds, showing their differences. Make a museum-type display of your models, with info-cards listing facts about each kind. Mark ten volcanos on a map of North America. What kind are they?
Read about seismographs and how they work. In your geology journal sketch out a plan for a seismograph made of everyday objects. Build it and test it out.Research how soil texture is determined. Print up a copy of the Soil Texture Triangle, laminate it, and put it into your geology journal. Go out and take 5 soil samples from different places, bring them in and determine their texture (ask Mom for help with this).
Build an outdoor kiln. Make bricks out of the soil from your samples and fire them in the kiln. Which sample made the best bricks? Why do you think this is?
Make a big batch of salt dough. Design and build a model of an imaginary island. Include as many land/water forms as you can. Bake it and paint it. Add vegetation, a village, roads, fields, etc. Where on earth would it be? How will its location affect the types of animals and plants that live there?
Get your rock tumbler going again. Make a page in your Geology journal for each type of rock you decide to tumble. Take before and after shots and add them to your pages.
Nature Center:
Follow the directions on the Protozoa hatchery kit and start your protozoa. Read about Kingdom Protista in your biology file. Practice your identification cards. Look up root words and make cards for them. Look at prepared microscope slides of protists and draw them in your science journal.
Use Sculpey clay to make models of 4 different protists. Make info cards to go with each model.
Go out and collect branch tips (twigs) from several different kinds of trees. Read about parts of a twig and how to identify a tree by the twig. Sketch a couple of the twigs in your nature journal, label parts. What kind of tree are they?
Make a mud print of a dog’s paw and a cat’s paw. Draw them and study their differences. Other than size, how can you tell them apart? Look up coyote tracks and bobcat tracks in your track ID book. Are they similar to the dog and cat tracks? What about bear tracks?
Language Lab:Imagine that the mountain behind us is actually a volcano. It is about to erupt. What ten things would you grab as we make our escape? Explain your choices.
Imagine you have been shrunken down to the size of a protist. What will your day be like? What will you do? What will you eat and how will you survive?
History Corner:
Begin reading “Paddle to the Sea.” Make your own “Paddle to the Sea” out of wood, add a clay figure. Test its seaworthiness in the sink before you launch it in the creek. On a map, trace the route your boat will take, assuming it makes it to the sea. Make a list of all the waterways it will travel.
Read about making colonial/ native american toys. Make a few, including a cornhusk doll (or two) for your sister.
Make a small leather pouch. Read about Native American medicine pouches. What will yours contain? Why?
Read about wattle and daub construction. Make a miniature wattle and daub hut (perhaps a birdhouse?) using traditional materials.
Begin your American Presidents booklet by watching episode 1 of “The Presidents” DVD. Take notes and fill out an info sheet* on each president in the episode as you watch it. Photocopy portraits from the Presidents fandex cards to add to your fact sheets. (*Include years in office, major accomplishments, a quote, and an interesting fact.)
Well, that’s all of the ones I can think of right now. I have some math projects in mind, but have not written them up for him yet. He is currently working on a project making graphs for all of the data in the book “If the World Were a Village” (see link in sidebar). I should have his next project written up by the time he finishes that one.
Keep in mind that these projects can take anywhere from an hour or so to a couple of weeks to finish, whatever pace Superboy sets, and he has several going at a time, which is why I like to keep them at least a little related to one another.
But, anyhow, that is how I plan. It’s not perhaps how others do it (or maybe it is, I don’t know), but it is working for us. Superboy gets up in the morning and gets to work happily and he is learning alot, and that is what matters to me.
Hopefully I will be able to post soon about how our typical day goes, just because some folks have asked.
I think my ds 8 would love plans like these. (He’s a bit young for them now.) Where do get your ideas from? And what does a rock tumbler do?
Theresa, I love all your ideas. Will you please move next door?
I liked your post Theresa. I need to be better about writing down my ideas as they come. Often I will think of something and intend to write it down on my clipboard but before I actually make it to the clipboard I’ve forgotten. Of course inbetween the thought and clipboard were, toys, kids with questions, dinner to stir and laundry to fold, lol.
Thank you for sharing your planning.
Have a super week!!!!
Theresa
Great plans Theresa, love all your ideas and creativity, thanks for sharing them!!
Theresa,
I loved the writing of your ideas on index cards! Sounds like some exciting learning going on at your house!
This method of planning sounds rather like the successful Grab Bag Days of last fall! More like Grab Bags for each subject perhaps?
I’m filing everyone’s planning ideas for after our voyage to Key West. I think Marianna is ready for more independence and more input into her education but still needs help with the output, (for lack of a better term). But our plate is full enough for the month of February without any other major changes added to the mix!
Theresa, Superboy must be super focused an a self starter. I am battling with two younger children – one who is highly distractable and the other who hates to work alone and needs much prodding. Oh, and a third who is 5. Need Isay more. I know that some of this behavior is because of me and I so love you way of doing things I want to shif gears but don’t know how. Hmm. Start little with one project? I told Caddie (my 10 yold) to do a power point presentation for book club and she did a fabulous job discussing birdsong etc. Yet, It seems so hard to move from one style to another. Any suggestions?
Thanks, everyone for your kind words!
Paula, I would move next door, but I know what the temp is up there! Brrrr! Maybe you should come south?
Jennifer, yes it is very similar to the grab bag days and may be why Superboy loves it so much.
Marjorie,
We didn’t come to this overnight, either. We have passed through many, many different stages and styles to get here. And Superboy is anything but Superfocused, let me assure you. In fact he has quite pronounced ADD, inattentive variety. That is, in fact, why we do this type of thing. He thrives on variety and hands-on learning and it does enable him to focus better. And once he understands his project, he can work on it as long (or short) as he is able each day, moving on to the next thing when he is ready. As long as he is getting things done, learning, and enjoying the process, that is what matters to me. I would suggest having your dc work on one project and see how it goes. Perhaps a history or science-related topic, as those seem to lend themselves most easily to hands-on learning. But make it a replacement for, rather than an addition to their normal assignment. Otherwise it will just add more stress-the last thing you need, right?.
I would be glad to help with more specific suggestions if you care to email me.
Take care.
I like the index card and learning stations ideas – thanks!
Well, as usual, I am impressed and inspired. Maybe when we are done with GB’s curriculum, which should be in early April, we will try a little more self-directed, center based type of learning environment. Right now things are going pretty smoothly. I hope it lasts until the curriculum is over. Then he will be tested for the county we live in. And then we will be free to really do whatever we want with the rest of the school year. I always love your ideas
Very inspiring ideas. We’ve been gently moving to a more hands-on, self-directed approach to learning around here. I’m curious if you know of a Montessori-flavored approach to American History. What you’re doing seems to come close to what I imagine upper elementary/middle school kids do for American History.
Good question, Valerie. I am just learning about Montessori methods myself, so am not familiar with many of the materials out there. But a good source for hands-on American history is the book I have in my sidebar called “Great Colonial American Projects” by Kris Bordessa. I think the Author is working on more in the series as well. There is also the series of history activity books by Janice Herbert and others (ex: Lewis and Clark for Kids: A History with 21 activities), which I will be using with Superboy. Lots of cool stuff in there.
Actually, after I wrote my comment, I looked at your sidebar and checked out that book. I decided to purchase the other book that was linked with it at Amazon (you know, buy these two for only $xx.xx”). We have Lewis and Clark for Kids, but the kids were a lot younger when I first bought it so we didn’t really do any activities from it. My son (10) is a lot like yours…he needs that hands-on stuff to help keep some sort of focus. If he’s not MOVING in some way, he’s completely distracted. ::sigh:: My daughters (12 and 8)… you could just hand them a book, say “do this”, and it gets done. ::sigh::
Oh…another question. If you’re familiar with the book Natural Structure (available through CHC, “classical Montessori”), they suggest setting up trays for learning, mostly for the younger set. I think your learning stations with the index cards is an extension of that idea, and from the Montessori websites I’ve visited, I think the use of command cards/research cards is for learning extensions once the initial “presentation” is done.
Anyway, onto my question. Do you leave your son to gather all the materials for these hands-on projects, or do you help him along the way? I’m thinking at first I might set up project trays. Not only would this help my son, but it would also help me to be organized for the particular projects, ensuring I have the materials on hand. (For instance, I had to shop for a few things for a volcano project before I spring it on ds).
Right, Valerie, good point. I do try to have an idea in my mind of the materials ds might use for a project before I offer it to him as a choice, otherwise it is just frustrating. But sometimes he comes up with things materials I didn’t think of, which is why I hesitate to set up a tray for him, but try to have many varied supplies on hand. The volcano project is a perfect example of how it would be good to be more prepared. I was thinking he would use salt dough, but he decided it would look better with sculpey. I agreed. Unfortunately when we went to get out the sculpey, it was all dried up. Had to wait a couple days to go to town and get some more. Meanwhile, though, he is researching and drawing in his notebook, and working on other projects. Another benefit to having several things going on at once!LOL! I think the tray is an excellent idea, however, especially when first starting with these types of projects or with younger children. And I hadn’t thought of it, but the index cards are much like command cards in that they leave out details of “how” to do the projects, leaving more room for the child to be creative in that aspect.
[...] I forgot to mention that earlier today he picked up the Usborne “Young Scientist’s Book of Electricity” that I had strewed and read some of it, and then did a couple of the experiments with static electricity. Sigh — if I had just written an index card ahead of time for this it would have been like one of Teresa’s Learning Station assignments. And I would have felt like an awesome homeschool mom; but even strewing and then interacting with him through the investigation was pretty good preparation by my standards. [...]
Hey, thanks for the plug! It sounds like you are doing some fun stuff. I’d love to see pictures of your wattle and daub structure when it’s done!
We absolutely loved Paddle to the Sea, and also Pagoo, by the same author.