Some thoughts on the new year
Dec 13th, 2007 by lapazfarm
Ok, just a few preliminary thoughts on school after new years (Disclaimer: as always, I reserve the right to change this completely at a moments notice for no good reason).
I’ll start with Superboy. (The littles will need a post of their own.)
We will keep on doing the Bill Bryson book as a read aloud. We are loving that. It spawns so many great discussions and projects and rabbit trails. Plus it addresses both science and history. Good stuff.
For additional history, there is always Netflix. Speaking of which…we have been getting the Michael Palin travel documentaries and really enjoying those. So far we’ve seen Pole-to-Pole, and Around the World in 80 Days. Next on our queue are Himalaya and Sahara. And then comes the Planet Earth series everyone is raving about. What an awesome way to learn geography!
I also happen to know that Superboy will be getting a certain very cool book
Astronomy. We have an awesome telescope and right now it is sitting in the garage gathering dust. How embarrassing! I’m going to get that out and along with the book 365 Starry Nights
Inspired by Rebecca at A Gypsy Caravan, we will all be doing a botany study together using the books Shanleya’s Quest
Hmmm… does this sound very science-heavy? Good! We like it that way!LOL! But really, I do not worry about Superboy too much because he is a voracious reader, so he will pick up most of his language arts skills through his independent reading and the writing he does within the subject areas. We will continue with our same religion materials, and math is covered this year with our Teaching Company DVD’s, which are a bit “boring”, but otherwise working out very well.
So, next year sounds like a good time!
Can I first say that I am happy that I am not the only one thinking about next year already?
Those plans sound wonderful, and eerily similar to where we are going here. I just picked up the Bryson book on your lead, and it will be perfect for NG’s style….thanks. Scout already has that very cool book, and it is TONS of fun!
I am looking forward to what you put together for botany. I am in the midst of outlining a course called “A Year in Nature Science” for our co-op. It is a work in progress, but I would like to offer an introduction to natural science concepts like ecology, botany, ornithology,.etc that the kids don’t usually get. Then we can do bio work on pioneers in the field, hands on activities and nature journaling. I want to get then out and in nature as well as reading and learning about it. If you have any recommendations for any of this…I would love your input.
The travel videos you mentioned sound very interesting. I wondered if you had come across the Geobeats site yet?
Since Owen is young, we sometimes just want a quick snapshot for geography, and most of the Geobeats movies are very brief.
The site is http://www.geobeats.com
Sounds like you all will have an interesting, full year ahead!
Merry Christmas!
Hey, did you check out the author’s site? It looks like an amazing place! http://www.hopspress.com/Books/Curriculum_Guide/Outdoor_Skills.html
He is asking for lesson plans, etc, and I think you are just the woman to help him out!
Hi Angela!
I’d love to chat with you about your course! It sounds fantastic!
I also edited the title of this post because I realized it sounded as if I was talking about next school year when in fact I was talking about this upcoming New Year, in January!LOL!
Tara, I will check that geobeats site out!
Theresa, your plans sound wonderful! I know you will have fun with the Botany and I will look forward to reading your posts on it. We’ve taken a break from it for the past two weeks and are going to pick back up in January. The kids have really loved it thus far!
I love the Michael Palin documentaries. We watched a new one on Eastern Europe recently, but I guess it isn’t out on DVD yet.
It sounds a great plan!
Wow, Theresa I was just about to write a post about our loose plans for January. We also are going to go science heavy.
I love the idea of the Michael Palin videos too. Hmm, gotta work those in as well.
Your astronmy, botany, and geography plans sound wonderful! I will stay tuned.
Hi-
I simply love your website. As a homeschooling, former molecular biologist I adore all your science. I am wondering if you will share with me a bit about you microscopes that I have seen as I have browsed through your site. I am very interested in purchasing a dissecting scope for my kids. Thank you in advance. I know this is a busy season and I am happy to wait for a response. Again, thank you for the inspiration!
Hi Beth, and welcome! Here is a review I wrote about our compound scope:microscope review. The same company sells very nice dissecting scopes as well at good prices. Our dissecting scope is actually on “permanent loan” from the local university (it is the one I used while in grad school there) and is a bit pricier than I could afford otherwise! Then we have our Wolfe field scope as well, which is a nice 40X, inexpensive, but fairly rugged scope. It goes in a backpack well for nature hikes, etc.
LOL Theresa, we have Backyard Ballistics and 365 Starry Nights, too, and I have been wondering how and when to work them in! Katydid loves 365 Starry Nights, but it’s so cloudy here in the winter we’re not able to do much stargazing. And alas, the potato cannons will probably have to wait for spring as well. I’ll be anxious to see how these studies pan out for you in the new year!
I was up pre-dawn (though I doubt that was pre-Dawn, her Earlybird keeps her hopping I think!) and watched a lovely planet glowing away right above the sunrise. Made me want to visit Jack Horkheimer’s site for the scoop on the skies this week. http://www.jackstargazer.com/
I like that you can choose a one minute video or the 5 minute one depending on your group’s attention span.
Thank you so much for the advice on microscopes! Wow! Would I love to have a dissecting scope on loan! That is wonderful!
We’re getting the Backyard Ballistics book for next year, too!
I’m not sure who is more excited, me or the kids!