The Ancient World
MythWeb--A site of all things related
to Greek Mythology. This site also has excellent links.
ThinkQuest--For
a website about the Ancient World--Egypt, Greece, Rome--go to this site.
This website was created by children. It is superb.
Art
How
to Teach Art to Children. Toni loves this book. It allows the clueless
to teach art and do a darn good job of it, too. Grades 1-6.
Florida Arts Standards for
Grades 1-6. The file unzips into individual PDF files.
Indiana Arts Standards PDF
format. Indiana Standards are based on VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies).
Many of us have found the educational strategies practiced by April
Atlas and the Lowe Art Museum very useful. Here are the
lecture notes to a presentation April gave us in January of 2008
on Visual Thinking Strategies. You might find these interesting.
NGAKids from
the National Gallery of Art in Washington--a huge collection of games,
activities teach kids about art and art appreciation. Check out their
their teaching
resources area for a large searcgavke collection of lessons, activities,
lesson plans and more.
Foreign Languages
Rosetta
Stone is excellent. They have a Homeschool Edition with details here.
What Toni loves most about this program is the proprietary word recognition
software. Other than a live teacher in the room, there's no better
way for your learner to acquire excellent pronounciation.
Starting
Out In Latin--This elementary Latin course for 7-10 year olds combines
a basic introduction to the Latin language with material on the history
and culture of Roman Britain. Highly illustrated, kids are drawn in
immediately into the continuing saga of Minimus Mouse and the Roman
family he lives with.
American History
DVD
- Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery. (2-disc
series) Sent by President Jefferson to find the
fabled Northwest
Passage, Lewis and Clark led the most courageous and important expedition
in American history. It was the United States' first exploration of the
West and one of the nation's most enduring adventures. Journey with them
across a breath-taking landscape for an experience that explores the
history -- and the promise -- of America. Rated 5 out of 5 stars.
World History
KidsPast.com--The Past Belongs to Kids. An online history book with
very nifty history games to play online.
History for Kids--This website is a treasure trove. It doesn't just
cover political history like most resources do. This one includes information
on art, philosophy, religion, economy, and every other facet of each
culture.
Language Arts
Analytical Grammar--Toni's
favorite grammar program. Grammar doesn't need to be taught every day
for 12 years. There's just not that much
to know and it drives most kids nuts. Teach in 11-week chunks each year
from fourth or fifth grade to 8th grade. That's it. The rest of the
time they can concentrate on actual writing which is why they learn
grammar
in
the first place.
Classical
Writing--Toni's favorite writing program. Classical Writing is a
writing curriculum for beginners all the way through high school. Their
method is based on the ancient Greek progymnasmata, a writing tradition
which has produced many of the best thinkers, authors, and statesmen
of the past two thousand years. They support their program with a discussion
board.
Can-Do-Cursive--A
great one-stop-shoping grammar and handwriting review for grades 4-6.
This book is available for cursive and manuscript style writing. It is
an excellent grammar review that covers all the necessary topics for
Grades 1-6.
Starfall-- A terrific elementary
reading program on the web.
Click-N-Kids Phinics.
An excellent online phonics program for visual learners.
The
500-high-frequency words--a fun flashcard program online.
Literature
Everyman's
Library--A list of 100 essential books that you might consider
making part of your high-school curriculum. Also check out the set
of children's classics. We are not suggesting you buy them. Just check
out the titles. Feedbooks - Thousands
of free public domain books as sound recordings. Download to your computer,
iPod or other portable device.
Math
TeachingTextbooks--These people figured out how to make math an independent
subject. Each level includes six discs which play like video games,
but are 114 discreed lessons. Each lesson includes a lecture and 20
practice problems. Each lesson takes about 15 minutes to complete.
A fifth grader can easily do two lessons a day and complete a level
in less than a school year. The program keeps track of everything and
at the end of the year you can print a portfolio-ready report.
Singapore Math--An
exceptional k-12 math program using the Concrete> Pictorial>Abstract
approach which encourages active thinking process, communication of mathematical
ideas and problem solving. Our current favorite math curriculum.
Music
We asked a friend of The Examined Life to come up with a list of classical
music that our kids could/should hear. We asked him for a list that moved
beyond "Peter and the Wolf", etc. Click
here for the list in PDF format.
classicsforkids.com--for
all intents and purposes, a first-rate elementary music literacy program.
Go to the site and roam around. You will be amazed.
Notebooking
JeannieFulbright.com--
Still the best and most information about notebooking.
Science
FantasticContraption.com --
Highly interactive computer game lets kids build amazing contraptions
to cross mind-bending levels in this brain-stretching puzzle game. The
kids find it addictive. Just don't tell them they're learning physics
while they play. It will ruin the fun for them. LearningScience.org --
An online learning community for science education which features free,
high quality, web interactives for K-12 schools. Noeoscience.com--it's
terrific. Whatever decision you make re: a science curriculum, you must
check this site out first.
Singaporemath.com--they
have a science program for elementary and middle school children that
also is great. It needs to be enriched with some unit studies but is
terrific as a background basic curriculum.
DVD
- Planet Earth: The Complete Collection (2003)Narrated
by David Attenborough, this Emmy-winning series transports nature
lovers from the Himalayan Mountains to the depths of the ocean and
everywhere
in between, exploring the planet's most fascinating wildlife and
challenging environments. Bioluminescent squid, vibrant birds of paradise
and the
nearly extinct Siberian Amur leopards are just a few of the captivating
creatures featured in this collection of exquisitely shot episodes.
Social Studies
OurCourts.org--Our Courts is web-based education project designed to
teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our
democracy. Our Courts is the vision of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who
is concerned that students are not getting the information and tools
they need for civic participation, and that civics teachers need better
materials and support.
timeforkids.com--for
24.95/year they will send you 30 copies of a either 1-3 or 4-6 grade
version of Time Magazine. Check it out online. Great way to teach current
events.
tcmpub.com--Teacher Created
Materials has great readers in science and social studies for second and
third grade and beyond--there is a separate set for each grade. There are
30 books in a set. Pricey. Various families can buy one set together.
evan-moor.com-- has a
Daily Practice Series that includes a book on geography for each individual
grade (books available for grades 1-6). 36 weeks worth of lessons. You can
browse through the whole book online.
YesterdaysClassics.com --has
copies of M. B. Synge's five volume Story of the World--originally published
in 1903 and meant for elementary and middle school children. Some find Susan
Wise Bauer's world histories very poorly written; Synge's versions are a
delightful alternative. You can see Synge's books, even down-load copies
of the books, on mainlesson.com.
Amblesideonline.org --this
is a free online Charlotte Mason curriculum treasure trove. Its list of suggested
readings makes for a very sophisticated social studies program; moreover,
the books can all be accessed online for free. The site will guide you to
yesterdaysclassics.com should you want to buy hard-copies of the books.
evan-moor.com --has excellent
products for a social studies curriculum, particularly for grades 1-3. Their
site is worth a visit. You can browse through the books and get ideas. Their
various portfolio products, called Pockets, are very easy and fun to use.
They provide exciting and extensive bibliographies on each subject.
Support and Networking
SecularHomeschool.com --
a combination social network and
informational site for secular homeschoolers worldwide.
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