LMD Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I'm wanting to plan a Homeschooling at the Helm type of course for my daughter for next year. We school Jan-Dec and she'll be 5th/6th ish. I have some ideas but am having a bit of trouble bringing them together and hoped some of you clever people could brainstorm with me! The idea sprang from 'country diary of an Edwardian lady', and the fact that we've just moved to our own country acreage. I want to get a beautiful artists notebook to use, and would like to do a few pages per month focussing on some aspect of the surroundings. This will include science - though we will choose topics together, I anticipate botany, astronomy, weather and birds/creatures to feature. It will also be heavily art focused (she's pretty arty), and we'll likely work on drawing skills, watercolor and calligraphy. I would like to incorporate LA somehow... So I'm thinking: Copywork of beautiful phrases pertaining to something about that month/season/topic. This will be the calligraphy part. Maybe we could diagram it as well or something, not sure? Some short creative writing (which she LOVES!) in a sort of nature reader living book style, this could also be composed poetry. I have PHP's The Creative Writer here to inspire me. I love the idea of slow reading an amazing book and adding narrations in too, but I can't think of a book that would fit (must do research!), something challenging, that fits into the nature-y theme, preferably a good classic. I really want to stress with her the skills of going slowly, doing things properly,carefully and beautifully. I want to begin fostering some more independence, and she wants it too. I want her to connect with our new home, practice slow and peaceful observation and reflection. I want her to feel accomplished and the book to be a keepsake. I really want to her to have something special she loves this year, and enjoy learning for it's own sake. So, thoughts? What would you add, or take away? Any fabulous ideas that would match? Would you include any other subjects, or LA in a more studied way? If you were going to run with this idea, where might you go? Am I on the right track?! :D Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Have you looked into the recent GE thread on naturalist books, might be some good ideas there. I've heard good things about Botany in a Day book from a few different people. I'm considering Ellen McHenry's Botany when my own similarly minded daughter gets older. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted August 29, 2015 Author Share Posted August 29, 2015 I missed that thread I think. Thanks for your suggestions soror! *off to Google* :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 Bump! :) would love some more thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Ugh! I had a response typed out and it vanished. :( My dd's love their common place books. They have beautiful journals that they write favorite quotes from readings. One dd does her writing in calligraphy. All of them decorate their pages. We enjoy sharing favorite passages from our reading. Phrases that capture an image or evoke a feeling with powerful wording are meant to be relished. I have tried to nurture that understanding in my children and they now actively pay attention for them. Books by great authors are full of them. (I am picturing images from Narnia and the conversations my dd and I had when she was in 6th grade.) A View from the Oak might inspire her to look at things differently. FWIW, your ideas sound wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Not a treasured classic so maybe not the book for your central study, but The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate could be a good bonus nature themed book to read or read aloud. Beautifully written and perfect for that age. There are a lot of nature study fiction read alongs that could be good actually - My Side of the Mountain, Owls in the Family, Chasing Redbird, Gone-Away Lake... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Not a treasured classic so maybe not the book for your central study, but The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate could be a good bonus nature themed book to read or read aloud. Beautifully written and perfect for that age. There are a lot of nature study fiction read alongs that could be good actually - My Side of the Mountain, Owls in the Family, Chasing Redbird, Gone-Away Lake... I love Jean Craighead George's writing. Her writing definitely evokes strong images showing her naturalist background. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 You've seen this? https://www.homeschoolingdownunder.com/shop/homeschool-science-curriculum/ You won't want the journal pages for your project here, and the ebook isn't really necessary either. Look up the indigenous seasons for your area if you are not familiar with them. That provides far more comfortable context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 I have seen that Rosie but hadn't closely considered it, might be worth another think, I was looking for a little more in-depth science study than k-3 topics. I'm thinking of pulling topic ideas from BFSU vol2 and I have the whole apologia series, that should give us a jumping point and I'll let her choose each months/quarter's science focus. I hadn't at all thought of looking up the indigenous side of our land, could be interesting! 8fth, I adore that commonplace idea too and do want to introduce it next year with all 3 school aged kids, by then Mr 5 will be reading well enough to be included. I do want an aspect of that here with the long reading, a quote or narration or reflection from that day's reading. I'm actually contemplating 'a midsummer night's dream' and a book of the Bible, dh suggested Ecclesiastes! Thank you for your encouragement! Thank you farrar for the book suggestions, will add them to the list for her to choose from! I've started discussing this with dd and she loves the idea so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Not a treasured classic so maybe not the book for your central study, but The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate could be a good bonus nature themed book to read or read aloud. Beautifully written and perfect for that age. There are a lot of nature study fiction read alongs that could be good actually - My Side of the Mountain, Owls in the Family, Chasing Redbird, Gone-Away Lake... Even my son was inspired by My Side of the Mountain, that is a good rec. I know at the time I wished I would have saved it and tied it into survivor skills study for my son but then before I knew it the interest was lost. I definitely have it on my future list for my daughter who has more of an interest in nature. I started Calpurnia with ds but we didn't finish it, I think he wasn't quite ready for it at the time, although from what I read I thoroughly enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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