Connections Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Anyone out there NOT follow the traditional subject lines (math, science, history, faith, etc.) but instead group "subjects" together in a more organic fashion? If you do this, how do you go about it and how do you plan ahead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TippyCanoe Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 (edited) We merge all subjects when we do our 10-week long science investigations each year. We do them outside, so they even include PE. :001_smile: I have written up our work here: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=361740 They need to : Research at the library and on the internet Read previous work in the field to put their own work in historical context Design an experiment Design tables for their data Collect the data and keep a lab notebook (40+ pages) Analyze the data and design graphs Design a mathematical model Write up their report (10+ pages) Design a poster that is visually appealing to their audience Take, choose, print, and crop photos Accurately construct the poster Design and practice an oral presentation Defend their work to the judges So if they just made their presentation in Mandarin, we would have all the subjects covered. :D Ruth in NZ Edited October 26, 2012 by lewelma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whoareyou Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Hi- Im new but have been lurking for quite some time. DS never had individual subjects. I know what needs to be covered (in the back of my mind) for the next couple years and make sure we are actively working toward those ever changing goals. For example, reading a level appropriate book about French history then doing some type of project about what he learned. The counts as reading/literature/history/possibly art/writing/ foreign language and depending on the project maybe applied math skills. I have a background in education so I know what to expect from not only his age level but his working level. Clear as mud - right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenmama2 Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Lewelma, is their mandarin good enough to read any Chinese material on their research subjects? You could include it that way :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Lewelma, is their mandarin good enough to read any Chinese material on their research subjects? You could include it that way :p Well as long as it only uses the number, colour, household, body part words, my younger could read everything! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 We did a lot of this when my dc were little without really trying to. Right now ds is doing Life of Fred PreAlgebra which mixes science, English (figures of speech, etc & math, although he's also doing Calvert Math which is just math. Had my girls stayed home for high school, I was going to do this with English/History and whatever their main interests were, but it didn't happen :sad: for various reasons. I am planning this for ds, even though he's lobbying for ps for social reasons. Often the worst reason to go (with a few exceptions). I'm going to see if he can do band & go part time, since that's social & music is one of his specialty areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraK Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I sort of do this for my 2nd grader and Kinder. We use Tapestry of Grace as our guide. We do lots of read alouds to cover reading, comprehension, geography, history, and bible history. We do have a separate math program (my 2nd grader like Teaching Textbooks and my Kinder like Singapore Math). Since we don't do science or art at home, they generally take co-op classes or do field trips to explore those areas in a fun environment. For my kinder, doing a subject by subject schedule would work well. But for my 2nd grader, a project or themed schedule works best for him. So we have blended the two styles together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I created a comics+detectives unit once for DS to entice him to write more. He was 8.5yo then I think. Well, he didn't write that much more but he did read tons and learn about the cartooning/ comics genre, characterization, poisons, and received a very basic but good intro to criminal psychology and crime scenes/ forensics. We began with Calvin and Hobbes and married Sherlock Holmes and Christie's Hercule Poirot stories into the mix a few months later. I called the unit "Giggles & Gumshoes" for fun. :001_smile: Some of the resources I gathered: DS's Calvin and Hobbes collection Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud Looking for Calvin and Hobbes by Nevin Martell The Calvin and Hobbes Album Calvin's Alter Egos (Wikipedia) Graphic Novel Lesson Plans Derkins Library for CandH Research Watterson's World Calvin and Hobbes Recipe Book Calvin and Hobbes Papercraft Recurrent Themes The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle Hercule Poirot's Casebook by Agatha Christie The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum The Perfect Murder by David Lehman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Hi- Im new but have been lurking for quite some time. DS never had individual subjects. I know what needs to be covered (in the back of my mind) for the next couple years and make sure we are actively working toward those ever changing goals.For example, reading a level appropriate book about French history then doing some type of project about what he learned. The counts as reading/literature/history/possibly art/writing/ foreign language and depending on the project maybe applied math skills. I have a background in education so I know what to expect from not only his age level but his working level. Clear as mud - right? Welcome! and what a lovely, organic strategy. Quark, I am drooling over your detectives unit study. Button's too obsessive for something like that right now but ... can I come to your homeschool? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Quark, I am drooling over your detectives unit study. Button's too obsessive for something like that right now but ... can I come to your homeschool? :) :001_smile: DS didn't follow the plan so I let the plan follow him. I emailed him the links and strewed the books and he took off on his own. Still no writing though lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 The other thing that has turned out wildly wonderful is, believe it or not, a couple of British sci-fi shows. Like the original Star Trek series, these shows tackle some pretty big questions related to death (if someone knew, absolutely knew, what came after death, should people know? ... Which shows are these, Doodler? We've shared Star Trek titles in the past (my daughter was also a fan), so I'm wondering if these shows might interest my daughter. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Which shows are these, Doodler? We've shared Star Trek titles in the past (my daughter was also a fan), so I'm wondering if these shows might interest my daughter. Regards, Kareni Not Doodler but we love Dr Who. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Thanks, Quark. My daughter has definitely enjoyed Dr. Who, too. (Sounds rather Seussian ....) Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TippyCanoe Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Dd's current favorite (and mine) is Torchwood. ... My daughter is older than yours, and we are quite liberal. And, yes, Torchwood was also a hit here. My husband is the one who viewed shows with my daughter throughout her homeschooling. Other favorites here included The Prisoner and Firefly. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 My daughter is older than yours, and we are quite liberal. And, yes, Torchwood was also a hit here. My husband is the one who viewed shows with my daughter throughout her homeschooling. Other favorites here included The Prisoner and Firefly. Regards, Kareni We loved Firefly! :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TippyCanoe Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 ... so we're limited to DVDs. ... She's traveling to the UK with dh this December. For the first day and a half while he's at a conference in Wales, she's going to hole up in the hotel, sleep, and, so she says, do nothing but watch BBC. We are another no cable family, so I can tell you that both The Prisoner and Firefly are available on DVD. Curiously, The Prisoner was filmed in Portmeirion in Gwynedd, North Wales. I hope that your daughter will enjoy her trip and her BBC marathon! Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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