kwg Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 Has anyone taught a cool co op class for 6-8 year olds? I need some ideas! I do best with a curriculum. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCB Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 I taught a class for this age group based on the "Paddle to the Sea" book by Holling Clancy Holling. I found some lesson plans free on-line. It was fun and interesting and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. We carved a canoe out of soap as a project and the kids really enjoyed that! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 I did 4-8yos. We focused on foundational skills through literature, using well known children's books to springboard into crafts and imaginative play where they focused on fine/gross motor skills, beginning narration, community connections, and underlying themes. Each week I'd pick a short book and build around that: Harold and the Purple Crayon, If At First You Do Not See/The Very Hungry Caterpillar, folk tales, seasonal stories.. The main thing was that each class could stand alone (so kids weren't behind if they missed), and that the skills slowly built with lots of practice. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitgrl Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 Not free, but I found this Paddle to the Sea study here for $4. The url has "Catholic" in it, but this literature study is not specifically Catholic. The link will take you to a description. I thought it was very well done, and would be fairly easy for you to execute. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mschickie Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 Five In a Row is a great foundation for a co-op class targeting those ages. Our co-op has done that several times. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 Yes... but I've never used a curriculum, so I don't know if that's any help. Some of the best units we had around that age in co-op included American History You Wanted to Learn About, The Big Bang, Spies, Poetry, and Dinosaurs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 (edited) Similar to Farrar -- yes, I did a terrifically fun hands-on science at that age (a grade 1-3 version, and a grade 4-6 version), but it was all pulled together by me, as I don't work well from most pre-made programs. Also similar to HomeAgain, in that each class was stand-alone, with no homework, and no worries if you missed a previous class. Art or Science have been topics that people seem to really like to have at co-op for early elementary ages. Crafts or projects that are messy or that families don't always have time to do would also be good choices for your age range. Other ideas: group games, or choir, or an unusual topic like some of those suggested above. Edited October 29, 2018 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwg Posted October 30, 2018 Author Share Posted October 30, 2018 Thank you all so much! You have given me some great ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 Ooo! Check this out: Ultimate List of Homeschool Co-Op Classes. It is divided into age ranges and every idea has a link to a book or program or lesson plan. There are plenty of ideas for early elementary ages, but some of the pre-school/kinder ideas look like they would work for your ages, too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moncha Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 My son participated in a class that was about farm animals which he really enjoyed. I never sat in but it seemed like they just picked a different animal each week... learned a bit about them, read a picture book that included said animal, did a craft and maybe a game or activity too. For cows.... they made butter from cream i think they did chickens, pigs, sheep.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonflower Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 I wonder if some of the TOPScience modules would be a good base for a co op class at that age. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAttachedMama Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 The memoria press enrichment programs might give you some ideas. I think they could work well in a co-op. (Maybe not all of it, but pick and choose.) Another idea is the Mystery Science program. (If you have access to a screen large enough for all to see.) I think those work well with groups. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjand6more Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 I am just finishing a Simple Machines class for that age group. It was a lot of fun. We read books, watched videos and made simple machines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal_Bear Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 (edited) I did an astronomy class for 1st to 3rd graders. They loved that class. I also did Song School Latin which was also very much a hit for that age group. Edited November 16, 2018 by calbear 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 I second Song School Latin. So easy in a co op. How many weeks? About how many kids? And do you like projects? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 I did several years ago. We did a unit on bubbles which was fun. I used this book https://store.aimsedu.org/item/p-1209/soap-films-and-bubbles-4-9/1.html and while it says it’s for grades 4-9, there are some activities that can be used for younger kids or modified. It was a lot of fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 How to Teach Children Art has some good info and projects that we used when DSs were grades 1-3 ages. No experience with this book, but Paint Lab for Kids says it's geared for ages 7-10, and could help flesh out How to Teach Children Art. (And if you end up needing art project ideas for older kids (grades 3-7), Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media looks great.) How about a learning to sew with simple sewing projects class? books with instruction & tipsMy First Hand Sewing BookMy First Sewing Book -- hand sewing additional project ideasSew Can She blog: "10 Best Sewing Projects for Kids"Dabbles & Babbles blog: "15 Fun and Easy Sewing Projects for Kids" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitgrl Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Art Lab for Kids is good, but definitely geared for older kids. I thought I would use it with dd a year or two ago and decided to shelve it for future use. I imagine it would work very well for 5th or 6th grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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