Moonshadows

For art and music appreciation, they suggest letting “your study of history guide your study of art.” I sure wish their list of artists was chronological! For fifth and sixth grades, they recommend concentrating on musical instruments and musical forms, starting with The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, then The Story of the Incredible Orchestra and finally Understanding Music (which is out of print).

Drawing with Children

Lesson Plans for DWT

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered

Hands on Sculpting

Prehistoric Art by Susie Hodge (then Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman)

The Usborne Story of Painting: Cave Painting to Modern Art

The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

The Story of the Incredible Orchestra

Understanding Music

The Usborne Story of Music

Logic Stage: Languages

moonshadows — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:46:45 +0000

Camille is taking Elementary Latin using So You really Want to Learn Latin. I assume that she will continue with the next class next year, and then we will just use whatever text is required by her class.

As for a live foreign language, we are still debating French or Spanish. Perhaps I will start working with them on French, since I’m using Rosetta Stone French for myself right now using a personal copy.

Power Glide

Rosetta Stone

Logic Stage: Science

moonshadows — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:28:44 +0000

For Camille, we will be repeating biology, while Chloe is also studying biology. So far, I like the curriculum package from Noeo Science best. I’m not sure if the microscope that comes with the package will be adequate, but we can see. I may also want to add additional reference books and coloring books, depending.

Noeo Science - Biology II

Joy Hakim’s Story of Science

DK Visual Encyclopedia of Science

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

Biology Coloring Book and others

Logic Stage: Spelling, Grammar, Reading and Writing

moonshadows — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:15:01 +0000

This is the hardest subject for me to come up with a great program. Neither Camille nor I find it to be a thrilling subject.

Spelling:
TWTM suggests using Spelling Workout F and G and from what I see, it should meet our needs for spelling. For Camille, spelling is more about breaking words down then memorizing spelling rules.

Grammar and Writing:
I’m a little frustrated with this one. Rod and Staff is what TWTM highly recommends, and it looks great, but it is absolutely not secular. I think we’ll probably use Voyages in English and then Writing Strands.

Reading:
Camille reads more than enough for history and for fun. Probably TOO much. She has excellent comprehension and retention, and I don’t want to mess with what works! I hope to tie in the writing above with her reading.

Links:

Spelling Workout

English from the Roots Up

Voyages in English

Writing Strands

Logic Stage: Math

moonshadows — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:28:21 +0000

“During the locig stage, the study of mathematics goes from arithmetic […] to mathematics. For fifth and sixth grade, I think we will stick with the familiar Singapore Math.

Singapore Math

Cranium Crackers

Logic Stage: History and Geography

moonshadows — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:26:58 +0000

Camille is working on the fourth year od Story of the World this year and will be ready to start the sequence over again next year. While Chloe will be using The Story of the World and its student pages, Camille needs something new. TWTM stresses outlining and timelines for fifth grade history. They suggest a notebook with nine sections and some memorization work. I’ll have to review the resources weekly to see that we catch the important topics.

So far the best thing that I’ve found for her is

History Odyssey from Pandia Press.

For geography, I think we will work on Western Europe next year. We will choose a country every three weeks to study, as well as working on memorizing maps and capitals.

Beginning Outlining

History Odyssey and Timelines

A Little History of the World by EH Gombrich

The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem Van Loon

The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia

Europe Geography Units

For later:

The History of US by Joy Hakim

Logic Stage: Logic

moonshadows — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:16:21 +0000

Now I’m into unchartered territory. Next year, Camille will be starting fifth grade work. In the Well-Trained Mind, fifth grade is the start of “The Logic Stage.” For fifth grade, the recommendation is to start with logic puzzles in order to begin the process of learning logic.

A Case of Red Herrings

Mind Benders Warm-Up + A1-4

Grammar Stage: Art and Music

moonshadows — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:15:48 +0000

we have used very little in the way of a formal program for art and music. We have visited many museums, talked about artists and read books. As for music, we listen to a lot of music, but not much in the way of classical. As we will be doing more with Camille next year, I think it might be nice to do more with Chloe. In addition, I’d like to study drawing, art and music myself.

Drawing with Children

Leeson Plans for DWT

Classical Kids

Grammar Stage: Science

moonshadows — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:15:00 +0000

For Camille, we used REAL Science for Grades 1 and 2, and Camille really enjoyed these texts. I think Chloe will probably be more interested in coloring books that Camille was, so I will pay attention to ordering coloring books before each topic (for as long as she remains interested. we’ll also order appropriate library books for the topics. If possible, I’d like to have butterflies and tadpoles, but only if we will have long enough periods at home to care for them.

REAL Science

Dover Publications

Insect Lorear