 Index:
General
Directions for Cindy's Unit Studies:
I
have written these units with the goal of studying history
and science on alternate days, two times per week each
(Monday
& Wednesday - History, Tuesday & Thursday - Science).
I recommend spending 1 - 2 hours each day per lesson depending
on the ages, abilities, and interests of your children. You
WILL NOT complete everything listed in these units.
Pick and choose the reading selections and activities as
they meet your family's needs and interests.
The
object is to complete as much as you can as a group during
the 1-2 hour lesson and then assign additional independent
work as needed. Additional Study Recommendations are for
students who are older or who get interested in the topic.
Whatever is not covered during the unit is left for another
year to cover. Remember, you will most likely cover all
these subjects two or three times during your child's school
years. What he misses the first time can be covered the
next time. A typical multi-level lesson would run as follows:
1.
First, spend 15 - 30 minutes reading your main textbook or
read-aloud as a family. Even if your little ones don’t
understand everything or appear to being paying attention,
they will get something out of it. Divide the number
of pages in the book(s) by the number of lessons in the unit.
This is the number of pages you will need to read each lesson
to complete the book(s). Have your children take turns reading
as they are able. Explain new vocabulary words, as needed.
Record in your log book as vocabulary, reading and/or literature.
2.
Complete any hands-on activities or lab work together as a
group allowing each child to participate according to their
abilities. Record this in your log book as science lab, history
project, art project, etc. as appropriate.3.
Assign independent work to each child according to the his/her
ability: independent reading, composition projects, worksheets,
research, and/or internet activities. Research is done on
the Internet, using an encyclopedia, or with suggested library
books. Use vocabulary words and misspelled words from compositions
as your spelling lesson for the week. When editing compositions,
record this as grammar. Independent reading is done by your
children on their own time. Record these activities in your
log book as reading, composition, grammar, research skills,
vocabulary, etc. as appropriate.4.
All books listed can be purchased online, from local bookstores
and/or borrowed from the library. The grades listed are generally
interest levels, not reading level. Check reading levels before
assigning as independent reading.
5.
In lieu of testing, keep a portfolio
on your child's activities.
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Unit
Studies:
All
units below are copyright by Cindy Downes.
All
rights reserved. Permission
is given to homeschooling parents and classroom teachers
to use these units free of charge in their own homeschool
or classroom only. Please include the copyright information
on your printout. These units may not be distributed or
reprinted in any form for any other purpose (commercial
or otherwise) without
permission from Cindy Downes. Contact her at
contact@oklahomahomeschool.com.
A
great resource for keeping track of your studies is The
Checklist
History & Social Studies-Based Units:
(I highly recommend investing in Terri Johnson's Blackline
Maps of World History
and Blackline
Maps of American History
to use as map studies for these units. See my Blog
for my complete review.)
Science-Based
Units:
Other
Units:
You'll
also want to check out my blog, How
to Homeschool Today,
for teaching tips and mini units!
Recommended
Resources (Purchase):
Ancient
China, to the Great Wall and Beyond by Judy Wilcox
(Highly recommended. Read my review here.)
Biographies
for Unit Studies - a huge list of biographies from CBD
at discounted prices! (NOTE: I will receive a referral
fee if you buy from this link. THANKS if you do! Cindy)
Units
on Other Websites (Mostly free):
 Highland
Heritage Home School Units.
Book
of Virtues unit study.
Easy
Fun School Unit Study Index.
Homeschool
Share.
All
Hands on Deck.
Unit
Studies from Homeschool
Helper.
Directory
of Unit Studies from Stone
Soup.
Units from sassafrassgrove.
Keep
track of your studies with The
Checklist
Use a timeline to better understand
what you are learning.
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Go
to Recordkeeping or Curriculum
Recommendations or Curriculum
- How to Purchase
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