We have been homeschooling for many years, and I sometimes forget that what we do isn't the same for others. So, I am writing a monthly homeschool recap to demonstrate one way (there are so many methods out there!) that homeschooling can work.
We use an eclectic method of homeschooling that leans very heavily towards the Charlotte Mason method of teaching. Without going into too much detail about this method, it can be described as very literature-heavy. We read and discuss A LOT of books. We don't spend a lot of time on workbooks, worksheets, etc., We have gravitated toward this method over the years and found that it works very well for our learners and family lifestyle.
Here are some items that we have read, listened to or watched during the month of August:
*The Holy Bible
*Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman
William Harvey and the Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood by Thomas Henry Huxley
Watch Human Circulatory System - Zylor "ZEd" Education on YouTube
Watch Could Insects Value Add Your Farm Waste? - Farm Learning with Tim Thompson on YouTube
The Story of Painting: From Cave Painting to Modern Times by Horst W Janson
Completing various drawing activities
First Studies of Plant Life by George Francis Atkinson
Adventures with a Microscope by Richard Headstrom
Watch selected videos related to microscopic images related to readings on YouTube
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History by Penny Le Couteur
Character is Destiny by Russell W. Gough
The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
Listen I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) by Alessandro Manzoni on Audible
Read articles and watch videos provided by the FFA teacher related to Economic Principles in Agriculture
Anno's Spain by Mitsumasa Anno
The Story of David Livinstone by Vautier Golding
Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling
Watch Learn Our History DVDs
Watch Around the World in 80 Days on Prime
Poor Richard by James Daugherty
Columbus by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire
The Story of the Romans by HA Guerber
A Coffin for King Charles: The Trial and Execution of Charles I by CV Wedgewood
*Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle
Watch What They Aren't Telling You About the Declaration of Independence - Nick Freitas on YouTube
Read various poems by Helen Hunt Jackson
Read various poems by Christina Rossetti
Listen The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle on Audible
Asgard to Athens by Anne E. White
Signs and Seasons: Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy by Jay Ryan
Galileo and the Magic Numbers by Sidney Rosen
Money Matters for Teens by Larry Burkett
A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Listen Doctor Dolittle Complete Collection on Audible
Little Bear by Elsa Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak
Father Bear Comes Home by Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh
*The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Watch Wild Kratts episode - Tazmanian Devil
*Herb Fairies Book One: Stellaria's Big Find by Kimberly Gallagher
To a Different Drum by Pauline Hamilton
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Heroes of the Bible Devotional by Joshua Cooley
Read various essays by Francis Bacon
Utopia by Sir Thomas More, Edited by Paul Turner
Marco Polo by George Makepiece Towle
Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft by Thor Heyerdahl
*Whatever Happened to Justice? by Richard Maybury
The Ultimate Girls' Body Book by Walt Larimore
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
The New World by Winston Churchill
This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall
A Child's History of the World by VM Hillyer
Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula
Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe
The Story of the Greeks by H.A. Guerber
Augustus Ceasar's World by Genevieve Foster
The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty
Mourt’s Relation: A Journey of English Plantation settled at Plymouth in NE by CJohnson
Genesis: Finding our Roots by Ruth Beechick
*Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
The Heroes by Charles Kingsley
English Literature for Boys and Girls by H.E. Marshall
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Plutarch's Life of Camillus Study Guide by Anne White
Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty
The Book of Virtues by William Bennett
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
The Ark by Margot Benary-Isbert
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra
*Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley
Watch Amazing Technology Free Energy Generatory by Speaker Magnet 100% at Home - Amazong Tech on YouTube
*The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess
It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards
The Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long
Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of August:
The Art of Problem Solving, Introduction to Algebra by Richard Rusczyk
Life of Fred - Beginning Algebra Expanded Edition by Stanley Schmidt
Read and discuss various news articles
Life of Fred - Butterflies by Stanley Schmidt
Life of Fred - Farming by Stanley Schmidt
Life of Fred - Liver by Stanley Schmidt
All In One Homeschool Online Spanish Course
A Bluestocking Guide: Justice by Kathryn Daniels
Mind Benders by The Critical Thinking Co.
*Life of Fred - Edgewood by Stanely Schmidt
Completing entries in a Nature Journal
Apologia - Anatomy and Physiology
Here are some online classes/resources that we have used:
Here are a few games/activities that we have enjoyed:
Checkers
Rummy
*Items marked with an asterisk are my personal favorites and highly recommended.
Here are a few field trips/activities that we have participated in during the month of August:
- We had hands-on nature lessons.
- The kids help us work the booths at farmers markets.
- Our daughter learned how to drive the lawnmower and collect grass clippings.
- They attended youth group and church services.
- Our high schoolers attended elective classes at Bluegrass United that include Freshman Foundations, Intentional Technology, Epistemology and The Art and Science of Wellbeing.
- We attended the Kentucky State Fair.
- Our oldest competed in the State FFA Livestock Judging competition. Their team placed second overall and was invited to participate in a larger competition in Kansas City.
- We restarted our in-person FFA classes and meetings. This semester we are focusing on Agri-Business.
- Our sons participated in the high school soccer games and practices with Bluegrass United.
- Our oldest is continuing to practice driving skills.
- We attended and hosted parties.
- We cared for neighbor's poultry and assisted with screen door replacement.
- The girls helped to can tomato sauce.
- Our daughter participated in horse lessons with Riding with Rhythm.
- We celebrated birthdays with a trip to Kings Island.
- Our son created CNC signs for a custom order. They were thrilled with the results.
- Our sons assisted with sawmill work for a customer order.
- They practiced their culinary skills.
Our lives are not what is considered normal, but we are loving it this way!
*For those that enjoy the booklists, I have attached links to my Amazon affiliate account. As an Amazon associate, I will earn money from any qualifying purchases made by using these link