Earth Science

 

Earth Science is the subject that I have the hardest time trying to teach. I can't classify rocks on my own.  I need a lot of help in this area.  It's the area of science I struggle with the most since I need to see, feel and touch science to understand it.  Some of these resources have been such a big help to me. 

My plans reflect a Christian perspective. Although some of the resources featured do not line up with my beliefs, I believe they make for some interesting discussion and using a Christian, young earth book along-side to show what God says and why he made it that way. 

Home Science Tools-- Earth Science Experiments.  This company feature Christian products for homeschoolers.

Geology and Earth Science Unit Studies-- for grades 3-8.  I have not personally looked through this in detail so I can't say for sure what to expect.

How Rocks are Formed Homepage -- Very cool.  Has animated models of how rocks are formed with visual learners in mind.

 Rocks and Minerals Station and Geology crafts by the Crafty Classroom.  I really like this set up for visual and hands-on kids.

4 2 Explore has earth science units by topic for homeschoolers
Caves
Coral Reef
Natural Disasters
Drought
Earthquakes
Floods and Flooding
Mining
Mountains
Volcanoes

Geology Rocks--- Great book to use as a spine or supplement for earth science studies.  It's not free but you can get a copy very inexpensively right now. You can also check this out at your local library.

Let's Go Rock Collecting-- Great book for the younger set. Also not free.

We will Rock you---Rock Cycle Song Video.  Very cool.  Visual and auditory kids can easily catch on to the different rock types.

Backyard Rock Classification-- For the younger set.

Geology Unit Study by Cindy Downes.  This is for grades K-8th grade.  This free unit will last about 12 weeks according to her lesson plans.  It's all nicely laid out and labeled.  I like it when it's easy-to-use.

Kids Investigate Volcanoes on Squidoo

Earth Science/Rocks and Minerals Unit -- Great for K-6th grade.  This mom has listed a variety of resources and experiments. 

Earth Science Projects-- by the Homeschool Den.  Mostly crafty and hands-on for K-4th.

Old Earth Science Resources for grades K-5th grade

Fall Activities and Unit Studies

As the leaves turn from their summer green into their Autumn colors the weather turns cooler.  We enjoy apples and pumpkins with the season's change.  Long sleeves come out to play. Jackets and coats are lovingly pulled out for use and children go out to play.
Fall is my favorite season of the year.  Seeing God's creation change seasons and enjoying special outings is what makes it so special for me.  I hope this year you can make it special for your family.  There are so many activities and unit studies to be enjoyed in the fall.

Activities

Pumpkin School by Our Journey Westward is a great example of Living Math and what we can learn from pumpkins.  You will also cover science, language arts and history and geography.

Vintage Fall Coloring Sheets   These page are so cute.  I've always disliked giving kids cartoon-y coloring pages.

 

 Easy Art Projects for Fall.  by Hodge Podge.  Most projects are with chalk pastel.  

Pumpkin Craft, art and recipes by Hodge Podge

Fall Books for Kids for PreK-3rd grade. Nice book list.  

Fall Book List about apples, leaves and pumpkins. K-3rd. Some of these books I hold with sweet memories.

Fall Fun Unit Printables by Homeschool Creations. PreK-2nd grade.  They also have a fall book list on the widget thing.  

Math with Candy Corn- Learn place value, estimation and other math skills with candy corn.

Free Vintage Fall/Autumn Nature Study, Literature and Poetry by Happy Hearts at Home.  Great for those who are CM homeschoolers and even if you don't follow that method.  It begins in 1st and stretched to fifth grade but I believe you can make this work in middle school as well.

Unit Studies and Nature Studies

October Unit Study: Apples and Autumn by Heart of the Matter

Fall Leaves are Falling Unit Study on Squidoo for K-3rd

Apple Unit Study on Squidoo

Fabulous List of Fall Freebies and Resources-- Links for notebooking pages, crafts, unit studies and more.

APPLES resources on Homeschool Share

All About Autumn Leaves Unit Study a fun study for PreK-6th grade.  That's right, someone has finally made fall fun for the older set.

Autumn Thematic Unit on Squidoo with free printables.

Johnny Appleseed Unit Study

Apple Seeds and Apple Blossoms Unit Study on Squidoo with some Johnny Appleseed thrown in for good measure.

Fall Scavenger Hunt Printable for Nature Study

Oaks and Acorns Nature Study by Handbook of Nature Study Blog

 

American Girl Unit Studies

Following the American Girl theme I'll share with you some free resources and not-so-free resources.




American Girl books, dolls, activity books, it all reminds me of my childhood.  My favorite was Samantha from 1904.  Mostly because it was the only one I ever got to read because at the time it was the only one my local library carried.  I remember getting the catalog and daydreaming about having my own American Girl doll.  I never received one because it was well out of my family's means but I always dreamed about having one.

Fast Forward 15-20 years and I still love American Girl and now I get to share them with my daughters.  My 8-year-old loves them and checks out as many AG books a the library as I will allow each week. She loves them all but her favorite is Marie-Grace from 1854.

Next year we are planning an AG Unit Study and I'm already coming up with plans and extra books and resources as it comes together.  Later this year I'll have lesson plans posted that you can use with Portraits of an American Girlhood.  It is an already put together Unit Study that follow the American Girl books.  The book doesn't cover Marie Grace, Cecile or Kaya since those books were published after the PoaAG came out.

Free American Girl Resources

Kaya Unit Study Has links and resources for doing a study on Native Americans.  You can also follow the Learning with American Girl Pin Board on the site.

Recipes and Book List for Kaya Study  to add to your Study.

Kaya Study and Homemade Lapbook from Shower of Roses

Kaya Lapbook that a homeschool mom has created using the Homeschool Share Templates.

Another Kaya Lapbook another hs mom created lapbook.  If nothing else it will give you ideas on creating your own AG lapbook for other AG characters.

American Girl Unit Study by Heart of the Matter. Great ideas for the frame work of planning out your study.

Meet Addy Study Centered around the Civil War and slavery.  Book list included for more in depth reading.

Unit Study themes to go along with specific characters from Homeschool Helper Online.

Unit Study Ideas to go along with all the AG characters from the Unlikely Homeschool.  Each character has a 3 week study.  While this is not a very "fleshy" study, it is a good start for planning your own.

Kit Kitridge Lapbook from Lapbook Lessons.

Felicity Lapbook and Study from Shower of Roses.  Also check out her Colonial Life Unit and Lapbook along with her American Revolution Unit and Lapbook to go along with your Felicity study.

Make your Own AG to-go Book.  Not a lapbook but more like a holder for little sticker paper dolls.  Just a fun craft to do with your little girl.

American Pioneer Party.  Could spark some ideas to add to your Kirsten Study.

American Girl Lapbooks for all characters except Marie-Grace, Cecile and Rebecca by Homeschool Share.

Not Free Resources

Portraits of an American Girlhood like I mentioned before is an already put together unit study for grades 2-5 for one whole school year.  I do have this book but have not used it yet.  It will be used next year.  I bought my copy used on Homeschool Classifieds.  

Lapbooks from Knowledge Box Central. They are currently on sale for $5.00 each.  I do own the Felicity and Kit lapbooks but haven't used them yet.

Meet Felicity

Meet Kirsten

Meet Kit            

Lapbooks from Gear for Learning  with different American Girl characters for specific books.  I do not own any of these so I can't comment on their quality.

Pleasant Company published Teacher Guides for all the original American Girl characters in 1995.  They are a little on the pricey side and sometimes hard to find.  Keep watching them on ebay and Amazon and you may catch a good deal.  I don't own any of these but have been told they are worth the price (maybe).

Felicity Teacher Guide

Kirsten Teacher Guide 

Josafina Teacher Guide

Addy Teacher Guide   

Samantha Teacher Guide

Molly Teacher Guide

You may also enjoy the AG World Books.  Each Character has her own book (except Marie-Grace, Cecile and Rebecca).

Josafina's World

Kirsten's World

Samantha's World

Molly's World

Addy's World

Felicity's World

Kit's World

Kaya's World

This is an exhaustive list that I've complied for my own personal use.  I hope you get a lot out of it and it enhances your American Girl study with your children.  If you know of any other resources, let me know and I'll research it and update my blog. 

 Happy Homeschooling!