Ancient History and Astronomy

Ancient History & Astronomy

 

During this school year, our 3rd and 5th grade children and I have been delving into ancients for history and exploring astronomy for science!  So far, the combination has worked well since both begin with the foundation of Creation with our loving God as the Master Designer. It’s the perfect combination for creation based studies!

 

IMG_6668     IMG_6525

 

As we study Biblical history and early civilizations and also discover information about the sun, planets, and stars, I like how it all so easily points us back to God. 

The heavens declare the glory of God. 
The skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1 (NIV, 1984)

We are making connections with Biblical history and seeing how God’s hand was at work in both the forming and sustaining of the universe and the nations.

I am struck by the words in this small verse of Scripture.

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power.
His understanding is beyond measure.

Psalm 147:5 (ESV)

 

great ….abundant in power….beyond measure

Yes!  That is what I wish for our children to consider and contemplate as they continue to study this year.  My hope is that they not only store up content knowledge, but that they encounter the Living God!  May they always realize that it is Christ who is great in His steadfast love for us, who is abundant in power as He not only created everything, but sustains us and gives us life, and that His wisdom and understanding are beyond measure.

 

If you are also studying Ancient History with your children, you may be interested in a new resource that was just added to our Teachers Pay Teachers store – an Ancient History Notebook!

Our 2018-2019 Curriculum

Here is our family’s Elementary to High School
Curriculum Choices for the 2018-2019 school year! 

 

ELEMENTARY

Our 3rd Grader:

 

  • Reading/Phonics: All About Reading: Level 4; Explode the Code books 6-7
  • Literature: The Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, Mouse & the Motorcycle, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, How To Eat Fried Worms, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, A Bear Called Paddington, Louis Braille
  • Handwriting: Hero Handwriting (for manuscript review); Conquering Cursive
  • Spelling: Joyful Heart Spelling Skills
  • Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 3
  • Math: Horizons 3 (and moving into 4), Xtra Math
  • Bible: Awana T&T, daily Bible Reading
  • Additions: Trail Life (Woodland Hawk)

 

Our 5th Grader:

  • Reading/Literature: Lion, Witch, & Wardrobe, The Hundred Dresses, Heidi, Misty of Chincoteague, The Indian in the Cupboard, Twenty One Balloons, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Wonder, Esperanza Rising, Ginger Pye, The Penderwicks; participating in a once a month book club; free reading
  • Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 5; Spelling through Scripture; Word Roots 1
  • Math: Horizons 5
  • Bible: Awana T&T, daily Bible Reading
  • Additions: violin lessons, piano lessons, gymnastics, ballet

 

The Elementary ‘Together’ Subjects:

  • Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy
  • Social Studies: Ancient History – Mystery of History 1 with corresponding read alouds, timeline, notebook, etc.
  • Art: See the Light Art Class (some), art projects at our co-op

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our 7th Grader:

    • Reading/Literature: Veritas Press Omnibus 2 Secondary (including The Hobbit , The Fellowship of the Ring , The Nine Tailors, The Dragon and the Raven, Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Winning His Spurs, The Two Towers, Henry V, King Richard III, and The Return of the King)
    • Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 7 (online, self-paced course)
    • Vocabulary: Word Roots 3
    • Math: Saxon Math 8/7 with PreAlgebra
    • Science: Sonlight H – Technology
    • Social Studies: Sonlight Core H – World History (using the core history and only selective read alouds/readers)
    • Bible: Student Leader in Awana/Trek, daily Bible Reading
    • Spanish: Getting Started in Spanish
    • Computers: CompuScholar Digital Savvy (online, self-paced course)
    • Additions: Trail Life (Navigator)

 

 

HIGH SCHOOL

Our 9th Grader:

  • English 9 (Christian Literature, Grammar, and Foundations of Composition):
    – Full Length Novels
                    The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
                    The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
                   The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
                   God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew
                   Joni by Joni Eareckson Tada
                   Through the Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
    – 
    Foundations of Composition (Excelsior online composition and grammar course)
  • Algebra 1 with Integrated Geometry:  Shormann Algebra 1
  • Biology:  Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology
  • World Geography:  North Star Geography by Bright Ideas Press
  • Spanish 2: BJU self paced online course
  • Instrumental Music 1:  Cello lessons, Piano Lessons, Member of the local youth orchestra
  •  World Religion and Cultures:
                    But Don’t All Religions Lead to God?
                    World Religions: An Indispensable Introduction
                    Mimosa
                    Listening to the Language of the Bible
                    Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus

                    Sundar Singh: Footprints Over the Mountains
                    Queen of the Dark Chamber
                    Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies
                    I Dared to Call Him Father
                    God’s Global Mosaic
                    Foreign to Familiar
                    iWitness Heresies and Cults
  • Additions: Student Leader in AWANA/Journey

 

Our 11th Grader:

  • English 11 (American Literature and Composition):
    – Sonlight American Literature 430
                    Eternity in Their Hearts           Brave Companions
                    Up From Slavery                       Elements of Style
                    A Separate Peace                       Best Short Stories of O. Henry 
                   Ender’s Game                              The Chosen
                    Outliers                                        The Grapes of Wrath 
                    Evidence Not Seen                    Jacob Have I Loved 
                    Teaching a Stone to Talk        The Portable Poe
                    Death of a Salesman                My Antonia 
                    100 Best Loved Poems             Fidelity
                    How to Read a Book                Our Town 
                    The Scarlet Letter                    On Writing Well
                    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
                    Their Eyes Were Watching God 
  • Algebra 2b with Integrated Geometry:  Shormann Algebra 2
  • Advanced Biology:  Apologia Exploring Creation with Advanced Biology
  • American History:  Exploring America by Notgrass
  • Spanish 2: BJU self paced online course
  • Creative Writing:  One Year Adventure Novel
  •  Information Technology:  CompuScholar Digital Savvy (online, self-paced course)
  • Additions: Student Leader in AWANA/Journey; Violin Lessons, Gymnastics, American Heritage Girls (Patriot); Driving Practice, PSAT/SAT Practice; writing/revising/editing her own novel

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Would you like to get a glimpse of what other homeschool moms have chosen for their families? 

Check out Curriculum Week posts during the 10th Annual Back to Homeschool Blog Hop!

___________________________________________

Would you like to see our curriculum choices from previous years?

2017-2018 (10th, 8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd)
2016-2017 (9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st)
2015-2016 (8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, Kindergarten)
2014-2015 (7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK)
2013-2014 (6th, 4th, 2nd, K, preschool)
2012-2013 (5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old)
2011-2012 (4th, 2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler)
2010-2011 (3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old, 4 month old baby)
2009-2010 (2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived end of year)
2008-2009 (1st, PreK, 2 year old, 6 month old baby)
2007-2008 (K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
2006-2007 (PreK, 2 year old, 7 month old baby)
                  – Joyful Heart Character
2005-2006 (3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
                  – Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme
2004-2005 (2 year old, 6 mo old baby) 
                  – Joyful Heart Learning

Our 2017-2018 Curriculum

Our 2017-2018 Curriculum

Our 2nd Grader:

2nd Reading  Geography and Missions2nd Bible 2nd Spelling

 

  • Reading/Phonics: All About Reading: Level 2; beginning chapter books; Explode the Code books 5-6 ; Read Alouds
    (Update: He successfully completed All About Reading Level 2 by Thanksgiving and we are moving on to Level 3!)
  • Spelling: Joyful Heart Spelling Skills
  • Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 2
  • Math: Horizons 2 (and moving into 3), Xtra Math
  • Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany (with our nature notebook)
  • Social Studies: Completing 100 Days of American History and then moving on to Geography and Missions
  • Bible: God’s Gospel, God’s Promises, daily Bible reading, AWANA Sparks
  • Music/Art: piano practice, choir

Our 4th Grader:

4th Literature  4th Science  Bible 4th Math

 

  • Reading/Literature:  literature books of our choosing with corresponding comprehension guides; once a month book club; free reading
  • Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 4; Spelling through Scripture; Word Roots Beginning; Homophones
  • Math: Horizons 4
  • Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany
  • Social Studies: Completing 100 Days of American History and then moving on to Geography and Missions
  • Bible: AWANA T&T, daily Bible Reading/How to Study Your Bible
  • Additions:  violin lessons, piano practice, choir

Our 6th Grader:

6th Language Arts   
6th Science science&history6th History

 

  • Reading/Literature: Veritas Press Omnibus 1 Secondary (including Chosen by God, Till We Have Faces, all books in The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Best Things in Life, Unaborted Socrates, The Eagle of the Ninth, The Screwtape Letters, and The Holiness of God)
  • Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 6
  • Vocabulary: Word Roots 2
  • Math: Horizons 6
  • Science: God’s Design for the Physical World – Heat, Inventions & Technology, and Machines
  • Social Studies: Beautiful Feet Books: History of Science with our Inventors & Inventions notebook
  • Bible: Student Leader in AWANA/Trek, daily Bible Reading/How to Study Your Bible, Apologia Biblical Worldview: Who is My Neighbor
  • Additions: Trail Life (Navigator), Student Worship Choir, Khan Academy – Coding!

Our 8th Grader:

8th Literature8th Physical Science) 8th Composition8th History

  • Reading/Literature: Veritas Press Omnibus 2 Secondary (including The Hobbit , The Fellowship of the Ring , The Nine Tailors, The Dragon and the Raven, Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Winning His Spurs, The Two Towers, Henry V, King Richard III, and The Return of the King)
  • Writing/Grammar/Composition:  Introductory Guide to High School Writing: Poetry, Short Stories, Research, and Essays; Easy Grammar Plus  (switched midyear to BJU Writing and Grammar online self paced course)
  • Vocabulary: Word Roots 2
  • Math: Shormann Algebra 1 with Integrated Geometry (0ver 1 ½ years)
  • Science: Apologia Physical Science
  • Social Studies: Beautiful Feet Books: History of Classical Music with our Classical Music Notebook
  • Foreign Language: BJU Spanish 1
  • Additions: Student Leader in AWANA/Trek, Cello lessons, Piano Lessons, American Heritage Girls (Pioneer)

Our 10th Grader:

10th Chemistry 10th History10th Christian Literature 10th Literary Analysis10th Health

 

  • English 10 (Literary Analysis, Christian Literature, and Composition)  1 Credit
    Windows to the World: An Introduction to Literary Analysis by Lesha Myers; Great Christian Writers – Full Length Christian Novels, Study Guides, and Composition; Time 4 Writing Online Course – Essay 
  • Algebra 2a with Integrated Geometry  1 Credit
    Shormann Algebra 2 with Integrated Geometry
  • Chemistry  1 credit
    Discovering Design for Chemistry by Dr. Jay Wile (including labs)
  • World History  1 Credit
    Exploring World History by Ray Notgrass
  • Bible: Issues in World History  1 Credit
    Exploring World History by Ray Notgrass,  Bible, AWANA Journey – Bible Reading and Scripture Memorization
  • Spanish .5 Credit
    Homeschool Spanish Academy – online one on one tutoring
  • Physical Education and Health  1 Credit
    Total Health; Gymnastics
  • Instrumental Music 2   1 Credit
    Violin and Piano (lessons, practices, and performances)
  • Additions: Student Leader in AWANA/Journey, Student Worship Choir, Driving Practice, PSAT Practice, American Heritage Girls (Patriot), Recreational Blog, Script, and Book Writing

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Would you like to see our curriculum choices from previous years?
2016-2017 (9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st)
2015-2016 (8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, Kindergarten)
2014-2015 (7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK)
2013-2014 (6th, 4th, 2nd, K, preschool)
2012-2013 (5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old)
2011-2012 (4th, 2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler)
2010-2011 (3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old, 4 month old baby)
2009-2010 (2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived end of year)
2008-2009 (1st, PreK, 2 year old, 6 month old baby)
2007-2008 (K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
2006-2007 (PreK, 2 year old, 7 month old baby)
                  – Joyful Heart Character
2005-2006 (3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
                  – Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme
2004-2005 (2 year old, 6 mo old baby) 
                  – Joyful Heart Learning

Being Intentional

This post contains affiliate links.  Thanks for your support!

At the end of a challenging homeschool day, my husband is the first to remind me of our vision for our children’s learning at home…

  • a love for God
  • a love for His Word
  • a love for others
  • and a love for learning
How can I keep that in my thoughts?  How do I keep that focus? 

As a homeschool mom, I see two clear strategies that can assist me in staying focused on our goals.

1) Being intentional in spending time with Jesus…

The first way, and probably most obvious, is to personally stay close to the Good Shepherd.  I need to make sure I am making time to meet with the Lord a priority.  Am I reading my Bible each day and meditating on what He says through His Word? Am I taking time to pray and listen from my Savior?  Am I leaning on Christ and letting Him direct my thinking, words, activities, and day to day?  If I neglect this most important relationship, my vision begins to wane and I can gradually lose the focus of ‘love for God, love for His Word, love for others, and love for learning’ – turning it completely to academics and the stress of trying to do more and more, and entirely missing the heart.   How do I know this?  Well, sadly, it is because it has happened frequently to me along this homeschool journey.  I need a constant reminder to sit quietly and rest, to lean on the One who has called me to this journey, and to abide in His Word.

2) Being intentional in sharing Christ, His Word, and biblical truths with our children…

A second way to attempt to stay focused is to incorporate more of God’s Word and learning through using the Bible during our school days.  When choosing curriculum, I try to look for (or create) resources that are founded on and transmit a biblical worldview.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates,  so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
~Deuteronomy 11:18-21

It’s about being intentional in what we choose to use and do
during these short years we have been given with each of our children.

Some academic areas are easier than others to find materials that meet that criteria.  For example, we have discovered numerous science and history curricula that integrate the Bible and subject matter quite well.  Other areas, however, seem to be lacking and seem much more difficult to integrate.

Can aspects of language arts be taught using the Bible?  Yes!  One example is teaching spelling skills, handwriting, capitalization, spacing, and punctuation using verses of Scripture.  Joyful Heart Spelling Skills uses this method and was developed from a desire to incorporate God’s Word with the learning of spelling skills for early elementary students.  Joyful Heart Spelling Skills focuses on 73 spelling rules, starting with three letter CVC words and gradually builds and progresses with more difficult skills.  Each spelling skill is practiced during the duration of the skill focus through use of copywork, dictation, word sorting, building words, color writing, and a variety of hands on suggestions for forming words using a different medium or practicing the skill in a more hands on way.

Teaching spelling in this manner allows us to gain one more time during the day in which we can intentionally set His Word before our eyes, write it, think about it, and talk about it – enabling us to learn both academically and spiritually.

 

Want More Information about Joyful Heart Spelling Skills?

Spelling – Bible Copywork and Dictation
Spelling – A Rules Based Approach
Spelling – Build It
Spelling – Write It a Different Way
Spelling – Making it Varied
Spelling – When to Start

To succeed in keeping our focus and vision before us involves being intentional.  Staying close to Christ and in His Word as well as utilizing resources with a biblical emphasis can help us stay the course – instilling a love for God, a love for His Word, a love for others, and a love for learning.

Solidifying Science Concepts

Over the past several years our children have studied, explored, and enjoyed delving deep into science concepts using the Apologia Young Explorer series by Jeannie Fulbright.  I like the author’s tone in which she writes directly to the kids, how there are hands on experiments and ‘try this’ areas throughout the chapters, the biblical worldview and young earth creation focus throughout each text, and the depth that each book in the Exploring Creation series provides – not just lots of surface level ideas. 

We also utilize Apologia’s corresponding science journals, especially for our upper elementary aged kids, with great success. The upper level journals provide note taking spaces, copywork, vocabulary crosswords, and cut apart booklets or lapbook type sheets for each chapter – all of which help our kids to develop more focused attention and to solidify and review the science concepts being studied.

For a few of the books, I have found it beneficial to create a notebook just with our youngest learners in mind.  Please hop over to Hubbard’s Cupboard and take a peek!  They love having a notebook designed just for them that they can use to engage with the science concepts at their own level as their older siblings work in the Apologia journals.

   Apologia Young Explorer Science Series     

We have free printable notebooks and additional projects for the following science topics…

My Nature Notebook: From Seed to Plant  
My Nature Notebook: Birds, Bats, and Bugs  
My Ocean Creatures Notebook  
Animals in My World 
My Body: God’s Amazing Design

From Seed to PlantBirds Bats and BugsOcean CreaturesAnimals in My WorldMy Body: God's Amazing Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The notebooks can be used fully, in conjunction with the Apologia books (our first choice =) ), or pick and choose a few pages to print and use to support and enhance your own theme/science learning!

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