Can you believe Week 24 is upon us?  The unseasonably warm weather and upcoming trip to Ethoipia has us all itching to be finished school for the year.  At the same time, I’m gearing up for next year, writing curriculum, reviewing curriculum, buying curriculum, and selling curriculum. 

History: Bill of Rights

For the younger kids, I really like this lesson plan that uses picture books to explore the first 10 Amendments.  A lot of the books seem to be out of print, but there are enough we found at the library to make due.  This simple game would make a good review.

For older kids, you may want to check out this plan or this plan.  They will also really enjoy this game.

Science: Solutions

This week we’ll learn how to make a saturated solution from Lesson 23 in Christian Kids Explore Chemistry.  If you’re not using this book, check out the Chapter 5 lessons here.

History: Preamble of the U.S. Constitution

Mia decided to be a History Memory Master which CC does not recognize on a national level but our community will recognize via parent-issued certificates at our end-of-year party.  With her and PJ both studying, we will have history-lite at our house the next two weeks while they spend extra time reviewing material.

• For older kids.
• For younger kids (with art crossover).  The Visual Thesaurus may help if your kids have brain block on drawing pictures.

I also found great hand motions and a visual. It’s a Word document, so you can right click on the link to save it.

The best book seems to be We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States.  We may also use the Schoolhouse Rock: America Rock song to memorize it instead of the CC version.

Science: Charles’ Gas Law

Basically, this law states that gas expands when it gets hotter and contracts as it gets cooler.

This is Lesson 21 in Christian Kids Explore Chemistry or you can get a similar activity here.

P.S.  I wish I had found www.middleschoolchemistry.com earlier.  I probably would have used it instead of Christian Kids Explore Chemistry .

History: September 11

While I came across plenty of lesson plans, I really like these.  They are divided by age group.

Science: Acids, Bases, Salts

These topics are covered well in Christian Kids Explore Chemistry.  For acids and bases we’ll go around finding some common ones in food and household products.  Then we’ll discover that a salt is formed when you mix and acid and a base.

History: Astronauts and the first moon landing

I feel like I’m in the minority, but I can’t get into lapbooks.  The funny thing is that I love crafts and scrapbooking.  I think I can’t get past the product enough to use the process.  I know they will just get trashed and that irks me.  Anyway, all that to say, I’m going to give it a whirl this week with this great lesson plan/lapbook.  I think Mia will love it so we may have to do more of them next year.

If you have older students or can’t get into the lapbook, check out this lesson plan or this one with a heavy writing focus.

On the other hand, if you have littles to occupy, check out this or this.

This audio of the moonlanding or this timeline may also be useful.

Science: Chemical Reactions

This is Lesson 15 in Christian Kids Explore Chemistry.  There is an excellent lesson and demonstration at MiddleSchoolChemistry.com.

History: Brown vs. Board of Ed (Civil Rights)

We will re-visit Civil Rights using this lesson plan.  PBS also has a great site to explore.  In the car, we’ll be catching up on stories from Week 13 that we didn’t get around to.  The resource/book list for Civil Rights can also be found back at Week 13.

Science: Formulas and Naming Compounds

I know the memory work has veered off to Origins but we’re sticking with Chemistry for our more in-depth science exploration.  This is the week for Lessons 13 and 14 in Christian Kids Explore Chemistry.  This subject matter can also be called nomenclature.

This site has many downloadable Word files.  We will do the Types_of_Food_Chemicals_Known_as_Nutrients as our health lesson this week.

There is also fun practice activity here.

History: NATO (and Communism and the Cold War)

Intro: From the NATO website.

We’ll probably follow this lesson plan. 

Other lesson plans:

• Based on primary documents (+)
• With an economic focus (+)
• Based on pop culture music of the time (+)
• More of a unit study

Interactive web material:

• Map
• More from the NATO website
• Timeline
• Map (from NATO website)
• PPT downloads from Mr. Donn

Science: Chemical Bonding (specifically ionic and covalent)

First we’ll start with an understanding of valence electrons using this PPT and this worksheet.

That will make this video make a lot more sense.

Chemical bonding is covered in Lessons 11 and 12 of Christian Kids Explore Chemistry.

History: Pearl Harbor

Like WWI, WWII is covered in Cycle 2 so we’ll focus on the U.S. event of Pearl Harbor and resulting Japanese Internment.

These are great lesson plans.

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/g35/legacy.html
• http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/18arizona/18arizona.htm
• http://teacher.scholastic.com/pearl/tguide.htm

There is a cool interactive timeline and map that we’ll use with PC2TV.

For older kids, check out this hour-by-hour account complete with discussion questions and writing prompts.

Science: Molecules

We’ll be doing Lesson 10 in Christian Kids Explore Chemistry which is on molecules. It includes a modeling activity using styrofoam balls.  You can find other ideas for household materials here (i.e., clay).  If you’re more into virtual, check out these.

History: President Wilson and WWI

Because another Cycle 2 covers WWI more thoroughly (at least in my head), I really wanted to focus on the American involvement rather than the entire War.

Intro: Videos on the Lusitania and German attacks on U.S. Navy boats.

• Lesson plan for older students (see Lesson Six)
• Article on last survivor
• Color countries involved (see map)
• Listen to lots of books on mp3.  The kids will be super-excited to listen to Kit: An American Girl (all the stories).

Science: Periodic Table

Intro: YouTube video.  WARNING:  He does say “crap” near the beginning.

• Lesson 9 from Christian Kids Explore Chemistry
• Periodic Table Game (We’ve already played this and it was great fun!)
• Tom Lehrer has a song that lists all of the elements alphabetically called “The Elements.“

History: Immigration

• ABC’s of Immigration Book (Appendix A and B)
• Map of cities with high immigrant population (Appendix E)
• Poem for memorization (Appendix E)
• Melting Pot Exercise (Lesson 1)
• Assessment here and here

Science: Atoms and their parts

Christian Kids Explore Chemistry Lessons 6 through 8

There are many ways to model atoms.  We’re going to do the cookie models on page 67.  Basically you bake a plain cookie and use 3 different candies (M&M’s suggested) to add protons, neutrons, and electrons.

On a side note: My favorite library book so far for explaining chemistry to kids is Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction.

History: Teddy Roosevelt, Spanish American War

Intro: Multimedia website or video

I thought this would be a fun week to explore Spanish culture a little since it’s a part of American culture. Check out the Scholastic plans here or here.

Science: Mixtures vs. Compounds

Lesson 5 and activity on Page 24 of Christian Kids Explore Chemistry.

There is a pretty useful Powerpoint here.

Click here for more details on this semester’s science plan.