As many of my American friends are sorting out their curriculum choices for their coming school year, I decided that I would join in by sharing my plan for the next two months. In Australia, our ‘school year’ always begins in February…but our family are generally moving in the direction of trying to gear our minds to the ‘year’ beginning when it actually does…14 days before Pesach.
Just as an aside, we are also aware of the Greco-Roman names of months and days, and even though I still use them in certain instances (like the title of this post!) we are moving in the direction of being more aquainted with the numbering system that YHVH uses in Scripture. Just to let you know 
Added to this, I generally break up our year according to the other feasts, and according to my university timetable. I am about to start a new semester of study and NEED to have an organised plan for homeschool acedemics so my brain can be freed up for Ancient Greece and Rome! As we are natural learners, there are always directions that we go in based upon the children’s interests that I can’t necessarily plan ahead for, and these adventures are usually recorded in our week TOBY homeschool highlights. But, I have found (mostly for my own peace of mind) that I need to have at least an outline covering the key learning areas. So this is our curriculum plan that should take us up to Sukkot. After Sukkot, I’ll probably plan for another month or two and then spend the summer unschooling!
This plan is only for Bridget (12) and Jonah (7) …except for any read aloud time, art and craft + Torah and Hebrew which includes everybody. William does plenty of ‘acedemics’, but I don’t need to plan for him. He is still too busy being 5 and a half to have time for anything formal yet :-)
Torah/Hebrew
- Hebrew word studies incorporated into learning a few commandments from the 613 each week.
- Weekly Torah Portion family time – various worksheet and colour-in pages.
- Torah copywork – Deuteronomy 32 + Psalm 119
English
Bridget -
- ‘Write that story’ by Shaun McCarthy; developing and improving creative writing skills.
- Poetry – freely choose 1 poem per week to practice and recite to family.
- Reading – ‘My Story’ historical novels + ‘Emma’ by Jane Austen.
Jonah -
Maths
Bridget – finish up Singapore math workbook and begin Life of Fred fractions.
Jonah – finish up Singapore math workbook and begin on Signpost maths.
Science and Technology
Christian Liberty Nature Readers + Prepare and Pray projects where applicable, creation/nature documentaries, Exploring Creation with Astronomy.
Human Society and Its Environment
Critter of the week, Edible plants/weeds, Prepare and Pray mapwork + discussion questions where applicable, library books on topics of interest.
Creative Arts
Sketch Tuesday weekly assignments, painting, patchwork sewing and craft group (Bridget).
Physical Education/Personal Development
Swimming lessons (stroke correction), bike riding, ball games, kite, household chores, Keepers at Home lessons (Bridget).
Well, the ‘new’ camera doesn’t work and has to be returned so I still have no photos! BUT I have some GREAT links to share with you all this week!
The boys watched a Discovery Channel documentary called Rocketships. It’s basically about the history and science of space travel and exploration. Much of it is over their heads but it has really inspired them to learn more! We made paper rockets and space shuttles and explored the educational resources on NASA’s amazing website! There’s a little clip HERE about Buzz Lightyear’s real life adventure to the space station. That really tickled their fancy 
Bridget and I watched this beautiful film! I’m so inspired! I found a unit study HERE that I’m going to adapt so Bridget can work through it independently. I’ve ordered Beatrix Potters Journal from the library, and a book about her nature journalling techniques. We already have many of her stories but we are both inspired to read them all again! The boys love Peter Rabbit too, so it won’t be hard to get them involved.
