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5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together – Day 1: One Room Schools – A Thing of the Past?

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have tips on teaching mixed ages together.

Last year, we went on a field trip to a one room school house. They are suppose to be a thing of the past so we just had to go.

5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together - Day 1: One Room Schools - A Thing of the Past?
5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together – Day 1: One Room Schools – A Thing of the Past?

More Homeschooling Multiple Ages Tips

5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together – Day 1: One Room Schools – A Thing of the Past?

With our highschoolers standing in the back and younger kids standing in the front of our group picture, I think our group must be pretty typical of the age range that one teacher had in one class about 100 years ago.

Too, I think we have a huge advantage over one room teachers of the past because we don’t have 20 kids, but I also think we can reach back to the past for some lessons on teaching mixed ages.

Homeschooling Multiple Levels of Children Confusion

However, I have a bit of a confession.

The first day I officially added Mr. Awesome to my new school year after teaching Mr. Senior 2013 for a few years, I had a complete meltdown. 

Besides, I admit that all the planning and organization didn’t help one bit in knowing how to teach more than one child at a time.

Looking back now, I realized that a much more comprehensive definition would have been of great help instead of thinking I had a grasp on what I thought was apparently so simple to understand.

Look at how I broke down the definition.

It means . . .

It could mean . . .

It doesn’t mean . . .

  • Teaching all of your children together.
  • Some children are doing another activity independently.
  • You have to teach them at the same time.
  • Creating unique assignments based on each child’s level.
  • That the whole family is involved.
  • You have to do all the teaching.
  • Learning from others and not segregating our children by ages.
  • Creating one unique project that everybody works on instead of several projects going on.
  • You have to teach one topic.
  • That children that are even the same age, like  twins, have the same ability. They do not. So why do we keep trying to segregate our children by grade?

Teaching Mixed Ages

5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together – Day 1: One Room Schools – A Thing of the Past?

Fascinated by the way teachers of the past so effortlessly and gracefully taught a one room school house, I have learned along the way that a clear understanding of what teaching mixed ages is determines what will and will not work for my family.

If you were to ask a seasoned homeschooling veteran if a one room schoolhouse is a thing of the past, they would probably have to say no. The building may be long gone but the idea of teaching mixed ages together is alive and strong in the homeschool world.

Benefits and challenges are equally important to understand. Next, I will share some of the benefits of teaching mixed ages together.

Read the other posts in this series:

5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together - Day 1: One Room Schools - A Thing of the Past?
5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together - Day 1: One Room Schools - A Thing of the Past?
5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together - Day 1: One Room Schools - A Thing of the Past?
5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together - Day 1: One Room Schools - A Thing of the Past?
5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together - Day 1: One Room Schools - A Thing of the Past?

South America Unit Study– Colorful Free Printable Map

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I just wanted to remind you before I move on with our unit study that my site now has over 30 lapbooks.

south america unit study

Now that I got Monday morning business out of the way, I wanted to share the next part to our South America unit study that we are on right now, which is a map.

We have just been using our atlases and books from the library on this unit study and started off by locating the countries and landforms of South America.

Label Map of South American Countries @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

South America Colorful Map

We love doing the salt dough map, but this paper printable map I created also gives us a place to jot down other landforms, the capitals and even natural resources. Plus, we can stick this baby in our lapbook to come back and study too.

I have 2 maps or choices like I always try to do.

One is labeled with the countries for our sweet little ones that can’t write yet and sweet big ones that don’t want to ..tee hee hee (Ok, sometimes you just don’t need tons of writing to try to make it fun) and then I have one that is not labeled, which is the one pictured above. As always, you decide what is best for your brood.

I have some websites and key vocabulary words and of course some more ideas for hands-on coming up on this unit study too.

It’s been too long since I have shared an inspirational quote. I received a book, a  gift from a dear homeschooling mom which has 365 quotes in it and I read one quickly every morning. It like a mini-energy vitamin for the day because it sets my mind on fire. Here is one I heart today:

Over 30 Free Unit Studies and growing @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

“If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.”

John D. Rockefeller

So true! Isn’t that what we are doing today?

South America Unit Study– Colorful Free Printable Map

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

  • Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
  • Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
  • Simon Bolivar Copywork
  • Map of South America to label and one labeled
  • Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
  • Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
  • Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
  • 2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
  • Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1

Woo-Worthy Big Calendar by NeuYear

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Big Calendar

Even when life throws me a few curves, I always have time to drool over new organizing tools for our homeschool area. Because I can never get enough of organizing, I jumped at the chance of reviewing an academic year big wall calendar by NeuYear.

Psssst…. because I don’t want you to miss it, I want you to know right away that I will be hosting another giveaway and it will be for these calendars.  As always at the end of this post, I will give you the details.

Woo-Worthy Big Wall Calendar

First though I have to tell you what I love about this woo-worthy big wall calendar.  I tend to fuss be picky because I want a wall calendar that is not only pretty, but practical.

Then a lot of the big wall calendars that I have used before tend to be bulky and heavy. It’s almost like having another honey do project because I normally can’t hang one by myself.  The wall calendar I will end up using the most will be one that is a DIY when it comes to hanging it.

Right away when I received my shipment in a nice sturdy container tube, I could see that it was not only lightweight, but durable and laminated to use with dry erase markers. That was the first sign that this calendar was a keeper.

Too, you know I told you my house is almost upside down because we are making some changes. So my command center or area that I had in the kitchen is not there anymore. I was kind of suffering withdrawal from not having one organized spot in my home at the moment.

How To Be a Transient Organizer

On top of that I am trying to line out classes for Mr. Senior 2013,  juggle doctor’s appointments for the Mr. and keep our school going so I was feeling a bit defeated in looking over my whole plan at a year’s glance until I got this calendar. I knew right away what I wanted to do with it and how I wanted to use it to organize. I would create a temporary command center so that everybody can see at a glance what is planned.

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Temporary Command Center @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PLus

I grabbed some gift wrapping paper I had and covered a foam board. Then I used some  washi tape and covered some clothes pin.  It took literally 15 minutes to make a temporary command center and bring some instant organizing awwww to my homeschool and life for the year.

I love, love the fact that the calendar is so lightweight that I can just use clothes pins to hold it up, not to mention that I am using lightweight foam board as my backdrop. I have put this in my school area for now, but I can pick it up and move it to another part of the house as I make changes in my home.

Of course, it helps that my new NeuYear calendar is a smokin’ hot color because I love turquoise/aqua, any shade of it and gray.  The beauty of the NeuYear calendar lies in how simple, but elegant and uncluttered the design is. I don’t want the design to compete with whatever design or colors I may want to use in my area.

I know you have seen those calendars with tons of heavy designing and graphics. I tend to steer clear because sometimes what you see online is not how it looks when it arrives. With this calendar, what you see is what you get.

Too, a command center is a place for the whole family to glance at without being overwhelmed by design clutter or heavy color.  The doctor’s appointments, our homeschool routine, field trips and our classes should stay center stage as the appointments are what is important to focus on. It is easy to find my appointments because they stay clear and sharp with NeuYear’s clean and chic design.

Why I Love the NeuYear Big Wall Calendar

Review of NeuYear Calendar 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

But I have not even gotten to the best parts of  this calendar. You would think a calendar is just a calendar, but there are several reasons I am loving this one and taking time to tell you about it.

  • Besides being lightweight, this calendar can be placed either  vertical or horizontal. Yes, it’s double-sided. Does that mean it’s like getting two calendars for the price of one? I am using it vertically, but I love knowing I have options when I decide to give it a permanent resting home.
big calendar Neu Year
  • The next thing that has me loving this unique design is that there are no spaces or gaps in between the months. Yes, NO wasted space or date confusion.
  • The grid is nice and big enough to write in. I received the laminated calendar to use with dry erase markers which I prefer instead of the paper one. You may like their other calendar which is a regular paper surface.
Big Calendar
  • The other thing I like about this laminated calendar and tell me if I am the only one that does this, but I use post it notes/sticky tabs for some of my recurring events or appointments. I just move the tabs like hubby’s Dr. appointments as I need to instead of always writing in the space. So I am tickled that the boxes are just the perfect size and not too big for my tabs.
Review of NeuYear Calendar 4 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
  • When it comes to long term planning, appointments and deadlines, I have learned something new about myself with this review and that is how much I love this big wall calendar. My command area in my kitchen was on my kitchen bar. It was small, but had a  decent size  calendar to lay on my countertop.  I realized how much the boys have been coming to this and glancing at it rather then flipping open my family calendar.  Too, I love everything about looking at our school year at a glance and knowing that my boys don’t have to crack open my curriculum planner that I prefer to just keep as mine. Hubby can see what is going on with us too.

Using the right tools to make every day an awwww organizing day even on a temporary basis without being tedious is not an easy feat. If you want a simple but elegant, clutter free calendar, then NeuYear calendars are a perfect option.

For all those organizational gurus and techies, I list below the measurement and facts at a glance for you. Also, remember to sign up for their newsletter to see their latest updates. I have that below too.

NeuYear Calendar

Product Name:Academic Year Wall Calendar Laminated (Dry Erase)

Website: NeuYear.Net

Prices: Dry erase $24.00 Regular Paper $19.00

Type of Product: Physical Giant Wall Calendar

Size of Wall Calendar: 27” x 39”. Turn landscape or portrait.

All prices are good as of the date of this review.

Hugs and love ya,

2012Tinasignature South America Unit Study resources

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.


Tiny never gets his fill of doing something fun and hands-on when we start  a geography unit. We did a salt dough map in our Arctic & Inuit Unit Study and he remembered and ask for it again to start our South America Unit Study. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Why mess with something working? Besides after you make it, you can use it again and again as review during the unit study. It’s so much more fascinating and interactive than a worksheet too.

Before I forget though I want to update the salt dough recipe I had used before because it was wayyy too much. So I cut it in half this time and still had plenty left over.

We tend to use left over pizza box lids as our platform and unless you are going to make your salt dough map giganto, you should be fine with this new recipe. Of course, you can double it if you need more.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

So here is the update recipe for you which is all the ingredients cut in half. If you want to see how we create it, look at my post on the Arctic & Inuit Unit Study.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants


Also, a really good map is needed and we had a big map that pulled out of the center of our atlas. This was really way more helpful than just printing one off the internet.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Since we are working on identifying more of the landforms, we wanted to draw those in and so Tiny use the most complicated tools

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

—like a toothpick and plastic clay roller —to draw in the political boundaries of each country.  Simple I am telling you, so simple to keep it fun.

Remember you have to draw in your land forms and place a toothpick in the holes before it dries overnight.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

We also took time to look at the Amazon and some of it’s tributaries and used the toothpick to draw it going through Brazil (top right) and he formed the Galapagos Islands on the left side.

Tiny only put one island there though there are many islands that Charles Darwin investigated. Of course this is why it’s important that he learn to use the map to see that the Galapagos are made up of many islands and not just one.

Then next we went about locating the Andes mountain range.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

He had the idea of forming little peaks or mountains down the left side to show the stretch of the Andes mountains.  I think they turned out so cute, but he was disappointed. Tiny is like Mr. Senior 2013, he has a high standard for his work and expects perfection. I just expect fun.

Of course after he painted the peaks brown they did look like chocolate kisses which gave me another idea.  This map could be made out of sugar cookie dough and use chocolate Hershey kisses for the mountains. Use frosting to decorate each country and make this edible.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Then because we are working on identifying/locating all the countries and one French territory, and Galapagos Islands, I created some country flags or pennants. Not only that, but by him painting each country a separate color, it really has helped to identify each one, which is another objective of mine.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Lastly, he labeled it and added in the equator and showed it running through Ecuador, which in Spanish means “equator”. We still need to add in the Tropic of Capricorn.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Tiny has loved doing these maps each time and it is a great way to bring geography and history alive. I guess you can say we never tire of hands-on geography and fun sets the tone for learning.

More to come as we trek our way through South America.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

  • Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
  • Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
  • Simon Bolivar Copywork
  • Map of South America to label and one labeled
  • Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
  • Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
  • Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
  • 2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
  • Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1

South America Unit Study Resources

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages.

My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. 

Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch.

First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”.

South America Unit Study Resources

Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook or if we will just do some minibooks and keep it notebooking style. 

Besides, a lot of our units we do both a lapbook and some notebooking pages.

Also, I decide if our unit study will be just enrichment to what we are doing day to day or if it’s all we focus on for a while.

SOUTH AMERICA UNIT STUDY

My objectives affect how long we stay  on a unit.

Next, here is my short list for my objectives in this unit and a few goals.

  • Comprehensive overview of the physical geography
  • Focus on landforms like Andes, Machu Picchu and some reminders on the Amazon Rain Forest
  • Understanding the influence of the Spanish Colonial Empire and the key influence Simon Bolivar had in Latin America’s struggle for freedom

  • Build appreciation from our prior study of the Amazon that it is a life line for many and essential to our planet
  • Appreciate a unique design has a Designer by introducing the Galapagos
  • Allow time to immerse in the culture of people living in South America and the similarities and differences of each country though they are all considered Latin America.

We will be doing a lapbook and notebooking pages. I guess you could say for the first unit of the year, we are going all out.

South America Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Basically, South America has 12 countries and 2 dependent territories so we have more than enough to keep us learning for quite a while.

You'll love these South America Free Resources Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

After all, we will spend time looking at what we have covered up to this time, so I can build my unit study on that foundation.

My South America Unit Study Resources

South America and Rainforest Free Notebooking Pages @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have a total of 12 notebooking pages right now on my page on the Amazon Rain Forest which I could use in this study.

I have free Rainforest lapbooks too on my site.

However, because I want to focus on the other parts of South America and because the boys are a bit older, I already see that I will need some more printables. So I will be sharing those with you soon too.

You'll love these South America Free Resources Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
After I gathered the books I had on South America which happen to be mostly atlases, I know I need a trip to the library.

You'll love these South America Free Resources Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

However, the library didn’t have as many as I would have wanted in the adult section.

Besides, they had some and that is more than enough to start a good thorough unit study.

SOUTH AMERICA UNITY STUDY ACTIVITIES

In addition, look at the resources and activities I have on my page.

South America Unit Study Ideas to Borrow

Additionally, there are so many talented teachers in the homeschool world, we can see what else we find. I have linked some of my favorite resources here.

1. Heather over at Blog She Wrote starts with a Geography Quest on Brazil. It starts with a treasure hunt and ends in Brazil. Then they did a map of the watershed of the Amazon River.
Geography Quest on Brazil Answers and a video.

2. Jolanthe over at Homeschool Creations has some great stuff too. She has some printables for a country study on Argentina, Chili, Peru and Venezuela.

3.  Then of course I always love Amy’s stuff over at Homeschool Share.

4. Heidi over at Homeschool Room has a nice collection of geography resources on studying Brazil. Geography Resources for Studying Brazil

South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study resources

HOW TO GET THE FREE SOUTH AMERICA LAPBOOK

Finally, look at how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

Note: This is 1 lapbook that you can get on any of my South America posts.

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

  • Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words
  • Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
  • Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
  • Simon Bolivar Copywork
  • Map of South America to label and one labeled
  • Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
  • Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
  • Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
  • 2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.

 1) Sign up on my list and get this freebie at the same time.

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!