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Middle School Homeschool

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

May 3, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Next to math, deciding high school literature curriculum for my first high school teen was scary for me. Today, I will share practical pointers in choosing high school literature curriculum.

Looking back after three homeschooled grads, I’ve learned you need to be absolutely clear of your goal.

Choosing curriculum versus stand alone components was confusing as well. So, I want to help you make a better choice.

First, confusing to me in the beginning was what to teach from high school literature. Also, how to transition from teaching your child reading to literature wasn’t clear.

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

Quickly, I learned there is a shift in high school to not just reading a variety of literature, but to analyzing it.

What to Teach With High School Literature

As you can see, the elements you look for in a high school literature curriculum will vary depending on your goals.

If your teen is on a college track, analyzing literature is a basic requirement for most colleges. However, if your child is on a career track, you decide if analyzing literature will benefit your teen.

That was the part that confused me. My English teacher in high school taught me like I was in an AP Lit class. I was not, but her love for literature was obvious.

The very basic reason why you teach high school literature is to move your child beyond the reading is fun stage. Appreciating why literature moves us, how to be involved in the great conversation, and how to analyze literature is one goal.

Another goal is to help your child appreciate the variety of genre. Think about it. You have doing this all along as you taught your child to read.

Teaching a love of reading doesn’t stop in high school, but you want your child to now dig into the literature.

In addition, one more thing to be aware of before choosing curriculum is to decide if you need the other components of language arts.

Besides literature, grammar, vocabulary, composition, and writing are other components of language arts.

Teens are normally all over the place on each component of language arts, I encourage you to try to choose just literature curriculum.

High School Literature Curriculum Goals

One huge advantage to choosing just high school literature curriculum which is not tied together with the other components is to save time.

I don’t think teens should get bogged down with the other components when focusing on beautiful pieces of literature.

However, some options I share below is curriculum which does not make deep dives into analyzing.

That too has been a great option some quarters in high school when your teen needs a change of pace from analyzing in depth.

Covering all the components together may be your goal. The point is your teen, your choices, and your goals should stay front and center when poring over options.

Furthermore, tying literature to history is another fun way to bring both subjects to life. This is a slant that many teens enjoy. On top of that, some choices will be more faith-based and others with a secular focus.

Keep all those facts in mind as you compare curriculum below.

12 High School Literature Curriculum

Finally, look at these twelve high school literature curriculum.

  • BJU Press Literature for Junior and Senior High. This is one of my favorite because it’s so comprehensive in the variety of genre.
  • Memoria Press is another one I’ve used and although they’ve updated through the years, I still love their guides.
  • Stobaugh is another keeper which has been around for years. It’s comprehensive and takes more of a classical approach.
  • Lightning Literature has been another mainstay by homeschoolers. I love their choices.
  • Windows to the World: An Introduction to Literary Analysis. Although the topics covered are comprehensive, there are short passages. So it makes for a great option.
  • Illuminating Literature is one by Sharon Watson. I’ve used her other writing and love them because of their step by step guidance.
  • Beautiful Feet we used when we wanted to cover literature analysis lightly. Focusing on our history love, we could include a framework of analysis with the literature choices.
  • Progeny Press is another favorite because of how many activities they have and ease of use.
  • Learning Language Arts Through Literature is not as well know today as it used to be. I love it because it’s gentle and has a Charlotte Mason flair. Some years, we just needed light language arts and literature. So, I’m listing it as option. There is both American and British literature options. It’s just a beautiful option
  • Sonlight has been around for years. Started by a homeschool family like some of other companies, it too has a comprehensive language arts program.
  • Total Language Plus is just what it says. All the components of language arts when you want to cover them at one time. We love this curriculum as well.
  • The Art of Poetry is a resource we just absolutely loved. If your teen is wanting to dive deeper into poetry, you’ll love this resource. In addition, this resource can be used for middle school kids too.

These are not all the resources available for you, but they are ones I know will work. They give your teen guidance; And the best part is they create a love of literature and push your teen out of his comfort zone.

Which ones have you tried?

12 Great Options of High School Literature Curriculum

Look at some more posts which will help you:

  • Best Homeschool High School Literature Suggestions For Teens
  • Modern U.S. and World History High School Literature
  • 3 Beginner’s Tips: Homeschool High School Literature
  • How to Choose the BEST Homeschool Middle and High School Language Arts Curriculum & Options
  • Homeschooling High School: Curriculum, Credits, and Courses
  • Free Homeschool High School Planning Sheet (and pssst help for high school too)

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Choose Curriculum, Graduate a Homeschooler, Homeschool Teens _ From Teen to Graduation, Homeschooling, Lesson Plan, Middle School Homeschool Tagged With: high school, high school literature, homeschool, homeschool highschool, homeschoolhighschool, lessonplanning, literary analyis, literary devices, literature, teens

26 Free Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages

November 14, 2021 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Early on in my journey I discovered easy nature unit studies as a way to make science come alive. Nature unit studies not only revive burn out in students, but they’re cost effective and memorable.

Today, I’m sharing 26 free homeschool nature unit studies for multiple ages that can easily be used for a year as free curriculum.

I’ve found that it’s hard to cover anymore than about two topics a month because you want to savor topics. If you cover two nature topics per month, then you have a whole years worth of ideas here.

I have a few other topics listed so your kids can choose what interests them or mix and match.

Nature Unit Studies

You can start with any month and do this in any order, but I started with August and worked my way through to the end of what is considered a typical school year.

26 free nature unit studies for multiple ages. Easy nature unit studies as a way to make science come alive. Nature unit studies not only revive burn out in students, but they’re cost effective and memorable. CLICK HERE to grab 26 free homeschool nature unit studies for multiple ages that can easily be used for a year as free curriculum!

Also, I listed these unit studies to flow with the natural cycle of seasons in the Northern hemisphere.

However some places, like here in Texas, it doesn’t get snow all over. Again you can choose any order, but I aimed for a schedule to follow the natural seasons.

AUGUST Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

There is an endless number of themes and ideas to study about in August.

1. Above and Below: Pond Unit Study and Free Lapbook

2. From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook

Pond, river or water related ideas, a night walk or even starting a miniature herb garden are great ideas for August.

Furthermore butterflies, water bugs, and dragonflies can be studied during this time.

SEPTEMBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, September 1 marks the first of fall.

Normally with a bit cooler weather it’s a great time for a rock and mineral unit study or even prairie flowers. Mushrooms, fruits, and ferns are more good nature unit study ideas.

Another activity is learning about the harvest moon and learning is just not complete without including apples. Be sure to grab my free Moon Journal when you follow me.

Free Nature Study Lessons

Too, I want to add more habitat or biomes unit studies during this month.

3. Fall Unit Study (Includes Apples, Sir Isaac Newton, Art, and Appleseed)

4. Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study

Also, there is no greater unit study about nature than learning about the human body.

OCTOBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

After an apple unit study or bat unit study, learn about leaves and pumpkins. With the changing weather, storms and weather patterns make great topics.

5. Fall Unit 1 {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}

6. Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook

It’s also a fun time to learn about gourds and squash or the changing weather and storms. Also, I have more Free Fall Unit Study Ideas– For Older Kids Too.

Nature Study Resources

NOVEMBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Then November is the last month of fall, but there is already a cold snap in the air.

It’s a fun time to learn about how raptors survive, how trees changes, twigs, buds, gathering, and foraging to save for the long winter months.

Squirrel watching and learning about mushrooms is fun to do this time of the year too.

7. Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook


8. Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study

In addition, you can add lichens and moss as a unit study.

DECEMBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Furthermore, I love doing a bird unit study in December. Watching animal tracks and signs is another idea if you have snow.

9. Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study


10. Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources

Another topic we want to still do is about evergreens or the winter solstice.

Science Unit Studies

JANUARY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, January is a great time to focus on the Arctic region, Arctic animals, ice and snow.

11. Arctic Region

12. Winter Season Unit Study. Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas

Learning about wolves, hibernation, and even foxes are fun topics.

FEBRUARY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Another month we loved to focus on rocks and gems is February.

Award Winning STEAM Learning for Kids Ages 3-10+

Because February can be a hard month to get outside for a nature study, I lean toward earth science themes. It keeps the fun going. One year we loved learning about Amber and fossils.

13. Amber – Freezing Gold


14. Free Earth Science Lapbook

If you can’t study what is on the ground, look to the sky and stars for unit study ideas. Look at this hands-on activity Erosion Hands-on Easy Homeschool Science Activity.

MARCH Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Then at the first hint of spring, we focus on the American Robin and because not all is green yet, we have loved doing one about carnivorous plants.

Also, carnivorous plants can be studied in the summer too. Strawberries are springs first fruit so it’s a great time to go berry picking, canning and of course a hands-on and yummy unit study.

15. American Robin Free Printables, Resources and Crafts


16. Strawberry Unit Study

Also, life cycles, migration, buds, flowers, gardening and baby animals make fun nature study ideas.

APRIL Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Because spring is in full bloom here in Texas, there are many topics we’d still love to do during this month. Viewing wildflowers is one we love.

Although we love to focus on birds during winter, this is a great time for a bird unit study too.

17. Free Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook


18. Easy Seed and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary)

In addition, learning about eggs, insects, bugs, clouds and meadows are also fun ideas.

MAY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, May is a great time to be outdoors and to study about toads or frogs. Making it a general study like amphibians and reptiles is good too.

The Basement Workshop Store

Sometimes you want to just focus on one reptile like a snake or turtle instead of covering so much general information.

Moreover, focusing on small mammals versus large mammals can go along with a zoo field trip when animals will be out.

19. Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids

20. Amazon Rainforest and Free Lapbooks

21. Loads of Toads and Frogs Unit Study and Lapbook

As well as studying about ants or doing a nature discovery walk during this month. Before the summer months set in completely, a wind unit study is great at this time too.

Also, add literature to your nature studies trough Literary Adventures for Kids. Scroll down to see all the book choices from early elementary up to high school. It’s so easy to round out your nature unit studies.

I love these self-paced online books which is a language arts curriculum that is easy to implement and fun to experience — an adventure through a great book!

Look at a few choices below.

JUNE Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Finally, getting to the summer months makes for great ideas about sun, watermelon, seashells and ocean life. Take a deep dive into learning different types of grasses.

Nature-Based Lessons

We have studied these topics at other times of the year, but getting to the beach and beach combing are just more fun in the warm months. Younger kids love the topic of rainbows.

22. Super Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook


23. Carnivorous Plants

Any type of water study makes it a natural way to learn in the summer months.

JULY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, topics like sand or pollinators are more great unit study ideas. Also, by focusing on area of sea life like coral reefs can make an ocean unit study more memorable.

Gardening ideas are great for most summer months too.

26 free nature unit studies for multiple ages. Easy nature unit studies as a way to make science come alive. Nature unit studies not only revive burn out in students, but they’re cost effective and memorable. CLICK HERE to grab 26 free homeschool nature unit studies for multiple ages that can easily be used for a year as free curriculum!

24 Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook

25. Coral Reef Unit Study and Lapbook

26. Peregrine Falcon Unit Study and Lapbook

Find out when berries ripe in your area for another fun hands-on topic.

Also, look at these fun activities Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids and How to Dissolve a Seashell – Beach Hands-on Fun Activity.

Unit studies are my favorite way to teach and the homeschool approach my kids loved best.

A unit study approach works for a child that wants to master a subject and move on or for a kid that wants to dawdle and poke around a subject.

Easy and fun nature unit studies don’t usually require too much in the way of materials. Just learn in and learn about the great outdoors. What are some of your fun and easy nature unit study topics?

Look below for more hands-on nature study activities to go with each unit study above:

  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs
  • Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity
  • Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study
  • Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft
  • Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag
  • Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders

3 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Lapbooks, Middle School Homeschool, Nature Based Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: earthscience, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, high school, high school electives, high school science, homeschool highschool, homeschoolhighschool, homeschoolscience, life science, middleschool, nature, nature journaling, nature study, unit studies

22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages (editable) For a Fun History Study

February 10, 2021 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

These 22 famous Texans notebooking pages can be added to a unit study about Texas. You could use the Texans notebooking pages for a famous people study too.

I’ve created 11 Texans notebooking pages which have 2 Texans on each page so your child can notebook about 22 famous Texans.

In addition, I’ve created two sets of notebooking pages. The first set is editable and the second set has lines for handwriting. You decide best how to use them with your kids.

Some kids need more practice handwriting, other kids need to type. Again, it’s the same set with two different options. You get both options in the one download.

22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages

22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages For a Fun History Study (Editable)

Look at these 22 famous Texans on each page and in addition where possible, I have a link or two to help you kick off your unit study with a heap of Texan-ness.

One. Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett, Tall Tales, and History

157 page .pdf about Davy Crockett

Two. James Bowie

Bowie, James (1796–1836)

Bowie, JAMES, military officer, Alamo Defender, Hero 

Three. Branch Tanner Archer

Archer, Branch Tanner (1790–1856)

Branch Tanner Archer

Four. David G. Burnet

Sons of DeWitt Colony, Texas

Five. Edward Burleson

Burleson, Edward  (1793  – 1851 Dec 26 )

Six. Elisabet Ney

Elisabet Ney Museum

Ney, Elisabet (1833–1907)

Seven. Francisco Vazquez de Coronado

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado

Vázquez de Coronado, Francisco (1510–1554)

Eight. Gail Borden, Jr.

Borden, Gail, Jr. (1801–1874)

About Gail Borden

Famous Texans

Here in Texas, our homeschool state law states the curriculum must include the five basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and good citizenship.

Good citizenship is similar to civics so you can include these notebooking pages toward your goal of covering Texas history.

Nine. Jane Long

Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long was called the “Mother of Texas.” 

Jane Long (1798-1880)

Ten. John C. Hayes

Hays, John Coffee (1817–1883)

John Coffee Hays

Eleven. John Henry Brown

Brown, John Henry (1820–1895)

John Henry Brown family papers, 1691-1951

Twelve. Lorenzo de Zavala

Zavala, Lorenzo de (1788–1836)

Lorenzo de Zavala (1789-1836)

Thirteen. Mirabeau Lamar

Lamar, Mirabeau Buonaparte (1798–1859)

Giants of Texas History

Fourteen: Robert Cavalier, Sieur de Lasalle

The Explorers

La Salle, René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de (1643–1687)

Texas History Unit Study

Fifteen: Sam Houston

6 page pdf Teacher Guide

Study in Leadership

Sixteen: Stephen F. Austin

Colonization of Texas:

Stephen F. Austin 1793 – 1836

Seventeen: Thomas Green

Green, Thomas (1814–1864)

Green, Thomas  (1814 Jun 8 – 1864 Apr 12 )

Eighteen: William P. Hardeman

Hardeman, William Polk (1816–1898)

William P. Hardeman “Old Gotch” (1816-1898)

Nineteen: Sterling C. Robertson

Robertson, Sterling Clack (1785–1842)

Twenty: Susanna Dickinson

Dickinson, Susanna Wilkerson (ca. 1814–1883)

Alamo widow and survivor

Twenty-one: Anson Jones

Jones, Anson (1798–1858)

Jones, Anson  (1798 Jan 20  –  1858)

Twenty-two: James S. Hogg

Governors of Texas

James S. Hogg (1851-1906)

Grab the Notebooking Pages below.

  • 11 Notebooking Pages (editable) 22 Famous Texans

    $1.75
    Add to cart

22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages For a Fun History Study (Editable)

You’ll love these other resources for studying about Texas:

  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
  • Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)
  • How to Build the Alamo: Day 5 Hands-on Learning (Free Texas Unit Study)
  • Free Copywork Cattle A Texas Poem For a Fun Unit Study
  • 35 Simple But Powerful American History Homeschool Resources K to 12

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: History Resources, Middle School Homeschool, Notebooking Pages Tagged With: american history, hands on history, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, modern history, notebooking, texasunit

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

January 30, 2021 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Studying the history of the Texas cowboy, cattle drives, and Chisholm Trail is a fun and fascinating one. Cowboys, cattle drives and the Chisholm Trail all embody the spirit of a Texan.

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail Free Unit Study

Being born and raised in Texas, I grew up going to rodeos, knowing about cattle drives, and watching wide open spaces of grazing cattle as the norm.

As a native Texan too, my husband grew up with ranching and rodeoing in his life and family. He comes from a family of cowboys. I couldn’t wait to do a unit study focused on the history of the Texas cowboy, cattle drives, and the Chisholm Trail.

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

With fond memories, I recall the first time I heard the poem Cattle by Berta Hart Nance (1883-1958).

Other states were carved or born,
Texas grew from hide and horn.

Other states are long and wide,
Texas is a shaggy hide.

Dripping blood and crumpled hair;
Some fat giant flung it there,

Laid the head where valleys drain,
Stretched its rump along the plain.

Other soil is full of stones,
Texans plow up cattle-bones.

Herds are buried on the trail,
Underneath the powdered shale;

Herds that stiffened like the snow,
Where the icy northers go.

Other states have built their halls,
Humming tunes along the walls,

Texans watched the mortar stirred
While they kept the lowing herd.

Stamped on Texan wall and roof
Gleams the sharp and crescent hoof.

High above the hum and stir
Jingle bridle rein and spur.

Other states were carved or born,
Texas grew from hide and horn.

A lot of Texans view their state differently from how other states grew. After the American Civil War, it was cattle which helped to make Texas grow. Also, ranching was a big part of Texas growth.

This study is about the grit, hardiness, and stubbornness early Texans embodied and how they passed it down to our generation.

So in this history of the Texas cowboy, cattle drives, and Chisholm Trail, I’ve rounded up some helpful resources to teach your kids about Texas.

Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

I aimed at resources for elementary ages to about middle school, but as with all my resources you decide which ages to use them for.

The American Civil War {1861-1865} had almost destroyed the United States, but by 1867 the United States found peace again.

Long-horned cattle, which were introduced in part by the Spanish roamed freely upon the plains.

Ranchers noticed that the longhorn turned out to be particularly well adapted to the harsh and arid conditions in the West. 

So thousands of head of cattle were rounded up from pastures in southern and central Texas and herded hundreds of miles north to Kansas.

Cattle drives were a celebrated event of this time period.

Between fascination with the American legend of a cowboy and a transitional time period in American history this brief, but captivating moment in history attracts learners of any age.

Too, with the invention of refrigerated railroad cars in the 1870’s it also made it possible to ship fresh beef anywhere in the country.

I used the Texas Chisholm Trail by the Texas Historical Commission to use as a guide for this lapbook. It’s a free wonderful educator’s guide, but of course you can use any resource you have.

First, there were at least four cattle drives during the 19th century. They were the The Chisholm Trail, The Goodnight-Loving Trail, The Western Trail and The Shawnee Trail.

The Chisholm Trail has at least 7 names: Abilene Trail, the Cattle Trail, the Eastern Trail, the Great Texas Cattle Trail, the Kansas Trail, McCoy’s Trail and the Texas Chisholm Trail.

Lesson Plans History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

  • Beef basics. Fun lesson plan about beef products and terms to understand about cattle
  • Make a Brand for Yourself the Cowboy Way
  • Coloring page – longhorn
  • Make Your Cattle Brand
  • The Old Chisolm Trail – Lots of interesting background information and pictures to explain the Chisolm Trail
  • Texas Frontier Timeline
  • Texas Cowboys and Myths 5 page pdf download
  • Hit the Trail – 10 page pdf about cattle trails
  • Ranching Heritage – 10 page pdf with fun trail cards and background information
  • Measure the width of longhorns. 4 page pdf. You’ll love the math lesson
  • Texas Cattle Trails. Great site for history
  • Build a Calf and pictures for different breeds
  • The Cattle Drive and Westward Expansion
  • Cowboys:Vaquero – 6 page pdf about cowboys, cattle trails and glossary
  • Longhorn Cattle – Wonderful background information about the ancestors of Texas longhorns
  • Cowboy Word Search
  • Learn about the King Ranch, one of the oldest ranches in Texas
  • Longhorns of the Big Bend 63 page pdf wonderful and interesting information about Texas and the cattle industry and history of the longhorn
  • The Lone Star State 3 page pdf fun reading about Texas facts
  • What Does a Cowboy Do? Lesson with fun printables about cowboys
  • The Old Chisolm Trail Cowboy Song YouTube
  • Chisholm Trail cattle drive YouTube. In this episode Rick pushes Texas longhorns up the Chisholm Trail to the Ellsworth railhead.
  • Marty Robbins Sings ‘Whoopee Ti Yi Yo.‘ YouTube
  • The Chisholm Trail YouTube. Created for the elementary classroom. This is a basic overview of what the Chisholm trail was, how it was used and the reasons behind the cattle drive.

Texas Size Vocabulary Words

  • Cattle Kingdom – An industry based on cattle ranching that arose on the open range from Texas to Canada during the 1800s.
  • Texas Rangers – Law enforcement to keep the law in frontier Texas.
  • Tejanos – A person of Mexican heritage, but considers Texas home.
  • King Ranch – Ranch in South Texas that is one of the most important cattle operations in the state.
  • brands – identification marks on livestock made with burning irons
  • barbed wire – a wire used in fencing that is made with points, or barbs, placed at intervals to prevent livestock from crossing the fence
  • vaqueros – from vaca (cow) cowboy
  • wrangler – one who herds or cares for livestock on the range
  • XIT Ranch – Ranch established by the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company which was funded by investors from Chicago and Great Britain.
  • Longhorn – a hybrid breed of cattle that descended from Spanish and English stock; the main breed used in Texas ranching

Field Trip Ideas for History of Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives and Chisholm Trail

  • You’ll love this page Off the Beaten Path: Drive Up the Chisholm Trail’s Less-Traveled Routes to give you ideas of where to go here in Texas.
  • Landmark Inn – 1850s store
  • Fort Griffin – Fort from 1867 to 1881
  • The Alamo – Well known of course and still a fun place to visit
  • However, another longtime favorite of ours is the Buckhorn Saloon Museum and The Texas Ranger Museum in San Antonio. If you want to learn about cowboy country, you have to visit this one.
  • We love visiting the Barrington Plantation which is the last home of Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas. They have a fun program for homeschoolers which includes hand-on activity.
  • The Star of the Republic Museum is on the same property as the Barrington Farm.
  • Varner Hogg Plantation. Yes, it’s true Gov. James Hogg named his daughter Ima Hogg.

Hands-on Ideas For a Texas Unit Study

Next, you’ll love a few ideas for some hands-on fun to study about Texas.

  • Make some easy Texas chili.
  • Eat cactus.
  • Easy fun watercolor sunset
  • Love the smushed coke can cowboy and cowgirls and cowboy glyph
  • Study this piece of art, Outlier by Frederic Remington.By the time of the painting most Native Americans had been forced onto reservations. What is the mood of the painting?
  • Then download my lapbook below.
  • Build the Alamo.
  • Make an Armadillo
  • Fun tissue bluebonnet craft
  • Make a tornado in a bottle
  • If a kid has never seen barbed wire which basically ended the open ranges of Texas, make some fun and fake barbed wire here.
  • Candle making with kids

Field Trip to Washington on the Brazos, Star of the Republic Museum, Barrington Farms and Buckhorn Museum/Texas Ranger Museum
(don’t miss any of these places)

  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Star of the Republic Museum
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail 1
    Star of the Republic Museum
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Star of the Republic Museum
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Star of the Republic Museum
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Buckhorn Museum
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Barrington Farms Anson Jones Home Republic of Texas
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Learn about brands
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Barrington Farm
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Texas Rangers
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Chuck Wagon at Buckhorn Museum
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
    Chuck Wagon at Buckhorn Museum San Antonio, Tx

PURCHASE THE LAPBOOK BELOW:

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
  • Dynamic History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $2.75
    Add to cart
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail Free Unit Study

Look at these other fun ideas:

  • Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)
  • How to Build the Alamo: Day 5 Hands-on Learning (Free Texas Unit Study)
  • Free Copywork Cattle A Texas Poem For a Fun Unit Study
  • 35 Simple But Powerful American History Homeschool Resources K to 12
  • Plains Indians. Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Exploring Edible Cactus: Day 4 Hands-on Learning (The Desert)

Hugs and love ya,

4 CommentsFiled Under: Geography, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources, Lapbook, Lapbooks, Middle School Homeschool, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: american history, geography, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, historyspine, homeschoolgeography, homeschoolhistory, lapbook, modern history, Texas, texasunit

54+ Fun Books Turned Movies to Spark a Love For Reading

December 16, 2020 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Living in a world of visual learners, we need numerous ways to nurture their love for reading. Today, I’ve rounded up 54+ fun books turned movies to spark a love for reading.

Whether you want to do a comparison between a book to a movie or want to breathe life into language arts, you’ll love the choices here.

54+ Fun Books Turned Movies to Spark a Love For Reading

Books Turned Movies

Click on the book cover for the book link and the corresponding movie link is under it.

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Too, here are a few questions to stir your creative conversations about the movie.

I like to have a set of questions to give my kids ahead of time. They can think about the answer while the movie is playing, then discuss afterwards.

  • What do you think is the message of the movie? Which part in the movie makes you feel that way?
  • What do you predict will happen?
  • Are there any expressions which you don’t understand?

Teaching Language Arts with Movies

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Comparing Kids Books to Movies

Additionally, here are a few ideas if you use the book with the movie.

  • Instead of having a child write, use compare/contrast visual charts.
  • Then use a rating system. Did your child like the movie or book best? We did this while watching and realized many times we loved the book better, but not always. My kids would just down a few words for the part they either liked or didn’t on the movie, then we’d compare at the end.
  • Do a character sketch. Instead of writing about the character, have your child draw them from what they think they look like from the book. Compare their visualization with the movie.

Click on the book cover for the book link and the corresponding movie link is under it.

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Teaching Reading with Movies

And besides turning the caption on in movies for beginner readers which is a fun tip, here are a few other ways to teach reading with movies.

  • Look for movies which align closer to the book because I’ve found for visual learners it’s easier to remember the story.
  • Character sketches can be drawn in reading journals then write the traits.
  • Although the movie is not like an audio book, it can still be viewed like that. Have your child predict outcomes.
  • Have your child listen and watch with the closed captions for figurative expressions and new vocabulary words.

However, unlike an audio book, a movie is visual. Your child’s spelling can improve by watching the captions.

In addition, remember I have the free form, Free and Useful Editable Movie Report For Homeschool which you can use in place of a book report.

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Another one of my favorite resources to teach about movies and language arts is by Literary Adventures for Kids.

Check out Poetry and a Movie.

We loved doing the unit Poetry and a Movie.

54+ Fun Books Turned Movies to Spark a Love For Reading

Is The Book Better Than The Movie

Additionally, deciding whether the book or movie is better is normally a cause for great conversation in my home. 

I read one time when a book turns movie it can focus on the outside of the character while a book spends time describing what a character is on the inside. I agree.

True, some movies are better, but as a book lover overall I prefer the descriptions in books.

Click on the book cover for the book link and the corresponding movie link is under it.

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54+ Fun Books Turned Movies to Spark a Love For Reading

Appreciating Literature Through Movies

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Homeschooling with Netflix

Next, I have this list too of books turned movies which can be found on Netflix.

  • There is a series of Unfortunate Events.
  • Anne Frank.
  • The Lorax
  • Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2.
  • Pride & Prejudice.
  • The Indian in the Cupboard
  • War Horse
  • Mowgli from The Jungle Book
  • White Fang
  • The Cat in the Hat
  • Jurassic Park
  • Green Eggs and Ham
  • Benji
  • Les Miserables
  • Richie Rich
  • E.T.
  • Fiddler on the Roof
  • Magic School Bus
  • Chicken Little

Another fun resource you’ll love to get is the guide to use Movies as Literature. It’s very comprehensive.

Lastly, the list above is by no means complete, but it has many different levels of books turned movies; I know you’ll find one or two to interest your kids.

I think you’ll love these other resources:

  • Best Homeschool High School Literature Suggestions For Teens
  • 12 of the Best Books For Beginner Readers Being Homeschooled
  • How to Easily Add Language Arts to Homeschool Unit Studies (& Resources)
  • Free and Useful Editable Movie Report For Homeschool
  • How to Choose the Best Middle School Literature And Favorite Resources
  • 20 Ideas for Bringing Writing Alive through Unit Studies
  • What You’ve Got To Know About Teaching Reading Comprehension
  • When Should I Start Teaching Spelling in Homeschool?

Do you have a favorite book turned movie?

2 CommentsFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Do Unit Studies, Homeschool Multiple Ages of Children, Homeschool Simply, Homeschool Teens _ From Teen to Graduation, Homeschool When Nobody Wants To, Middle School Homeschool, Reading Lists, Teach Homeschool Language Arts, Teach Homeschool Science, Teach Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool, homeschoolreading, language arts, languagearts, movies, read aloud, reading, reading journal, readingcomprehension

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