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7 Best Budget-Friendly Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

May 30, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 7 best budget-friendly homeschool language arts ideas to pair with your unit studies.

Through the years, I’ve given the same long-standing advice. Spend first what money you have budgeted for curriculum on the core subjects. They are essential to a well-rounded education.

7 Best Budget-Friendly Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

This is a sponsored post for Homeschool Buyers Co-op and I was paid for my time. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off. All opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. Read my full disclosure here.

And its reading in the younger grades and literature in the older grades. Too, grammar and writing are vital pieces of a homeschool language arts program.

And it can become expensive quickly when you’re implementing the unit study approach using an all-in-one language arts program.

So, I was excited to share some budget-friendly homeschool language arts curriculum options.

Breaking down the language arts components worked best for me because like most kids, they are ahead in one subject and may need more time on another.

Mapping Out the Components of Language Arts

Picking and choosing the individual parts of a homeschool language arts program gives you a customized curriculum.

It’s a better match for your child’s learning style and a better value when you have a limited dollar amount to get exactly what you need.

►VOCABULARY

For vocabulary, I always try to pull words from what we’re reading about in our unit studies. Reading words in that context and using them in everyday speech is the best way to master them.

But I used the printed version of Wordly Wise 3000 with Mr. Senior to be sure I exposed him to word study as a way to enhance our unit studies. Kids can master more words than we think they can, and to cripple their vocabulary with limited vocabulary instruction can be detrimental.

Lessons don’t have to be long, but they should be comprehensive. Using Wordly Wise 3000, I can expand lessons or cut back according to each son’s need.

1. WORDLY WISE

Although I know Wordly Wise 3000 touts that the audio feature is great for struggling readers, I think it’s great for independent learners. I don’t have to supervise my sons to see if they are correctly pronouncing a word.

I know you’ll love it if you’re looking for an interactive vocabulary program that is not boring.

2. LITERATURE ADVENTURES FOR KIDS

Then, literature adventures for kids is my VERY favorite stand-alone self-paced online language arts program. Pair a great book with your unit study.

Are you a busy, sweet, overwhelmed homeschooler craving a consistent, dependable language arts curriculum that adds a little enchantment to your homeschool? We help homeschoolers just like you reclaim their time and reduce stress with our open-and-go courses that turn every lesson into an adventure

►READING OR LITERATURE

When I started making my own unit studies, I would get a gallon size ziploc bag and put the book and literature guide together in one bag.

3. PROGENY PRESS LITERATURE GUIDES

Then, I would mark the reading level on the bag and organize them for the year, and I started off using printed versions of Progeny Press Literature Guides.

Too, I would even unfasten the literature guide so I could add just the pages that my boys needed to do for that year.

HOMESCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS

I printed what I needed that year with one son, and printed a different page or pages needed for another year.

Now, the guides are interactive which means you don’t have to print; a child can type his answers directly into the document. That is a nifty time-saving tip for a high school teen with a rigorous academic load or a reluctant writer. But sometimes we like to hold our paper in hand so we print. And I still like pairing specific lessons on pages to themes in my unit studies.

Look at a few things they offer:

FOUR LEVELS – Lower Elementary for Grades K-4, Upper Elementary for Grades 3-5, Middle School for Grades 5-8, and High School for Grades 9-12
100+ TITLE CHOICES – We’ve put together SIX different 5-pack bundle choices for you! YOU CHOOSE your wish list from OVER 100 TITLE CHOICES! Choose from excellent reading titles such as Beowulf (*NEW*), The Eagle of the Ninth (*NEW*), Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables, The Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Secret Garden, The Hobbit, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Pride and Prejudice, The Screwtape Letters, To Kill A Mockingbird, and MANY, MANY MORE!

►GRAMMAR

Grammar is a tool to best apply while writing so I’ve always kept it a separate subject. But grammar is also just the rules of any language. Teaching rules shouldn’t be complicated. Short lessons are best, which is why Analytical Grammar works.

4. ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR

In my beginning years, I used a grammar program which combined complex writing assignments with grammar.

After homeschooling another 5 years, I realized that a grammar program should focus only on explaining grammar rules without time-consuming composition assignments as the only way to learn them.

Yes, writing assignments are a great way to illustrate grammar rules, but shorter is better.

Besides, I needed a grammar curriculum which would give me the flexibility to pull writing themes from topics that piqued my boys’ interest in our current unit study. More important, I wanted a program that helped us to use words in a way that conformed to the rules of grammar. I wished I would have used Analytical Grammar, for grades 4-12 earlier, but I’m glad I hopped on board when I did.

►WRITING OR COMPOSITION

Next, identifying a writing program which was engaging for my sons and took them incrementally through the writing process was not easy. Institute for Excellence in Writing, for grades K-12 was our answer.

Melding Homeschool Language Arts and Unit Studies

It was a huge load of stress off after separating grammar and composition when I started using Institute for Excellence in Writing, grades K-12.

As you can see in the picture above, the boys were working on our FBI unit study. Dad was helping the boys make a crystal radio after they wrote about it.

However, their essay followed the writing model learned in Institute for Excellence in Writing or (IEW). IEW makes it easy to choose your own topics to write about or they have writing topics for your children to choose.

What I liked the most is that although grammar and writing are inextricably linked, it’s important to not overwhelm beginner writers.

5. INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE IN WRITING (IEW)

The veteran teaching tip is to make one skill or the other the focus at different times. IEW explained grammar while keeping the focus on writing and modeling to my sons how to compose their ideas.

Here is how IEW works: It takes a unique approach provides the structure that students need to develop confidence in the writing process, while gradually guiding them toward greater independence and creativity.

They will learn nine structural models (note taking, writing paragraphs, stories, simple reports, writing from pictures, research reports, creative writing, essays, and critiques) to help them organize any type of composition.

►READING OR LITERATURE

Then, buying living history literature guides gives me a two for one deal.

Not only do I use living literature in my unit studies as a topic or theme, but it counts as the reading or literature aspect of the three Rs. Buying living history literature helps me to keep homeschooling affordable.

6. BEAUTIFUL FEET BOOKS (HISTORY & LITERATURE)

With living history literature by Beautiful Feet Books.

Remember, since this is living literature, the vocabulary is not simplified, and it may be harder for some kids.

Though I school for Biblical reasons, I don’t think you have to teach about it in every book.

I do try to choose living history books which have a good story line, are intriguing, have a challenging reading level, include details about the time period, and can be easily implemented in a unit study which builds character without feeling preachy.

It’s a lot to ask for in a book. I’m selective, but I love starting with Beautiful Feet Books.

►REVIEW AND ENRICHMENT

Then I hear about the fear of gaps when doing unit studies. Having a way to fill in gaps or shore up weaknesses is a great feature of IXL Language Arts Practice, which is for grades K-12.

You probably heard of their math, but their language arts is equally practical.

7. IXL LANGUAGE ARTS PRACTICE

Look at what they offer: IXL makes the world of words come alive with fun visuals and interactive questions. Build great writers through playful skills that pique students’ curiosity about language!

Then this next deal, which is Discovery Education, for grades K-12 is the one I’m about to pull the trigger on because we love media with our unit studies.

8. DISCOVERY EDUCATION

But did you know it’s so much more? It covers every content area.

Look at what you get:

It’s easy to see why homeschoolers rave about Discovery Education Streaming Plus and probably the most extensive and feature-rich educational video streaming service in the world.

But it’s not just a collection of videos that you can watch from beginning to end. This library has been organized into useable video clips, organized and categorized, close-captioned, and supplemented with lesson plans, teaching guides, interactive simulations, images, audio resources, and other resources and materials that you can incorporate into virtually every aspect of your homeschool curriculum.

What a comprehensive way to enrich a unit study with so many features like audio books, self-paced training, images, games and the ability to customize lessons at your fingertips.

When you’ve chosen curriculum which gives your child a solid foundation in language arts and covers the significant areas, you can spend more time planning the fun part of unit studies.

MORE HOMESCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS RESOURCES

How to Buy It

Products:

►Grammar: Analytical Grammar for grades 4-12.

► Self-Paced Language Arts for all grades: Literature Adventures for Kids

►Literature Guides: Progeny Press Literature Guides, pdf format, grades K-12

►Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 3000

►Composition or Writing: Institute for Excellence in Writing, grades K-12

►Review and Enrichment:

Video Streaming: Discovery Education grades K-12

Language Arts Review: IXL Language Arts Practice, grades K-12

►Reading or Literature:

Living History Literature: Living History literature by Beautiful Feet Books

Also, look at these other homeschool articles to help you.

5 Best Resources to Start a Homeschool Unit Study in a Few Hours, 24 Borderline Genius Ways To Relieve Language Arts Boredom and Unfolding of a Homeschool Unit Study – An Easy Mnemonic { I-SIP}.

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.

Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

Homeschool Music Curriculum on the Beat

February 18, 2024 | 16 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some fun homeschool music curriculum today. Also, look at Fun Facts About the Phantom of the Opera & Styles of Music Unit Study.

Teaching the basics of how to play a big wooden box like the piano may seem.

Perhaps if you compared it to building an appreciation for the love of classical music in your children.

Too, Tiny has spent more years with a piano teacher receiving instruction than I have nurturing his appreciation for classical music.

So, I was ecstatic about receiving Zeezok Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades Book 1.

Music Appreciation in a Box

First, this is a comprehensive music curriculum.

But take a peek at what we got in our Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades Book 1 Collection.

One Student Activity Book, 353 pages.
Music Discs. Psst. . . It’s 2+ hours of beautiful professionally recorded music.
Lapbook Disc – 7 lapbooks. One on each composer.
7 composer biographies. One biography on each composer studied which are Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Paganini and Schubert.

Homeschool Music Curriculum on the Beat which includes lapbooks, hands-on ideas and background information.

Right away I want to tell you that though I have had several months reviewing this curriculum.

And we have just barely touched the scope of it. We didn’t want to miss any tidbit shared throughout the student activity book. So we have taken our time going through it.

Poring over every fact about each composer, and the historical background of them, we have spent many days cuddled in the living room.

We have read and did hands-on activities for Bach, Handel and some on Haydn.

It is an in-depth study on music styles. In addition, it includes learning how music is created.

Also, it so much more. For example, it has geography, history, hands-on activities, quizzes, an instrument study and character trait studies.

I know what that is – a unit study!

Because we wanted to add this to our French Revolution unit study that we started after using the curriculum, we moved ahead to focus on the study of Beethoven because his life overlapped the French Revolution.

For instance look at the part of the student activity book that focuses on Beethoven.

You see how each section in the student activity book is designed.

All excellent unit studies start with a plan.

And the plan is built right into the student activity book. Above you can see the weekly lesson outline showing the 4 week plan.

To study each composer there is allotted 4 weeks. I love the Weekly Lesson Outline.

The lesson planning direction is superior.

Music Appreciation in a Box

So, I would rather see the outline and determine the pace for my children, than not have a beginning point. You have a beginning point and activities lined out for each of the 7 composers.

The weekly lesson plan of activities is built into the student activity book.

This allowed me to give Tiny more control over what he did each day.

Now that he is getting older, I want him to take more responsibility for some of his day.

So I was able to use this feature as a way to measure his maturity for more accountability and for him to start his day on his own without my prompting.

Also though the student activity book is an all in one resource. It has everything you need in it to complete the series after you read each chapter in the biography reader each week.

If you are short on shelf space, you will like the fact that it is the teacher’s guide, student activity book, has tidbits of interest, assigns the music to listen to, gives timelines, has instructions for lessons on hands-on projects, has a quiz and the answers at the end of each unit.

All of these things made it easy for Tiny to pick up and start on his own.

Moving on to the actual contents of each week’s lesson, they are varied. We especially took notice of the activities and background information for history and geography.

For example, we enjoyed learning that during the 1800’s songs were written in response to social events.

Homeschool Music Curriculum

This is exactly the tie in I was looking for in this curriculum to help Tiny understand how music evokes passion and emotions on sensitive social issues.

Regarding geography, the introduction to the Rhine River was a chance to pull out our atlases to understand the world of Beethoven as he knew it from the time he was a boy to a famous composer.

Also, including lessons on the character qualities of Beethoven and tying that into a language arts lesson made studying this part more meaningful for Tiny.

He loved doing the attribute acronym for his name as he was inspired by the motivating force of adjectives.

I know I have been sharing about the student activity book because comprehensive hardly seems accurate enough to describe it, but the other important element to this curriculum that equally stirred us beyond the music and activity book were the composer biographies.

I have seen these Great Musician Series Readers on some of the online homeschool book stores before and knew they were classical readers, but wasn’t quite sure how to use them in my day because I don’t have a musical background.

The classical readers remind me of a living history book too because even though they are biographies they do a beautiful job of weaving the background information as you read about the lives of each musician.

The readers have black and white simple, but treasured pictures along with the famous music of each composer in them.

Tiny spent hours at the piano trying to mimic Beethoven after reading about him and some of the other composers each week.

As if all of this wasn’t enough to send us over the top about this curriculum, we could hardly wait to get started on the lapbook too about Beethhoven.

Music Composer Lapbooks

The lapbooks are on a separate cd which made it nice because I could just print off each week what we wanted to do that day.

The cd does have pictures of the lapbook on each composer along with helpful instructions as you prepare each one.

{The Chiming Tower Bells were used in the biography about Ludwig Beethoven to tell about his favorite things and it was one of Tiny’s favorite minibooks.}

So I was thrilled when I saw the color minibooks and the fact they contained information to teach your child.

In other words, most of them had information to glue in the inside instead of giving your child tons of blank, useless pages.

Sure there are minibooks for him to write in, but again the emphasis on an interactive hands-on tool should be about absorbing the information and not about always having to color, craft or cut.

The lapbook is just one of the many hands-on activities found through out the course.

Too, there are more than enough activities to choose from whether your child is younger or older.

For example, we left out one minibook that asked Tiny what some of his favorite things were. It was just too young for him. So I liked the fact that there were plenty of activities to choose from for every age.

I am putting the rest of my posts I did on this curriculum at the bottom of this one so you can read about them too.

Hands–On Music Ideas

Not having a music background, but wanting my sons to keep pursuing their love of it, I give Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades Book 1 a huge two thumbs up.

If you have serious musicians in your family, you will appreciate too the scope and sequence found in the beginning of the student activity book showing music appreciation and music theory standards.

Product Name: Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades Book

Count the cost by remembering that this includes geography, history, music vocabulary, hands-on ideas, timelines and character trait studies. It is a two year study to complete all the hands-on activities, 7 lapbooks, listen to all the beautiful pieces and complete the whole student activity book

Type of Product: Physical student book which is approximately 353 pages. { It is recommended that each child have their own activity book.} Music CDS, Lapbook CD and 7 biographies.

Each reader averages from approximately 118 pages for the shortest reader to approximately 166 pages for the longer book. All of the books include notorious and famous music pieces.

Grades: K – 6th.

{But there are things in the music and knowledge of the composers’ background that I feel a junior high or budding new musician in high school would benefit from because of the depth of music theory. Certainly not babyish.}

See more about Zeezok Music Curriculum in the posts below!

Beethoven & The French Revolution Minibook — **Beethoven & The French Revolution? Minibook**

More Homeschool Music Curriculum Resources

Faith-Neutral Homeschool Grammar and Writing Program

June 27, 2018 | 60 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have a faith-neutral homeschool grammar and writing program.

Although I had an engaging English teacher in eighth grade, my loathing for grammar and writing was already ingrained.

It wasn’t because I didn’t like language arts, but grammar and writing seemed like a mist. Nothing was clear to me, or taught to me in a logical order.

I seemed to take a self-guided writing tour in my elementary years.

I was looking for a homeschool grammar and writing program which taught the process in steps, and took the struggle out of learning grammar and writing.

So I was tickled to find Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing by JacKris Publishing.

Before you read on, I want to be sure you get a heads up for the awesome giveaway below!

I was given these products for free and I was compensated for my time. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off or that a company will receive a glowing review. ALL opinions are my own and I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!

Writers – Born or Made?

This was not my first introduction to Growing with Grammar; however, it was my first look at Winning with Writing.

We used Level 8 in both the grammar and the writing program. At this time, Level 8 is the highest level available and levels equate to grade levels.

Whether your kids are middle school or high school level, mastery of language arts is the foundation for all other subjects.

Teaching the rules of grammar, and teaching an inexperienced writer how to articulate ideas through written words requires repetitive work.

Small and simple changes are best, but again it takes time. Kids and even some adult authors get impatient with the process. Short and straight forward explanations with examples have always worked best for us.

You’ll love this faith-neutral homeschool language arts, Levels 1-8, if you’re looking for a grammar and writing program which teaches the process in steps and takes the struggle out of learning grammar and writing. Click here!

As I mentioned, I returned to Growing with Grammar. There are several reasons:

An Overview of Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing

lessons are only 3 times a week,
it includes diagramming and I like that because I have kids that are visual learners,
it’s based on a 36-week school year which is a standard school year,
it reminds us that grammar is achievable because there are not really a lot of rules,
it is a worktext (more on this in a minute), and
examples and explanations are used as models when applying grammar to the writing process.

Grammar is the rules of a language and I feel it’s best learned while writing; however, a separate short study of the rules of grammar helps any struggling writer to cement the rules in his mind.

Teaching grammar only 3 times a week aligns with my experience in how grammar is best learned.

Learning rules separately from writing or oral speaking has limited value. Application of rules makes the most sense while learning to write or while speaking in public. Grammar is valued then as a practical life skill.

Although writing is a progressive skill, it doesn’t have be tedious. Look here at how the writing process is laid out in Winning with Writing:

lessons are daily meaning it follows a 5 day week,
lessons are short,
it’s based on a 36-week school year,
it’s a worktext which means it teaches by example, models, and illustrations,
it takes a two part approach which are the outlining process and the drafting process,
it has incremental review which writers need, and
once you learn the the straightforward process it works for a single paragraph or book.

Faith-Neutral Homeschool Grammar and Writing Program

Too, I know you want to know what the writing program contains because that is the hardest part for me in judging whether this level or another level will work for your struggling writer.

I hope you find this look at the table of contents helpful.

Level 8 Winning with Writing First Semester Topics

Lesson 1 Main Topic, Details, and Staying on Topic
Lesson 2 The Writing Process
Lesson 3 Sequence of Events and Time Order Words
Lesson 4 Personal Narrative
Lesson 5 Personal Narrative
Lesson 6 Review of Lessons 1-5
Lesson 7 Spatial Organization, Comparing Objects, and Comparing Characters
Lesson 8 Similes, Metaphors, Analogies, Personification, and Sarcasm
Lesson 9 Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Hyperbole, Oxymoron, and Pun
Lesson 10 Descriptive Writing
Lesson 11 Descriptive Writing
Lesson 12 Review of Lessons 7-11
Lesson 13 Parts of a Creative Story
Lesson 14 Quotations, Dialogue, Point of View and Voice
Lesson 15 Creative Writing
Lesson 16 Creative Writing
Lesson 17 Creative Writing
Lesson 18 Review of Lessons 13-17

Level 8 Winning with Writing Second Semester Topics

Lesson 19 Facts and Opinions, Emotional Appeals, and Advertising
Lesson 20 Thesis Statement and Transitional Sentences
Lesson 21 Compare and Contrast Essay
Lesson 22 Persuasive Writing
Lesson 23 Persuasive Writing
Lesson 24 Review of Lessons 19-23
Lesson 25 Documenting Sources
Lesson 26 Biographical Essay (Part 1)
Lesson 27 Biographical Essay (Part 2)
Lesson 28 Explanatory Essay Cause and Effect (Part 1)
Lesson 29 Explanatory Essay Cause and Effect (Part 2)
Lesson 30 Review of Lessons 25-29
Lesson 31 Bias, Reliable Sources, and Taking Notes
Lesson 32 Informative Essay Problem and Solution (Part 1)
Lesson 33 Informative Essay Problem and Solution (Part 2)
Lesson 34 Informative Essay Research Report (Part 1)
Lesson 35 Informative Essay Research Report (Part 2)
Lesson 36 Review of Lessons 31-35

Do you see any writing topics that your middle school kid struggles with?

Writing at the higher grades tend to focus solely on the essay.

While that is a normal progression, all writers benefit at looking at the basic process from sentence writing to paragraph to essay. This takes time to teach without making it monotonous.

Again, Winning with Writing aligns with my experience in that it takes 5 days of short lessons.

My Reasons for Returning to Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing

Earlier I mentioned about the worktext.

You may or may not know the differences between workbooks and worktext, but I appreciate the subtle differences the longer I’ve homeschooled.

A worktext not only has a place for your student to record his work, but gives explanations, samples, and even background information right in the book. It’s like writing in a textbook. I have one kid that really likes that concept.

Promoting independence at the middle and high school levels is smoother when a student has everything to learn a new concept within one book.

You will notice that Answer Keys are provided, so a comprehensive teacher’s manual is not needed. All of the explanations, plus a space to record your student’s answers are kept together.

Although this was a far-fetched idea to me, I learned that Tiny is not as motivated to learn a new concept while using a teacher’s manual as he is when it’s in the student text.

It’s a learning practice he set up for himself; he is motivated when material is laid out. For me, it was a huge revelation and significant as I wanted to foster independence in my writer.

Besides material being presented in a way beneficial to my flourishing, but novice writer, mastery of concepts was equally important.

Remembering I felt alone while learning the elements of writing in my elementary years, I’m delighted that Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing break concepts down into cycles — 3 day cycles and 5 day cycles respectively.

You noticed on the table of contents that review was added incrementally.

This makes a full circle back to what is fundamentally important for any level of writer — repetition and review.

Additionally, JacKris Publishers is faith-neutral whether you want to add your Bible content or keep it secular. That is an important feature when you want more control over when and how to teach your worldview.

Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing may be a good fit for your family:

If you want a straightforward no-thrills and frills approach
If you want short lessons
If you want planned short days
If your writer craves independence
If your writer needs review and repetition
If your writer needs clear and concise directions
If your writer prefers to keep all of his work in one place
If your writer needs to learn the outline and draft processes
If your writer is not organized

While my son is certainly at the level where he can write independently, the worktexts are easy enough for you to use to guide a struggling writer.

The whole array of language arts products by JacKris Publishing are thorough, easy to use, and student friendly.

How to Purchase It.

►Product Name: Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing
►Website: JacKris Publishing
►What they want you to know: Although they love all of their products, their Starting Line Stories are new and they’re excited for you to use it. From the site: Each Starting Line Stories book contains 70 story starters and 30 writing prompts. Unlike a formal writing program, these activities are designed simply for students to express themselves through creative writing.
►Grade Levels: Levels 1 – 8; Levels equate to grade level.
►Type of product: These is a physical product and you can click on the product to see a SAMPLE lesson.
►Prices: Vary by product.

Also, you’ll love these other tips:

YIPPEE! HAPPY DANCE! !

GIVEAWAY

Terms: Over 18. U.S. residents only

Please don’t think you’ll not win! I have to give this sweet giveaway to somebody! Go ahead and enter below.

May the Force Be With You! ha
3 Winners to Choose ONE product (any level) from JacKris Publishing

How to Teach With an Easy DIY American History Timeline

January 26, 2018 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

When my older two sons were in middle school we created an American history timeline.

It was a clip art heavy timeline with lots of coloring, cutting, and gluing.

I’ve been looking for something which is not as craft intensive while still being challenging.

Until now, I couldn’t find an American history timeline curriculum which inspired me to want to do another one with my third son.

How to Teach With an Easy DIY American History Timeline. If you’re looking for a curriculum resource to easily teach American history by using a timeline, you’ll love this one. Not only do your kids cover major historical topics but learn about famous people and events. Because it’s reproducible you can use it for all of your kids. Click here to grab this great resource!

Too, being an eclectic homeschooler, I want products which make it easy for me to teach in my style and in a way my son understands.

When I got The Giant American History Timeline from Sunflower Education, I was stoked to prepare another timeline in my simple diy fashion.

I was given this product for free. I was compensated for my time and for hosting the giveaway. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off. ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!

How to Rock History Using An American History Timeline

One of the things I find perfect about this two-volume bundle, besides not having to do time consuming coloring or crafts, is that each unit or timeline can stand alone.

We didn’t begin with The Giant History Timeline Book 1: Pre-Colonization-Reconstruction.

We did spend the majority of time in The Giant History Timeline Book 2: 1870s-Present because Tiny was interested in modern American history.

I loved the fact that we didn’t have to start at the beginning and could skip right to the parts that we found fascinating.

For years we’ve covered significant early American history events through our history lapbooks which I share right here on my site Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

So, feeling like he didn’t really have a clear outline of major modern historical events, Tiny wanted to delve deeper into modern history.

Another downside to doing clip art based timelines or date only timelines which I found out after doing my first one is that no real connection is made between dates and key historical events.

And timelines can quickly becoming boring if they’re not studied along with the events or the people.

Intriguing events and colorful personalities of significant people of the past and present is what brings history alive.

That is another win for The Giant American History Timeline bundle.

Let me backup first and give you an idea of all the goodies in the The Giant American History Timeline bundle so you can see how it can be used as a stand alone unit study or to enhance your study of geography, famous Americans, or history.

Look at the historical time periods and units in each book.

The Giant American History Timeline Book 1.

Unit 1: Discovery and Exploration Prehistory-1606
Unit 3: The Revolutionary Period 1765-1783
Unit 5: Expanding the Country 1790-1860
Unit 7: Social Issues 1790-1860

Unit 2: Colonial America 1585-1776
Unit 4: Creating the Constitution 1781-1803
Unit 6: An Age of Advancements 1790-1860
Unit 8: The Civil War and Reconstruction 1850-1877

The Giant American History Timeline Book 2.

Unit 1: Industrial Growth and Technological Advancement 1870-1910
Unit 3: America and the World 1867-1910
Unit 5: The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression 1920-1940
Unit 7: The Cold War 1940-1990

Unit 2: Big Business and Social Reform 1870-1910
Unit 4: World War I 1910-1920
Unit 6: World War II 1930-1950
Unit 8: The Civil Rights Movement Technology and Terrorism 1954-Present

Look at all the teaching perks in each book.

Teaching notes which contain an overview of key events, suggested focus activities like when we listened to the inspiring I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., instructions on how to create the timeline, points to teach critical thinking skills, and instructions on how to do the activity sheets.
Six types of activity sheets which contain maps, primary sources, help for comparing and contrasting time periods, biography sheets, a voice from the past sheets and a fun time machine activity page.
One of the parts I loved the best is the variety. In Book 1 there are 126 activity sheets and in Book 2 there are 125 activity sheets. That easily adds up to a huge amount of resources for kids of any age.

The hardest part for us was keeping to a few topics so that we could study it for any length of time.

We had so many choices of time periods, timelines, and topic ideas and couldn’t wait to start piecing the timeline together.

How to Teach With an Easy DIY American History Timeline

Since we moved into our new home, we haven’t really decided on a school area. It wouldn’t really matter anyway because Tiny has almost always taken to the floor to study something like this.

He does best by using the floor to put his events in order and the The Giant American History Timeline gives excellent examples of how to connect the information and events to each other.

Benefits of The Giant American History Timeline

It can be done by event, which is the one we loved, main ideas or sequence of events which is what we’re all familiar with.

Also, another facet of creating an easy diy timeline is storage.

You want your child to engage with the facts and the historical period he is learning, but you need a way for him to come back to them and study it.

However, since we don’t have a huge empty wall like a classroom, we are storing our timeline in a lapbook and doing one for each time period or unit we’re studying.

After researching and organizing the material he wanted to study, we reviewed key facts and then organized the material so that we could review in the future.

Also, I shared with you how to turn a worksheet into an interactive minibook.

So, we applied that same folding technique to our mini-giant American history timeline.

One of the best things about using a lapbook besides great storage is that anytime he can take out the lapbook and memorize the significant events that match the dates.

Then because this is a research intensive project, we added a pocket on the back of the lapbook to add the extra activity sheets that he did.

This lapbook fits in well with the other American history lapbooks that we have done.

Did I mention that all pages are reproducible?

For some of the parts, we shrunk the pages when we printed. The other pages are just regular paper size but folded using my special technique that I mentioned earlier.

American History Timeline Activity Sheets

The Giant American History Timeline may be a good fit for you and your kids if:

You have multiple ages you’re teaching, but want one sanity-saving resource.
Your kids don’t mind a few hands-on activities like labeling and coloring maps, but prefer straight research on topics.
You want a reproducible resource instead of a workbook.
You’re thinking about a lapbook or notebooking style of timeline because of a lack of space.
Your kids prefer to learn more independently without having day to day lesson plans.
You prefer an overview and guideline for topics and events to create.
You want flexibility in how you cover topics by choosing ones that interest your children.
You want to use timelines as a stand alone unit study topic covering multiple historical topics.
Your kids prefer more worksheet and notebooking style pages.
You want something faith-free or more secular so you can add your own worldview.
You want teacher helps with answer keys.
You want one comprehensive resource for teaching American history.
You want your children to learn independently.

Look at these other American history lapbooks you’ll love!

How to Purchase It.

Product Name: The Giant American History Timeline.
Grade Level: Multiple ages resources, Grade 4 and up.
Price: Physical Book: 29.95

EASY Hands-on Earth Science: Fun Water Testing Kit

September 20, 2017 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

For years we’ve used a water filtration system in our home because we recognize the value of the human body’s makeup of water and need for safe water. So, when I heard about Test Assured and got a chance to use their home water testing kit, I jumped at the chance of connecting science to real life.

I was given this product free from Water Testing Kit and I was compensated for my time. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off. ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!

Also, living here in Texas, the Gulf Coast has been affected by Hurricane Harvey. So safe water has been on our minds more now than ever.

I think your kids will love this water testing kit because it’s not only easy and fun, but it’s relevant today with all the rain and flood we’ve had here.

Easy Hands on Earth Science Using a Water Testing Kit. Can't get any more easier than this. Click here to grab this kit.

SCIENCE FAIR WATER TESTING KIT

Look at all the supplies you get in the kit.

4-pack tests. Each packet includes a vial, test chart, iron reageant tablet, and 3 test strips to measure:
►Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite
►Iron
►Alkalinity/pH/Hardness
Guidebook
TDS Meter

You’ll want to find 4 different water sources. We used the ditch in the back of our house, the creek from the local park on our walk, bottled water, and tap water.

Because Tiny has gone with my husband to show the demonstrations of water ionizers to family and friends that needed safe water to drink, he was familiar with the effects of using a filtration system.

This was different though because he got to test the quality of water without a filtration system.

We take it for granted that our boys understand that the quality of water is important to our health. But this test really enforces an understanding of what is in the water we drink.When you get the kit, you’ll want to read the directions carefully like store it at room temperature and don’t use hot or bleach water. Then you’re ready to move on to the fun.

I know I’ve said it before, but I love easy activities that don’t require much setup and where I don’t have to round up a lot of supplies.The instructions are on the chart and it gives you an order in which to do the tests.

First, we checked each sample for chlorine/copper/nitrate/nitrite, then alkalinity/pH/hardness, and lastly the iron.

Then we compared that to the chart. Jotting down test results is easy because the kits have a results notebook. What is especially cool about the kit is the TDS meter. TDS is abbreviated for total dissolved solids which are the total weight of all solids (mineral, salts, or metals) that are in a given amount of water.And you use the TDS meter to check your water filter and to check the hardness of your water.

It gives out a digital reading and the lower the number the better the water can be absorbed by your body.

This water testing kit is a good fit for your family if:

►You want to teach in an easy way about the quality of water and connect it to every day life.
►You have multiple kids and they each want to participate in the activity.
►You like having all the supplies in one box for you. No hunting and gathering of supplies. I like that part. I know you will too.
►You’re looking for a project for your kid to do to participate in a science fair or homeschool co-op.
►You want your middle or high school kid to do science independently.
►You want safe home science products for your younger kids. There is no glassware here and the testing strip is safe. This is assuming your kids are not going to drink the creek water. Ha.

ENGAGING WATER UNIT STUDY IDEAS

Also, look at these topics and ways to include this water testing kit in your unit study.

►Learn about the geography of a country through understanding the natural resource of water.
►Learn about countries that are underdeveloped to understand the importance of clean drinking water.
►Learn about the human body and how it processes water.
►Learn about ways the local industry or even farming affects the local water source.
►Talk with your older kids about how to make water potable.
►Ask your high school kids if it’s necessary or even healthy to remove all the impurities from water for it to be safe for drinking.
►Connect water usage to the Ancient Rome aqueducts. How much water was in the aqueducts?
►If water could be made safe to drink in countries where water had to be used from streams and rivers, could water-related diseases be eradicated?

These are just a few of the ways I see that you could use the water testing kit in your homeschool day.

How to Purchase It.

►Product Name: Water Testing Kit
►Website: Test Assured Water Testing Kits and Supplies
►Grade Level: multi-grade level
►About the product: Looking for the perfect product to use to demonstrate water testing to your child, student, or classroom? Test Assured is here to help. We offer 4-pack kits that are perfect for schools and science fairs
►Price: 4-Pack Kit $24.99

When I heard about Test Assured and got a chance to use their at home water testing kit, I jumped at the chance of connecting science to real life. Look how easy you can use this water testing kit in your science day! Click here.

If you’re looking to add an easy and simple, but engaging way to learn about the water in your area or maybe have a budding environmental scientist you’ll want to grab this kit.

You’ll love these other activities for understanding the power and necessity of water:

Hugs and love ya,

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How to Rock History Using An American History Timeline

The Giant American History Timeline Book 1.

The Giant American History Timeline Book 2.

Benefits of The Giant American History Timeline

American History Timeline Activity Sheets

How to Purchase It.

SCIENCE FAIR WATER TESTING KIT

ENGAGING WATER UNIT STUDY IDEAS

How to Purchase It.

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