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The Best Eighth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

July 9, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Are you looking for a solid eighth grade homeschool curriculum to finish out the middle school years? Not to worry, I have you covered for this and all the other grade levels. Also, you’ll love my pages Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas and grade level curriculum. And my other page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School.

I have assembled a collection of curriculum that covers all learning styles and of course have some tips to help you both have a great year.

The Best Eighth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

Eighth grade is a transition year and is a time to help fill in learning gaps for your child before they make the move to high school.

And you can do this by pulling together curriculum choices from different places to meet them where they are in every subject.

I have found that while they become more independent it doesn’t mean they don’t need you at all.

In fact in some ways, they need you more though it seems from a distance.

This is the perfect time to start planning together.

The last year of middle school is a foray into word study and literature, composition, spelling, and time to get the prerequisite of Pre-Algebra before high school.

You can start other electives like foreign language early as well if you like to give credits toward high school.

Eighth Grade Homeschool Tips and Recommendations

  • Adjust as needed in the curriculum to help your child wherever they may be struggling, enhance where they excel, and challenge them a little more.
  • Consider using a variety of teaching methods like textbooks, online, board games, field trips, worksheets, hands on experiments, etc.
  • This year, start looking together at next year’s possible classes and courses. Based on your child’s interest and possible future career choice. you may stick with the curriculum you’ve been using for years, or you may decide this year requires a change in a class, too, or all of them.

In addition, within the next year, your child will be old enough for a part-time job.

With that on the horizon, it’s a wonderful time to role-play going to job interviews, practicing filling out applications, which includes learning all their own personal information.

The Best Eighth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

More Middle School Homeschool Curriculum Tips

  • Free Middle School Science Curriculum and Magazines
  • 11 Best Science Fiction Books For Middle Schoolers
  • How to Choose the BEST Homeschool Middle and High School Language Arts Curriculum & Options
  • 10 Best Science Movies for Middle School
  • The Best Eighth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Home Learning Year by Year, Revised and Updated: How to Design a Creative and Comprehensive Homeschool Curriculum 
  • Free Middle and High School Homeschool Language Arts

Best Homeschool Curriculum For All Grades

  • Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations
  • Kindergarten Curriculum
  • First Grade Curriculum | 7 Tips And Recommendations
  • Second Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Third Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Fourth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Fifth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Sixth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Seventh Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Eighth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Ninth Grade Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations
  • Tenth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • 11th Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • 12th Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

8th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Add these fun curriculum recommendations to your 8th grader's homeschool day.

Math-U-See Pre-Algebra Student Pack

While your child may be in higher or lower math we're starting with Pre Algebra in 8th grade.

If a child is on a college track, he will want to do pre algebra in middle school.

If your child learns well with manipulatives and the mastery style of teaching Demme learnings Math-U-See has been a popular well-loved option. Math-U-See takes a very systematic and cumulative approach to teaching concepts and includes not just manipulatives but also videos explaining how each step is done, Instruction manual, and student texts.

Workman Publishing Ace Pre-Algebra and Algebra I in One Big Fat Notebook (Big Fat Notebooks)

The series Everything You Need to Ace Pre Algebra and Algebra In One Big FatNotebook is fantastic as a reference book when they need a reminder for certain operations or is a good guide for those that prefer to just learn independently.

12 Human Body Games For Middle School & High School

Unless your child is heading for a heavy science based field like doctor, pharmacist, or Marine Biologist you can still get a good deal of their science lessons from games, and  simple courses of interest.

Here is a list of 12Human Body Games For Middle School & High School ideal for fun anatomy lessons.

Mark Twain Forensic Investigations Workbook, Using Science to Solve High Crimes Middle School Books, Critical Thinking for Kids, DNA and Handwriting Analysis Labs

Use this time to start diving into specific areas of science interest like Forensic Science.

8th Grade Science: Daily Practice Workbook | 20 Weeks of Fun Activities (Physical, Life, Earth and Space Science, Engineering | Video Explanations Included

Exploring Creation with Physical Science, 2nd Edition

Apologia has long been a go to standard for science and one of the common 9th grade sciences is Physical Science. You can choose from physical books and ebooks, get a concise teacher manual,
audiobooks, test pages,

Movies As Literature

A complete, one-year English course or elective for high school, or use many of the lessons to supplement grades 7-8. This course uses 17 classic movies (DVDs not included) to introduce and study the elements of literary analysis. The book contains a student section and an extensive teacher's guide. Each lesson includes questions for discussion and composition and extended activity suggestions for anyone wanting to use it as an Honor's course. Also included: plot summaries, glossary of literary terms, and final exam. This course will not only give students the tools to appreciate good books more fully, but will also equip them with the ability to discern underlying messages in movies, rather than simply absorb them. It also offers students with difficulty reading (such as dyslexia) or remembering what they've read an opportunity to use their strengths by comprehending and analyzing stories appropriate for their age, not their reading level. 

Learning Language Arts Through Literature: The Gray Teacher Book (8th-9th Grades)

36 weekly lessons divided into daily plans.

4 Book Studies (listed in the order they appear):Across Five Aprils by Irene HuntA Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter AldrichEric Liddell by Catherine SwiftGod's Smuggler by Brother Andrew

Integrated language arts lessons including: grammar, spelling, higher order thinking, and study skills.

Spelling lists each week from the most Commonly Misspelled Words.

Vocabulary Building exercises bring meaning to vocabulary in context making it useful in everyday language. Continued study of suffixes, prefixes, and root words prepares students for college testing.

PLUS, a five week Writing Unit!

Teacher friendly, with little or no preparation needed!

Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level C [Binder, Student Packet, Teacher's Manual]

Purchase this package if you already own or have access to the accompanying SSS-1C video course. Includes a complete set of student materials for extra students who are watching the video course in a group or classroom, including a 3-ring student binder with eight tabs for organizing student work and a packet of handouts with source texts, checklists, and more! Plus a complete Teacher’s Manual containing embedded images of student pages, along with suggested answers, video board notes, teaching tips, and access to students’ sample essays that are read aloud on the video.

Must Know High School Vocabulary

The 500 words you must know before college!

Must Know High School Vocabulary is more than just a vocabulary workbook. It gives you the edge you’ll need now―from improving your reading comprehension for high school and future college course work to scoring higher on AP and college entrance exams. Its user-friendly approach presents challenging aspects of the topics, exceptions to any rules, and clear answer explanations that will all help you build vocabulary quickly and easily. It’s like a lightning bolt to the brain!

Road Signs Flash Cards with Detailed Explanations and Safe Driving Tips - Stocking Stuffers for Teens

One of the most exciting aspects of 9th grade year is of course driving!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Choose Curriculum Tagged With: 8th grade, boxedcurriculum, curriculum, eighth grade, homeschool, homeschool curriculum, middle school, middleschool

The Best Seventh Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

July 8, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have the best seventh grade homeschool curriculum recommendations. Also, you’ll love my pages Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas and grade level curriculum. And my other page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School.

Whether this is your 8th year of homeschooling your child or you are brand new this year – congratulations! 

You have made it to the second year of middle school with your child.

I want to help you find your groove for this year to continue going strong no matter what kind of homeschooler you are.

The Best Seventh Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

There are many different approaches.

For example, there are classical, unit study families, out of the box curriculum users, and unschoolers.

So, I have curriculum recommendations and tips.

There is still time before high school.

But we want to make sure that we are on the right track with learning, focusing on interests as well as subject requirements.

If you have been more lax you might consider tightening up the requirements a bit.

Your student will probably be spending a lot more time online in these years going forward, not only with video games and chat but research, classes, and online learning.

We are living in a society that is going more and more that way every day.

Make the most of their time with solid online programs from math classes to electives by choosing ones that fit into their learning style.

Homeschool 7th Grade Tips and Recommendations

  • Increase learning time as needed to allow about 3 to 4 hours of schooling, which is typically plenty of time to complete a full day of homeschool subjects at this age.
  • So much of your child’s reading comes through all their subjects-history, science, and language arts, be sure to keep a good thorough record of their independent reading. I like to let them choose much of their own reading by this age with a few required reading selections I add in.
  • I think it’s important in these transitioning middle school years to keep a flexible but consistent schedule for wake up, schooling, chores, etc.
  • Consider giving your child a standardized test to see where they are and what they need extra support or more challenge in. Tests like Iowa or Stanford can help you identify this and better help your child.
  • Encourage your child to use a planner independently to schedule their own assignments for the upcoming week(s). High school is not too far off and it’s a good time to implement more good habits like this.
  • Change the plan as you need to. Remember that just because you have been using a curriculum for years you don’t have to stick to it. You can choose and change your mind with your method or homeschooling style even based on what works best for you and your child at this point in life.
  • Encourage those interests that may become future careers be it in trade school or college track.
The Best Seventh Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

More Middle School Homeschool Curriculum Tips

  • Home Learning Year by Year, Revised and Updated: How to Design a Creative and Comprehensive Homeschool Curriculum 
  • 10 Best Science Movies for Middle School
  • How to Build Middle School Curriculum Directly From Amazon
  • Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)
  • Medieval History for Homeschool Middle School
  • Plains Indians Free Writing Prompts. For Elementary, Middle and High School Homeschooled Kids
  • 15 Hands-on History Ideas for Kids Studying the French and Indian War

Best Homeschool Curriculum For All Grades

  • Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations
  • Kindergarten Curriculum
  • First Grade Curriculum | 7 Tips And Recommendations
  • Second Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Third Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Fourth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Fifth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Sixth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Seventh Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Eighth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Ninth Grade Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations
  • Tenth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • 11th Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • 12th Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

Middle School Homeschool Curriculum

7th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Seventh Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Mark Twain Basic Economics Workbook, Grades 5-8 Financial Literacy Books, Money, Taxes, and Economic Principals With Math Practice

Make economics easy for students to understand (and enjoy!) with the activity-packed Mark Twain Basic Economics Workbook.

Financial 5th grade books and up are a great way for fifth―eighth grade students to learn basic economic and math concepts while introducing students to the consumer world through focused lessons and practice.

7th Grade Financial Education

 Personal Finance Workbook For Teens. Introduce your 7th grader or 6th grader to the fundamentals of financial literacy life skills with our engaging middle school and homeschool workbook. Packed with age-appropriate lessons, interactive exercises, and real-world scenarios, this workbook is designed to empower your child with essential money management skills

EP Language Arts 7 Workbook: Part of the Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

This is an offline workbook for Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool's Language Arts 7 course. We've modified and expanded upon the online activities and printable worksheets available at the Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool website so that your child can work offline if desired. Whether you use the online or offline versions or a combination of both, your child will enjoy these supplements to the Easy Peasy Language Arts course. This workbook is designed to be used in conjunction with Easy Peasy's Language Arts 7 Lesson Guide. It follows the EP Language Arts course in sequential order, providing activity worksheets which can replace online activities and printable worksheets. As you proceed through the EP curriculum, use this workbook to exercise your child's Language Arts skills.

Learning Language Arts Through Literature: Green Student Activity Book, 7th Grade Skills

The Green Student Activity Book is the perfect companion for the Green Teacher Book! Everything in one student instruction, a place for writing, and a tool for easy record keeping. Allows for more independent work, a BONUS for teachers. The Green SAB provides Enrichment Activities such as word puzzles, analogies, logic/reasoning activities and more found ONLY in the SAB.

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia: With 80 Interactive Augmented Reality Models! (Kingfisher Encyclopedias)

Science is vital for every inhabitant of today’s world, and being scientifically informed and literate is a crucial part of any child’s education. Science can seem daunting –- especially as scientific knowledge advances so quickly –- and this volume is the perfect purchase for any family. It will bear repeated use by all the family from 10+ through the teenage years.

Cytosis: A Cell Biology Board Game | A Science Accurate Strategy Board Game About Building Proteins, Carbohydrates, Enzymes, Organelles, & Membranes

Games like Cytosis can teach cell biology in a more interesting and fun way than a textbook alone. 

Photo Credit: www.masterbooks.com

World's Story 1 Set

Masterbooks The Worlds Story is a solid series for a full history program and covers ancients to the modern age and takes just about an hour to complete. 

LIFEPAC 7th Grade History & Geography Box Set

The LIFEPAC 7th Grade History & Geography Set presents a comprehensive overview of history and the social sciences. In this biblically integrated homeschool course, your child will study lessons which focus on the fundamentals of geography, U.S. history, anthropology, economics, political science, along with state economics and politics. A teacher's guide is included in this Alpha Omega
curriculum.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

Medieval History Intermediate Curriculum

Medieval History 5-8 Pack. This teacher guide has been completely redesigned, expanded, and improved with in-depth study notes, new sections covering Medieval Africa, China, and the Renaissance. Guide features rabbit trails, historical recipes, website and video links, and background information.

Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook

It s the revolutionary English language arts study guide just for middle school students from the brains behind Brain Quest. Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts . . . takes students from grammar to reading comprehension to writing with ease, including parts of speech, active and passive verbs, Greek and Latin roots and affixes; nuances in word meanings; textual analysis, authorship, structure, and other skills for reading fiction and nonfiction; and writing arguments,
informative texts, and narratives.

Photo Credit: academy.cs.cmu.edu

Carnegie Mellon Computer Science

Computer science curriculum: free for all, designed for you.
Photo Credit: www.arthistorykids.com

Art History Kids

Introduce your kids to a new artist each month & ignite their creativity as they make art from their own imagination!

Cooking Curriculum for the Whole Family

Your Homeschool Curriculum Needs Life Skills……And Your Life Needs Kids Who Help Out.

Connect with your kids in the kitchen, build life skills, and put PEACE into your homeschool day.

Music In Our Homeschool

Online and self-paced music courses. All from the comfort of your home by another homeschool mom who is also a music teacher.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Choose Curriculum Tagged With: 7th grade, curriculum, homeschool, homeschool curriculum, middle school, middleschool, seventh grade

The Best Sixth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

July 7, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have the best sixth grade homeschool curriculum recommendations. Also, you’ll love my pages Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas and grade level curriculum. And my other pages How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School and How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.

And I have a list for you breaking down each subject so that you can put together.

In public school, sixth grade is a major time of transition.

Your child is moving from elementary school to middle school.

The Best Sixth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

The workload is harder.

Too, the social pressures are more difficult, and sports and other activities may be amped up.

The beauty of homeschool is that you can make this a much smoother transition for your child.

For example, one way to do this is through choosing a curriculum that is just right for their needs.

What I have learned in my many years of homeschooling is that there is not a one-size-fits-all-all curriculum.

Sometimes the whole thing is a great fit but other times they need a different method of math, science, history, and etc.

What I want to do is give you the tools to help your child succeed with the sixth-grade level of homeschool.

And giving you options that are the right fit for your learner, not mine or Holly homeschooler down the street.

I don’t need to remind you that there are plenty of opportunities for socializing your tweens and teens.

But I do want to remind you that just going out and living life provides your child with plenty of opportunities to learn to interact and that you can bring their curriculum subjects right into

My Favorite Tips for Sixth Grade Homeschool Curriculum

  • If you are new to homeschooling find your child’s learning style, use their learning style to build their curriculum in a way that they enjoy.
  •  Don’t stop going on fun adventures (field trips) just because the kids are older, they still need it and can get a lot out of it, but maybe ask for their input a bit more.
  • Work on research skills like using reference sites, books, and internet search skills.
  • Continue to do lots of fun hands-on things to keep them interested and engaged.
  • Begin to give them more input and control over their schedule, learning choices, and topics of study.
  • This is a great time to introduce a fresh teacher, whether it be through co-op classes, online via outschool, or trading off subjects with another mom.
  • Also, look at my book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin.
The Best Sixth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

Best Homeschool Curriculum For All Grades

  • Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations
  • Kindergarten Curriculum
  • First Grade Curriculum | 7 Tips And Recommendations
  • Second Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Third Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Fourth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Fifth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Sixth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Seventh Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Eighth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • Ninth Grade Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations
  • Tenth Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • 11th Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations
  • 12th Grade Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations

Homeschool Curriculum – 6th Grade

6th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

You'll love these tips and recommendations for sixth grade curriculum for your homeschool.

Photo Credit: www.goodandbeautiful.com

Math 6: Course Set

If your child does well with a spiral approach and wants something a little more interesting than black and white books they might enjoy the Good & The Beautiful beautifully illustrated math.

Life of Fred: Fractions

This book takes a slightly different approach. It tells a story -- a story of one day in the life of a five-and-a-half-year-old boy. All of the math arises out of Fred's life. All of it is motivated -- right down to when Fred is working at the PieOne pizza place, and he's trying to decide whether to put the tomatoes on the pizza before of after it's cooked and we get the commutative law. -- book (p. 8).

The Big Fat Middle School Math Workbook: 600 Math Practice Exercises

This hands-on Big Fat Math Workbook equals being tutored by the best teacher in the school, through a recap of every key concept using definitions, examples, and special services
like THINK, showing just how to get into the concept, and REMEMBER, summing up critical facts. Plus: Sample problems worked out step by step. 600 exercises and word problems. A solution process instead of an answer key to guide students through each problem they missed or to reinforce how they succeeded.

History Year by Year: The History of the World, from the Stone Age to the Digital Age (DK Children's Year by Year)

Introducing an updated volume of History Year by Year - a timeline of world history that joins the dots of history by putting key historic events across the world on one timeline for children,
including everything from prehistoric people, to world wars, humans on the moon, and so much more! Every page is jam-packed pictures and original artefacts, to give children an accurate insight into each era. Including features that explain major events, such as the rise of the Roman Empire of the fall of Communism, in an accessible and easy-to-read manner that doesn’t talk down to them. 

Photo Credit: athomemiddleschool.com

6th Grade Language Arts

Photo Credit: bravewriter.com

Middle School Writers - Brave Writer

These writers (11-12) are building confidence in their writing skills. They're looking for kind, effective support from a person they trust.

Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level B [Binder & Student Packet]

A complete set of student materials for extra students who are watching the video course in a group or classroom, including a 3-ring student binder with eight tabs for organizing student work and a packet of handouts with source texts, checklists, and more!

Photo Credit: allinonehomeschool.com

History — Early American

Students will study early American history from the early explorers through the Civil War. Students will engage with readings and videos as they learn about the events and leaders of the time period. Students will demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of ways, including through lapbooks, journal writing, and worksheets, as well as by writing newspaper articles on events and people in history. Topics include explorers, the Iroquois, Jamestown, the Mayflower, early settlers,
forts, Daniel Boone, the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the Constitution, American government, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Plains Indians, Lewis and Clark, the War of 1812, Harriet Tubman, slavery, Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and more. Students will also read current event news throughout the year. (Older students also study the Salem Witch Trials.)

Spelling You See Level F: Ancient Achievements Student Pack

In Ancient Achievements, students will read about fascinating topics from long ago, such as cave paintings, Viking ships, and Marco Polo. This is the last level in the skill development stage of spelling. It provides continued word practice using the three core activities of chunking, copywork, and dictation while gradually increasing the reading level. At the same time, a new Spotlight feature introduces students to interesting facts about words. The Student Pack includes two student workbooks and a pack of erasable colored pencils.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

Medieval History Intermediate Curriculum Pack

The term Middle Ages probably conjures up images of brave knights and fair ladies, feasts and tournaments, castles and cathedrals. These are the elements of this time period that capture our imagination. In this course students will learn about King Richard, King Arthur, Saladin, Queen Eleanor, Joan of Arc, Shahrazad and other. They will learn about Martin Luther who revealed a new way to approach God and about John Wycliffe who organized the Bible. Students will learn of Columbus, whose discovery of North America changed the world forever. 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Choose Curriculum Tagged With: curriculum, homeschool, homeschool curriculum, middle school, middleschool, sixth grade

Ocean Unit Study Ocean Layers Hands-on Fun Activity

June 20, 2024 | 16 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re doing an ocean unit study ocean layers today. Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.

Since Tiny was reading about the ocean layers in our atlas, we decided to keep it fun and make dessert before supper and learn at the same time while our furniture was being loaded up and hauled away. 

Ocean Unit Study Ocean Layers Hands-on Fun Activity

Besides, most all of these ingredients we had at the house and I needed something Tiny could do while we were dealing with people in our home.

First, add some of these books to your ocean unit study.

We love to add living books when we can find them. Then we add reference books.

Ocean Books for Kids

16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children in color

Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.

This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton

Seaside Naturalist: Seaside Naturalist

Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

The Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

Scott O'Dell Set: Island of the Blue Dolphins + Zia

Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Underwater Picture Book for Kids)

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (Illustrated 1875 Edition):

A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

An introduction by W. D. Howells.

Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.

A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia

Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet! 

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. 

The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!

Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!

All About Bioluminescence: Deep Sea Animals

Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.

Treasure Island (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.

Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.

Discover the Oceans: The World's Largest Ecosystem (Discover Your World)

From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.

Pagoo

An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.

Here is the short list of ingredients. We normally are not big eaters for packaged cookies because we prefer homemade, but we make an exception for Oreo cookies anytime.

Ocean Layers
  • Oreo cookies
  • Chocolate pudding
  • Banana cream pudding
  • cool whip
  • blue dye
Ocean Layers 1Ocean Layers 2

To show the darkest part of the ocean or the trench, he put crumbled Oreo cookies at the very bottom of a large glass. 

Then, because we had chocolate pudding, he used that for the next layer which is the abyss layer.

Both of those ocean zones are dark and forbidding so I think his choices for yummy layers to help him remember those layers will stick!

I wished though we had a lighter shade of chocolate to show the separation a bit more clear, but I try to use things we have in the house already.

Ocean Layers 3Ocean Layers 4

A little bit of blue dye with some whip cream was  perfect for the midnight ocean layer. 

Though it’s still dark at this layer, a large amount of animals live there and produce their own light. 

In his mind, the blue color equates to finding more ocean life at this layer.  I thought that was a good connection.

Next, we had banana cream for the twilight layer. 

It was a great color choice for this ocean zone because though the light gets here, it is still light or faint.

Ocean Unit Study Ocean Layers Hands-on Fun Activity

Of course the pudding has a heavier weight than the whip cream, so his ocean layers began to sink a bit.

More Learning About the Ocean Hands-on Activities

  • Quick Unit Study & Easy Salt water Density Ocean Science Experiments For Kindergarten
  • How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe
  • The Fascinating World of Sea Geography | Paddle to the Sea Craft
  • Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish

But—uhmmm—it never bothered him!

Ocean Unit Study Ocean Layers Hands-on Fun Activity

Then, one more delicious layer for the bright white light or whip cream called sunlight and he got out of labeling a worksheet he can already name the ocean layers.

Ocean Unit Study Ocean Layers Hands-on Fun Activity

Ocean Unit Study – Ocean Layers

I think with all the mayhem we had in the house with our furniture leaving, this was a fun and easy way to learn the names of the ocean layers. 

Finding the right combinations of sweet treats that tasted good together just kind of fell into place on this activity.  That sometimes is not so easy to do with edible activities.

What is the Ocean Minibook
Message In a Bottle Language Arts
Ocean Unit Study: Vocabulary Words & Wave Pocket
Hands-On Edible Geography Sea Levels
InLinkz.com

16 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: geography, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, middleschool, ocean, oceanlayers

Free Westward Ho History Cards

June 13, 2024 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing a quick way I add a bit of history fun. I have these free westward ho history cards. Also, you’ll love my unit study BEST Westward Ho Unit Study and Lapbook!

Free Westward Ho History Cards

I have a new term called hodgepodge homeschooling because that is what it may end up being this month depending on how fast we sell our big furniture items and get the house up for sale.

First, look at these fun Westward expansion resources.

10 Westward Expansion Resources

Add in a few books and resources to bring the study of the Oregon Trail to life during the United States expansion of the west.

Your Life as a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail (The Way It Was)

Your Life as a Pioneer on The Oregon Trail, has some funny illustrations and great information for this unit study.

Little House on the Prairie Series 7 Books Collection

Of course ALL the Little House Books are some of the best about pioneer life.

The Ingalls are the most famous pioneers and westward moving families.

Westward Expansion (A True Book: Westward Expansion)

A True Book: Westward Expansion takes readers on an amazing journey to a fascinating time in U.S. history when the country was experiencing dynamic change and expanding westward.

The Oregon Trail 4-Book Paperback Box Set Plus Poster Map

In this boxed set, choose your own trail and complete the journey to Oregon City with all four paperbacks in this exciting series! It's 1850 and your first goal is to get your family, covered wagon full of supplies, and oxen to Chimney Rock on time. 

The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley Boardgame

  • It's a race to Willamette Valley as you join the wagon train and seek your fortune in the West!

Apples to Oregon:

Apples, ho! When Papa decides to pull up roots and move from Iowa to Oregon, he can’t bear to leave his precious apple trees behind. Or his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears. Oh, and he takes his family along too.

Locomotive

It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to
ocean

The California Gold Rush and the '49ers

Try your luck, and search for your fortune in California! Follow the joy and heartbreak of the '49ers during the California Gold Rush.

Daily Life in a Covered Wagon

In 1853, the Larkin family loaded up their wagons and headed west in search of a new life. But how did they do it? What did they eat? How did they survive sickness, and attacks from cattle thieves? Drawing on diaries and letters, and illustrated with photographs of actual object from the past, Daily Life in a Covered Wagon explored what life was really like on the wagon trail.

Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails

Illustrations and simple rhyming text follow Mother, Father, and Baby John as they make the difficult journey by wagon to a new home across the Rocky Mountains in the fertile Sacramento Valley of California. By the creators of Gold Fever.

One of them that Tiny needs to revisit because he was very young when we studied it the first and second time is my Westward Ho unit.

Too, I made some Westward Ho history cards to add to it because this allows him to study and memorize the important facts.

Free Westward Ho History Cards

They highlight that time period on his own in case my time is tied up the rest of this month.

This way he can cut them out, hang on an O ring and study on his own. 

I plan to make some more history cards as we go along and probably create some for my other units too. 

Actually, this will be a nice change for our school because Tiny can review what I have and I can add some new updates to my previous unit studies.

Keeping school easy will be my focus the rest of this month as we take a big step to our move.

I’m so excited about this weekend and kind of having mixed feelings when you see so much of your personal things going.

I am keeping my vision clear though of South America and the fun we will have when we get there.

More Printable History Cards to Put an O Ring

  • Free Homeschool History Cards – French and Indian War
  • Ancient Civilizations.
  • and Titanic Sank April 15 – Free History Cards.

You’ll love these other homeschool history resources:

Westward Ho History Cards. Grab these free AWESOME Westward Ho History printables and put on an O ring for fun. Grab them at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus.
  • Westward Ho! Lapbook
  • Gunfight at O.K. Corral – American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp
  • 18 Amazing Kids Subscription Boxes to Try Right Now
  • 7 Educational Movies for Kids About Westward Expansion.
  • 6 Unit Study Resources: Mountain Men – Explorers of the West

How to Get the Free Westward Ho History Cards

Now, how to grab the free history o ring cards. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

mirror
entertainment center 3
depression glass 1a
mango table

2 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography Based, History Based Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, lewisandclark, middleschool, westwardho

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