Maths for age 5.5 upwards. My son loves maths and numbers, alongside everyday maths we have a range of activities for him to come and go from at home, Nessy Numbersense was fun for him but has reduced interest for that. He enjoys game based learning as opposed to activity sheets so any online group sessions, board games or books attached to apps etc would be wonderful. Thank you for starting this conversation, I’ve been hoping to find a community page to do this on :)
My son loved Sum Swamp for a math (board) game at that age). Rat-a-Tat Cat and Sleeping Queens are also very popular with him and involve some basic number sense.
What are some good resources for unit studies that can be purchased individually?
A little background, in case it's helpful: My daughters are 6 and 8, so starting 1st and 3rd grades here in the US. The eight-year-old strongly prefers independent learning about topics that interest her, while the six-year-old enjoys being taught more formally.
Last year, after loads of friction between my older daughter and I about our year-long curriculum, I pivoted hard in January to unit studies for science and history. She chose the topics and I found a study, and that consent-based approach seemed to meet all of our needs (mine for *some* structure, hers for autonomy, and younger sister's for more directly "school-ish" time).
But as the spring term went on, I struggled to land on a reliable source for quality unit studies. I don't have time to create them from scratch, much as I'd enjoy that. I need something that is fairly open-and-go so my independent learner can "go."
We've done a few BraveWriter literature guides, a few that I found on Twinkl and adapted, one from Bookish Adventures, and a few that I found on Etsy (but unfortunately did not love, so I've stopped looking on Etsy, but with a rec I would try again).
I've been eyeing the Build Your Library Unit Studies and heard good things about them... I also love how she shares book lists on her year-long curricula pages. https://buildyourlibrary.com/purchase-unit-studies/
I’m looking for a spelling/grammar curriculum that I could use loosely with my 9 year old (starting 4th grade and based in the US). We’re pretty unschooly now and have always been very hands off with Language Arts partly because she learned to read quite young and I’ve just let her read tons of books. But I’m starting to notice an interest in spelling and sentence structure, which she could definitely use some work on (as well as handwriting). I’ve been looking at The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts and it looks like it could work for us. However I’ve heard mixed things about them. Other suggestions would be welcome!
We've used some of the Brave Writer program (https://bravewriter.com/stages/emerging-writers), and my 8 year old really likes it. It's very light, uses a great book as the teaching tool, for example The House at Pooh Corner to learn how to use time and numbers in writing. We're planning to use use a couple of the "Dart" books in the coming school year. We also have really enjoyed the "Partnership Writing" program, also through brave writer!
Thanks! I've been looking at Brave Writer too, and actually purchased one of the Dart books to try out. I was hesitating to purchase the whole Dart bundle, but might look again at the Partnership Writing program. In general my daughter likes to be very independent and do things on her own, so I've been looking for something that would be pretty light on the parent "teaching". I did use some of the BW Jot it Down program ideas several years ago, which went pretty well. So maybe this could work too!
I was hesitant to commit to monthly Dart books too, but the one-offs are great. If you find another program or system you like, do share! I’d love to hear
This is very specific but my little one wants to start a project on London… any good book recommendations/activity ideas or places to visit? Topics we should cover?
I love this idea! We are about an hours train ride away from London so not too far. We tend to go about once a month so plenty of opportunity to do some of these things! The nursery rhyme idea is genius! It would be so good if you had time to write it! Also any excuse to visit Stamfords! I know we’ll have to do something related to the underground as he’s train obsessed. Would love to hear your London transport network ideas!
Hi Eloise and fellow community, I'd appreciate any recommendations (living books/non-fiction/podcasts/documentaries suitable) for a 5.5-6 year old starting a year-long deep dive into Ancient History (we have quite a few on the Stone Age and on the Egyptians, but nothing on the Greeks yet)? Does anyone recommend any decent timeline books that can bring chronological context? I like the look of "history, year by year - a journey though time" by DK but any other recs would be appreciated - and any hands-on project ideas for this age group that you may recommend? History is my weakest area and I'll certainly be learning alongside my son! Thanks!
She’s created a spreadsheet of different books according to type (fiction vs non-fiction for example) and time period. It’s been such a wonderful resource!
We’ve used both History Quest and Curiosity Chronicles. We ended up mostly just listening to the audio books. My daughter was not that interested in them at the time but now she occasionally goes back and reads through the books for fun. She loved Greeking Out, also History Storytime and Homeschool History. I also like looking through the booklists on Build Your Library and Torchlight.
I have a feeling we may be in the same boat with audiobooks. I was going to order paperbacks when they go on sale, but it might be better to try the audiobooks first!
I’ve just started these past few weeks looking at pre history (we started right at the beginning!) with my 5.5 year old. I’ve found the usborne word history book to be a really good timeline and guide for what to look at each week. Activities.. i can only suggest what we’ve done so far! We haven’t yet reached the Stone Age!
Maths for age 5.5 upwards. My son loves maths and numbers, alongside everyday maths we have a range of activities for him to come and go from at home, Nessy Numbersense was fun for him but has reduced interest for that. He enjoys game based learning as opposed to activity sheets so any online group sessions, board games or books attached to apps etc would be wonderful. Thank you for starting this conversation, I’ve been hoping to find a community page to do this on :)
My son loved Sum Swamp for a math (board) game at that age). Rat-a-Tat Cat and Sleeping Queens are also very popular with him and involve some basic number sense.
Thank you :)
What are some good resources for unit studies that can be purchased individually?
A little background, in case it's helpful: My daughters are 6 and 8, so starting 1st and 3rd grades here in the US. The eight-year-old strongly prefers independent learning about topics that interest her, while the six-year-old enjoys being taught more formally.
Last year, after loads of friction between my older daughter and I about our year-long curriculum, I pivoted hard in January to unit studies for science and history. She chose the topics and I found a study, and that consent-based approach seemed to meet all of our needs (mine for *some* structure, hers for autonomy, and younger sister's for more directly "school-ish" time).
But as the spring term went on, I struggled to land on a reliable source for quality unit studies. I don't have time to create them from scratch, much as I'd enjoy that. I need something that is fairly open-and-go so my independent learner can "go."
We've done a few BraveWriter literature guides, a few that I found on Twinkl and adapted, one from Bookish Adventures, and a few that I found on Etsy (but unfortunately did not love, so I've stopped looking on Etsy, but with a rec I would try again).
Curious to hear what you all might recommend!
I've been eyeing the Build Your Library Unit Studies and heard good things about them... I also love how she shares book lists on her year-long curricula pages. https://buildyourlibrary.com/purchase-unit-studies/
I’m looking for a spelling/grammar curriculum that I could use loosely with my 9 year old (starting 4th grade and based in the US). We’re pretty unschooly now and have always been very hands off with Language Arts partly because she learned to read quite young and I’ve just let her read tons of books. But I’m starting to notice an interest in spelling and sentence structure, which she could definitely use some work on (as well as handwriting). I’ve been looking at The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts and it looks like it could work for us. However I’ve heard mixed things about them. Other suggestions would be welcome!
We've used some of the Brave Writer program (https://bravewriter.com/stages/emerging-writers), and my 8 year old really likes it. It's very light, uses a great book as the teaching tool, for example The House at Pooh Corner to learn how to use time and numbers in writing. We're planning to use use a couple of the "Dart" books in the coming school year. We also have really enjoyed the "Partnership Writing" program, also through brave writer!
Thanks! I've been looking at Brave Writer too, and actually purchased one of the Dart books to try out. I was hesitating to purchase the whole Dart bundle, but might look again at the Partnership Writing program. In general my daughter likes to be very independent and do things on her own, so I've been looking for something that would be pretty light on the parent "teaching". I did use some of the BW Jot it Down program ideas several years ago, which went pretty well. So maybe this could work too!
I was hesitant to commit to monthly Dart books too, but the one-offs are great. If you find another program or system you like, do share! I’d love to hear
This is very specific but my little one wants to start a project on London… any good book recommendations/activity ideas or places to visit? Topics we should cover?
We love the Usborne London jigsaw that comes with a little book that tells you more about each of the landmarks.
That sounds fun! Thank you!
I love this idea! We are about an hours train ride away from London so not too far. We tend to go about once a month so plenty of opportunity to do some of these things! The nursery rhyme idea is genius! It would be so good if you had time to write it! Also any excuse to visit Stamfords! I know we’ll have to do something related to the underground as he’s train obsessed. Would love to hear your London transport network ideas!
Hi Eloise and fellow community, I'd appreciate any recommendations (living books/non-fiction/podcasts/documentaries suitable) for a 5.5-6 year old starting a year-long deep dive into Ancient History (we have quite a few on the Stone Age and on the Egyptians, but nothing on the Greeks yet)? Does anyone recommend any decent timeline books that can bring chronological context? I like the look of "history, year by year - a journey though time" by DK but any other recs would be appreciated - and any hands-on project ideas for this age group that you may recommend? History is my weakest area and I'll certainly be learning alongside my son! Thanks!
I love historybookbybook.com
She’s created a spreadsheet of different books according to type (fiction vs non-fiction for example) and time period. It’s been such a wonderful resource!
This looks great, thank you!
We’ve used both History Quest and Curiosity Chronicles. We ended up mostly just listening to the audio books. My daughter was not that interested in them at the time but now she occasionally goes back and reads through the books for fun. She loved Greeking Out, also History Storytime and Homeschool History. I also like looking through the booklists on Build Your Library and Torchlight.
I have a feeling we may be in the same boat with audiobooks. I was going to order paperbacks when they go on sale, but it might be better to try the audiobooks first!
Yes! It was nice later on to have the physical books for them to read through on their own, but starting with the audiobooks makes sense.
Greeking Out is a podcast we enjoy. Let me know if you need the RSS feed and I'll find it tomorrow when I've got the laptop on.
thank you - just found it!
Although History Quest and Curiosity Chronicles is on my list to get once we reach the Palaeolithic era.. they could be good options?
Thanks for the suggestions! I have bookmarked Curiosity Chronicles - another potential option!
I’ve just started these past few weeks looking at pre history (we started right at the beginning!) with my 5.5 year old. I’ve found the usborne word history book to be a really good timeline and guide for what to look at each week. Activities.. i can only suggest what we’ve done so far! We haven’t yet reached the Stone Age!
We studied the ancient world last year and I put all our favourite books in this post:
https://howwehomeschool.substack.com/p/an-ancient-world-reading-list-for
can i ask what the maths game in the image is? thanks
What sort of age are you looking at? I have some places I use as reference points for my two primary age children.
9 years / 4th grade
Just saw you responded to my post in the FB group, thanks!!