Hi all, I need some suggestions!!! I'm looking for ideas for history, science, and language for first grade. For history, I'd like something really fun, and focussing on biblical history. Science, I need something that won't have me collecting various bits from everywhere for experiments, and that doesn't require a ton of prep. And a language, I don't even know where to begin! I'm thinking either sign language, spanish, hebrew or possibly french. Please share what you've used, and you're likes and dislikes! Thanks!
IMO, I wouldn't worry about a foreign language right now. Or if I did, very little and relaxed. There are some good points to studying a different language at that age-they learn it much faster. But, don't go all out and think you have to do every subject plus... Actually, if I were to do a foreign language for that age, I would let them be around someone that spoke whatever language and only that language for a period of time every week. Remember this is first grade--don't make anything too intense, some people think that formal schooling shouldn't start until 8 or 10 years old (look up the Moore Formula). I didn't get to use it, because I started homeschooling when my son was in 7th, but I wish I could have. Kids need to be kids.
For history, it sounds like Mystery of History would be right up your alley. For a first grader, I'd use it as-is and just read the lessons and do the prescribed activity for the day. The activities are right in the same book, and have suggestions for every age level including elem, middle, and high school. The elem activities are great for the first grade age. Really, it's written from a Christian worldview plus has the Biblical history right alongside the secular world history. You can see great samples at CBD.com including the table of contents and first few lessons. From what you said, I think you'll love it! We struggle with science, but check out the Christian Kids Explore series. I think it might be up your alley. I liked it and like the things you said as well; it didn't work with us because reading is a bit of an issue here. For the most part, we use Cub Scouts as our science curriculum until upper elementary, and right now we are liking Switched On Schoolhouse - a CD-ROM curric - for that. It doesn't start until 3rd grade though! CGC I found too teacher intensive. I do like the looks of the God's Design series as well, but CKE is cheaper and I like the illustrations better. I've heard great things about Apologia, but again we aren't read-and-answer kinda people, and we just haven't tried this one yet for that reason. Language, to be honest, we don't mess with at this age except for sign language and very, very basic Spanish (counting, hello, please and thank you, where's the bathroom). Really, we just focus on the basics at this age because that's all attention span allows! The Spanish is a necessity because we live in south TX and we like JumpStart for it, but mostly just learn it as life goes along. We start with Latin in about 4th grade. Latin is the basis for almost all of the other languages you listed, except Hebrew, which we will save to go along with Bible studies in high school. For Sign Language, we've enjoyed a series called Beginning Sign Language Series, specifically THIS book. They are cheap and there are several other segments of study besides this one. I really like this for the kiddos who can do a little studying on their own. Since we are having a baby in the early fall, we've kind of put this on the back burner and will begin working on baby signing later on, using whatever we can find at the time and hopefully including Signing Time. I have quite a few resources on this, as I have a sister and a cousin who both studied sign language as their foreign language in college, so I have more resources than I'm familiar with actually, but this is what we've used so far and liked. Best wishes finding what will work best for your family!
Have you seen Beautiful feet early american history (primary) you would not know from the site, but it is Christian based. For science we are using Noeo Biology 1 next year. It comes with all the experiments and everything you need. I am also looking into adding McRuffy science 1 to it, but I am not sure.
I use Sonlight for history, la, Bible and Science. There Science is really nice. As for a language we just got a Spanish workbook and are working through that. next year for grade 2 I think I am going to introduce latin.
Thanks, I agree it shouldn't be too intense at his age, and have debated skipping anything formal in foreign language, history and science. But then, I though if I could find something really fun and hands on that he enjoyed and could benefit from, it would do no harm
also here is a list of abbreviations they have listed at the Well trained mind board. It might be helpful http://www.welltrainedmind.com/board-abbreviations/
I am doing Mystery of History next year (though I got the book early -- looks awesome!). For science we get the Young Scientists Club kits delivered. They're about $15 a month, but they have just about everything you need for some cool experiments. You may need to get a plastic soda bottle or something like that (things that are hard to ship in a small box), but most everything else is included. We also use a few free websites for Spanish, though I think next year we may go with SOS, depending on the finances at the time we order.
