'24-'25 Plans for Second Grade and TK Group Subjects!

Let's talk enrichment! In this video I reveal plans for our '24-'25 homeschool for all group subjects! I cover science, art, social studies, music, and foreign language... even safety!... for my rising second grader and soon to be TK-er.
For additional info on any resources mentioned, leave it in the comments!
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[@capturinglifeinprogress1999]

We have done a whole week of BookShark in one day. It just works best for us. We don’t always do all the questions in the worksheets, and sometimes just cut and paste the pictures in their notebooks and they can be a bit more creative with it. I just let them decide what they want to do.

[@kristyauringer2116]

I love build your library ❤ or check out core knowledge history. They have picture study and music tied into their curriculum

[@astoldbydeedra]

I've approached history in a similar way, in which I want to wait until my kiddo is more mature to start a less fluffy history. We're doing Bloom and Roots Kindergarten, and I structured the histroy and art portion to be more social studies than it's intended, and planned to continue exposing my kiddos to books with diverse characters. Next year we'll be doing the Build Your Library Level K which is an around-the-world study. So technically we're doing two kindergarten level curriculms back to back. Of course her math and reading programs will continue, but my goal was just to expose my kiddo to her own environment this year, and then a world of cultures next year. We'll then do prehistory combining Blossom and Root and Build Your Library before jumping into Ancient Civilizations. But I felt that ancient history was heavy for a first grader, and in the plan I've come up with, she'll be starting real history late into her 'second grade' year. My priority is to get her reading while we gently cruise into more advanced topics, because it will open up many more ways for us to explore these heavy topics. I will say about the Tuttle Twins that it was not for us! I was donated 'Miraculous Pencil' and 'The Law' and never used them after pre-reading them. They're very eurocentric and any diverse character in the book is represented in a negative light. That was just one of the few things we found problematic with them. They might be a good fit for your kids, and I don't want to discourage you, but I'd definitely recommend pre-reading them.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

You’ve got a great plan laid out! I wish I had liked Blossom and Root more to explore their other curricula. Thanks for your perspective on Tuttle Twins. That’s concerning that their more diverse characters are depicted negatively. I’ll definitely pre-read.

[@kristyauringer2116]

Elemental science CAN be literature based. The suggestions through out the curriculum tell you to find books on certain animals or topics. The zoology section is quite long you could make it a whole year

[@Busybeeexplorers]

I was actually looking at using science chunks A from elemental for science and then the Thornton Burgress Childerns Book of Animals for nature study 😊 I also struggle with buying too much curriculum (& books ) 😂

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Science Chunks looks great! I love being picky

[@YasminB-u9d]

We've landed on a lot of the same stuff. For 2nd grade science next year I was planning on doing a mix of the book seeds and elemental science chunks and some chapters from Blossom & Root science 1 (for example, turning the chapter on volcanoes into a unit study that takes two or three weeks). I was also planning on doing a weekly reading from the Christian Liberty Nature Reader to do an animal study. I am undecided about our core curriculum and am considering Booksharks Level B (ancient history) or Beautiful Feet US Geography. We have the whole Tuttle Twins set and they are very good, but I used them with an older child (4th-5th grade). They are an easy introduction to economic concepts and NOT propaganda like some other comment said. The activity sheets that come with them are geared towards younger children though so perhaps they are appropriate for 2nd gr. Thanks for showing the Stuff They Left Behind portfolio. I didn't know about that and will use it if I end up doing ancient history.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Hi! That’s cool our stuff is so similar! That’s definitely how I used Blossom & Root- various units with our own DIY unit study. I haven’t looked at BookShark history yet, but I will! And that’s good to know the title Twins has worked out well for you guys. I’m looking forward to trying it out.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Do they have activity sheets paired with their chapter books?

[@YasminB-u9d]

@@ashleymurphy4813 The elementary series had activity pages, but none of the teen books did. We used them Charlotte Mason style where my kid read the material and then narrated it to me so perhaps some of the elementary activity pages would have worked for him, but we just never did them.

[@Olgaleigh]

I’ve done 3 levels of bookshark science and it starts off great and the kids love it. Then we always burn out… it’s just a lot of everything. If I could do it again I’d spread it out to 2 times a week

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Great feedback, thank you!

[@hannahhensley8497]

We have the same thoughts on so many!! I actually just ordered Bookshark Level A science (oldest is finishing up K right now) to see how we like it!

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Would love to know what you think of BookShark!

[@hannahhensley8497]

@@ashleymurphy4813 it just got in today so I’ll let you know! Just from opening everything up it seems gorgeous and I really like the worksheets which I didn’t think we’d want to do. The science experiment book looks sooo fun.

[@staceykruse8932]

Both of your kids will love Treehouse Schoolhouse! I'm currently using it with a 2 year old and 11 year old (both a little outside the target range). I add more informative picture books for my 11 yo and he actually still gets a lot from it! We do it first thing in the morning so it gives him some time for his brain to come online and the little guy some solid attention before I start reading the 11 yo his history novels. We are going to use BF Nature Afield next year in a similar way, and then I plan to use the two programs every other year in our morning time until my youngest outgrows them both.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Awesome feedback, thank you!

[@simplyjen334]

Yeeeessss! I was going to say Elemental Science and all their products come with Literature suggestions ! Actually all their products look interesting!

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Oh they do??!! Yes!

[@karifacer]

I could be totally wrong, but I feel like Beautiful Feet’s science, “Seasons Afield” would be up your alley. They have lots of beautiful picture books, art cards (like watercolor) and field notes, and it’s supposed 2 days a week I believe. It’s newer and not as well known. And for history, if you study ancient history I feel like you could easily focus on the people and cultures of that time. When we did it we didn’t talk much about war at all.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Hi! I have looked into Season’s Afield. I drooled over it, haha, but I realized that the guide…well… just wouldn’t fit quite right with us. I had a hard time seeing us intentionally taking a walk to pick a mushroom to bring it home and dissect it and take notes about our findings- which is a lot of what I found in that guide. We love nature but tend to enjoy it at our own whims. But again, it’s a gorgeous guide and I think about it a lot, lol. Also, I own almost all of the books recommended in that guide (because we live in SLO where Beautiful Feet warehouse is) so I get discounts on damaged books! We’ve been using the books throughout the year and will continue to bc they are so lovely! That’s a great tip on ancient history. It’s so nice to know you got through it without needing to discuss the gruesome bits. Thank you!

[@karifacer]

Oh how funny! I’m jealous you live close to the BFB warehouse! They have some great books.

[@danahall1282]

Where did you buy your artistic pursuits book and supplies

[@ashleymurphy4813]

I believe I got the manual from Christianbook.com and the art supplies from Rainbow Resource

[@theblendedhomeschool]

Such wonderful info! I would love to get in contact with you! I messaged you on one of your Instagram pages