We are well past the preschool flashcard phase.. but sometimes you just have to go back to basics when you are learning something new right? Every year when it is almost time for our homeschool standardized tests, it means its time to go back to the beginning and review, review, review. Now like most states NC, requires that you test at the end of your school year/grade and even though,unless you are audited, you don't have to show anyone the test scores. I personally like to know where the boys are at, and see if there is anything that we can work on during our lighter months of the summer.
Usually over the summer we tend to do anything that we didn't have time for during the year. This summer, I am planning a geography course and religions study that I will combine together. As we study a certain place in the world we will also study the major religion of that area. After much searching on my favorite secular site, I came up with this list of books for teaching both religions and geography. Because to be honest I am a member of A LOT of different forums and online homeschooling groups, and they are are very helpful. But I always seem to get more out of the discussions and trust their options more when it comes to a secular way to teach my boys.
Books on Religion
My Friends' Beliefs
The Usborne Book of World Religions
The Usborne Book of World Religions Internet Linked (newer version)
One World Many Religions
Books and Courses on Geography
The Complete Book of Maps and Geography
Trail Guide to World Geography
Trail Guide to US Geography
The Geography Coloring Book
The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide
Mapping the World by Heart
I am hoping to make this a fun but VERY educational summer, giving the boys an intense look at geography and the religions that are out in the world:)
Try the book Geography A to Z. It has drawings of all sorts of land formations and other geographical stuff. I just finished using it with my kids (ages 3-12) and each day we did a different letter of the alphabet. I had them draw a picture of something from the book that began with that day's letter, and in the end we compiled all the pictures for a geography notebook. Takes 5 minutes a day, and we did it while eating lunch...very popular with the kiddos! I enjoyed your post and will check out some of the other resources you mentioned!
ReplyDeleteOHHHH thanks Jennifer!! I am checking it out now:) Wanted to make the summer months not so much of the usual but still getting things done ya know:)
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