* 2013 - 2014 Curriculum Choices *

This is a little late since we officially start school October 1 (we school all year round, mostly unschooling during the summer months) I missed the deadline to link up to the Not-Back-To-School Bloghop hosted by the iHomeschool Network, but thought I would share what we will be doing this year anyway.

Bible: We Choose Virtues, Bible and memory verses from A Reason For...curriculum, The Dig for Kids

Math: The Critical Thinking Company Mathematical Reasoning and  Math Detective, Extreme Dot to Dots, Lifepac, Dragon Box

Science: Apologia Zoology 3, Little Professor Science Kits,Apologia Astronomy

Spelling: A Reason For Spelling
Grammar: Editor in Chief, Amish Readers

Writing: A Reason for Handwriting

Vocabulary: Word Roots

Reading: Mensa List, A Reason for Guided Reading

Foreign Language: Signing Time for the little ones, Hebrew for the big ones

History/Geography: Stack A State, Lifepac

Music: A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers

Typing: Typing Instructor Platinum

Arts/Crafts: God and the History of Art, I Can Do All Things

P.E.: Christian Kids Fellowship Homeschooling Co-op

* Making New Crayons Out of Old, Broken Crayons *

Melt in mini-muffin tray. Cool, pop out of the pan. Easy to use for little fingers.

* First Day of School Field Trip *

Lake Superior Zoo and Gooseberry Falls State Park

* Apologia 2013 - 2014 *

We are using Apologia's Exploring Creation with Astronomy and Land Animals of the Sixth Day again this year. We are doing a basic read through of the astronomy and notebooking with the other.

From 2012 : My Space Explorers

* OneClickDigital *

My new favorite teaching tool. OneClickDigital through our local library. Check out ebooks and audio stories from your kitchen table. We are using the Mensa list for a reading list again this year and OneClickDigital has many of the books we need that.

* Fun Advent Idea *

Last year we did the Truth in the Tinsel and had a blast. We were going to do it again this year but I just wasn't sure because we have been pretty busy just getting the basics done around here and everyday we would end up with four new ornaments for the tree. 4 x 24 = a lot of new ornaments.

As I was skimming through my blog reader this morning I saw this post from Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler. We have the prefect spot to hang this neat banner and the small activities everyday will not overwhelm our small space.

* Oliver H. Kelly Farm Visit *

Over MEA weekend our homeschooling co-op went to the Oliver H. Kelly Pioneer Farm to see the day to day activities of a pioneer family. Oliver Kelly's family had more money that your average family in that time. He purchased 169 acres along the Mississippi River, thinking that the state capitol would be located in Anoka, which was not to be but the farm still stands today, just as it was when the Kelly's lived there.

 This is the chicken yard. There was no such thing as chicken wire then.

 Chicken coop. I love the structure and lines of this building. We will be constructing a new chicken coop next spring and our plan is to build something close to this, if not this exact shape.

 We have some old sliding glass door that would go along this wall of the coop, facing the south. It will keep lots of light in the coop and let what little sunshine we have for heat in, in the winter.

Free range hogs!

Ox

 This is the ox cart. The kids had to empty the manure out of it before they could get a ride.

 Four month old Shorthorn calves, they will be in training to become oxen for the next four years.

Love this barn, I really wish we had a hill to build our barn into. We actually have a hill, but it is about 500 ft from our current barn, water, and electricity. Also, I think the kids would be a bit upset if their sledding him became cow pasture.

The wood fired cook-stove. The pieces of wood that fit in the firebox are about 12 inches long and only take about 20 minutes to burn. The children were responsible for filling the wood box, without a reminder from mom.


We had a wonderful day and are hoping to go back next year when the gardens are in full swing and there are more activities for the children to participate in.