Unit Study Round Up

This week over on the Crew blog some of the team are sharing a few ideas on Unit Studies and this got me thinking.  When Nathaniel was younger we did a lot of Unit Study type things together.  So today I would like to share a round up of the Unit Studies that we have done together.

Famous People Unit Studies

Mondrian Inspired Art

• Claude Monet - Artist / Art
• Wayne Thiebaud - Artist / Art
• Piet Mondrian - Artist / Art
• Charles Dickens - English Language / Drama

Current Event Lead Unit Studies

• Winter Olympics - this study focused on the 2014 games but a lot of the resources can be used for any winter Olympics.
• Summer Olympics - Explore the world of Great Britain and the 30th Olympic Games.
• World Cup Soccer - this study focused on the 2014 FIFA event hosted in Brazil.  These resources cover soccer and Brazil.
• ANZAC Day - a few resources to explore the heritage of this beautiful day of remembrance.
• We had some major fire events happen on an annual basis in Australia so felt it important to learn about Fire Safety.

 Poppins Book Nook Unit Studies

A couple of years ago I joined the Poppins Book Nook which hosted a monthly unit study  with FREE downloads and bloggers who shared the resources around that theme that they had found.  This is a great resource if you are wanting specific themed unit studies.

Here are some of the themes we participated in:

• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
• Folk Tales - The Little Red Hen
• Learning in the Kitchen - Explore cooking with the Gingerbread Man.
• Seabird by Holling Clancy Holling taking a look at the history of travel at sea. 
• Pirates Unit Study - Ahoy Mates lets take a trip with a pirate.
• Little House Chronicles - Let's explore America's Wild West.
• What will I be when I grow Up? - getting to know Peter Pan.
• Weather - exploring the changing weather
• Farming - Exploring a year on a farm with The Year at Maple Hill Farm.
• Time to explore the Great Outdoors - Join the Berenstain Bears as they learn about the world around them.
• Science at Home - Some wonderful books and things to use in your home for science.

Unit Study We Have Reviewed

Here are some Unit Studies we have reviewed over the years.

•  World History The Middle Ages (400 AD to 1500 AD) - Project Passport from Homeschool in the Woods.
• Knights & Nobles Once a Week Unit Study from Homeschool Legacy.

This post is a part of the the Homeschool Review Crew Unit Studies Round UP be sure to pop on over to find more Unit Studies and help.

Project Passport World History Study: The Middle Ages (400 AD to 1500 AD) {Review}

One of the very first homeschool vendors I was introduced to as a new home educator was Homeschool in the Woods.  I was looking for some ideas on how to do timelines and everyone was talking about the beautiful artwork that Amy Pak does.

Two years ago Nathaniel and I had a wonderful time using Homeschool in the Woods - Great Empires with the crew.  This year Amy launched a new product called: Project Passport World History.

A couple of months back we did some work on the Middle Ages and we've also done some craft things in relation to it so was very pleased and blessed to have the opportunity to work with Project Passport World History Study: The Middle Ages (400 AD to 1500 AD). 

What we received

• Download version of Project Passport World History Study: The Middle Ages

The Download

The file size for this pack is 246 MB in a zipped file.  I extracted by right clicking on the zipped folder and selecting extract. I had created a folder and selected the folder and clicked extract.

Once it extracted there were six icons in the explorer. I double clicked on the Internet explorer icon  and the program opened in a new browser window. No Internet connection is needed to use the download.

How we used it

You come to a welcome page with some buttons to get started.

• Introduction
• Travel Tips
• Travel Planner: Quick Stop Itinerary
• Additional Resources
• Acknowledgements / Bibliography / Usage

I printed these off and had a read. They are a couple of short notes on how to use Project Passport.

Project Passport is arranged in a travel itinerary format. Just below the introduction you come to the first stop of 25. Each stop is arranged in the same manner for ease of navigation.

1. Five green buttons which are jump buttons down the page to the stops listed. At each STOP you meet interesting people, learn about the events in these peoples lives and pivotal points of history during the Middle Ages presented in fun practical ways.
2. The title of the STOP.
3. Guide Book Text is a link to  a pdf which you can print and read to your children about the topic of the STOP. I print these and add them to our notebook.  Travel Itinerary is a link to a pdf containing the directions for the day's activities.   It tells you what to print and has step by step fully illustrated instructions on how to complete the activities you have chosen to do on your STOP.
4. Through out the page are photo links on the right hand side which open in a new tab.  These show you what the completed project looks like.
5. Each printable is fully listed and opens in a new tab for ease of printing.
6. There are a number of icons down the left hand side clearly indicating different aspects of the project.

You have the choice of either doing a Scrapbook of Sights or a Lapbook or you could have one student do each.

The Audio's and  Guide book make this a standalone product to be used to have an over view of the Middle Ages it is well presented and concise twaddle free story telling.

There are more than 50 activities through out which are divided into:

1. Scrapbook of Sights
2. Lap Book
3. Snapshot Moments (timeline)
4. Postcard
5. Audio Tour
6. Music
7. Active Participation
8. Newspaper
9. Game
10. Edible Project 
11. 3-Dimensional Project

We have chosen to make a Notebook of our journey through the Middle Ages. Amy's figures are beautifully illustrated with plenty of detail. As we complete a stop we colour in a figure and add it to the Scrapbook of Sights.

A few of the STOPS we've enjoyed so far

We began our journey by making a  brief case to keep our passport safe and travel notes.

 Snapshot Moments a timeline of our journey so far.

This newspaper grows with articles as we learn more along our stops.  Nathaniel dictates to me and I write up his summary of what we've been learning in pre-set spaces.

We made a Postcard Rack which contains postcards to read along our journey from important people in history.

We learned about the classes and clothing and made beautiful puppets. 


Cost of Project Passport World History Study: The Middle Ages

• Download (Mac & PC Compatible) $33.95
• CD $34.95
• For school and co-op license pricing, please contact Homeschool in the Woods

Recommended Age Range

• Grades: 3-8

Connect with Homeschool in the Woods



Over All I thought ...
We are loving our journey with Project Passport World History Study: The Middle Ages (400 AD to 1500 AD). Nathaniel and I are enjoying the projects at each stop and truly feel as though we are traveling back in time. We are enjoying the snapshot of history each day and the hands on activities.  I highly recommend this product as a wonderful addition to any homeschool history product covering the Middle Ages.

Blessings
Chareen

Knights & Nobles Once a Week Unit Study {Review}

When you enter the wonderful world of homeschooling many different words get tossed around.  Words like eclectic, boxed curriculum and unit studies.  A unit study involves a topic and studying all the aspects of life around that specific topic. They can be subject or topically focused.

Homeschool Legacy is a company that specializes in unit studies.  When you have boys in the house one of their favourite topics is Knights and Castles.  Homeschool Legacy recently gave us the opportunity of studying this topic with their Knights and Nobles Unit Study.

What we received

• Grab and Go digital download as a .pdf EBOOK
• 40 pages
• Written by Sharon Gibson
• View a Sample on line.
• View Boy Scout badge requirements that are fulfilled with this unit study.

The book contains

• Week 1 Castles
  
• Week 2 Kings & Queens
• Week 3 Knights
• Week 4 Life on the Manor

Weekly Format
Each week in the book follows a similar format

• Library reading choices.  These are read aloud and personal reading lists
• Video lists. These lists cover both physical videos and Netflix streaming options.
• Hands on activities
• Daily activities
• Once-a-week activities
• Art & Craft activities
• Family Devotions
• History Timeline aplications
• Math
• Field Trip suggestions
• Games

How we used it

For the purpose of this review I will focus on Knights and Castles as these two areas were of particular interest to Nathaniel.


Our adventure started out in week one with exploring castles. One of the recommended projects was to build a castle using LEGO. Nathaniel has spent hours and hours on this castle. Each time we learned something new he would add in a new detail to his castle.

Knight approaching the castle portcullis.

Knights jousting and practicing archery

Castle cat hunting on the walls

The Knights attire

I spent an easy time at the library with the list, and discovered some wonderful living books to share with Nathaniel.

I had these two read alouds on the shelf from when I homeschooled Timothy and Jane and it's been so much fun to read them again.

Stained Glass Window

Nathaniel was so inspired by Knights that he made himself this shield.

For the Parent

• With the Once-A-Week approach to unit studies there is no prep work required other than sourcing a few items from the comprehensive list of recommendations.  All the book titles along with their library Dewey decimal numbers are provided for you. The complete system is totally flexible.  You choose how you would like to use them.  
• The beauty of the system is that it covers the whole family from Grade 2 to 12 and incorporates up to twelve different subject areas.
• The book begins with a concise write up on how to schedule your unit study times.  You choose if you would like to do a little every day or take one day a week to fully immerse yourselves in the topic.
• The recommendations are short and concise.

Cost of Knights and Nobles

• Paperback $18.95 + postage
• Grab and Go digital download $14.00

Recommended Age Range

• Grades 2 - 12

Connect with Homeschool Legacy



Nathaniel and I have both being enjoying this in depth delight directed, living book approach to studying Knights and Castles.  I highly recommend this product from Homeschool Legacy as it is twaddle free hands on biblical minded approach to learning which is fun and all the planning work is already done for you.  All you need to do is jump on board for a wonderful journey of learning.

If you would like more information on unit studies with Homeschool Legacy You can watch a YouTube clip of Sharon Gibson explaining how their products work and why she created them for you.

Blessings
Chareen

Designing a flag

Last month Nathaniel started attending Boys Brigade. The theme for this term is flags and they were given an assignment to design a flag for their group.  Each boy is to draw and colour a design and then submit it for consideration.  The winning flag will be used by the group for the next four years.

This has been a great opportunity to learn about colour and what each one represents upon a flag.  Nathaniel spent ages on this design.  Yesterday he finalised it and we printed and traced the elements he had chosen.  It's taken two days of colouring but it is finished.

Design Elements used and their meanings 
(Nathaniel dictated this)

• Center - A CIRCLE. This represents God because a circle has no start and no end and God has no start and no end.  It is WHITE because that means purity, bravery and strength.
• Boys Brigade emblem which represents Hebrews 6:19 "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast" (stedfast is spelt without an a because that was the spelling in the bible used when the emblem was designed.)
• Top Left - RED meaning to lead courageously and symbolizes the blood of Jesus and courage.
• Top Right - YELLOW meaning justice. The crown means two things the kingship of Jesus and the crown from the Victorian State flag.
• Bottom Left - The stars from the Australian flag in the shape of the Southern Cross and navigation. Stars were used in the old days to navigate, so stars are also there to help us remember to navigate our lives through Jesus.  BLUE means freedom and to worship God and also means peace.
• Bottom Right - BLACK means determination and defeating ones enemy, in this case meaning to defeat Satan.

We've enjoyed our journey in learning about flags and the different elements and what they mean in flag heraldry. I've especially enjoyed seeing his creativity in this assignment.

Blessings
Chareen
PS Did you know that the scouting movement was born out of Boys Brigade ?

Some resources we used

• Symbolic Use of Colors in Flags 
•  Download Boys Brigade logos
• Object Motto and emblem of Boys Brigade
• Flags of Australia.
• Flags of Australia: state flag of Victoria free pritnables and activities page.

Pirates Unit Study - Poppins Book Nook

This months theme for the Poppins Book Nook is Pirates.  Ahoy my mates let's go on a pirate adventure.

We have been anticipating this months study for a while now and we are looking forward to exploring what all the other Poppins Book Nook families have done to make studying pirates an adventure.

Pirates of old have always piqued my curiosity and we have learned a lot about these people over the course of the last few months.  I found it interesting that Kings and Queens of days gone by employed pirates to patrol their coast lines as they could not afford a full navy they relied on these free seaman to protect their borders.

Pirates too are the inspiration behind many a tall tale as well as the villains in many a classical tale.

Books
We found these three at the library

• Pirates and Pirates Galore
• 100 Things You Should Know About Pirates  by Andrew Langley
• Treasure Island: Pirate Attack 

Since little boys love pirates I found these two at a bargain price

• Discovery Pirates
• Pirateology Handbook: A Course for Seafarers

Party Ideas
In April we went to a Pirate Themed birthday party. It was so much fun to see all the creative things you can do at a Pirate Party! At the party Sir N dug for treasure, walked the plank, followed a treasure map, tossed the hoop and many more fun things.  I was inspired after this wonderful birthday to see what ideas Kara's Party Ideas has

• Pirate Themed 2nd Birthday Party
• Jake & The Neverland Pirates 4th Birthday Party
• Pirate Themed Birthday Party
• Peter Pan + Neverland Party
• Jake And The Neverland Pirates Birthday Party

YouTube

• Peter Pan (1960) musical  
• Lego Pirate Movie
• LEGO Pirates! full movie.
• True Caribbean Pirates Henry Morgan to Blackbeard History Channel Documentary
• Pirates Of The Caribbean Heart Pounding Documentary
• THE GREAT SHIPS: PIRATE SHIPS - Discovery/History/Science (documentary)
• Sin City Jamaica - Pirate Paradise . . : : Documentary : : . .

Puzzle Pirates
If you have children that love puzzles be sure to check out Puzzle Pirates.  There are over 20 puzzles for them to play and work on their logic skills. My first two loved being pirates and I enjoyed sailing!

FREE Lap Pack
Jill from over at Enchanted Homeschooling Mom has made this FREE Poppins Book Nook pack for you with Pirate Theme.

• An official interactive Poppins Book Nook bookmark for this month’s theme
• This month’s Passport pages to add to your lapbook
• Several lapbook elements centered around Pirates
• Reading response writing prompt

We have enjoyed exploring all things pirate this month.  You are invited to blog and share one of your book adventures on the theme of Pirates and join in our link up below.

Looking forward to reading your adventures
Blessings
Chareen

Connect with me

 

Your Poppins Book Nook Co-hosts

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom ~ 3 Dinosaurs ~ To the Moon and Back ~ Planet Smarty Pants ~ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Growing in God's Grace ~ Chestnut Grove Academy ~ Learning and Growing the Piwi Way ~ The Usual Mayhem~ Preschool Powol Packets ~ Monsters Ed Homeschool Academy ~ Adventures in Mommydom ~ Teach Beside Me ~ Life with Moore Babies ~ Kathy's Cluttered Mind ~ Are We There Yet? ~ Our Crafts N Things ~ Hopkins Homeschool ~ ABC Creative Learning ~ Joy Focused Learning ~ P is for Preschooler ~ Laugh and Learn ~ A Mommy's Adventures ~ Inspiring 2 New Hampshire Children ~ World for Learning ~ Ever After in the Woods ~ Golden Grasses ~ Our Simple Kinda Life ~ A glimpse of our life ~ Journey to Excellence ~ Happy Little Homemaker ~ Little Homeschool Blessings ~ Simplicity Breeds Happiness ~ Raventhreads ~ Water on the Floor ~ Learning Fundamentals ~ Tots and Me ~ As We Walk Along The Road ~ Stir the Wonder ~ For This Season ~ Where Imagination Grows ~ Lextin Academy ~ The Canadian Homeschooler ~ School Time Snippets ~ Peakle Pie ~ Mom's Heart ~ A Moment in our World ~ Finchnwren ~ At Home Where Life Happens ~ Suncoast Momma ~ The Library Adventure ~ Embracing Destiny ~ Day by Day in our World ~ Our Homeschool Studio ~ A "Peace" of Mind ~ Thou Shall Not Whine ~ SAHM I am ~ eLeMeNo-P Kids ~ Simple Living Mama

Poppins Book Nook Clip Art by Melon Headz

Connect with the Poppins Book Nook at

1. Enchanted Homeschooling
2. Facebook
3. Pinterest

An InLinkz Link-up