April 2018 Book Sale Index by Subject....

I've been working through book sale list updates over the past couple of weeks. There have been many new treasures added to most lists, including history, literature, Five in a Row titles, poetry, science, and more. There are many fabulous titles from Ambleside Online, Beautiful Feet, Sonlight, Truthquest History, and A Visual American History Timeline of Books, as well as many other great picture and chapter books.

Below is an index by subject for easy access. I would love to add photos of each book, but the sheer volume of books listed here paired with my time constraints have not allowed me to to do that. However, if you have questions about a particular title or condition, please do ask. I'm also happy to give recommendations or send you photos when possible. Please send book lists, comments, and inquiries via the contact form on the right side bar. I accept PayPal and ship media mail anywhere in the U.S.

Thanks for your consideration,
Melissa

Five in a Row, Poetry, Fairy Tales, and Literature 

(picture and chapter books)

Language Arts, Bible/Character, and Electives

History, Geography, Government, and Economics

Math, Logic, and Science 

(individual books and topic study sets)

2016-2017 Year in Review - Science and Nature...

Today, I'm going to review Riley and Ruben's 2016-2017 science studies as part of my year end reflection. Looking back helps me in planning how to proceed forward. I'll start with Ruben's study, including a book list and sample notebook pages. Then move to Riley's study, also including her book list and sample notebooking pages. In addition, I'll make note of whether each book was a hit or miss.

For Year 6, Ruben used the following science books as part of Heart of Dakota Creation to Christ:

Apologia's Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day (HOD) - Ruben did OK with this book as long as I read it aloud. He did not enjoy reading it independently. I did not enjoy the textbook feel of it. HOD suggested a variety of activities while reading, including, weekly copywork, narration, questions, and experiments. Ruben did not like most of these activities. Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 was a miss.

Birds of the Air by Arabella Buckley (HOD, AO) and Plant Life in Field and Garden by Arabella Buckley (HOD, AO) - I read Birds of the Air aloud and Ruben read Plant Life independently. He did well with both of them. He created some fabulous notebook drawings while reading these books. One draw back of the Buckley books for us was that many of the plants and birds were native to Europe and not to our region here in the U.S. Overall, the Buckley books were a hit. 

Exploring the History of Medicine by John Hudson Tiner (HOD, Sonlight) - I started reading this book aloud to Ruben, but eventually he took it over on his own. The readings were short and fairly interesting. We answered the questions orally after each reading so there was no written work with this book. Exploring the History of Medicine was a hit. 

Galen and the Gateway to Medicine by Jeanne Bendick (HOD, Beautiful Feet) - Ruben read Galen on his own and thoroughly enjoyed it. He produced excellent oral narrations after each reading and did a couple of notebooking pages as HOD suggested assignments. Galen and the Gateway to Medicine was a definite hit! 

An Illustrated Adventure in Human Anatomy by Kate Sweeney (HOD) - Neither Ruben, nor I thought much of this book. The short snippets of information and busy pages were not appealing. It was overstimulating and a bit overwhelming, as you didn't know in what order to read since the words were scattered around the page. At my request, Ruben did create a wonderful diagram of the heart. He also drew and labeled the skeletal system. An Illustrated Adventure in Human Anatomy was a miss.

As noted above, some of the books overlapped with other programs, such as Ambleside Online, Sonlight, and Beautiful Feet. Interestingly, the books that were used in various curricular were the books we liked best. Overall, it was a good science year for Ruben. I saw growth. His study mostly entailed biology or topics relating to living things. Below are samples of his notebooking pages...

 

For Year 7, Riley used a variety of books suggested from Ambleside Online, as well as a human anatomy book of her choice and a couple of nature books of my choice. She studied these books independently. Her list with hits and misses is as follows...

Science

Apologia's Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology (Riley's choice) - There are 14 modules/chapters in this Apologia book. Riley used it twice a week, reading for two days one week and then notebooking on that reading for two days the following week. Hence, completing one module/chapter every two weeks. I used the schedule in the Apologia Anatomy Notebooking Journal. However, she did not complete the journal, but rather created her own notebook pages as I assigned, which turned out very well. Riley enjoyed this Apologia text. It was a hit.

Exploring the History of Medicine by John Hudson Tiner - This book was in my original plan, but somehow Riley inadvertently missed it on the schedule and therefore, she did not complete Exploring the History of Medicine. 

Natural Science 

Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie - Riley read a chapter a week from this book over Term 1 (12 weeks). I was hoping she would use it to help develop her nature journal, but I didn't give clear direction, so it didn't go as planned. Riley loved the drawings in Leslie's Journal, but the content didn't carry over as application because I didn't follow through on my expectation. Despite this, it was a hit. 

Secrets of the Woods and School of the Woods by William J. Long (AO 3 & 6) - Again, Riley simply read these books independently. She called them both a hit.

Nature Study 

Journaling a Year in Nature from Simply Charlotte Mason - Riley was supposed to venture out on a weekly nature study, journaling in this book through the process. However, she chose to write weekly entries regarding the weather in an old nature journal while looking out the window. She doesn't like cold weather and I didn't follow up. My resident box checker did not read my mind in order to understand the expectation. ;-p

Overall, Riley enjoyed all the books she read. She did notebook through her anatomy study, of which I will include samples below. In reviewing her books, I see that Riley also focused on biology and living organisms this year. 

In the upcoming school year, I aim to assign a wider variety of books from various branches of science. I also need to be more clear on my expectations and follow up regularly to see that those expectations are being met. 

Enrichment - Charlotte Mason Style Electives: Nature Study....

Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he will learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God. - George Washington Carver

Oh, how I loved this quote by G.W. Carver from the first time I read it!  It put me in mind of Charlotte Mason...

Now the knowledge of Nature which we get out of books is not real knowledge; the use of books is, to help the young student to verify facts he has already seen for himself.  (Charlotte Mason Vol. 2, p. 261)

In the chief duty of man, his duty towards God, Nature is an exquisite instructor. (Charlotte Mason Vol. 4, Book 2, p. 99) 

Nature study is very important in a Charlotte Mason education. Getting outside in nature was the basis for science in Mason's schools, particularly in the elementary grades.  However, in our modern society, nature study can feel like a burden. We have become sedentary, parked behind digital devices for hours on end.  It's easier to think about nature study or look out the window and wish, rather than get up and go outside.  I must confess, I too have been lazy in committing to nature study.  I have the desire, but in the day-to-day, I just don't always take the time to do it.

Charlotte said that children should get out-of-doors for a walk everyday.  Yes, this would be ideal, but I'm here to tell you, one day a week is better than nothing at all.  Don't let ghosts of Mason past make you feel guilty.  If you're feeling overwhelmed by nature study, start small.  Simply commit to taking your children outside one day a week.  Now is a great time to start, especially here in Wisconsin because the thought of starting nature study in January is definitely not appealing to me in below zero temperatures, as is typical here.  However, summer is a fabulous time to see a variety of birds, wildlife, plants, and trees.

Even though, I have been sporadic, here on the farm, we are fortunate, our kids are outside on a daily basis with or without me.  Today, Ruben found a Leopard Frog while mowing the lawn.  I actually happened to be lying outside under an oak tree reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina when I heard his holler of excitement and the rest of the kids went running.  Ruben easily identified it and Riley knew it was a male because of past nature studies we'd done.  This prompted me to see how important those impromptu trips outside really are.  I was surprised by how much the kids retained.

Nature walks don't have to be a big ordeal.  Simply head out into your yard or a neighborhood park.  I remember reading about Orville and Wilbur Wright's mother packing a picnic and spending the day in the woods.  She would let her children romp and roam, making discoveries on their own.  Of course, they came back to her with questions, as will your children.  It's OK if you're a nature study novice and don't have all the answers.  After a period of time, you go back indoors and bring out the books to find answers to those questions.

Charlotte Mason recommended starting nature study with very young children, however, don't feel like you've missed the boat if your child is older.  Nature can be enjoyed by anyone from 1 to 100.  Just do it!

Once you've developed the habit of spending time outdoors, you could start a nature calendar of firsts throughout the year...

It is a capital plan for children to keep a calendar - the first oak-leaf, the first tadpole, the first cowslip, the first catkin, the first ripe blackberries, where seen, and when.  The next year they will know when and where to look out for their favourites, and will, every year, be in a condition to add new observations.  Think of the zest and interest, the object, which such a practice will give to daily walks and little excursions.  There is hardly a day when some friend may not be expected to hold a first 'At Home'.  (Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, p. 54)

Next, you could do a month-by-month study in order to recognize seasons....

They are expected to do a great deal of out-of-door work in which they are assisted by The Changing Year, admirable month by month studies of what is to be seen out-of-doors. They keep records and drawings in a Nature Note Book and make special studies of their own for the particular season with drawings and notes. (Charlotte Mason, Vol. 6, p. 219)

Other ideas for study are learning to identify birds and their songs or selecting a tree to follow throughout the year.  Turn over a log and see what's underneath, look at the clouds and notice what shapes you see, catch snowflakes and look at the different shapes.  The possibilities are endless.

You'll notice Charlotte mentions a Nature Note Book in several of the quotes above.  Riley is my Nature Note Book connoisseur.  She has kept a variety of notebooks over the years as you can see pictured below.  I personally really like Clare Walker Leslie's books on keeping a nature journal.   She has written several books which are very helpful, whether you're a beginner or a more seasoned naturalist.  Once you've established what kind of notebook your children will use, you can either take the notebooks outside to draw in while on your nature walk, talk photos of things they may want to draw, or let the kids bring in specimens to study and draw in their notebooks once your nature walk is complete. Unless, you're drawing a scene, the later is our preferred method.

A few other helpful nature study resources are:

Jimmie's Collage

Handbook of Nature Study

Nature Study as Independent Work

Brandy Vencel on Nature Study

Carol at Journey and Destination on Nature Study in Australia

Celeste at Joyous Lessons on Nature Study along the Pacific

Ambleside Online

Nadene at Practical Pages on Nature Study in South Africa 

 

Winter Nature Study...Coyotes

Coyotes howling here on Drywood Creek is a common occurrence.   We've heard them for years and have seen a few on occasion.  Not so long ago, one crisp January night, Riley and Levi sat wrapped in a blanket on the threshold of the school room door listening through the darkness to what sounded like a coyote just on the other side of the black curtain.  Once daylight hit, we thought we must investigate!

With cloudy skies and sub zero temperatures, we bundled up.  Pulling Levi in the sled, we were off to look for coyote tracks in the snow...

Sure enough, we didn't have to go far to find them.  Approx. 150 yards from the house, we found not only tracks, but evidence of where a coyote bedded down near a row of round bales.  It looked like the coyote sought shelter where the wind had drifted the snow up to the bales.

After a while, Ruben climbed up on the bales and found tracks where the coyote had walked on top of the bales as well.   Once the kids had enough coyote investigation, they played around on the bales until we were froze and had to head back to the house.

Back inside, RileyAnn added an entry to her nature study notebook.  (I believe she meant to date it 1-31-15.)