Posts for category ‘Using Lesson Pathways’

Friday Featured Pathway: July 30
Lesson Pathways | July 30, 2010 | 8:00 am

Did you know the Declaration of Independence was signed on August 1st?  Encourage your child’s patriotism with this week’s Pathway where they will learn about the Pledge of Allegiance and National Songs.

While you are visiting LessonPathways.com, please be sure to support our sponsors by clicking their advertisements to see what they have to offer.  Every time you do, you help to keep LessonPathways free.

Pledge of AllegianceIn this unit, your child will learn the words and history of the Pledge of Allegiance, the Star Spangled Banner, andAmerica the Beautiful. Your child will create collages to illustrate the Pledge and America the Beautiful, as well as design his or her own starry banner. A bookmark, online activity, and a book are included to reinforce the concepts. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach history.

It’s Almost Here!!!
Lesson Pathways | July 28, 2010 | 8:00 am

Do you know next week marks the one year anniversary of LessonPathways.com?!?! My, how time flies!

We’re gearing up for a HUGE celebration! Here on our blog, we’ll be featuring interviews with those homeschool mom & classroom educators that helped create all of the great Pathways on our site. We’ll also be hosting TONS of giveaways and contests with great prizes. Be sure to subscribe to our blog feed, follow us on Twitter, register at our user forums and like us on Facebook because you just never know where the fun will be happening!

We’d also like to give a big THANK YOU to our sponsors for generously donating the prizes we’ll be giving away next week.

Azulio CircleCAdventures
Critical Thinking Disciples Cross
Figures in Motion Large Gummy Lump
SpellQuizzer Vocabulary Cartoons
tikatok
Friday Featured Pathway: July 23
Lesson Pathways | July 23, 2010 | 8:00 am

Another Historical Birthday is approaching.  Henry Ford’s birthday is July 30th and we’re featuring a Pathway unit study on the History of Motor Vehicles.

While you are visiting LessonPathways.com, please be sure to support our sponsors by clicking their advertisements to see what they have to offer.  Every time you do, you help to keep LessonPathways free!

ford_model_t_henryIn this unit, your child will explore motor vehicle travel in history and some important inventors and inventions. Additionally, your child will learn how motor vehicle travel progress affected life and business. This unit will be brought to life with fun activities–such as making stoplight cookies; creating a “then & now” automobile poster showing how they have changed; playing Red Light, Green Light; and making candy cars. Finally, to wrap up the unit, your child will create a transportation collage with timeline. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach history.

Summer Reading Grades 3 – 5
Lesson Pathways | July 19, 2010 | 8:00 am

In a continuation of our previous post, today we present to you our picks for grades 3 – 5 summer reading.

As before, we’ve compiled this list from various public school lists found on the Internet. Since these vary from state to state (and even county to county), we’ve selected books that were most common to each of the lists. We chose books that are considered children’s classics and easily found in most libraries. However, if you would like to purchase the books on this list, simply click the picture to be taken to Amazon.com, where a portion of your purchase price will go towards keeping LessonPathways free.

We’ve matched them up to Pathway unit studies for each one, so you and your child can thoroughly enjoy all the literature has to offer.  Unlike the Pathways for the PreK – 2 list, these are 2 and 3 part Pathways.  We’ve linked and described the first part for each book recommendation.  Parts 2 and 3 can be easily found from there.

Remember, you don’t have to complete the entire Pathway.  Just pick the resources that appeal to you and your child the most!

Summer Reading List Grades 3 – 5

  Charlotte’s Web: In this unit, you will begin reading “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. Your child will read aloud to you, read silently, and listen to you read chapters 1-6 in this book. Your child will answer comprehension questions for each chapter and will have fun completing a Charlotte’s Web word search, creating a sticky spider web, and eating pig slop. In the writer’s workshop, your child will describe an animal or pet, write about a pet he or she would like to own, and write about a special friend. For the language arts concept, your child will learn more about the setting of stories.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins: What would it be like to have a penguin for a pet? Learn about some of the problems (and fun) when a penguin joins the household in “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” Hands-on activities include creating an icebox poster, eating on a budget, learning about penguins, and tracking the Popper family calendar. Writing assignments include writing a newspaper interview with Mr. Popper, writing a story about keeping a wild animal, and writing a story about a goose. In addition, your child will learn about the plot in stories.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8: Experience a new grade, a new school and changes at home for “Ramona Quimby, Age 8.” Read this story and find out how Ramona copes with all the changes in her life. Put the story in order, experiment with fruit flies, find a fancy way to write your name, and create a Wanted poster. Writing assignments include writing about an embarrassing moment, writing about doing something new, and writing about finding a new planet. Plus, your child will learn how to determine the sequence of events.
A Cricket in Times Square: This week you will begin reading the adventurous and funny book, “The Cricket in Times Square” by George Seldon.  Come along for a fun time with a boy named Mario; a tiny cricket named Chester; and his animal pals Tucker, the Broadway Mouse and Harry, the Cat. You will read the first five chapters this week and answer comprehension questions. You will make a cricket craft, draw and illustrate a character from the story, discover what is underneath a city sidewalk in New York and much more. You will have three fun writing assignments covering the literature selection for this week. You will become familiar with the life cycle and anatomy of a cricket, too. Settings in stories is the language arts focus this week. Get ready to play games to help you understand what the setting is in a story and don’t froget to watch an interesting video of a cricket chirping and moving.
The Original Adventures of Hank the Cow Dog: The head of security at the the ranch is a dog, and there’s just been a murder. Learn more as you read the exciting adventures of “Hank the Cowdog” (Chapters 1 through 4) in this unit. Hands-on activities will include looking at the killer’s tracks, creating a wanted poster, giving Hank a uniform and badge, and comparing Hank and Drover. Writing assignments include writing about how you would track the killer, writing about a day when you went swimming, and writing about finding a bottle with a note inside at the beach. Your child will also learn how to identify topic sentences.
Stuart Little:This story tells about the amazing adventure of a tiny mouse who lives with humans. “Stuart Little” by E.B. White is full of drama and excitement as Stuart discovers the true meaning of friendship. You will design and construct a bed for Stuart, make a special bookmark, make and eat applesauce, and more. You will write a story from a cat’s point of view, write about the time you made a new friend, and making friends with a giant. Language arts concept focuses on identifying the correct use of commas with dates, addresses, items in a series, and the greeting and closing of a letter. Online games, quizzes and printables reinforce the objectives for this unit.
Dear Mr. Henshaw: Meet Leigh Botts, a ten-year-old boy who, through a series of letters written to his favorite author, learns about life and growing up. This is a wise and funny book about finding one’s own place in the world. “Dear Mr. Henshaw” was written by Beverly Cleary, author of Beezus and Romana. Hands-on activities include listing things that bother you, researching and designing a poster about monarch butterflies, and researching and cooking canapes. You will explore the characteristics and uses of letters, and practice writing letters, too. You will create your own writing journal to store writing assignments throughout the year. Basickeyboarding will be introduced in this lesson as well as learning the home keys. You will continue practicing keyboarding in subsequent lessons. Quizzes, a game, a video, and an audio resource reinforce the objectives.
Frindle: Have you ever heard of or used a frindle? Most of the people around Nick Allen have, even though his fifth grade English teacher is very opposed to using the word frindle! In this unit, you will begin reading “Frindle,” a very funny story about an ingenious fifth grader and his invention of this word. Maybe some of his ingenuity will rub off on you and you will invent a new word, too. The hands-on activities will keep you very busy this week as you analyze Nick or his teacher, Mrs. Granger; learn about Noah Webster and his invention of the first American dictionary; come up with new words and meanings for a dictionary; identify other names for writing instruments; and interview Nick. You will also learn about modifiers. Fun is sure to be had as you illustrate misplaced or dangling modifiers in silly sentences. An online quiz, worksheets, and video reinforce the objectives.

 

Those are my picks for grades 3 – 5. Check back tomorrow for grades 6 – 8.

What are your picks for summer reading?

This post was written by Christina S.  She is a full time work-at-home-and-homeschooling-mom.  She lives in Detroit with a 16 year old daughter, a 12 year old daughter, her husband, dog, cat and turtle.

Our Homeschool Home

Friday Featured Pathway: July 16
Lesson Pathways | July 16, 2010 | 8:00 am

Amelia Earhart’s Birthday is July 24th.  Gear up for a celebration with this week’s Featured Pathway!

While you are visiting LessonPathways.com, please be sure to support our sponsors by clicking their advertisements to see what they have to offer.  Every time you do, you help to keep LessonPathways free!

ameliaGet ready to explore the exciting life of Amelia Earhart, the famous aviatrix (woman aviator). Learn about Amelia’s early years growing up in Atchison, Kansas. She was once home schooled just like you. Tag along as she learns to fly and earns her pilot’s license. Like Amelia, you can practice flying planes, the paper kind that is. Pretend you are Amelia as you write in your journal the night before your last flight. You will also have the opportunity to map her last flight, watch videos, and listen to her give a speech. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach history.

Summer Reading: Grades PreK-2
Lesson Pathways | July 14, 2010 | 8:00 am

Reading. For many people, this isn’t the first thought that pops into our minds when we think of summertime. Not unless you re envisioning yourself by the beach with a good book as the children occupy themselves, anyway.

While it might not be the first summer activity we think of , it is an essential component to giving your children the right start for the new school year. (It also helps tame TV time and rainy-day blues)

We’ve compiled a short list to get your child’s summer reading kicked off. We’ve even matched them up to the free Pathways found on LessonPathways.com, so you and your child can fully enjoy the story and all of the enrichment activities.

Remember, you don’t have to complete the entire Pathway.  You can pick and choose the activities that fill your needs!

Today, we’re including books and resources for grades PreK – 2. We’ll cover grades 3 – 6 on Monday, with higher grades to follow.

We’ve compiled this list from various public school lists found on the Internet. Since these vary from state to state (and even county to county), we’ve selected books that were most common to each of the lists. We chose books that are considered children’s classics and easily found in most libraries. However, if you would like to purchase the books on this list, simply click the picture to be taken to Amazon.com, where a portion of your purchase price will go towards keeping LessonPathways free.

Summer Reading List Grades PreK – 2

The Gingerbread ManRead the story “The Gingerbread Man with your child. By working on story comprehension, predicting what will happen next in the story, and creating a fun gingerbread man chain, your child will gain an understanding of the story and the language arts concept for the week. Your child will also learn the sight words: but, did, and came. This unit also includes online games, videos, and coloring pages. Click here to access this free unit on “The Gingerbread Man”.

The Rainbow FishRead the story “The Rainbow Fish” with your child. By working on story comprehension and learning to differentiate between fact and opinion, your child will understand the story and the language arts concept for the week. Your child will also be introduced to the sight words “clean, cut and done.” This unit also includes worksheets, videos, games, activities, puzzles and coloring pages. Click here to access this free unit on “The Rainbow Fish”.

Country MouseThis unit covers the story,”The City Mouse and the Country Mouse,” which you will read with your child. In addition, your child will be learning about basic nouns, as well as practicing with the sight words “this, too, and under.” Your child will also explore his or her own world by doing a scavenger hunt in the kitchen and creating a “My Favorite Foods” book. This unit includes interactive games, craft projects, videos and interactive reading activities. Click here to access this free unit on “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse”.

The Giving TreeIn this unit, you will be reading “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein with your child. You will discuss some of the emotions present in the story and your child will create a “Happiness is” book of his/her own. Your child will also learn more about what we get from trees by reading an online page and then applying what he/she has learned in some fun activities: tree drawing, leaf rubbings, a “Working Trees” coloring book. This unit will also introduce the concept of contractions by reading a page online with your child and then practicing with online games and an online quiz. Click here to access this free unit on “The Giving Tree”.

StellalunaRead the story “Stellaluna” with your child. By working on story comprehension, learning about the main character in the story, and discovering interesting facts about bats, your child will understand the story and the language arts concept for the week. Your child will also review the sight words from the previous weeks. This unit also includes worksheets, videos and coloring pages. Click here to access this free unit on “Stelluna”.

AlexanderRead the story “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” with your child. By working on story comprehension, learning about the main character in the story, and discovering interesting facts about Australia, your child will understand the story and the language arts concept for the week–syllables. This unit also includes worksheets, videos, games, and coloring pages. Click here to access this free unit on “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”.

GoldilocksRead “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” with your child. By asking comprehension questions, putting on a puppet show, and playing an interactive game, your child will understand the story and have fun. Your child will also learn about descriptive words by playing a detective game. Click here to access this free unit on “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”.

Those my recommendations for PreK – 2 summer reading. What’s yours? Let us know in the comments section below.

This post was written by Christina S.. She is a full-time work-at-home-mom, living with her family in Detroit, Michigan. They started homeschooling 11 years ago and haven’t looked back since!

….And We’re Back!!!
Lesson Pathways | July 12, 2010 | 10:57 am

Green Light

After a brief period of regrouping and planning, we’re happy to announce that our blog is back!  We’ve got some exciting new series, themes and topics coming your way.  Here is a “sneak peek” at what’s coming, in addition or our Friday Featured Pathways:

  • Summer Reading Lists & Activities
  • Steals & Deals Round Ups
  • Making Math Meaningful
  • Behind the Scenes at LessonPathways
  • Planning Your School Year

We hope you like the changes that are coming.  We welcome your thoughts and ideas on new topics and series too! Leave us a note in the comments section below, or drop us a line at Blog@LessonPathways.com.

Friday Featured Pathway: July 9
Lesson Pathways | July 9, 2010 | 9:19 am

LessonPathways has made the transition from subscription-based service to one that is completely free for everyone.  However there are still financial costs for keeping the site maintained and develop additional features.  Currently, our only source of revenue for maintaining the site is from donations and from our user’s support of our advertisers and the number of times our users click on the ads on our site.

Please support our advertisers to help keep LessonPathways.com free for everyone.  If you need to make a purchase, please consider using our online shopping mall, where a portion of your purchase will help make LessonPathways.com even better.

gatewayarch

There has been much excitement since we announced our new Travel and Field Trip Pathways a few weeks ago.   Not only have we received new visitors to our site, but our users have been submitting Pathways for their hometown too!

This week, we’re pleased to featured a new user-created Travel and Field Trip Pathway introducing you to St. Louis.  There’s much more to see and do than just its famous arch!  If you’re planning a summer trip, or live close to St. Louis, check out this Pathway for inspiring and educational field trip ideas and inspiration.

St. Louis is a big city with a small town feel.  Founded in 1764, it became known as the Gateway to the West, as many pioneers left St. Louis to head west towards California.  From Downtown with the Gateway Arch, City Museum, St. Louis Zoo (free!), Missouri History Museum and Busch Stadium, to the municipalities of St. Louis County with The Magic House, Butterfly House, St. Louis is definitely a family friendly city.  Within the City of St. Louis itself, there are many neighborhoods of specific ethnicity, full of restaurants.  Each St. Louis County muicipality has its own distinct flavors too.

If you are interested in creating a Travel and Field Trip Pathway for your hometown, just use this super-simple form to submit the information and links, and we’ll take care of the rest!

All’s Quiet On the Blog Front
Lesson Pathways | July 7, 2010 | 8:01 am

Empty Chair by Lake
You may have noticed things are a bit quiet here on the LessonPathways blog lately. Not to worry, we haven’t jumped ship! We’re just taking a little bit of time to take care of some “bloggy business.” All we’ll be back in action soon!

We’re queueing up some blog topics for the next few month and would love to hear from you! It is our goal to make this blog, helpful, meaningful and relevant. What topics would you like to read about here on our blog? Please let us know in the comments section below.

Help WantedWe’re also looking for a few more volunteer blog contributors. Actually, the more the merrier! We’d love to have posts from as many different homeschoolers, parents and classroom educators. Each author will receive full credit, including by-line and link to their own blog or website (if applicable) with each blog post. We’ll also feature you in the “Our People” section of our blog too! Whether you have previous blogging experience or not, don’t be shy. We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line at Blog@LessonPathways.com.

Stay tuned for new blog posts soon!  In the meantime, stop by and enjoy the blogs of other LessonPathways.com users.

Friday Featured Pathway: July 2
Lesson Pathways | July 2, 2010 | 11:10 am

Take advantage of the outdoors and become a Nature Detective with the help of this week’s Featured Pathway.  Your child will have fun creating a nature journal and learning about insects, birds and animal tracks.  This is a great unit to complete at the park or your own back yard.

ForestThis unit is a fun way to get your children to explore nature and learn about their environment. It is designed to last one week. Be sure to schedule this unit during a time of the year when the weather allows you to be outside for extended periods of time. While learning to identify parts of nature is important, the most important aspect of the unit is to spend time outside and become curious about nature. You may want to repeat parts of this unit at different times throughout the year to experience nature during different seasons. Your child will notice that you see different birds and flowers in the spring and the fall.

This unit, as well as over 900 other Pathways, is free for everyone. Please help keep LessonPathways.com free by supporting our advertisers. If you need to make a purchase, please consider using our online shopping mall, where a portion of your purchase will help make LessonPathways.com even better.