2014-15 curriculum/resources

So we’ve changed things up again by pulling B out of K12. I’ve gone back to work part-time as a nanny and we were no longer near a computer for the required weekly contacts. I also just didn’t feel like he was getting much out of it. We’ve been using the materials we have as well as BrainPop, Kahn Academy, etc to finish out the year and I’ve been thinking ahead to the fall.  We’re placing a heavy emphasis on games and manipulatives for next year since B is a very kinesthetic learner. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far. Keep in mind that we already own many of these materials and many of those were purchased at library book sales/garage sales/goodwill/etc and the online resources I’ve listed are free. Homeschooling doesn’t need to be expensive and many materials can be used for several years. I am not an affiliate for any of these websites, I’ve just compiled this list because I thought other homeschoolers might find these resources useful as well.

Math

*Kahn Academy

*Base-10 cubes

*Geometric Shapes set

*Fraction towers

*Pattern blocks (and these cards to go with them)

*play money

*The Complete Book of Math Grades 3-4

*Tip-top Tally

*Peg Plus Cat

Language Arts

Spelling

*Spelling city

*Scribblenauts

*Scrabble Junior

Creative Writing

*Story World cards

*Tell Me a Story cards*

*Rory’s Story cubes

*Rip the Page

*Dixit

Literature 

We have a houseful of books and cards to every library within a 20 mile radius. I think we’re covered here.

Grammar

* English and Grammar by Brighter Child (grades 4 and 5)

Handwriting

*Dry erase boards for print and cursive

*Letter pooch app for his Innotab

Spanish

*The Complete Book of Spanish

*Duolingo

*Just Listen and Learn Spanish

*Play and Learn Spanish

*Teach Me More Spanish

*Salsa

World History

*The Big History Project

*Mankind the Story of All of Us  (the book as a read aloud, the graphic novels for him to read to himself)

*Timeline Historical Events

*Horrible Histories

*Civilization: Revolution

US History

*Presidents vs Aliens

*The Complete Book of Presidents and States

*The Complete Book of United States History

*Liberty’s Kids

Geography

*Various puzzles (US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East)

*Stack the States

*Stack the Countries

*Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego game and video

*Scrambled States of America

*Great States

*Fabric Activity World Map

*Risk

*Little Man in the Map

Science

*Magic School Bus books and videos

*Various videos and materials ordered from HHMI.org

*Snap Circuits Lights Physics Kit

*Knex Robo-creatures bundle

*Mudpies to Magnets and More Mudpies to Magnets

*Human Body Sticker Activity Pack

*You Can’t See Your Bones With Binoculars

*All About People

*Make It Work! Body

*The Everything Kids Science Experiment Book

*175 Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends

*Basher Science: Human Body: A Book with Guts

*Peter Weatherall

*ParrMr

*Membership to the Oregon Coast Aquarium

*Micro Phone Lens

*My Incredible Body: For Kids! app

Art

*Discovering Great Artists

*Great American Artists for Kids

*various specific subject (stamps, watercolors, pencil drawing, etc) books I’ve picked up at garage/book sales

PE

*Nick Fit

*Wii Fit

*Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout

*Kinect Adventures

*Kinect Sports

*Gorilla Gym Indoor Playground Package

*Cosmic Kids Yoga

*and, of course, days at the park/beach/swimming pool

Music

*Wii Music

*Meet the Great Composers I and II

*K12 Beginning 1 Music (leftover from our K12 enrollment, but I feel like it’s a solid enough program to recommend)

Multi-Subject, misc.

*Kahn Academy

*BrainPop

*Crash Course

*Coursera

*Minecraft

*School House Rock 30th Anniversary Edition

*Keyboarding Without Tears

*My Culture Journey apps for Innotab (we have “foods” and “music and instruments” but they have other as well)

*SAS Curriculum Pathways

*Power My Learning

*My Incredible Body: For Kids! app

What materials am I missing? What have you used and loved? Please feel free to share in the comments.