Let me share a vocabulary hack. At one time, I did SAT prep. I had kids buy a shower curtain from the Dollar store and write vocabulary terms on it which were unfamiliar. This can be useful for science vocabulary. Keep a composition book with terms and definitions. Write terms on to the shower curtain, especially words which might make good candidates for the SAT or ACT. My Brit Lit is doing this, too. The image is my sample for Brit Lit.
After Mass today, a group of us sat around and talked. My friend, Christine, shared photos of her sister’s new business painting custom chairs. This gave me the idea of painting objects and writing quotes from Literature, such as Shakespeare. Can’t you see a suitcase covered in quotes? I issued a challenge to the kids taking Brit Lit with Co-op this Fall to find a free chair, side table, frame, pallet, box, etc to paint. Below are inspiration images. (The second shot is from Anthropologie.). I cannot wait to see what the kids produce.
I’m teaching Brit Lit again this Fall to the local Co-op. I stumbled across Longman Classics. (Here is an article with different series of graded Basal readers.) The Longman Classics are easy to read and divided into four stages. Here is a short explanation. If I can finally dig up more background on Longman Classics, I’ll share it here. I’m loaning copies to kids with learning differences and encouraging them to start with the Longman Classic. This way the kids will have some background. The kids are free to listen to the audio book rather than read the novels, or read along as they listen. What is important is understanding and evaluating the story or play. We use every available tool to help kids succeed.
I’m compiling links for a British Literature class I’m teaching the local home-school Co-op this fall. I taught it once before two years ago. We are using Stobaugh’s British Literature textbooks with a wide variety of activities. I have two spreadsheets with links I am developing for class started: Teach Brit Lit and British Literature Websites. The class is reading Robinson Crusoe, Frankenstein, any Shakespeare play, and Pride and Prejudice over the summer. I’m in the throes of planning class. So much fun! Here is an older post with a sample post for Brit Lit.
Friends have told me they like joint science projects for their families, especially large families. Summer is a great time for hands-on family science. I checked out “365 Simple Science Experiments” from the library. (Used copies are available for $5-$6. Start with a theme. 365 Simple Science has Slow Start-Fast Finish, Keeping Your Balance, Soap Suds, Adventures with a String, and World Travelers. Read over the experiments to see if you have the materials on hand, and let the kids select several activities.
I like this book. Clutching at Straws begins with how to make a paper straw and use it as a medicine dropper, atomizer, oboe, and trombone. My favorite in this section is spearing a potato with a straw. Will a homemade straw work as well as a plastic straw? Each section has a brief explanation. For example, the straw through the potato demonstrates inertia. The index in the book has other experiments which demonstrate inertia.
Let your kids take the lead. Pick an interesting topic, try three experiments, and reevaluate. Take loads of photos. Do video demonstrations with explanations. I would encourage older kids to take charge and organize the experiments. Have them research the topic and explanations. Schedule one hour blocks of time. Have the materials set aside and ready. Give summer science a shot.
