Ds's plan

So, some changes to my blog layout. Not sure if I'm really happy with this one, but I might still fiddle around with it. It just feels like it's missing something!

In any case, on to ds's school plan (grade 1/2--technically grade 2, but he really isn't at a grade 1 level yet for reading and writing):

LANGUAGE ARTS (basically for the whole year, progressing as needed)
-alphabet, phonics, phonetic word building and reading, copying words down for labelling and short sentences, print and cursive (primarily A Beka workbook for the cursive)
-themes: family, seasons, stuff tied in with other subject areas, celebrations/holidays...

MATH
Sept: place value (units through thousands; use Golden Bead materials), reading and writing numbers from 1 to 9999 (Golden Beads, cards, bead frame, stamp game), reading and writing number words from 1-10, basic facts addition practice (Ray's Arithmetic or more traditional Montessori activities)

Oct: estimating objects up to 100; use of < = > in comparing numbers, putting numbers in order, creating sets of specific numbers under 100 (for example, using different combinations of units and tens), continuing with addition in Ray's, reading and writing number words to 20

Nov: multi-digit addition with and without regrouping (starting with Golden Beads, moving onto stamp game, maybe onto bead frame);

Dec: presenting multiplication as repeated addition (possible use of Ray's Arithmetic here)

Jan: subtraction (with Montessori materials and Ray's arithmetic)--basic facts, multi-digit subtraction with and without regrouping (using Montessori materials)

Feb: possible continuation of subtraction; otherwise, introduction to division

March: clocks (read on the hour, half-hour and quarters on an analog clock); money (naming coins and bills, how many pennies are in dimes, quarters and loonies; how many loonies in the different dollar bills; maybe tie it to the Golden Beads and have him predict how many dimes in a dollar); measurement (measuring in cm, dm and m)

April: geometry (naming cubes, spheres, cones, pyramids; creating skeletons; identifying vertices, faces and edges); symmetry

May: fractions (identifying and labelling basic fractions (1/2, 1/4, 2/5); basic addition, subtraction and multiplication of fractions)

SCIENCE (can be scrapped at any time if his interests move him elsewhere scientifically; and of course, Magic School Bus books and videos, John Acorn videos and other things he chooses will be tied in)
Sept: zoology--external structure of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals

Oct: internal structure of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals

Nov: research on animal(s) of interest ("animal stories")

Dec: dinosaurs (this could extend longer than Dec!)

Jan: astronomy (some people start the school year off with astronomy, but Dec/Jan is the best time to see stars without having to stay up super late)--solar system, astronomical objects, creation of stars, possibly constellations

Feb: the five senses

March: magnetism

Apr: buoyancy

May/June: unschooled/follow interests

(My science plan is not reflective of a typical Montessori lower elementary class; however, with my lack of training and knowledge, I'd rather have things a bit disjointed than not have anything at all!)

SOCIAL STUDIES
Sept: continents and land forms; the calendar: days of the week, months of the year, seasons

Oct: North America (more in-depth on Belize and Canada); personal timeline, family tree

Nov: parts of a mountain, mountains in North America (he saw the Rockies this past summer); the year 200_ (introducing why we have the years we do, AD/BC); begin light ancient civilization study and add to timeline book

Dec: parts of a volcano, North American volcanoes; keep moving through history into Western civilization

Jan: north, south, east, west, basic use of maps; keep moving through history, with a focus on Greece

Feb: European geography; adding to timeline pages with information on Roman civilization

Mar: adding to timeline with information on Middle Ages plus expanded study in this area (he LOVES books on medieval times)

Apr: adding to timeline with Renaissance period

May/June: open--I frankly wouldn't be surprised if some of the earlier topics take longer than anticipated and we don't get as far as I'd planned!

So, those are my basic plans. Feels good to have them done. Now I'm going to move back to the 16yo's chemistry course.