(Recorded Course) Grade School Multi-Subject Unit Study, Year Two: Medieval Era, Part Three with Jackie de Laveaga , M.Ed.

Subject: Unit Study Program (Grade School)

Course name: Grade School Unit Study: Medieval Period, Part Three

Integrate several subjects with this project-based unit study to bring the joy of learning right to your living room.

 

Introduction

Welcome to the Grade School Unit Study Program for 3rd through 6th grade students  designed to simplify and streamline your home education experience. Through an integrated literature-based curriculum, your family receives clearly laid out directions for the parent(s), hands-on project-based activities for students, and a once-a-week touch-base LIVE class where discussion, sharing, and learning takes place.

 

How it Works

Each full year is segmented into three parts occurring in the fall, winter, and spring -- incorporating History, Science, Language Arts, Art, and Religion -- to learn all subjects together in a unit that coordinates and dovetails into one harmonized year of learning.

 

Your Program Description

The Four-Year Sequence

The entire program spans a four-year sequence based on the four volumes of TAN Books’ History series, The Story of Civilization. The following years of study can be taken independently or in any order.

               Ancient History (Volume 1, Year One)

               Medieval History (Volume 2, Year Two)

               The Making of the Modern World (Volume 3, Year Three)

               US History (Volume 4, Year Four)

 

This School Year: Medieval History

Your 2020/2021 Grade School Unit Study Program focuses on Medieval History. 

 

Coordination with the Middle and High School Programs

Coordinate Learning, Simplify Teaching

Your older students can also get LIVE, interactive courses here at Homeschool Connections -- courses that cover the same historical era as this program, so your elementary through high school students can study the same four-year historical sequence together.  Visit “The Four Year Cycle” article for more information on matching courses here:

http://homeschoolconnectionsonline.blogspot.com/search/label/4-Year%20Cycle.

 

Your Year-Long, Three-Part Grade School Unit Study: Medieval History

The yearlong unit study is taught in three parts: Part One in the Fall Semester (13 weeks); Part Two in the Spring Semester (12 weeks); and a short Part Three in May, 2021 (4 weeks). Sign your children up for all three parts, to create a complete year of learning.

 

The “Flipped Classroom”

The Grade School Unit Study Program uses a “flipped classroom” approach in a four-day-week course of study: families watch teacher-created videos and work together on interactive lessons (guided materials and instruction). In addition to home learning, the once-a-week LIVE online class “becomes the place to work through problems, advance concepts, and engage in collaborative learning” (The Flipped Classroom, https://www.educationnext.org/the-flipped-classroom/).

 

Daily Activities

Families are provided with daily lessons, checklists, videos, and other resources and learning materials. Each week starts with a LIVE, twenty-five-minute online class meeting for parents and students together with the instructor.

 

Class Meetings

During each weekly class meeting, students discuss the past week’s readings, play games to reinforce the week’s learning, and have the opportunity to share project work and poetry recitation on camera. 

 

Choosing Your LIVE Class Time

Your Class Times and Schedule (choose one)

All LIVE, interactive classes meet on Mondays. Parents choose from one of the three LIVE time segments offered:

9:00 AM Eastern (8:00 Central; 7:00 Mountain; 6:00 Pacific) 

OR

11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific)

OR

1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)

 

Part One

Fall 2020 -- Medieval History Unit Study (Part 1 of 3)

(13 weeks)

Class Dates: Classes begin September 14, 2020, and continue through December 14, 2020;

No class November 23, 2020

Mandatory Parent Meeting: September 14, 2020

Multiple students per family: Siblings can watch the sessions and complete the automated quizzes FREE. However, only enrolled students may submit and receive teacher grading on select assignments. To receive teacher grading for additional students, enroll each additional student independently. 

LIVE Class Duration: 25 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of student sharing on camera (off recording)

 

Subjects

Your List of Subjects Scheduled for the Four School Days (Per Week) 

* History (45-60 minutes per day) 

* Literature (45-60 minutes per day) 

* Greek & Latin Roots (10-15 minutes per day) 

* Poetry Memorization (10-15 minutes per day) 

* Creative Writing (60-90 minutes per week)

* Science (60-90 minutes per week)

* Solo Reading (time varies per family choice; suggested 30-60 minutes per day) 

* Project Work (time varies per family choice; suggested 60-90 minutes per week) 

 

Core Texts

The same texts are used for all three parts of the series.

  • New or used copies of the texts will work for use in this course. See BookFinder.com for the best prices. 

  • Choosing Prices: The price range after each title reflects the lowest price (Kindle edition or used edition) to the highest price range (new and/or hardback edition).

  • Total Price: The low-cost options for these books can total approximately $79 and the highest cost options (all new/hardback) would cost approximately $200. 

  • Text and Year Overlap: Some of the Medieval books will also be used in Year Three (Making of the Modern World).

 

Your Book List

Purchase or borrow the following books for the school year (required):

  1. The Story of Civilization (TSoC), Volume 2: The Medieval World, by Phillip Campbell (ISBN-10: 1505105749; ISBN-13: 978-1505105742) (All Year) ($10-$22).

Note: Supplementary TSoC Student and Teacher texts and Audio/Video products are optional. We recommend adding supplementary texts (as well as audio and video materials) as tools for further engagement. TAN Books offers families enrolled in the Grade School Unit Study Program a 40% discount on all supplementary materials. Please email instructor Jackie deLaveaga at delaveaga.hsc@gmail.com for the coupon code.

 

2.          The Story Book of Science, by Jean Henri Fabre (ISBN-10: 1599150255; ISBN-13: 978-1599150253) (All Year) ($0 [Kindle] to $15).

 

3.          Insect Adventures, by Jean Henri Fabre (ISBN-10: 1500196452; ISBN-13: 978-1500196455) (All Year) ($2-$12)

Note: For an advanced reader in the family, consider adding Fabre’s Book of Insects to the family reading (optional and will not be on the schedule).

 

4.          Once Upon a Time Saints, by Ethel Pochocki (ISBN-10: 1883937159; ISBN-13: 978-1883937) (All Year) ($5-$12).

 

5.          More Once Upon a Time Saints, by Ethel Pochocki (ISBN-10: 1883937345; ISBN-13: 978-1883937348) (All Year) ($5-$12).

 

6.          English from the Roots Up, Volume 2, by Joegil Lundquist (ASIN: B00E322V94). Any new or used volume works. Families will also buy or make the study flashcards for this book. (All Year) ($15+).

 

7.          Saint Benedict, by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (ISBN-10: 0895554275; ISBN-13: 978-0895554277) (Fall 2020) ($6-$12).

 

8.          If All the Swords in England: A Story of Thomas Becket, by Barbara Willard (ISBN-10: 1883937493; ISBN-13: 978-1883937492) (Spring 2021) ($6-$15).

 

9.          Son of Charlemagne, by Barbara Willard (ISBN: 9781883937300; ISBN-10:1883937302 (Fall 2020) ($5-$15).

 

10.       Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Story of “The Dumb Ox,” by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (ISBN:  9780895554208) (Spring 2021-Part 3) ($5-$9).

 

11.       Francis and Clare, Saints of Assisi, by Helen Walker Homan (ISBN-10: 0898705177

ISBN-13: 978-0898705171) (Spring 2021) ($2-$9).

 

Pictorial Encyclopedias

Families will use pictorial encyclopedias throughout the year that include plants, animals, and insects. Because students will be pulling out key facts from the encyclopedias for their work, and they will need ample facts from which to choose, please avoid using primary level books and choose books at a reading level above the 6th grade. We recommend the following three books, as low cost, high interest options:

 

12.       Reader’s Digest North American Wildlife (ISBN-13: 978-0895771025; ISBN-10: 9780895771025) (All Year) ($5-$35).

 

13.       Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia (ISBN-10: 0756691702; ISBN-13: 978-0756691707) Any used volume will work. (All Year) ($6-$16).

 

14.       Smithsonian Handbooks: Insects (ISBN-10: 0789493926; ISBN-13: 978-0789493927) Any used volume will work. (All Year) ($6-$16).

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What role does the parent play?

In this unit study program, the parent’s role is to…

1. Schedule and implement the course material into your daily school and home life.

2. Schedule and engage in read-aloud time. 

3. Grade some of the materials and work (approximately 30-60 minutes per week, depending on family choice of enrichment activities).

4. Attend one live class session with your student(s) each week. 

 

What’s included in the course?

Enrolled families will receive…

1. A weekly checklist of activities and assignments and a timeline template

2. A suggested daily schedule for the four-day school week 

3. Short instructional videos to enrich the study of history, science, creative 

writing, art, and literature

4. A list of optional supplementary books for solo reading for multiple grade levels

5. The weekly submission of assignments, and complete grading of 1-2 assignments by the instructor

6. A LIVE class meeting each week with the instructor to discuss material studied and to offer students an opportunity to share their work and/or recitations on camera (off-recording)

 

What assignments are graded by the teacher?

Enrolled students will have one to two assignments per week that are submitted for a grade. The assignment type alternates between project work (various subjects), auto-graded quizzes, and Language Arts assignments.

 

Questions?

We’re happy to help!

Simply email homeschoolconnections@gmail.com, or call Toll Free, 1-888-372-4757, and we’ll get right back to you with answers!

 

We look forward to seeing you in class!