Thematic Units
Vaughnde Edwards
Each friday I get a thematic unit to download if I wish
from School Express and last night my daughter said mom...I'm tired of UNITS!
They worked those to death in public school. We even did a butterfly/moth one
for 6 months in 3rd grade! So I guess I'm asking how do I present or do I
present at all...anything interesting to a child musically inclined that she
might want to learn without any thought of thematic unit studies?
These formats are for young children admittedly younger
than Naomi because there is coloring pages, information, fill in the blanks,
word search, crosswords and unscramble the words. I thought it looked fun...but
she thinks its boring. She also hates repitition....including anything she
already learned a year ago. How do I show her that what she may have learned is
worth going over again to see if there is new information that has recently come
to light or something she may have missed the first time around because she
didn't understand it?
Juli
Well, for what it's worth, here's what I do. If I know
my kids are interested in something, I get materials I
come across (if they're affordable or free) and just
leave them lying enticingly around, or just say look
what I got and start working on it myself if I'm
interested, and they'll join me. For example, they
were really into King Arthur last year. So I got
everything from a Monty Python: Quest for the Holy
Grail video to 3-d castle puzzles. We read A
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court, got
medieval paper dolls, and devoured all the library
books on the topic. If I'd found a King Arthur
wordsearch puzzle, though, they'd never have done it,
because they hate wordsearch puzzles. Sometimes things
flop. Right now, we're into Colonial times, and they
thought they hated those Dear America books (fictional
but historically accurate journals of kids from
different eras) but I found a great colonial one, so I
just started reading it aloud to them one night, and
they love it. If I'd just left that book on the table,
they'd have ignored it.
So I guess it's a matter of not only knowing what
topics they like, but also what ways they like to
explore those topics.
My own kids seem to have designed their own thematic
mud this week. :) Seriously! Building mud castles and
moats, digging up worms, compost, gardening.
Everything is mud lately. If someone asked them what
they were learning, I'm pretty sure they'd say they
were studying mud. Well, it *is* April!
Juli
=====
How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas
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my kids are interested in something, I get materials I
come across (if they're affordable or free) and just
leave them lying enticingly around, or just say look
what I got and start working on it myself if I'm
interested, and they'll join me. For example, they
were really into King Arthur last year. So I got
everything from a Monty Python: Quest for the Holy
Grail video to 3-d castle puzzles. We read A
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court, got
medieval paper dolls, and devoured all the library
books on the topic. If I'd found a King Arthur
wordsearch puzzle, though, they'd never have done it,
because they hate wordsearch puzzles. Sometimes things
flop. Right now, we're into Colonial times, and they
thought they hated those Dear America books (fictional
but historically accurate journals of kids from
different eras) but I found a great colonial one, so I
just started reading it aloud to them one night, and
they love it. If I'd just left that book on the table,
they'd have ignored it.
So I guess it's a matter of not only knowing what
topics they like, but also what ways they like to
explore those topics.
My own kids seem to have designed their own thematic
mud this week. :) Seriously! Building mud castles and
moats, digging up worms, compost, gardening.
Everything is mud lately. If someone asked them what
they were learning, I'm pretty sure they'd say they
were studying mud. Well, it *is* April!
Juli
=====
How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas
__________________________________________________
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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
.....how do I present or do I present at >all...anything interesting to a child musically inclined that she >might want to learn without any thought of thematic unit studies?
Nanci K.
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>How do I show her that what she may have learned is worth going over >again to see if there is new information that has recently come to >light or something she may have missed the first time around because >she didn't understand it?Well, I would say forget the books and pages and let her get her hands dirty. Try suggesting kitchen experimentation, outdoor activities, anything hands on. Or you can invite her to join you for concerts, library listening room excursions, cultural events, vidoes of concerts and musicals, etc. Talk about everything together, sharing thoughts and feelings and exploring issues. See if any fires are lit.
>Vaughnde Lee
Nanci K.
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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>My own kids seem to have designed their own thematicAhhh mud, near and dear to my heart. You kids might find Cob interesting. Try looking on the internet for The Cob Cottage Company and Groundworks.
>mud this week. :)
>Juli
Nanci K.
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[email protected]
In a message dated 4/15/01 3:20:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
stampinbookworm@... writes:
For me, I would start using hands on ideas....cooking, crafts, etc. as well
as software (I recently found a site that sells software for $4.95 a
program--they are free and the cost is for s & h and to cover the cost of
providing these deals. The only "downfall" is that the programs take 6-8
WEEKS to arrive). In a bit I'll post some things I have here that I keep
around for the boys to use at their leisure as well as resource books I have
found (and get from the library) for using the 'net for unschooling and the
software site I mentioned above. I have some work to do (I am studying to
become an AOL message board host) first and then I will post some ideas that
may be helpful.
Tracy-Lynn
Wife to Gary for 15 1/2 years
Unschooling Mom to 4 sweet boys:
Crisstoffer ~14 1/2, Andru ~13,Wylliam~10 1/2 & Danyel ~9
My NEW Homepage
Our Family Photo Album Index
stampinbookworm@... writes:
How do I show her that what she may have learned is worth going over again
to see if there is new information that has recently come to light or
something she may have missed the first time around because she didn't
understand it?
For me, I would start using hands on ideas....cooking, crafts, etc. as well
as software (I recently found a site that sells software for $4.95 a
program--they are free and the cost is for s & h and to cover the cost of
providing these deals. The only "downfall" is that the programs take 6-8
WEEKS to arrive). In a bit I'll post some things I have here that I keep
around for the boys to use at their leisure as well as resource books I have
found (and get from the library) for using the 'net for unschooling and the
software site I mentioned above. I have some work to do (I am studying to
become an AOL message board host) first and then I will post some ideas that
may be helpful.
Tracy-Lynn
Wife to Gary for 15 1/2 years
Unschooling Mom to 4 sweet boys:
Crisstoffer ~14 1/2, Andru ~13,Wylliam~10 1/2 & Danyel ~9
My NEW Homepage
Our Family Photo Album Index
scrunchy
I would definitely take a break from the Unit Studies. How about going to a museum or the Library, just for fun? does your Library have CD's or other music you can sheck out and listen to? You could both learn about her favorite musical artist together....Ask the Librarian for some help. You could also go sight seeing in your own area just as if you were new to town. This could incorporate some map reading, some math, some social studies, all done informally. If you need documentation for your state, then collect tourist pamphlets from the palces you visit. Does your town have some free or affordable places to explore? How about going to a park? I agree with the idea of taking in a concert. Do you or your daughter have a hobby? If so, spend time on them together. My son sometimes plays with Legos while I crochet in the same room.Each friday I get a thematic unit to download if I wish from School Express and last night my daughter said mom...I'm tired of UNITS! They worked those to death in public school. We even did a butterfly/moth one for 6 months in 3rd grade! So I guess I'm asking how do I present or do I present at all...anything interesting to a child musically inclined that she might want to learn without any thought of thematic unit studies?
You could also ask her if she has any ideas. Be prepared for the unusual when you do this. I have asked and been hit with everything from "Let's make muffins" to "Let's go to the Art Museum". and "Let's take a walk."
Norma
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/15/01 1:20:41 PM, stampinbookworm@... writes:
<< How do I show her that what she may have learned is worth going over
again to see if there is new information that has recently come to light or
something she may have missed the first time around because she didn't
understand it? >>
By doing it with games, movies, recorded music, photos, paintings, trips to
zoos or museums and not by it being anything that looks like school or
"education" to her.
If a book was really good a year ago, she might enjoy having it read to her
again now or next year. If the reason (to her, at least) is just because
it's a good book, and not because it's good for her, it will be better
received (not just emotionally, but intellectually).
Sandra
<< How do I show her that what she may have learned is worth going over
again to see if there is new information that has recently come to light or
something she may have missed the first time around because she didn't
understand it? >>
By doing it with games, movies, recorded music, photos, paintings, trips to
zoos or museums and not by it being anything that looks like school or
"education" to her.
If a book was really good a year ago, she might enjoy having it read to her
again now or next year. If the reason (to her, at least) is just because
it's a good book, and not because it's good for her, it will be better
received (not just emotionally, but intellectually).
Sandra
Juli
Hmm! I will check this out. I'm curious to find out
what Cob is. Juli
How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas
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what Cob is. Juli
> Ahhh mud, near and dear to my heart. You kids might=====
> find Cob interesting. Try looking on the internet
> for The Cob Cottage Company and Groundworks.
>
> Nanci K.
>
How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas
__________________________________________________
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Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
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Tracy Oldfield
> Each friday I get a thematic unit to download if I wish from SchoolI don't know if you can 'show her.' Maybe she needs to just find it
> Express and last night my daughter said mom...I'm tired of UNITS! They
> worked those to death in public school. We even did a butterfly/moth
> one for 6 months in 3rd grade! So I guess I'm asking how do I present
> or do I present at all...anything interesting to a child musically
> inclined that she might want to learn without any thought of thematic
> unit studies?
>
> These formats are for young children admittedly younger than Naomi
> because there is coloring pages, information, fill in the blanks, word
> search, crosswords and unscramble the words. I thought it looked
> fun...but she thinks its boring. She also hates
> repitition....including anything she already learned a year ago. How
> do I show her that what she may have learned is worth going over again
> to see if there is new information that has recently come to light or
> something she may have missed the first time around because she didn't
> understand it?
>
> Vaughnde Lee
> Missoula, Montana
> http://www.stampinbookworm.eboard.com
>
>
for herself, given some real deschooling time... I don't know if I'd
take her to the library unless I was going or she asked, or any
other 'educational' stuff, kids really can smell it a mile off... If she
comes to something herself that she's seen before, then it might
click together and she'll find out that learning isn't 'work.' Which up
to press it seems it has been.
I have no idea if that made any sense, but I'm sending it anyway!
Tracy
Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>Hmm! I will check this out. I'm curious to find outBwuhahahahaha! (rubbing hands together gleefully) My evil plan is working! LOL That was exactly my intention. Aren't you dying to know?
>what Cob is. Juli
>>Ahhh mud, near and dear to my heart. You kids might
>>find Cob interesting. > Nanci K.
Nanci K.
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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>I have no idea if that made any sense, but I'm sending it anyway!Tracy, you make me smile!
>Tracy
Nanci K.
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Juli
> Bwuhahahahaha! (rubbing hands together gleefully)Well, it worked all right! The whole family was
> My evil plan is working! LOL That was exactly my
> intention. Aren't you dying to know?
>
> Nanci K.
>
gathered around the computer oohing and ahhing and
wowing over the photographs of the cob houses and
ESPECIALLY the mixing dance and the muddy kids. :)
Juli
=====
How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas
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scrunchy
Me too. I will have to go looking later today.
Norma
Norma
Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall wrote:
>Hmm! I will check this out. I'm curious to find out
>what Cob is. Juli>>Ahhh mud, near and dear to my heart. You kids might
>>find Cob interesting. > Nanci K.Bwuhahahahaha! (rubbing hands together gleefully) My evil plan is working! LOL That was exactly my intention. Aren't you dying to know?
Nanci K.
Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
Well, it worked all right! The whole family was
gathered around the computer oohing and ahhing and
wowing over the photographs of the cob houses and
ESPECIALLY the mixing dance and the muddy kids. :)
Juli
LOL We are in the planning stages of an intentional community/village with cob houses. So that is a string and current interest of ours. Glad I could offer an interesting experience.
Nanci K.
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gathered around the computer oohing and ahhing and
wowing over the photographs of the cob houses and
ESPECIALLY the mixing dance and the muddy kids. :)
Juli
LOL We are in the planning stages of an intentional community/village with cob houses. So that is a string and current interest of ours. Glad I could offer an interesting experience.
Nanci K.
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Juli
> > LOL We are in the planning stages of anintentional
> community/village with cob houses. So that is aThat's in Idaho? I'm way over in Michigan, but it
> string and current interest of ours. Glad I could
> offer an interesting experience.
>
> Nanci K.
>
sounds fascinating.Do you have more info you could
somehow send me? I'm just intrigued! I always loved
the idea of an intentional community.I have a friend
who's looking for one. Or maybe she found it.I haven't
heard from her in a while.Juli
=====
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself --Galileo
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Tami Labig-Duquette
Same here! My kids want to build like that in our yard, so when it warms up
we will :) Love this kinda thing!!
Tami
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
we will :) Love this kinda thing!!
Tami
>From: Juli <yuliwomie@...>_________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Thematic Units
>Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 08:24:56 -0700 (PDT)
>
> > Bwuhahahahaha! (rubbing hands together gleefully)
> > My evil plan is working! LOL That was exactly my
> > intention. Aren't you dying to know?
> >
> > Nanci K.
> >
>
>Well, it worked all right! The whole family was
>gathered around the computer oohing and ahhing and
>wowing over the photographs of the cob houses and
>ESPECIALLY the mixing dance and the muddy kids. :)
>Juli
>
>
>=====
>How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It
>must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
Johanna
I just read a few interesting articles about cob
and cord wood construction in Countryside magazine this week
Johanna
"Our hunger to be bigger than we are could be just delusions of grandeur or
it could be the very voice of God inside calling us to a larger inheritance, to
a bigger stake in reality, to a truer sense of our identity as the sons and
daughters of God." Bruce Larson
----- Original Message -----From: scrunchySent: Monday, April 16, 2001 12:15 PMSubject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Thematic UnitsMe too. I will have to go looking later today.
NormaNanci and Thomas Kuykendall wrote:
>Hmm! I will check this out. I'm curious to find out
>what Cob is. Juli>>Ahhh mud, near and dear to my heart. You kids might
>>find Cob interesting. > Nanci K.Bwuhahahahaha! (rubbing hands together gleefully) My evil plan is working! LOL That was exactly my intention. Aren't you dying to know?
Nanci K.
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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
That's in Idaho? I'm way over in Michigan, but it
sounds fascinating.Do you have more info you could
somehow send me? I'm just intrigued! I always loved
the idea of an intentional community.Juli
No actually, we are moving this year and we will be setting up our community in Western Washington, around the Seattle to Tacoma area. I would love to talk to you about it more. Shall I sen you some information off list?
Nanci K.
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sounds fascinating.Do you have more info you could
somehow send me? I'm just intrigued! I always loved
the idea of an intentional community.Juli
No actually, we are moving this year and we will be setting up our community in Western Washington, around the Seattle to Tacoma area. I would love to talk to you about it more. Shall I sen you some information off list?
Nanci K.
------------------------------------------------------------
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Juli
Sure, please! Juli
Shall I sen you some
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself --Galileo
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Shall I sen you some
> information off list?=====
>
> Nanci K.
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself --Galileo
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mary krzyzanowski
We also use family interests for learning. I don't limit it to the
children's interests. If I or my dh are interested in something, I'll try
to find something (usually a book, video or tv show) that's at a kid level
also. One of our nearby library's has a service where they will gather the
books, etc. for you about anything. I haven't tried it yet because I keep
forgetting to call them. I will also show my kids where books about certain
subjects are shelved at the library. I like to check out the new book
shelves and will get books for the kids even if it's been awhile since they
expressed an interest in something.
Mary-NY
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
children's interests. If I or my dh are interested in something, I'll try
to find something (usually a book, video or tv show) that's at a kid level
also. One of our nearby library's has a service where they will gather the
books, etc. for you about anything. I haven't tried it yet because I keep
forgetting to call them. I will also show my kids where books about certain
subjects are shelved at the library. I like to check out the new book
shelves and will get books for the kids even if it's been awhile since they
expressed an interest in something.
Mary-NY
>From: Juli <yuliwomie@...>_________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Thematic Units
>Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:38:58 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Well, for what it's worth, here's what I do. If I know
>my kids are interested in something, I get materials I
>come across (if they're affordable or free) and just
>leave them lying enticingly around, or just say look
>what I got and start working on it myself if I'm
>interested, and they'll join me. For example, they
>were really into King Arthur last year. So I got
>everything from a Monty Python: Quest for the Holy
>Grail video to 3-d castle puzzles. We read A
>Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court, got
>medieval paper dolls, and devoured all the library
>books on the topic. If I'd found a King Arthur
>wordsearch puzzle, though, they'd never have done it,
>because they hate wordsearch puzzles. Sometimes things
>flop. Right now, we're into Colonial times, and they
>thought they hated those Dear America books (fictional
>but historically accurate journals of kids from
>different eras) but I found a great colonial one, so I
>just started reading it aloud to them one night, and
>they love it. If I'd just left that book on the table,
>they'd have ignored it.
>
>So I guess it's a matter of not only knowing what
>topics they like, but also what ways they like to
>explore those topics.
>
>My own kids seem to have designed their own thematic
>mud this week. :) Seriously! Building mud castles and
>moats, digging up worms, compost, gardening.
>Everything is mud lately. If someone asked them what
>they were learning, I'm pretty sure they'd say they
>were studying mud. Well, it *is* April!
>Juli
>
>=====
>How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It
>must be education that does it.--Alexandre Dumas
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
Vaughnde Edwards
LOL! I just moved last May from Spanaway, which is outside
Tacoma on the way to Mt. Rainier. I doubt I will ever go back...I grew up in
Tacoma, the rain was way tooooo much for me. I like Montana
better!!
-----Original Message-----That's in Idaho? I'm way over in Michigan, but it
From: Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, April 16, 2001 7:21 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Thematic Units
sounds fascinating.Do you have more info you could
somehow send me? I'm just intrigued! I always loved
the idea of an intentional community.Juli
No actually, we are moving this year and we will be setting up our community in Western Washington, around the Seattle to Tacoma area. I would love to talk to you about it more. Shall I sen you some information off list?
Nanci K.
------------------------------------------------------------
Show off your pagan (and Idaho) pride, get Idaho Pagan Mail(tm) today!
Sign up at http://www.idahopagan.com/
Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.