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Curriculum Pick: Wayfarers History

Grade 5

Once again, we’ll be using Wayfarers by Barefoot Ragamuffin. We’ve looped back to Ancient History, but River will be doing the dialectic level (grade 5 to 8) this time. Technically, we should do Modern History (because we started our four-year loop in Grade 2 instead of Grade 1), but I decided to skip it so that River would get a full history loop before high school, and another full four-year loop in high school if we keep homeschooling. I also through that it might be nice to do start Harbour off in Ancient History instead of Modern.

Ths year I’ll be replacing some of the scheduled readings with activities. I’ve purchased the first Draw and Write Through History, because my daughter loves to draw and does really well with these types of books. I surprised at how much of this history book consists of Bible characters, but I suppose the “Creation to Jonah” subtitle title really should have tipped me off. This book is really heavy on a young earth worldview, which is apparent in the very first picture featuring Adam, Eve and a dinosaur.

I’m also going to purchase Ancient Civilizations STEM Challenges from Teachers Pay Teachers. I’m hoping that we can do these activities with some friends who are also studying Ancient History this year. They look like a lot of fun, and again, right up my daughters’ alley.

Grade 1

Harbour will be using Wayfarers this year, starting in the Grammar level (which covers grade 1 to 4). I’m not actually expecting to do a whole lot. We’ll probably skip the spine (Story of the World) entirely and just read some of the picture books together. That way when Harbour wants to join River and me with the more fun, hands-on activities, she’ll have a bit of background knowledge to enrich the experience.

In retrospect, I probably should have let River do Modern History this year and then started Ancient History next year when Harbour is more ready to participate, but it’s August. I’m not changing my mind now.

There’s a very good chance I’ll change my mind six times by September.

Pre-School

History will consist of Forest trying to remember where he hid my Fitbit the day before. I get cranky when I don’t know how many steps I’ve taken.

Jump Ahead: Our Curriculum Pick for 2017/2018

Introduction
Math: Beast Academy and RightStart
Language Arts: Barefoot Ragamuffin and Brave Writer curriculums
History: Wayfarers: Ancient History
Geography: Wayfarers: Ancient History
Science: Science in the Ancient World
Bible: Episcopal Children’s Curriculum
Foreign Languages: Speaking French with Miss Mason and François and Latin for Children
Miscellaneous: Wayfarers: Ancient History