I promised specific lesson plans for your homeschool. First, some explanation. I am going to share some homeschool lesson plans based on the student's approximate age. The plans may apply to your child even though he may be younger or older than my description. These plans can be used or modified in any way, shape or form to suit the needs and interests of your family. It is best to use the plans merely as a guide, although they will be effective if used exactly as presented. Read aloud time is very important, but also very flexible. You can read anytime, anywhere. Take your book in the car to read when you have another adult to drive. Take the book to the doctor's office, dentist office, and anywhere you will have waiting time. You will be amazed at how many other children will gather around you to hear your story! You will feel like The Pied Piper, and all the other mothers will be impressed. Be prepared to answer questions about homeschooling!!! You are now a mentor!
Let's begin with pre-K. Generally speaking, VERY generally speaking, this group will include any student who is verbal, up to 6 years old. If this fits your 7 or 8 or 17 year old, so be it. This is a unit study, which makes it easily adaptable to all the students in your family, regardless of age. This will become more evident as more lesson plans are presented for other age groups. Resousrces are suggested and not required. Again, modify to suit your own purposes. Here is the first week of a 25 day homeschool lesson plan for pre-K, based on one month of four complete weeks:


RESOURCES: Animals toys; creation story color pages, video "Milo and Otis;" flannel board stories, picture books, etc.; Explode the Code; Pre-school crafts; Usborne Books; Draw Write Now; Math-U-See; public library;  craft supplies as needed;


MONTH 1: Animals and the Beginning of Time

WEEK 1: Mammals and the Story of Creation

DAY 1:

Math-Do the first lesson of Math-U-See. It is perfectally fine to do more than one page or unit at a sitting. As the month goes on, if the student understands the concept well, there is no need to complete each page of every lesson. It is alright to skip pages. Work at the child's pace.  Incorporate counting, sorting, finding patterns and simple math into all animal play all month. Count the toys, sort the toys, find patterns among the toys, etc.
Language Arts-Explode the Code Do as many pages as your student is interested in doing. If your student does not like the feeling of using pencils, use crayons, or markers. It is okay for the student to simply dictate to you, instead.  Not all children develop fine motor skills at the same rate; yet fine motor skills are not required to begin learning the alphabet and sounds of the letters.
Science-Explain the characteristics of mammals. Mammals have fur, give birth to their young, and feed their young with milk. Do not concern yourself with the exceptions to the rules at this age level. Let the students guess some mammals. Ask, "Can you think of a mommy animal that feeds her baby with milk?" "What animal has fur?" Watch the video "Milo and Otis" - warning: the movie does show the live birth of both kittens and puppies (That's why I like it!)
History-Read and explain the story of creation with your student. (If you prefer, teach Native American legends of the creation, or something similar from your own culture.)  Take special notice of the day the animals were created. Let your student pick out their favorite mammal and make that mammal an area of focus all week.
Art-Choose a pre-school craft that focuses on the student's mammal of choice. Offer the child two or three craft options, and let them choose. The child will be more empowered and therefore more interested in learning if they are interested in the topic.  Let the student lead out.  You might not begin the activity today (see day 2).
P.E.- walk through the neighborhood or around your yard or property, specifically noticing mammals. Talk about the habitats and eating habits of the mammals you see.  Most of all, PLAY!!


DAY 2:

Math-next lesson(s) in MUS
Language-next lesson(s) in Explode the Code; Begin reading aloud a book pertaining to mammals, specifically the child's mammal of choice, if possible.
History-Find a historical application for your child's mammal of choice.
Field Trip-Take a shopping trip to purchase the supplies for the chosen art activity. Incorporate basic road signs, talk about the route to the store, discuss the money involved. Let the child find the items in the store, asking a clerk themselves if necessary. Discuss the value vs price of the necessary items. Let the child count out the money and give it to the cashier. Ask if the change back is correct. Some of this math will be above your student's level, but it will expose her to the concepts. While you are out, stop by the local public library and let the child pick out books about mammals, again, focusing on the mammal of her choice.  Above all, PLAY!



DAY 3:

Math-MUS lesson(s)
Language-Explode the Code lesson(s); May substitute a Draw Write Now page; Read aloud time
History-Adam and Eve (Indians) wore clothes made of animal skins. What animals would be suitable? They also ate animals. What animals do you eat? If you are particularly crafty, you could make Adam/Eve costumes, or animal costumes.
P.E./Music-Listen to children's classical music while dancing like various animals. Elephant: Bend over at the waist, extending arms forward and down while clasping hands (trunk) and swing the 'trunk' back and forth. Move slowly like an elephant. Lion: crawl on all fours, roaring. Giraffe: extend arms far above the head, stretching and
 reaching for the ceiling to eat the leaves at the tops of the trees. Be creative! Most of all, PLAY!
 Art-work on craft as desired.



DAY 4:

Math-MUS lesson(s)
Language Arts-Explode the Code lesson(s); Read aloud time
Science/Life Skills: Allow the student to select a meal that includes meat, and assist in the preparation and cooking of the meal. Discuss appropriate hygiene when handling food, especially meat. Be sure to include the student in the clean-up - remember, the goal is teaching life skills, not getting the kitchen the cleanest in the most efficient time!
Activity-Pile the selected library books in the middle of the living room floor and walk away. Wait for the child to discover the pile and begin to look through them. Then sit down and go through them together.
Art-Draw Write Now; work on craft as desired
Don't forget to PLAY with the animal toys!


DAY 5

Math-MUS lesson(s);
Language Arts-Explode the Code lesson(s); May substitute a Draw Write Now page; Read aloud time
History/Geography-where does the mammal of the week live? Find it on the map and/or globe. What is the weather like there? How is that climate specifically suited to the mammal of choice?
Art-complete craft project and/or do a Draw Write Now page.
Field Trip (optional) Go to the zoo or a local petting farm. Perhaps there is a pet store nearby, or a friend/neighbor has new puppies.
Make-up day-complete anything you did not get finished earlier in the week, if desired.  PLAY!!