Focal Point: Metaphysical

Age Group: 5th-6th

What’s included: 3 months of lesson plans( 60+), plus workbook and resources

Suitable for: Homeschool families
 
Topics: For our first month studying metaphysical qualities all around us, we take a look at the world of animals on Earth. We learn about animal adaptations and classifications, and spend time in nature to learn about the many unique and overlapping characteristics of wildlife and ecosystems. Nature can teach us how to balance our fears with facts and information, so we learn to approach nature as a scientist through observation and data collection. We practice our naturalist skills by studying animals in nature, then learn to share our knowledge with others through writing and art. Humans can play an important role in supporting a healthy ecosystem, as we are an integral part of how it functions and thrives. Join us as we explore the beautiful diversity of life on earth.
 
CURRICULUM INCLUDED:
 
Opening
Outdoor Movement: Signs and Tracks of Living Things: Observing Outdoors Like a Naturalist
Outdoor Movement: Animal Yoga
Reading: Summarizing Texts about Living Organisms
Reading: Reading Diagrams to Learn about the Life Cycles of Living Organisms
Writing: Adding Details to Make Writing More Specific and Engaging
Writing: Narrative Nonfiction about Animals
Culture and Society: Invasive Species
Art: Printmaking: Monoprinting and Block Printing with Recycled Materials
Nutrition: Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores
Science: Animal Classification
Science: Exploring Animal Adaptations in Birds
Mathematics: 
Measuring Length in Non-Standard Units (K-2)
Standard Units of Measurement (3-4)
Converting Units of Measurement (5-6)
Mathematics: 
Measuring Length in Standard Units (K-2)
Converting Units of Measurement (3-4)
Line Plots (5-6)
Monthly Project: Design a Creature
Mindfulness: Build Empathy by Thinking with Our Heads (Not Just Our Hearts)
Closing
 
 
April Topics: This month, we explore some of the many cycles of nature. We examine what it means to be a producer, a consumer, and a decomposer. Venturing into our backyards, we look for local examples of each. We learn how these living organisms fit into food chains and food webs, and also where we fit into them. We learn about cycles of nature and how the finite resources of our beautiful planet are recycled. The human imagination is one of these incredible resources and we examine the farthest reaches of imagination in the genre of fantasy. We also look at the practical applications of human imagination as we learn about conservationists. This month, we cover some difficult yet important topics, like endangered and extinct animals. But we also give your student opportunities to improve their skills, such as persuasive writing and self-reflection. These are tools your student can use to cope with their expanded understanding of the world's complexities.
 
APRIL CURRICULUM INCLUDED:
Opening
Outdoor Movement:  Who are the producers, consumers, and decomposers in your Neighborhood?
Outdoor Movement: Yoga for Renewal and Rebirth
Reading: Fluency
Reading: Fantasy
Writing: Write a Fantasy Picture Book
Writing: 
Write a Persuasive Essay about an Endangered Species (3-4 and 5-6)
Culture and Society: Extinct Animals, Endangered Species, and Conservation 
Art:  Colored Pencil Techniques and Food Chains / Webs
Nutrition:  Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers in the Food Chain / Web
Science: Cycles of Nature
Science: Experiment - Decomposition
Mathematics: 
Telling Time on the Analog Clock (K-2)
Perimeter of a Rectangle (3-4)
World of Ration (5-6)
Mathematics: 
Money and Currency (K-2)
Area of a Rectangle (3-4)
Rates and Unit Rates (5-6)
Monthly Project: Game Creation
Mindfulness: Journey of a Raindrop
Closing
 
 
May Topics: This month, we explore the incredible world of plants. From the parts of plants to photosynthesis, we delve into the vast diversity and magic of plants. We learn how to compare and contrast texts that we read and apply this skill to real life as we compare and contrast plants. We learn to write and follow how-tos. We also draw parallels to our academic studies: How is the writing process like plant growth? How is reading like foraging? Then we learn how and why plants are an integral part of our world, diving into the topics of photosynthesis, plant diversity, and pollinator species. We introduce some of the many threats plants face, such as loss of ecosystem diversity, and learn what we can do to help, from growing a garden to attracting pollinators. Above all, we invite you and your student to go out, experience the world of plants, and get your hands dirty while planting some literal and metaphorical seeds.
 
MAY CURRICULUM INCLUDED:
Opening
Outdoor Movement: Collecting Plant Data
Outdoor Movement: Balance
Reading: Compare and Contrast
Reading: Foraging Through Texts and the Natural World
Writing: 
Procedural Writing (3-4 and 5-6)
Writing: Seeds of Writing
Culture and Society: The Importance of Plant Diversity
Art: Flowers
Nutrition: Plants for Pollinators and Cooking with Honey
Science: All About Plants
Science: Photosynthesis and Plant Experiments
Mathematics:
Frequency Tables and Dot Plots (5-6) 
Mathematics: 
Distribution of Data (5-6)
Monthly Project: Plan a Garden
Mindfulness: Seeds of Hope
Closing