For example, young students may study an area of science that they like. Reading materials are chosen to coincide with the science. If the material has a historical component, that is also studied. You can even add in some math problems that use the material. Parents can purchase unit studies or create their own. A unit study can revolve around almost anything: science, history, literature, sports, music, art, etc. Curricula developers see the benefit for both the students and teachers in creating materials that can be multi-faceted as well as multi-level. Parents also use lapbooks to organize and have a hands-on element to a unit study.
We have used My Father's World in the past and are using it again this year. It is our plan to use it for all four years of high school too. MFW provides a wonderful selection of reading materials and resources. The younger grades cover history, literature, science, Bible, and art. Parents add in a math and English grammar. The high school level covers history, literature, grammar, writing, and Bible. They recommend Apologia sciences; you also have to add mathematics. The program comes with lesson plans that are easy to use and easy to manipulate as you see fit. We find that we can double up days as we need to also which gives us the flexibility we need. This year I have 2 students using the high school level and one using the younger level; they are both doing the same "time" study of ancient history. I am hopeful that it will run smoothly. The high school level is set up for the students to work individually with a weekly check by the parent. I like to do some of subjects together and since I only have one in the younger level, it seems doable.
As an English major, I also teach a class to homeschooled students. I am using the English literature supplement as my guide in teaching. We won't cover all of the material in MFW with the class, but I am impressed with the literature supplement. I thought I would be adding a different grammar into our studies. But upon viewing the guide, I do not see that an addition will be necessary which means more ease for me as an instructor. The class meets once a week, on Mondays, for an hour and fifteen minutes. I give instruction and we have class time as well as short presentations done by the students. It is enjoyable for me to teach as well as a help to some parents.
My children are also involved in a 4H club and the Youth Fair in our county. We don't do much with animals as we don't have property to do so. But my children enter items in the Consumer and Family Science division each year. My youngest is studying Astronomy through an Apologia study this year. (We started it last year and are finishing it up this year.) To make sure she has a good understanding of what she is studying, I asked her to make a book with a page for each planet and the sun and moon from the chapters in our book. As we are talking about it, she asks if she can use this as her children's book for Youth Fair. A fabulous idea indeed! I went through my stash of large construction paper. She is going to scrapbook pictures and typed info written for a young child. We will get it laminated and simply bind it. Now she has a review for Astronomy and a project to turn into the Childcare Development area of the Youth Fair! I love it when we can take our school, our extra projects, and our fun to make our homeschooling stretch.
One more example with the Youth Fair, my older daughter is fairly proficient in the kitchen. I belong to a produce co-op, and we had a lot of bananas--too many for us to eat. We usually make banana bread or muffins, but I'm trying to watch my carbs. So I looked up a recipe for banana butter. She made it and canned it. Now we have yummy banana butter, another Youth Fair project, and gifts for some friends later on. Yay!
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