Our 5th Grade Curriculum 2012-13

We are using Winter Promise this year! Here are the main books used (copied from the Winter Promise website winterpromise.com)

A Full WinterPromise Exclusive Resources Set:

Ancient 4/8 Guide for Middlers
"Make-Your-Own" Ancient History 4/8
Setting Out on Ancient Adventure Quests

Plus These Print Books:

The Mystery of History - 2nd edition
Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
Great Ancient China Projects
Lamps, Scrolls & Goatskin Bottles
Story of the World, Vol. 1
Ancient Egypt Projects
Pharaohs & Foot Soldiers
Kings & Carpenters
Explore Ancient Greece
Explore Ancient Rome

Plus these novels:

Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt
The Golden Goblet
Victory on the Walls
The Iliad
Bronze Bow
Gladiator
Hittite Warrior
God King
Adara
The Odyssey

And these novels for Language Arts:

Tirzah
Beauty in the Fields
Bible Wars & Weapons
Rise of the Golden Cobra
Aesop's Fables
Theras & His Town
Detectives in Togas
Polycarp: Crown of Fire

Here are the boxes he will have:


BIBLE~ we've actually been doing this together during our group morning work.  I am using the reading recommended in Winter Promise that coincides with Mystery of History.

LANGUAGE ARTS~ We are using the Winter Promise La. Arts; he had to do some worksheets related to grammar and writing. We are also going to finish up the second half of First Language Lessons Level 4.


MATH~ We are using a new curriculum this year, Math Mammoth. I loved Math-U-See but after nearly daily tears and frustration, I had to at least try something new even though I do feel it is the subject more than the curriculum causing the issues. Now, I have to teach Math each day and am spending far more time with my 5th grader than I ever did when he was a 4th grader. Can't decide if this feels like a step backwards or not. This curriculum seems hard but  teaches you ways to do things in your head. While that idea stresses me out, it is right up my 5th grader's alley so maybe it will click. This box has not gone smoothly but it is only day 3. And it is still math.

http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/grade_5.php

SPELLING~ After reading rave reviews about All About Spelling, I am using it! I have to start basically from the beginning but we are moving quickly and so far I think it is teaching wonderful things and there has been no frustration. Again, math and spelling were on his own last year so this is adding to the "Work with Mom" list. 

http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/

Music~ Using Erica's curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler: (I idolize her more than any celebrity I can think of!)

http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2012/01/worlds-greatest-composers-vol-1.html
It starts with the 4 main periods of classical music, and will take a closer look at a few composers from each. It has wonderful lapbooks and tells us what songs to listen to on naxos.com or itunes. 

Science~ Apologia Land Animals of the 6th day textbook and notebook:


Vocabulary~  I printed out a vocabulary study from Scholastic called "Vocabulary: No Boring Practice Please" by Harold Jarnocki. He learns a word a day, which he records in a notebook, and he has a brief activity from the book to complete using that word. It's an ebook that I got during one of their $1 download sales (more expensive now!!)
http://teacherexpress.scholastic.com/no-boring-practice-please-vocabulary


HISTORY~ This is the box for his independent history work. (Winter Promise includes things for us to read aloud together, which so far has been a lesson from Mystery of History Vol. 1 and a chapter from the novel The Golden Goblet, along with pages from Archaeology for Kids which is more for my 9th grader). He has to complete "Adventure Quest" pages and read from Story of the World Part I. He has also started a Nature Notebook which I have always wanted to do. 

READING~ For his Language Arts novels (different from the one we read together!) Currently he is reading Tirzah. 

HANDWRITING~ Finishing up Can-Do Cursive from Handwriting Without Tears (http://shopping.hwtears.com/category/HWT):

He is almost finished as he started this last year; we will be using one of their blank books and doing basic copywork when he finishes this. I also purchased some of their stickers that show the proper way to write each letter and stuck it to the outside of his box so he always has it for reference.






So, he has 10 boxes this year! He does on his own: history, science, vocabulary, and handwriting. The others will be a mixture of work w/ me and independent.