Welcome to Our Literature Kits Homeschool Language Arts Course

Getting Started with Our Literature Kits Homeschool Language Arts Course

Literature Kits homeschool language arts lessons help elementary to early middle school homeschool students study literature from the context of many different subjects. Each book can be read to the homeschool student by the parent, or it could be read to the family by the older students if the book is being discussed together. The language arts lessons are designed to assist homeschool students in discovering the joys of literature and discussing each book that is read from the point of view of history, geography, the Bible, etc. Fun activities help students retain the information. The homeschool language arts book studies can be done in any order, covering each book as it fits the homeschool student’s schedule. The studies of the books are different lengths, depending upon the length of the book, but average 3-4 weeks each.

Overview

• 13 units
• Includes suggested pre-reading activities, hands-on activities, discussion questions, links to additional information, writing assignments, and suggested additional reading
• Grades 1st-6th

Supplies Needed

Corresponding lessons on SchoolhouseTeachers.com

What to Do

Go to Class Lessons and download the lesson plan and lessons file. Start with the Day 1 reading assignment. Follow the instructions each day on the lesson plan and check them off when completed.

Course Sample for Our Literature Kits Homeschool Language Arts Course

I have read many books during my lifetime—many books—and Charlotte’s Web is one of my favorites from my childhood.

I was introduced to Charlotte’s Web through a reading textbook while in elementary school. Like most of them, it included selections from many different books. Charlotte’s Web was one of the books, and the selection was enough to pique my interest. In fact, most of what I borrowed from the library during that time period was chosen based on my reading books: Little Women, The Hobbit, and Caddie Woodlawn, to name a few.

A few months ago I picked up Charlotte’s Web and began reading it again. When I reached the end of the first chapter, I realized I was grinning. The description of Fern bottle-feeding the tiny pig reminded me of why I enjoyed this book so much as a child. In spare moments I finished the book, excited about sharing it with my youngest daughter, an animal lover.

Perhaps your children are like mine. All of them have watched the movies—both the animated version and the more recent one—but a movie doesn’t compare to sitting down and savoring a good book. So, if you haven’t read this classic, or if it has been awhile, I think you and your children will enjoy this wonderful tale of friendship.

SETTING: Rural area in the early 1950s

The author doesn’t specifically say where in the United States the story takes place, but we can assume that, because he was inspired by a spider in the barn on his property in Maine, that he wrote it with that setting in mind.

This book was published in 1952, so the time period is probably the late 1940s to early 1950s. As you are reading the book, notice how Fern and her brother, Avery, spend their summer days.

• How is it similar to the way you, and your siblings, spend your summers? What about other children in the United States? What about other countries?
• How many things do you use on a daily (or weekly) basis that weren’t invented in 1952? If you aren’t sure, look it up. (If you use the computer for research, make sure you have your parents’ permission).
• Do you think you could go without any of these inventions for a day? A week? A month? How have they made our lives better or improved them? What negative things have happened because of some (or all) of these inventions?
• What major world event had happened within the last decade when this book was published?
• Does Fern and Avery’s life sound interesting?
• Pick at least one thing that you would like to do that they did in the book. Is it possible and something your parents will allow?
• Talk to a grandparent or great-grandparent. Ask them how old they were when this book was published, and ask them about life during this time period.

To view a full sample of this course, click here.

More About Our Literature Kits Homeschool Language Arts Course

Welcome to Literature Kits homeschool language arts units! There is a place for worksheets, but literature doesn’t reside there. It should be experienced. Talked about. Read out loud. Written about (okay, maybe begrudgingly at times). Tasted (nothing helps one experience a book like indulging in the treats the character is relishing) and explored. With that in mind, the lesson designer emphasizes verbal interaction and hands-on experiences versus completing multiple worksheets.

Living books breathe life into homeschool language arts lessons. A unit study or literature kit shouldn’t suffocate it.

For example, the year Ms. Schultz, the designer of these literature kits, taught California History to her children, she didn’t use a textbook for her history curriculum. Instead she bought and borrowed mounds of books about that time period—both fiction and non-fiction—and her family read together. A lot. Some of her children’s favorite memories from that year involved reading By the Great Horn Spoon and Treasures in the Stream aloud. When Praiseworthy and Jack rounded Cape Horn, her children grabbed the huge map of the world from their map stash, unrolled it on the floor, and proceeded to lie on their bellies, discussing the length of the journey in a ship compared to a car or plane trip in the present time period. They talked about how far their city is from the gold mining areas (not far), as well as a myriad of other map-related subjects, and her husband shared a story about his trip to Panama while he was in the Navy. Later they visited the train museum in Old Town Sacramento which had loads of information about the Gold Rush, and they toured Sutter’s Fort. Her son’s 8th birthday party concluded their study of that era. They chose a ’49ers theme, and all of the food, games, and activities centered on the Gold Rush. All of the children enjoyed themselves, and it was a great way to finish a history lesson. They remember far more about that time period than the times the family used a textbook and little else.

Her hope is that these literature kits help ignite homeschooling for other families and that homeschool families enjoy special moments together as they read these books. In addition, her desire is to provide tools to assist homeschool parents in developing in their children a love of good literature; teaching them critical thinking skills; expanding their knowledge of the Bible, history, geography, and other subjects; developing their writing abilities; “traveling” as a family to fascinating times and places; creating fun art projects; and experiencing different foods and flavors.

When browsing these homeschool language arts literature kits, remember they are there to inspire and energize, not to overwhelm. If a suggestion feels heavy like toting heavy boulders around the backyard, move on; choose the next thing on the list. The goal is to help homeschool students grow in their knowledge and understanding of multiple subjects, and the more excited and motivated parents are, the more that will pour out and affect their children.

Depending on the length of the book, elementary homeschool students may cover one chapter and sometimes more. Each of the suggested activities is categorized by subject (i.e., language arts). Many of these suggestions can be applied to other chapters and books.

So go! Print out the week’s suggestions, fix a pot of tea, gather children around the table or allow them to fling themselves around the living room, and read to them. Don’t be afraid of the occasional interruption for questions or discussions. Sometimes stopping mid-chapter to look up things that pique their interest is a good thing. Gauge the children. If they are fidgety and seem bored, grab a suggested activity that may interest them (i.e., getting the map and finding out where the story takes place, etc.), but don’t overwhelm them or have them begging to stop. Leave them wanting more, and times together will be memorable and sweet.