This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Integrate several subjects with this project-based unit study to bring the joy of learning right to your living room.
Total classes: 12
Introduction: Welcome to the Grade School Unit Study Program for 3rd through 6th grade students designed to simplify and streamline your home education experience. Through an integrated literature-based curriculum, your family receives clear assignment schedules and checklists each week, as well as automated quizzes for students, and a once-a-week touch-base LIVE class where student discussion, games, and learning take place. In addition, students engage in writing assignments and hands-on projects, including one weekly assignment submission to receive instructor feedback.
Subjects Included in the Unit Study:
Based on a 4-day work week…
* History: 30-45 minutes per day
* Literature: 45-60 minutes per day
* Greek & Latin Roots: 10 minutes per day
* Poetry Memorization: 10 minutes per day
* Creative Writing: 60-90 minutes per week
* Science: 60-90 minutes per week
* Saint Study: 30 minutes per week
* Solo Reading (time varies per family choice; suggested 30-60 minutes per day)
* Project Work (time varies per family choice; suggested 60-90 minutes per week)
How it Works
The Grade School Unit Study Program incorporates History, Science, Language Arts, Art, and Religion — to learn all subjects together in a unit that coordinates and dovetails into one harmonized year of learning.
The “Flipped Classroom”
The Grade School Unit Study Program uses a “flipped classroom” approach in a four-day-week course of study: families work together on interactive lessons (guided instruction). In addition to home learning, the once-a-week LIVE online class “becomes the place to work through problems, advance concepts, and engage in collaborative learning” (The Flipped Classroom, https://www.educationnext.org/the-flipped-classroom/).
Your Program Description
The Four-Year Sequence
The entire program spans a four-year sequence based on the four volumes of TAN Books’ History series, The Story of Civilization. The following years of study can be taken independently or in any order.
The Ancient World (Volume 1, Year One)
The Medieval World (Volume 2, Year Two)
The Making of the Modern World (Volume 3, Year Three)
The History of the United States (Volume 4, Year Four)
In the 2023-2024 school year, you can choose Ancient History OR The Making of the Modern World for the Grade School Unit Study Program. This course description is for The Making of the Modern World.
Coordination with the Middle and High School Programs
Coordinate Learning, Simplify Teaching
Your older students can also get LIVE, interactive courses here at Homeschool Connections — courses that cover the same historical era as this program, so your elementary through high school students can study the same four-year historical sequence concurrently, making your homeschooling easier.
Your Year-Long, Two-Part Grade School Unit Study: The Making of the Modern World
The year-long unit study is taught in two parts: Part One in the Fall Semester (12 weeks), Part Two in the Spring Semester (12 weeks). Sign your children up for both parts to create a complete year of learning.
Core Texts
The same texts are used for both Part One and Part Two of the series. If you took Part One and purchased these texts, there is nothing to purchase for Part Two.
New or used copies of the texts will work for use in this course. See BookFinder.com for the best prices.
Your Book List
Purchase or borrow the following books for the school year (if you haven’t already):
- The Story of Civilization (TSoC), Volume 3: The Making of the Modern World by Phillip Campbell, (ISBN-978-1-5051-0982-5) (All Year). Note: Supplementary TSoC Student and Teacher texts and Audio/Video products are optional. You are welcomed to add supplementary texts (as well as audio and video materials) as tools for further engagement.
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day by J. Fulbright. (ISBN-13: 978-1932012736; ISBN-10: 1932012737) (All Year)
- Saints & Heroes by Ethel Pochocki (ISBN-10: 11932350519; ISBN-13: 978-1932350517) (All Year)
- Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (any unabridged version) (All Year)
- English from the Roots Up, Volumes 1 and 2 by Joegil Lundquist. (Vol 1: ISBN-13: 978-1885942128; ISBN-10: 1885942125; Vol 2: ISBN-13: 978-1885942302ISBN-10: 1885942303). Any new or used volume works. Students have a choice to study Vol 1 roots, Vol 2 roots, or both. Many families only buy the premade flashcards rather than the book and flashcards, and this serves to be enough to study and take course quizzes. Choose the resource that works best for your family. (All Year)
- St. Phillip of the Joyous Heart by Francis X. Connolly (ISBN-10: 0898704316; ISBN-13: 978-0898704310) (Fall)
- Madeleine Takes Command by Ethel Brill (ISBN-10: 1883937175; ISBN-13: 978-1883937171) (Fall)
- The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi. (ISBN-10: 0545477115; ISBN-13: 978-0545477116 (Winter Break)
- The Children of Fatima by Mary Fabyan Windeatt. (ISBN-10: 0895554194; ISBN-13: 978-0895554192). (Spring)
- The Winged Watchman by Hilda Van Stockum. (ISBN-10: 1883937078; ISBN 13: 978-1883937072 (Spring)
Helpful Additions: The Making of the Modern World
Optional: These tools will help your homeschool journey in this unit study, but they will not be assigned.
- Around the World coloring book (Dover History Coloring Book) by Winky Adam (ISBN-10: 0486439836; ISBN-13: 978-0486439839).
- Any World Map to hang in your home. Students will have fun tracking the journey of Phineas Fog as we read Around the World in 80 Days.
Daily Activities
Families are provided with weekly checklists of assignments and a suggested daily schedule. Each week culminates with a LIVE, twenty-five-minute online class meeting for students and parent(s) together with the instructor.
Class Meetings
During each weekly class meeting, students discuss the past week’s readings, play games to reinforce content, and go deeper on relevant topics. After each live class, students have an opportunity to share project work and poetry recitation on camera.
Schedule
Class Dates: January 22 to April 29, 2024 (No class Feb. 19, March 25, or April 1)
Your Class Times: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific)
Multiple students per family: Siblings can watch the sessions (over the shoulder) and complete the automated quizzes FREE. However, only enrolled students may submit and receive teacher grading on weekly assignments and log in to the live sessions to participate on camera and in the chat box. To receive teacher grading for additional students, enroll each additional student independently.
LIVE Class Duration: 25 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of student sharing on camera (off recording)
FAQs
What role does the parent play?
In this unit study program, the parent’s role is to…
- Schedule and implement the course material into your daily school and home life.
- Schedule and engage in read-aloud time.
- Grade some of the materials and work (approximately 30-60 minutes per week, depending on family choice of enrichment activities).
- Attend one live class session with your student(s) each week.
What’s included in the course?
Enrolled families will receive…
- A weekly checklist of activities and assignments and a timeline template.
- A suggested daily schedule for the four-day school week.
- The weekly submission of auto-graded assignments, and instructor grading/feedback of one assignment per week by the instructor.
- A LIVE class meeting each week with the instructor to discuss material studied and to offer students an opportunity to share their work and/or recitations on camera (off-recording). Parents are expected to attend.
Which assignments are graded by the teacher?
Enrolled students will have one assignment per week that is submitted for a grade. The assignment type alternates between project work (various subjects) and written assignments. Subject matter quizzes are auto graded.
Questions?
We’re happy to help!
Simply email [email protected], or call Toll Free, 1-888-372-4757, and we’ll get right back to you with answers!
We look forward to seeing you in class!
Registration link
