Posts Tagged ‘unit study’

Unit Study-Harry Potter*

{ February 16, 2008 @ 11:01 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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We did this about two years ago (well, whenever the Goblet of Fire movie came out) but I recently dug it out when someone wanted to take a look at it and thought I would post it here as well! 

This one is going to look more like a typical unit study then my units typically do.

Harry Potter Unit Study

Learning Objectives:

To understand more about Harry Potter as literature and to incorporate other subjects into HP cannon as follows

Science

Botany (herbology)-how to grow herbs and their use in the home

Animal Care (care of magical creatures)-life cycles and care of cats, bats, rats and owls

Chemistry (potions)-several *potions* using acid/base reaction, invisible ink, etc

Cryptozoology-Big Foot, Nessie, Giant Squid

Math

Basic arithmetic practice (arithmancy)-figuring of birth and destiny numbers

Numbers in Nature (Fibonacci numbers)

Language Arts

Sustained silent reading

Read alouds

Harry Potter writing prompts

Hogwarts anagrams

Creative Writing

Book and Movie reviews

Comparison of HP with Greek myths and Arthurian Legend

Discussion of things like foreshadowing, plot points and character development w/in the series

Art

Drawing Dragons

Making Fairy houses

Making bat houses

Wand Making

Geography

Learning about supposed mystical places like Easter Island, Stonehenge and the Bermuda triangle

Locating and learning about Ireland, Scotland, England, Bulgaria, France and India

Home Ec

Cauldron Cakes

Butter Beer

RESOURCES

Books

Harry Potter series

Harry Potter Study Guide (from HogwortsSCS)

The Once and Future King

Greek Myths and Legends

Jan Van Cleaves Plants

JVC Chemistry for Every Kid

The Magical World of Harry Potter

Cryptids

DVDS

Harry Potter DVDs 1-5

Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter

Dragons-A Fantasy Made Real

Monster Quest (this is actually a TV series, and a recent one)

Internet Resources

http://www.mugglenet.com

http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/cat_index_24.shtml

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/HogwartsSCS

http://www.world-mysteries.com/sci_17.htm

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1612.html

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/pdf/numbersnature/numbersnature.pdf

*Just to be completely clear; I lay no claim to Harry Potter, the character or the books or anything else bearing his name.  They (and he) are the property of JK Rowling and her publishers and such.  I wouldn’t even attempt it, I am not worthy. 

Unit Study-The American Revolution

{ February 7, 2008 @ 10:28 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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We spent a good part of our first quarter covering the American Revolution.  The kids really enjoyed it, although in totally different ways! B was very into the battles and the political strategy while K was more into the personal stories. 

K’s book list

Little House in Boston Bay

Finding Becca

The Secret of Sarah Revere

Cast Two Shadows

Going to School in 1776

B. Franklin Printer

Johnny Tremain

My Brother Sam is Dead

Sections from: 

The Almanac of World History

Encyclopedia of World History

The Story of Mankind

 B’s book list

John, Paul, George and Ben

George vs. George

What’s the Big Idea Ben Franklin?

Why Don’t You Get a Horse Sam Adams?

Can’t You Make Them Behave King George?

Magic Tree house Revolutionary War on Wednesday

Magic Tree house Study Guide-American Revolution

George Washington’s Breakfast

The American Revolution

Time Warp Trio-Oh Say I can’t See

Valley Forge

K also read some of B’s books, either on her own or to B.

Websites

Liberty! The series on PBS http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/

Kid Info site on The American Revolution http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html

This is more for classrooms-but I did get some good ideas!http://www.mce.k12tn.net/revolutionary_war/american_revolution.htm

Other Resources

Learning Through History Magazine-American Revolution

Hands on Activities

Make Johnny Cake

Make an early American flag

Write with Quill Pens

Unit Study-Victorian England and Sherlock Holmes

{ February 5, 2008 @ 8:13 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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This unit started because our local library based their summer reading program for teens around Stanford University’s Discovering Sherlock Holmes program.  Until this point K had always professed that she *didn’t like Sherlock* because he was *too arrogant and he takes drugs*.  She certainly had a point, but was apparently she was willing to put aside her distaste for the chance at free books (see me rolling my eyes?).  At any rate, an obsession was quickly born and she has been reading everything Sherlock or Victorian she can get her hands on ever since!

Here’s the run down thus far:

WEBSITES:

http://sherlockholmes.stanford.edu/

http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/home.htm

http://www.victorianweb.org/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/victorians/index.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/

READING LIST:

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Sign of the Four

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Montmorency-Thief, Liar, Gentleman?

Montmorency on the Rocks

Montmorency and the Assassins

Chance Child

Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde

We aren’t done yet, she is still reading Sherlock stories and recently discovered Laurie King’s Mary Russell series which are written in a later time period from the viewpoint of Holmes newest apprentice, a young Miss Russell.  I love these books and have enjoyed sharing them with her! 

I’m thinking this might last awhile longer and I’m trying to squeeze as much in as I can ;)