Getting Started with Homeschooling
Practical Considerations for Parents of School-Aged Children
© Beverley Paine
Index
Homeschool
Australia
Examples Of Learning Programs
(continued)
Planned Activities
- Visit to Parliament House, including discussion on government, laws, etc. Preparation and follow up with use of library books and videos. Camping holiday to the Flinders Ranges. Focus on geology, climate, land use, land
- degradation, conservation of plant and animal species, rocks and minerals, map skills, early explorers, history and Aboriginal culture.
- Home Based Learning Camp in a local Conservation Park. Participation in survival and bushcraft skills, planning and organisational skills, social and recreational activities, bushwalking.
- Participation in Trees for Life Free Tree Scheme. Growing and planting 1000 seedlings for our property, and 2000 for a tree planting project. Record keeping and propagation skills. Preparation of permaculture plan and map of our property; planning land use.
- Visit to Investigator Science Centre Special Exhibits.
- Visit to St Kilda Mangrove Trail.
- Visit to ABC building - focus on Media.
- Visits to various places of employment (e.g. bakery, car factory, etc).
- Visit to the SA Museum - various exhibits.
- Visit to the Zoological Gardens
- Dunecare’ activity days and events.
The next example is the author’s first educational program, written for her daughter, April, aged five. This list of subjects was supplemented with a statement on educational beliefs and elaboration on the methods of instruction to be used. The period of the learning program was set at one year.
1986 Learning Program - April
ARTS
Drama: We will follow the format April was accustomed to in Kindergarten, with role-playing in fantasy games and acting out rhymes, stories and songs. We have an extensive box of dress ups and props, toys and ordinary household objects to stimulate her imagination. It is anticipated April will continue to have access to her friends to develop social skills in playing.
Music: We have an extensive collection of music for listening to, and April has several percussion instruments (with more to be made in craft sessions). April will be encouraged to make use of these at all times. In addition, we will be introducing her to the recorder and teaching her to play, with an emphasis on enjoyment.
Arts and Craft: For the most part activities will be spontaneous, generated by April’s interest (or her brother, aged three). We will continue to improve our collection of art and craft materials, and make use of the natural environment for ideas and materials. Projects and ideas will also be generated from our excursions, and activities in other subjects. We will be focussing on fun and experimentation, with mastery of dexterity and aesthetic skills also important.
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Reading: April is already a proficient and independent reader of picture books. She will continue to be read to on request and daily, and will be required to read aloud to us regularly. She has her own collection of books, and will visit the library often. Quiet times, where April can look and read a variety of types of books alone, will be provided.
Phonics/Spelling/Word Knowledge: This will proceed as in the past. As April comes across words she does not understand they will be explained. We are making use of various educational aids such as ‘Royal Road Reading Kit’, letter shapes, alphabet dice and games, flash cards, etc. April has her own personal dictionary she records new words in. Spelling is corrected as necessary.
 previous page |
Excerpt from Getting Started with Homeschooling, Practical Considerations
© Beverley Paine, 1997
