Kindergarten Prep: Summer Homeschool Plans
If you homeschool year-round, do you have a summer break? We will have about a month before I start kindergarten curriculum with Elani. We have a family trip planned in July, and she will begin kindergarten after that. I almost cannot believe it! If you saw my YouTube video, you know that we will study many different countries throughout her kindergarten year. I noticed that the Torchlight curriculum that we are using spends very little time in the beginning on basic map concepts, so we will be doing a unit study on maps.
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The main resource that we will use was a Teachers Pay Teachers find. I love that it has so many options for activities because this means that we will be able to use this resource more than once. Though Emi is only two, I plan to include her in as much of the learning as possible.
The second resource that I will be using is from National Geographic. The goal is for them to learn how to use a map and to use positional vocabulary through a familiar story. The stories that I plan to use are Make Way for Ducklings and Curious George Gets a Medal. We already own both of these books, which is why I chose them from the options provided for the activity. I do not know if we will have time for both stories, but I will start with Curious George Gets a Medal since we have read it multiple times and I know that both girls enjoy the characters.
The third resource that we will be using for summer homeschooling is not related to mapping. I first heard of Dr. Betty Choi on the Brave Writer Podcast and instantly fell in love with her book concept. I ordered it immediately and Elani is so excited to dive in. Elani has recently taken an interest in the human body and has so many questions about how different things work. Human Body Learning Lab is incredibly informational while still being approachable for young learners. It is colorful, and fun, and includes engaging activities and crafts to deepen the understanding of how different parts of the body function.
The final resource that I will be using for Elani’s learning during our family’s summer break is Dash into Learning. Elani has already started ready the books so we are going to continue with her reading and roll right into kindergarten. So far, Elani has really enjoyed these books and I look forward to seeing her reading progress through kindergarten. This is the one thing that Emi will not be a part of as I work specifically with Elani during her reading time.
For some, this will seem like a lot. For others, this will seem like not enough. And that is what I love about homeschooling. It doesn’t matter what other families are doing. It doesn’t matter what other kids are doing. You know your child and you guide them to learn what is best for them in the way that is best for them.
With that said, if you are looking for resources to keep your child engaged before you start the school year, I hope that this is helpful for you. One of the things that I love about homeschooling is that I know that we can accomplish most of the things that I have in mind and still have a memorable summer break filled with sunshine, lots of water, and even more laughter. I hope you and your family have an amazing summer break, as well!
