These days, I enjoy planning themes for the month, finding relevant books, activities, and other resources, and then using our morning time to dive in. I’m amazed at the vast content that we’ve been able to cover over the years and I love watching my children take what they’ve learned from one little picture book into their day and weave it into their play and conversations. The last of my 7 learners is a bit of a reluctant learner but he never turns down a read-aloud or a hands-on activity to accompany the book…another benefit of using books.

June is a great time of year to transition to using more books even if it’s just to keep summer learning going. Curriculum studies are often winding down at this time of year and June is full of educational themes and topics. We’ve pulled together a few book stacks to help you cover the following topics.

June is National Indigenous History Month
Indian Tribes of North America – Coloring Book
Hiawatha
Northwest Coast Indians – Coloring Book
How Summer Came to Canada
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Canadian Fairy Tales
The Indian School

World Ocean Day is June 8^th

Island Boy
My First Book About the Oceans
A Morning to Polish and Keep
What Lives in a Shell
One Morning in Maine
Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean
Oceans
Sea Animals – Sticker & Coloring Book
Time of Wonder

June 5th is National Health and Fitness Day

Hear Your Heart
My First Book About the Brain
How Many Teeth
Lungs
My First Human Body Coloring Book

June 21st is World Music Day

Musical Instruments
Great Composers
Meet the Orchestra
Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers
Music Activity Book
The Story of the Orchestra
The Gift of Music

A few other resources to mention…

June 1st is World Milk Day and we carry a sweet little resource for you to read to your children…Milk From Cow to Carton. You don’t need to look much farther than your grocery store to add a fun activity to accompany this read-aloud; a menu filled with fun dairy foods! If you are looking for a more complete study on where our food comes from we carry a bunch of picture books that are a great place to start: How Do Apples Grow, From Seed to Plant, Honeymakers, The Vegetables We Eat.

It’s the story behind The Swiss Family Robinson that makes this novel a good choice for Fathers Day. The author, Johann David Wyss (1743-1818) was a pastor in Switzerland. He created this story to entertain and instruct his boys after they developed an interest in the Robinson Crusoe story. This is a classic family read-aloud and will prime your children for hours of summer creative play.  If you are looking to add some formal learning to this novel we also carry the Swiss Family Robinson Comprehension Guide. Also, don’t forget that this novel has been made into a movie. See our Movie Night Book Stack for a complete list of novels that have been made into movies.

June marks the beginning of the summer season. The Reasons for the Seasons does a great job explaining why seasons change. Add these titles to round out your child’s understanding of the relationship between the seasons and solar system: The Moon Book, The Sky is Full of Stars, The Big Dipper, Along Came Galileo.

Visit us again next month for a new list of books that you can add to your summer homeschool.

by Adrianne Curwen

Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children.  She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there.  Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new.  She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.

The post Teach Through June appeared first on Classical Education Books.

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada and we’ve gathered a stack of books to help you and your family learn about the heritage of our Asian community. Use the links to find complete descriptions of each book.

Anno’s China

The Five Chinese Brothers

Ruby’s Wish

Water Buffalo Days

Chu Ju’s House

The Story About Ping

Tikki Tikki Tembo

The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks

The Story of Little Babaji

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Inside Out and Back Again

Rikki Tikki Tavi

El Chino

Ming Lo Moves the Mountain

The Lotus Seed

Something Beautiful for God

Crow Boy

Once A Mouse

Grandfather’s Journey

Taste of Asia

by Adrianne Curwen

Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children.  She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there.  Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new.  She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.

The post Asian Heritage Month Book Stack appeared first on Classical Education Books.

The Easter Egg

A Tale for Easter

The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross

The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross – Coloring and Activity Book

The Passion of the King of Glory

National Wildlife Week – April 4th-10th

Encyclopedia of Animals

Kingfisher First Encyclopedia of Animals

Call of the Wild and White Fang

The Jungle Book

Vimy Ridge Day – World War I – April 9th

Airplanes of World War I – Coloring Book

The post Teach Through April Book Stack appeared first on Classical Education Books.

We have a selection of art curriculum that you can work through with your children but also consider taking the time to introduce your children to famous artists and their work. We have used several of these Katie books; they are a fun way to introduce your children to the art world.

Add a package of watercolour pencils, paintbrushes, and a new watercolour art book and you have the ingredients for making beautiful homeschool memories.

Katie and the Mona Lisa

Katie and the British Artists

Katie and the Waterlily Pond

Katie’s Picture Show

Katie and the Bathers

Katie and the Starry Night

by Adrianne Curwen

Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children.  She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there.  Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new.  She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.

The post Book Stacks – Katie Books appeared first on Classical Education Books.

It’s important that our children hear the bible read to them on a regular basis as hearing the words, wisdom, and instruction over the years builds a strong foundation. What at times seems to be information that is beyond young ones does build over time.

A solid bible storybook is another tool we can use to build a solid foundation. They help young ones access wisdom and truth early in their lives and they give a high-altitude view of the bible, using stories as a way to communicate. As well, cycling through these stories year after year becomes the basis for more advanced learning, making these great resources for the grammar stage of learning.

The Big Picture Story Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Story Bible

A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories

The Golden Children’s Bible

The Child’s Story Bible

The Children’s Illustrated Story Bible

Story Bible for Older Children – Old Testament

Story Bible for Older Children – New Testament

Journey Through the Bible

The post Bible Storybook Stack appeared first on Classical Education Books.

Coloring Books

Don’t let the fact that these are coloring books fool you, they are full of more than just coloring. Your children will learn a lot as they read through these pages and be inspired to learn more. They are a great starting point for some springtime learning.

Forest Animals

My First Book About Backyard Nature

Backyard Nature Coloring Book

Picture Books

You might still need a blanket but these picture books about nature would make great read alouds as you sit outside enjoying the change of season. I have to be so purposeful to get outside in the winter months but that all changes once springtime rolls around. We eat outside, read outside, and work through our morning time routine outside.

Wangari Maathai

Stellaluna

The Gift of the Tree

The Rainforest Grew All Around

We’re Sailing to Galapagos

Have You Seen Birds?

Wonders of Nature

Novels and Nature Stories

All of the reading here has a spring/nature theme. Use the links below to see a full description of each title.

The Penderwicks in Spring

Come To My Tomorrowland

The Burgess Bird Book for Children

Outdoor Secrets

Jack’s Insects

We hope you are excited about the appearance of spring, but we also know that the events of life can cause the darkness of winter to take root where it is not welcome. Know that the CEB team is here to help you navigate through your homeschooling journey no matter what season you wake up to today.

by Adrianne Curwen

Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children.  She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there.  Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new.  She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.

The post Spring Book Stack appeared first on Classical Education Books.

The Planets

Stargazers

The Moon Book

by Adrianne Curwen

Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children.  She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there.  Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new.  She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.

The post Book Stack – Gail Gibbons Solar System appeared first on Classical Education Books.

But you don’t need to just read the books and plink out the tunes on your own. You can also purchase a thumb drive that contains all the music referred to in each book. And if that wasn’t enough, you can purchase a Student Activity Book, a Coloring book, and another thumb drive with files to create a lapbook.

The question is, how much is too much? Well, how much time do you want to spend studying music? I have been teaching through the Student Activity Book One. It contains about 4 lessons for each reader. The lessons repeat their content for each reader, so you know what to expect. Each set of lessons starts with comprehension questions, a lesson that points out good character traits shown by the composer, and some activities like mapping the composer’s travels, or recipes to make food from their time and culture. It spends time talking about music theory and music styles because there is a difference between classical and baroque music. It introduces the instruments of the orchestra as well as how different kinds of orchestras are arranged.

The Student Activity book is quite an in-depth study of music, not just composers. It’s not exactly a living text, but it is hands-on, and it often refers to the files on the thumb drive for the Lapbook activities. There are two Activity books, Book 1 covers Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, Mozart, Paganini, and Handel. You can purchase the complete study here. Book 2 covers Chopin, Schumann, Wagner, Foster, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and MacDowell.

Quick Facts:

• Living books about composers for any age.
• Add the music thumb drive to play the music referred to in the books.
• Make it a full-year study of composers, music styles, and orchestra by adding in the Student Activity and Lapbook.
• Book 1 is for Grades 2-4.
• Book 2 is for Grades 5-7.
• The Activity books are flexible in that you can choose to skip a certain aspect of study and not miss out on the rest of the course. (i.e. the character study is a bit long and boring and irrelevant).

by Hester VanBraeden

Hester is a second-generation home-educating parent who is keenly aware that her own education is not complete, and comfortable that it probably never will be. She has many years of experience with children, books, and curriculum. She loves to travel to worlds and times beyond the present with her children through many books. Hester and her husband have four children and live in the lower mainland of BC.

The post Curriculum Spotlight – Zeezok Music appeared first on Classical Education Books.

Kermit the Hermit

The Wump World

Hubert’s Hair-Raising Adventure

Farewell to Shady Glade

Chester the Worldly Pig

The Ant and the Elephant

Buford the Little Bighorn

The Gnats of Knotty Pine

Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent

Big Bad Bruce

Smokey

Huge Harold

Jennifer and Josephine

Cowardly Clyde

How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head

Eli

Ella

Capyboppy

The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock

The Caboose Who Got Loose

The Whingdingdilly

Go beyond reading these great picture books to your children and introduce them to the author.

Bill Peet An Autobiography

The post Bill Peet Book Stack appeared first on Classical Education Books.

Snow
A fresh stack of white paper, a new pair of scissors, and a copy of this book is all you need for a special gift for someone who would enjoy cutting out snowflakes. If you are really brave you could add glue and glitter.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Purchase Playdough in an assortment of colours or supplies to make your own. A package of googly eyes, feathers, and pipe cleaners are just a few additions that will help create the animals in this book.

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie
Pick up ingredients and supplies to bake and then gift Christmas cookies to others. To make it extra special add a set of their very own measuring cups and spoons. Such a yummy way to introduce fractions.

Harold and the Purple Crayon
A purple craft box filled with purple art supplies would make such a cute gift.

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
A book like this would be nice to give alongside a new recipe binder. It’s so fun to collect your own tried and true recipes.

Snowman-Cold=Puddle
The picture book is just begging to be read alongside a science activity. Be creative, pick up a few supplies along with a copy of this book and you have the makings of a fun winter science activity.

by Adrianne Curwen

Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children.  She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there.  Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new.  She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.

The post Gift Ideas Christmas 2020 appeared first on Classical Education Books.

Katy and the Big Snow

Snow

Stopping By Snow on a Snowy Evening

Snowflake Bentley

Owl Moon

Snow is Falling

White Snow, Bright Snow

Winter on the Farm

Snowman-Cold=Puddle

Brave Irene

The post Winter Book Stack appeared first on Classical Education Books.

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