Great Fun Children’s School
Fall 2009 Curriculum
Grade: K

Primary goal: create a nourishing homeschool environment in which joyfulness, self-governance, and a relaxed playful childhood can flourish.

English
The Well-Trained Mind, kindergarten books-on-tape list, and other. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Roald Dahl, etc. (Approx 1/wk)
Bedtime and daytime read-aloud by parents. (Approx 1/day)
Independent reading: large-print “easy readers” from library, also picture books, comic books, chapter books. (Approx 1/day)

Math
Singapore Math, Standards Edition, Book 1a. Addition and subtraction 1-20.

History & Geography
Story of the World, Volume I: Ancient Times, by Susan Wise Bauer, with Activity Book and related storybooks. Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, etc.
Magic Tree House recorded book series; and picture books (Time Traveling Twins, Good Times Travel Agency, misc books of tales & legends from around the world) from library.

Science
Children of the Universe: Cosmic Education in the Montessori Elementary Classroom – Michael and D’Neil Duffy. Related books on themes of cosmology, big bang, creation, evolution; atoms, cells, ecosystems. Jennifer Morgan, The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story series.
Lawrence Hall of Science, 2x/mo.
Gardening with Dad.

Mandarin Chinese
BetterChinese.com, My First Chinese Words, online lessons 13-24.
Shu Ren International School summer camp, 2 weeks in August.

Spanish
Summer immersion program, 3 days, with Rosie.
Full-time Spanish immersion (TWI) kindergarten at local public elementary school, two months (Sep-Oct.)
Brighter Child Spanish Grade 2 workbook

Values, Religion, & Character
Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco.
Mary Ann Moore, Hide & Seek With God.
John M. Gottman, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child.

Large Motor
Gymnastics  at UC Village Rec Center, 1x/wk.
West Berkeley Family Dance Jam, 2x/mo.
Strawberry Creek and other local playgrounds.

Small Motor
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting, K, p1-65.
Lots of self-directed drawing, painting, cutting, gluing, stapling, etc; also activity books, kids magazines, etc.

Social
Friends! Attachment parenting. Classes and group activities, structured and unstructured, same-age and multi-age.

Other
Art, Music, Dance.