This giveaway has now ended. Thanks for entering!
Thanks for joining me for this year’s back to school week! I hope this week’s posts encourage you in your school and life planning as the start of the traditional school year grows nearer.
I discovered Oak Meadow through the magic of the blogosphere, and found it to be just what I needed for my kids at the time. The curriculum and the philosophy behind it have become a steady part of our home learning experience since then.
What first drew me to Oak Meadow was the heart behind it–is it possible for a curriculum company to have heart? Yes, it totally is! And I found that Oak Meadow’s connected with much of my own–their gentle approach, their slow introduction to academics, their focus on nature, free play, and stories.
Oak Meadow began over 35 years ago. The company offers complete curriculum packages from PreK through 12th Grade, which you can purchase and use at home with your children.
They also offer an enrollment option in their accredited distance learning school. This allows students to receive full academic credit and transcripts for their work at home–as well as the support of an experienced teacher.
For this giveaway, the generous folks at Oak Meadow sent me their 3rd grade curriculum to review (pictured below). If you’re interested in finding out more about other grade levels, I have previously reviewed the Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade packages as well.
The bulk of the 3rd grade material is presented in the syllabus. Like the ones I’ve seen before, this book is easy to use and lovely in its layout and design. Printed in full color, it is divided into three trimesters of 12 weeks each. Each trimester includes introductory material for the teacher to read, which explains the skills to be covered during that time period.
Each weekly lesson plan covers assignments in depth. Subjects included in each weekly plan: circle time, language arts, math, social studies, science, art, music, crafts, and health. I have always appreciated the fact that in these early years (K-3) all subjects are here together–no multiple binders or separate curricula to keep track of and juggle.
Plenty of ideas are provided for each week, and it can appear overwhelming initially. Just remember: There’s no law saying you have to do everything in any curriculum–I have written before about the unique way we use Oak Meadow in our homeschool, and I’ve learned over time to make the material my own as we go along. Oak Meadow provides plenty of room to adapt to meet your unique needs, and emphasizes that home teachers should do so.
Here is an overview of the 3rd grade package from an Oak Meadow teacher, citing the projects and studies that many of her students enjoy the most:
Language Arts
- form drawing exercises in correlation with learning how to cursive write
Math
- creating multiplication designs in conjunction with learning the times tables
- reciting rhymes for each of the times tables and engaging in rhythmic activities associated with the times tables (catching and tossing a ball or beanbag, jump roping, etc.)
Social Studies
- making a model of a sukkah (Lesson 2)
- reading Native American creation stories and making a corn husk doll (Lesson 6) and a dream catcher (Lesson 7)
- creating a folk art scrapbook of the student’s family heritage (Lesson 9)
Science
- making Chinese, Greek and Roman water clocks (Lesson 3)
- composing a story of “The Day There Was No Gravity” (Lesson 4)
- observing the clouds and creating a cloud booklet (Lesson 10)
- illustrating the four season cycle of a plant or tree (Lesson 19)
- growing an avocado seed (Lesson 20)
- constructing a terrarium to observe the natural process of the water cycle (Lesson 24)
- making a collage of the student’s local natural resources (Lesson 28)
Art
- cooking projects (First Trimester)
- paper marbling and bookbinding (Second Trimester)
- and engaging in carpentry projects (Third Trimester)
One Simple Homeschool reader will receive a curriculum package in the grade of your choice (grades K-8) from Oak Meadow!
How to Win
Everyone has two chances to win. Here’s how:
1. Comment on this post, answering this question: Do you prefer one curriculum that covers all subjects or would you rather choose separate curricula for different subjects? (If you are reading this in an email, you must click over to enter your comment!)
2. ‘Like’ Oak Meadow and Simple Homeschool on Facebook. Then — this is important — you need to come back and leave an additional comment here, telling me you have done so.
This giveaway has now ended. Thanks for entering!
Liked both moons ago 🙂
Have liked both on FB 🙂 oh and commented here 😉
I have liked both pages and commented on the question earlier. 🙂
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Like both Oak Meadow and Simple Homeschool. Thanks!
I would prefer to see the subjects broken out separately. It would make it easier for me to adjust to my children’s strengths and weaknesses.
I’ve liked Simple Homeschool blog and Oak Meadow on FB.
Thanks!
Jeanne
Facebook “likes” complete 🙂
Liked both on Facebook. I like the All-in-One curriculum for the younger kids. Thanks for the chance to win!
I have to say when I began homeschooling I didn’t want a packaged curriculum. I have been drawn to Montessori and Waldorf for a LONG time. My oldest is 10 and have done a lot of the out-of-the box learning; however things changed drastically for me this year. My youngest was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé Perthes disease. I had tried the 4th grade curriculum with my daughter and really liked what we did. I was thinking since it was really hard doing 3 levels of homeschooling last year and with my son’s condition right now, I wanted something lovely and child centered. I chose to go with OM and have the 2nd and 3rd grade full curriculum right now. I still need to get my daughters and this would a ton! I love the gentle approach of OM and natural elements as well. Bees-wax crayons and modeling bees-wax are so comforting. So happy to see this giveaway!!! And BTW I already like Oak Meadow on facebook and just liked Simple Homeschool on facebook as well.
I usually prefer to bits and piece things together. I have drooled over OM for YEARS. I do think that is the one all in one curriculum I would be able to handle as an all in one… but to date have been too chicken to try it.
Liked both Simple Homeschool and Oak Meadow on Facebook long ago.
I’d prefer a curriculum that had covers all subjects and integrates them. But would also allow for another subject curriculum to be used–one of my kids has very uneven skills, so a single curriculum doesn’t work for him.
I have “liked” both! We love Oak Meadow and are embarking on the 3rd grade curriculum as a start to our homeschool…but we still need 1st grade, so I would love to win!
I like Oak Meadow and Simple Homeschool on facebook.
At this point I prefer one complete curriculum that covers all subject areas and then I just supplement where I feel it is needed.
I’d prefer a combined curriculum to start and supplement when necessary. Like both pages on facebook 🙂
For my youngest children, I like a curriculum that covers everything. For my 2nd grader, I have found that I like to incorporate different resources that are the best fit for his learning style.
Thank you.
I like Oak Meadow and Simple Homeschool on Facebook! Thanks so much…………
I prefer an all-in-one curriculum, seems easier!
Liked both! Thank you for the giveaway!!! 🙂
I like the all-in-one for elementary level then seperate as they get older.
I rather choose separate curricula for different subjects to provide my child different subjects to explore and learn.
I have liked both pages 🙂
i prefer a curriculum that covers all subjects. thanks for the opportunity to enter this great give-away!
i have ‘liked’ both oak meadow and simple homeschools facebook. thanks!
Adding that I have “liked” both pages!
I just liked Simple Homeschool on facebook, and am a long-time like-r of the Oak Meadow page 😉