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!
I would prefer one curriculum for all subjects or at least several subjects.
I already like both on facebook
sara’s latest post: Fun at the beach.
I am beginning homeschooling this year with my 5 year old. As I have researched curriculum, I have found a hodge podge approach the only way to get everything I need the way I want it. Oak Meadow is my pie in the sky curriculum. I would love to win it!!! I’ve liked Oak Meadow and Simple Homeschool on FB. Love them both!!!
I like Oak Meadow and Simple Homeschool on Facebook (my FB name is Colleen Marie)
Homeschooling is such an awesome journey! I have pretty much unschooled until now – my son is 7 and daughter is 4. But I think we are ready for some structure. Oak Meadows has always drawn me in and I liked you on FB a while back 🙂 I just liked Simple Homeschool. As we are just starting out with a curriculum I think would begin with one that covers all subjects and take it from there depending on how my kids like it. Thanks for the chance to win! <3<3<3
If I could afford it I would buy an already package curriculum, especially for the older children,
sara’s latest post: Fun at the beach.
I’ve liked both Facebook pages but I also want to add that I think I would prefer a curriculum that is all together. It makes more sense, especially if the subjects have continuity and connectedness. This would lead to more holistic learning and less compartmentalization for ths student.
I definitely prefer an all in one style curriculum..one of the many things I love about Oak Meadow! 🙂
I already ‘like’ both pages too 🙂
I prefer to pick and choose our curriculum.
Prior to finding Oak Meadow, I would say my preference was to combine various curriculums. But I really like the whole package from Oak Meadow & then plan to just suplement with extra things from various sources according to the needs/interests of the child.
I’ve liked Simple Homeschool of FB.
Sarah’s latest post: 1st Grade & Pre-K Plans
I already liked Oak Meadow, & just liked Simple Homeschool. Thanks!
This is our first year homeschooling, but so far I like the option to pick and choose different ones.
I like both pages.
I commented and liked both! Thank you!
We’ve been fans of both websites for awhile now. Oak Meadow is the only programs I would purchase of the all inclusive style ones I found.
I prefer one curriculum for all subjects. It’s like having a backbone to our work, we can supplement other learning tools… but we have a guiding structure.
I forgot that i could enter twice. So, besides my earlier answer – I liked both facebook pages : )
I’m not completely sure since I’m just starting out, but I think I will prefer the ease of an all-in-one curriculum. Love what I’ve seen from Oak Meadow, and can’t wait to try it out for real!
Charity Long’s latest post: Getting Calls
I liked both pages on FB. In regards to your question whether I prefer a curriculum that covers all subjects or pick and choose?
Mmm, I think that if I am just so used to picking and choosing… which can become tiring.. but this will be our second year with Oak medow, and the more I use it the more I am trusting it to cover all. I usually do math with a different curriculum.
I just liked Simple Homeschool and Oak Meadow on Facebook. Can’t believe I haven’t done that already!
Charity Long’s latest post: Getting Calls
HI, I have liked both of the sites on Facebook. I didn’t realize you were on fb so that was a nice surprise, I hope I win, it is actually the third grade curriculum I need! 🙂
Back again to let you know I completed Step#2!
Fun contest!
Eileen’s latest post: Baby Time
We’ll be homeschooling for the first time this fall, but Oak Meadow is on my short list of possible curricula. I was thinking of purchasing bits and pieces and building a curricula from scratch, but I’m not sure.
Jen’s latest post: Let the Homeschool Adventure Begin