Anne of Green Gables & Canadian Provinces

July 1, 1867 - Canada declares independence from Great Britain with the Constitution Act, which united the colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada.

Canada has three territories (Northwest, Yukon, and Nunavut) and ten provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Newfoundland.

The provinces and territories of Canada have been ever-changing since the country first became official in 1867. At first, it was just a few provinces, but over time, has grown to become the 2nd largest country in the world. Between 1867 and today, Canada has divided its land into 13 distinct provinces and territories.  Nunavut was the last official province to join, as recently as 1999!

In the film version of Anne of Green Gables, viewers are treated to beautiful scenery from the primary locations, including Prince Edward Island; Stouffville, Ontario; Jacksons Point, Ontario; and the Flamborough village of Rockton.

Our spine read for this unit is:

• Anne of Green Gables
• Eleven-year-old Anne Shirley has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely.

Pick up the ENTIRE UNIT in the Twenty-Three Reads Bundle - for someone who wants a little bit of everything! 

It includes twenty-three unit studies covering a wide range of topics. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand. These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Includes:

• Language Arts
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Geography
• Anne of Green Gables & Canadian Provinces
• Stowaway & Antarctica
• Julie of the Wolves & Alaska
• Blades of Freedom & the Louisiana Purchase
• The Avion My Uncle Flew & France
• History
• Zlata’s Diary & the Slavic Wars
• Freedom Summer & the Summer of 1964
• Treasure Island & Pirates of the Caribbean Sea
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government
• Red Stars & Russia in World War 2
• The Great Gatsby & the Roaring Twenties
• The Long List of Impossible Things & Post-War Germany
• A Tale of Two Cities & French Revolution
• Witch of Blackbird Pond & Salem Witch Trials
• The World Made New & Early Explorers
• Stitching a Life & Jewish Immigration
• Life Skills
• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Freak of the Week & Disabilities Awareness
• Island of the Blue Dolphins & Sailing
• Science
• The Science of Breakable Things & the Scientific Method
• Frankenstein & Human Anatomy
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation & Albert Einstein

Product samples:

• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government

8th & 11th Grade Curriculum Reveal

It's that time of the year again! Maybe it's because I'm a TK (Teacher's Kid), or maybe it's just because I'm weird....but the back-to-school sales and smell of new books always make me happy. This year, we've got a high schooler and middle schooler...and the house is full of hormones happiness....

Morning Basket (Together Time)

Since as far back as we can remember (which is to say, since the first kid was born), we've started our days with a little bit of reading together time. Now that they're teens, I see no reason to stop this tradition. We just change the book selections!

Seriously though, your teen might grumble that it's not cool to read together with his little siblings and his mom, but inside, he's truly loving it. Here lately, I've been reading aloud while the boys eat breakfast.  They're teens, and they're sleeping in later than usual, so this is a gentle way to start the day.  

And can we just step back for a moment and reflect on the blessing that homeschool affords us with that flexibility to sleep in?  So many teens have to stumble through their early morning classes before their brains, biologically, are even capable of fully functioning.  I like knowing that that extra hour or two gets them good sleep, boosting their immunity and helping them to start the day off right!

These are the books we'll be reading aloud together this year:

• Little Men
• The Other Side of the Wall
• The Tangled Skein
• Otto of the Silver Hand
• Through the Wall
• The Wave
• Rocket Genius
• What they Don't Teach Teens

Once this time is done (usually a couple of chapters), we have a quick rundown of the day. Sometimes this is a quick once-over of their daily assignments. Other times, it's a reminder that we have appointments or a field trip or something special going on.

8th Grade Curriculum

Our 8th grade son is a very hands-on learner, and is still playing catch up in one subject.  Best options for him are straightforward and comprehensive.  We've chosen:

• Saxon Math 8/7 - Pre-algebra plus review of past concepts
• Apologia General Science - With the free printable notebook to accompany it, this is a gentle introduction to upcoming high school sciences
• Who Dun It? - He's taking a break from TGTB Language Arts this year to  pursue something completely different!  No worries...he'll be back on the TGTB train next year.
• World History - A light introduction prior to high school
• Small Gas Engines - For the kid who always wants to be hands-on...
• Farming & Ranching - His business is called Xander's Farm, so it's also entrepreneurship!
• The Good & the Beautiful Typing 2 / Handwriting 7
• The Epic World of Tolkien - This is a fun way to work on fine motor skills (occupational therapy) for older students

11th Grade Curriculum

Our 11th grade son was accepted to a pre-engineering program and prestigious academic school, but opted to decline both of those due to 'rona restrictions and wanting to travel.  He is dual enrolling at a local community college for some classes, including:

• College Algebra - Dual enroll at Rose State
• General Physics - Dual enroll at Rose State
• The Good & the Beautiful High School 3 w/ Sparks Academy
• History of the Asian World - Part of his Chinese immersion, he is focusing on the region's history
• Mandarin I - A very difficult, but up and coming language for sure!
• Blacksmithing & Metal Work - This shop class will include some welding, armor-making, metallurgical principles, and other materials science work

Naturally, there's sure to be some adjustments throughout the year.  Both boys will have physical education built in to each day, along with farm chores and life skills.  We're planning to supplement our studies with a few long roadschooling trips and college visits to both coasts as well!  

Enjoy the Journey!

Looking for a different grade?  Check out our other curricula reveals!

• 2nd-6th Grades
• 4th & 7th Grades
• 6th & 9th Grades
• 7th & 10th Grades
• 9th & 12th Grades

Zlata's Diary & the Slavic Wars

June 26, 1991 - The Ten-Day War is initiated by the JNA (Yugoslav People's Army) after Slovenia secedes.

The Slavic Wars (Yugoslav Wars) were several smaller ethnic conflicts and wars for independence that all occurred in the same area at the same time.  They were fought in the former country of Yugoslavia, from 1991 to 2001.  Many of the wars ended through peace agreements.

The JNA (Yugoslav People's Army) tried to preserve the country as a whole by crushing secessionists as they arose.  However, when Serbian leader Slobodan Milošević came in to power, touting Serbian nationalism, the JNA lost many of its non-Serbian participants.  These included Slovenes, Croats, Kosovar Albanians, Bosniaks, and Macedonians.  This new Serb-centric group did not want to keep Yugoslavia as a unified country.

The war was terrible for local citizens, with over 140,000 deaths, making it the deadliest European conflict since World War 2.  War crimes were prevalent, including crimes against humanity, rape, and genocide.  People became desperate to escape the area, and would do just about anything for the protection of their families.

Today, the region looks like this (see map to right).

Our spine read for this unit is Zlata's Diary

Access the complete unit in Twenty-Three Reads Bundle, the literature-based program for someone who wants a little bit of everything! 

It includes twenty-three unit studies covering a wide range of topics. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand. These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Includes:

• Language Arts
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Geography
• Anne of Green Gables & Canadian Provinces
• Stowaway & Antarctica
• Julie of the Wolves & Alaska
• Blades of Freedom & the Louisiana Purchase
• The Avion My Uncle Flew & France
• History
• Zlata’s Diary & the Slavic Wars
• Freedom Summer & the Summer of 1964
• Treasure Island & Pirates of the Caribbean Sea
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government
• Red Stars & Russia in World War 2
• The Great Gatsby & the Roaring Twenties
• The Long List of Impossible Things & Post-War Germany
• A Tale of Two Cities & French Revolution
• Witch of Blackbird Pond & Salem Witch Trials
• The World Made New & Early Explorers
• Stitching a Life & Jewish Immigration
• Life Skills
• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Freak of the Week & Disabilities Awareness
• Island of the Blue Dolphins & Sailing
• Science
• The Science of Breakable Things & the Scientific Method
• Frankenstein & Human Anatomy
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation & Albert Einstein

Product samples:

• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government

Freedom Summer & the Summer of 1964

June 21, 1964 - Three volunteers are arrested.  Upon release, they are abducted and killed by Klansmen.

In the 1960s, the Mississippi voting registration procedure required Blacks to fill out a 21-question registration form, answering questions on the interpretation of any one of 285 sections of the state constitution.  The white registrars used their answers to rule on the applicant's qualifications, and decided against most blacks, not allowing them to register.  This was one form of Jim Crow, following the letter of the law, if not the spirit.

In 1963, volunteers set up polling places in black churches and businesses across Mississippi, encouraging people to register and vote.  Local civil rights workers and volunteers, along with students from northern and western universities, organized and implemented a mock election, in which tens of thousands voted.

The following year, in June 1964, a volunteer campaign was launched in an attempt to register as many black voters as possible in the state of Mississippi.  This project was called Freedom Summer, and the volunteers also set up dozens of Freedom Schools, Freedom Houses, and community centers in small towns throughout Mississippi to aid the local black population.

Our spine read for this unit is Freedom Summer

Access the complete unit in Twenty-Three Reads Bundle, the literature-based program for someone who wants a little bit of everything! 

It includes twenty-three unit studies covering a wide range of topics. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand. These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Includes:

• Language Arts
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Geography
• Anne of Green Gables & Canadian Provinces
• Stowaway & Antarctica
• Julie of the Wolves & Alaska
• Blades of Freedom & the Louisiana Purchase
• The Avion My Uncle Flew & France
• History
• Zlata’s Diary & the Slavic Wars
• Freedom Summer & the Summer of 1964
• Treasure Island & Pirates of the Caribbean Sea
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government
• Red Stars & Russia in World War 2
• The Great Gatsby & the Roaring Twenties
• The Long List of Impossible Things & Post-War Germany
• A Tale of Two Cities & French Revolution
• Witch of Blackbird Pond & Salem Witch Trials
• The World Made New & Early Explorers
• Stitching a Life & Jewish Immigration
• Life Skills
• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Freak of the Week & Disabilities Awareness
• Island of the Blue Dolphins & Sailing
• Science
• The Science of Breakable Things & the Scientific Method
• Frankenstein & Human Anatomy
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation & Albert Einstein

Product samples:

• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government

Teetoncey & Lifesaving

The U.S. Life-Saving Service was the ancestor to today's Coast Guard.  It had eight-member teams stationed at remote areas of coastline that literally put their lives on the line to save lives.  Their unofficial motto was, "You have to go out, you don't have to come back."  These men ventured into violent storms and shipwrecks, showing exemplary courage, and saved thousands of lives total during their years of service.

With four aunts and uncles serving in the US Coast Guard, the boys were excited to learn about the history of that branch.  We've been listening to their "tales from the sea" for nearly twenty years now...some are mesmerizing!  Knowing what they experience, with today's technology, made us very curious about how these same feats were accomplished over a hundred years ago.  

History of the Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is one of the 5 branches of the military of the United States. It is a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard's purpose is to protect the people, environment, industry and security of the United States on seas, lakes and rivers. To do this, the Coast Guard uses boats, ships, helicopters and airplanes to stop smuggling and other crime and terrorism, and to rescue ships and boats in danger.

The Coast Guard traces its roots back to the United States Revenue Cutter Service, which was created by Congress in 1790 when President George Washington signed an act allowing the building of 10 boats, called "cutters." The service was first suggested as a way to collect tariffs which were being lost to smuggling. The first Coast Guard station was in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Until the re-establishment of the Navy in 1798, the Revenue Cutter Service was the only naval force of the early United States.  The modern Coast Guard can be said to date to 1915, when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service when Congress formalized the existence of the new organization.  In times of war, the Coast Guard or individual components of it can operate as a service of the Department of the Navy.

You may also be interested in:

• Chicamicomico & the History of Lifesaving Stations -- Visit the world of Teetoncey and explore the beaches Ben discovers her upon in this field trip to Chicamicomico!
• Icebreakers & the Coast Guard in the Great Lakes

Water Safety for Teens

When swimming...

• Take a Friend! Even experienced swimmers can become tired or get muscle cramps, which can make it hard to get out of the water. When people swim together, they can help each other or go for help in an emergency.

• Be Prepared. First, know how to swim. If you don't, it's never too late to learn. Learning some life-saving skills, such as CPR and rescue techniques, can help you save a life. Check with your local Red Cross and YMCA.

• Know your limits. If you're not a good swimmer, don't go in water that's so deep you can't touch the bottom and don't try to keep up with skilled swimmers. That can be hard, especially if your friends are challenging you, but you'd rather live to see them again, right?  That said, if you are a good swimmer, keep an eye on friends who aren't as comfortable or as skilled as you are. If they're getting tired or a little uneasy, suggest taking a break.

• Swim in the Safe Zone.  Swimming in an open body of water is different from swimming in a pool. You need more energy to handle the currents and other changing conditions in the open water.   It's always best to swim in places that are supervised. No one can anticipate changing ocean currents, rip currents, sudden storms, or other hidden dangers. If something does go wrong, lifeguards are trained in rescue techniques.

• In the Event...  If find yourself caught in a rip current, don't panic and don't fight the current. Try to swim parallel to the shore until you can get out of the current, which is usually a narrow channel of water. Gradually try to make your way back to shore as you do so. If you can't swim away from the current, stay calm and float with it. The current will usually slow down. When it does, you can swim to shore.

• Dive Smartly. Diving injuries can cause head injury, permanent spinal cord damage, paralysis, and sometimes even death. Protect yourself by only diving in areas known to be safe, such as the deep end of a supervised pool. If an area has "No Diving" or "No Swimming" signs, pay attention to them. Lakes or rivers can be cloudy and hazards may be hard to see, so just don't dive.

• Don't Drink the Pool Water. It's easy to get dehydrated in the sun, particularly if you're active and sweating, so make sure that you are drinking A LOT.   Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or nausea can be signs of dehydration and overheating.

• Just Say No.  Up to half of all water-related deaths are alcohol-related, and half of all teen male drownings are tied to alcohol use.  Just don't do it.

In a boat...

• Watch the Weather. Before boating, be sure the weather conditions are safe. Local radio, internet, or TV stations can provide updated local forecast information.
• Don't get Tired.  The U.S. Coast Guard warns about a condition called boater's fatigue, which means that the wind, noise, heat, and vibration of the boat all combine to wear you down when you're on the water.
• Grab Your Floaties. It's always a good idea for everyone on the boat to wear a life jacket, whether the boat is a large speedboat or a canoe — and whether you're a good swimmer or not. Wearing a life jacket is the law in some states for certain age groups, and you could face a stiff penalty for breaking it.
• Tell a Friend. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back on land.  Better yet, bring along another friend so you're not alone.  If you're planning to be gone a long time, make sure to bring a weather radio and keep an eye on the day.

Read

• Teetoncey
• In 1898, twelve-year-old Ben rescues a near-drowned girl from a shipwreck off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Although the girl, named Teetoncey, becomes part of his family, she will not utter a single word.

Watch

• The Finest Hours
• Coast Guard in WW2
• History of the Coast Guard

Make / Do

• Coast Guard activity pack (family-friendly)
• All Present & Accounted For activity pack
• Reading comprehension activity
• Water safety emergencies
• First Aid scenarios
• CPR & First Aid
• Lost at Sea team activity

Vocabulary

• Backboard
• Buoy
• Distress
• Exertion
• Long board
• Lookout
• Ordeal
• Rigor
• Rip-tide
• Submerged
• Surface
• Treading
• Undertow

Think

• What are some of the most important characteristics that a lifeguard should have when they’re out on duty?
• What is the difference between the Coast Guard and the Navy?  What do each of them focus on primarily?

Looking for a literature-based language arts program? The Twenty-Three Reads Bundle is for someone who wants a little bit of everything! 

It includes twenty-three unit studies covering a wide range of topics. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand. These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Includes:

• Language Arts
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Geography
• Anne of Green Gables & Canadian Provinces
• Stowaway & Antarctica
• Julie of the Wolves & Alaska
• Blades of Freedom & the Louisiana Purchase
• The Avion My Uncle Flew & France
• History
• Zlata’s Diary & the Slavic Wars
• Freedom Summer & the Summer of 1964
• Treasure Island & Pirates of the Caribbean Sea
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government
• Red Stars & Russia in World War 2
• The Great Gatsby & the Roaring Twenties
• The Long List of Impossible Things & Post-War Germany
• A Tale of Two Cities & French Revolution
• Witch of Blackbird Pond & Salem Witch Trials
• The World Made New & Early Explorers
• Stitching a Life & Jewish Immigration
• Life Skills
• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Freak of the Week & Disabilities Awareness
• Island of the Blue Dolphins & Sailing
• Science
• The Science of Breakable Things & the Scientific Method
• Frankenstein & Human Anatomy
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation & Albert Einstein

Product samples:

• Teetoncey & Lifesaving Skills
• Finding Langston & the Poetry of Langston Hughes
• Farenheit 451 & Types of Government

Island War & World War 2 in the Aleutian Islands

June 6 & 7, 1942 - The Japanese invade and occupy the islands of Kiska and Attu, part of the Alaskan coast.  This is the first time the continental United States was invaded since the War of 1812.

Alaska was a US territory during the war, but still a player in the Pacific theater.  The Aleutian Islands were an important stop in the Pacific transportation routes, and the Japanese wanted to prevent the US from using them as a jumping-off point to attack.  The US also feared that the Japanese would use it as a staging area to attack major west coast cities.

It was the remoteness of the islands and the challenges of weather and terrain that allowed the Japanese to set up camp and stay a while after invading.  These factors delayed a larger U.S.-Canadian force from ejecting them for a year.  On August 15, 1943, an invasion force landed on Kiska, only to discover that the Japanese had withdrawn from the island two weeks earlier.

This campaign is known as the "Forgotten Battle."  Some military historians believe that the invasion of the Aleutians was a diversionary attack during the Battle of Midway, meant to draw out the U.S. Pacific Fleet from the region. Others have argued against this interpretation, believing that the Japanese invaded the Aleutians to protect their northern flank, and did not intend it as a diversion.

Read

• Island War (Patricia Reilly Giff)
• Fourteen-year-old Matt never wanted to come to the remote Aleutian Islands--he was dragged here by his father for reasons he can't understand. Eleven-year-old Izzy, on the other hand, loves it--the wild weather, the strange birds, all the new people she's meeting. The two have little in common, except their hometown--they certainly aren't friends.  But when Japanese soldiers land on the island, Izzy and Matt are the only ones who escape being shipped off to a prison camp. The two kids must put their differences aside and work together if they're going to survive. With a long, harsh winter ahead of them, they'll need to dodge Axis soldiers and withstand Allied bombing raids--and keep the village dog from giving them away to the enemy, too.
• Attu Boy: A Young Alaskan's WWII Memoir

Watch

• History Rediscovered: Report from the Aleutians (included with Prime)
• John Huston's acclaimed documentary shows the struggle of American forces to dislodge the Japanese from the island of Kiska. Huston's portrait of ordinary G.I. Joes courageously facing opposition earned him an Oscar nomination in 1944.

Make / Do

• Compare the climate of the Aleutian Islands through the year with the climate where you live. What effect did the climate have on Izzy and Matt’s actions in various parts of the story as the year went on?
• The Bering Strait was named for Vitus Bering.  Research his life, and write a short biography about him.  Why was it named for him?
• Research the Battle of Attu.  Write a paragraph that describes the battle, the casualties, and the establishment of a National Historic Landmark.

Nature Notebook

• Draw (or find) pictures of each of the following, and write some basic information on each.
• Blue heron
• cormorant
• cuckoo
• Emperor goose
• Eurasian skylark
• Horned puffin
• House wren
• Killdear
• Kittiwake
• Laysan albatross
• Peregrine falcon
• Plover
• Sandhill crane
• Yellow bittern

Think

• Each of the two main characters had a missing parent, one of whom was dead. Do you think you would feel differently about a missing parent vs. one who had died? Explain the difference.
• At the end of the story, Matt remembers that his dad had said, “Things aren’t always the way you think they are.” What did he mean? What does this phrase mean to you? Matt also said to Izzy, “You’re my best friend.” Why do you think it took Matt so long to realize this about Izzy? Describe an experience you’ve had with someone you didn’t like at first who ultimately became a friend?

Get the entire World War 2 Bundle!

Includes:

• 
  The Book Thief
• We Were There at the Battle of Britain
• Number the Stars
• The Winged Watchmen
• We Were There at Pearl Harbor
• We Were There at the Battle of Bataan
• Island War
• Red Stars
• The Night Witches
• Mare’s War
• We Were There at the Normandy Invasion
• Code Talkers
• We Were There at the Battle of the Bulge
• The Light Between Us
• We Were There at the Open of the Atomic Era
• A Merry 1940s Christmas

Product samples:

• We Were There at the Opening of the Atomic Era
• Have Yourself a Vintage Little Christmas