Here are our family style homeschool curriculum picks: what we are starting and continuing in 2024. If I mention a specific curriculum, please know that I pick and choose from multiple curricula, modify everything, and add reads as I please.
My oldest kids (twins) are in 6th grade! Please don’t tell me that’s Middle School already. One one hand, they are more independent and leaning into passion projects. On the other hand, this homeschool mama is feeling the days fly by!
My younger two kids are in 1st and 3rd grade and soaking up all the books as fast as I can read them!
In addition to curriculum, we have a fun theme every year. This year’s is particularly exciting (sure, you can skip to the end and find out).
Country Studies: Family Style Homeschool Curriculum
This is my jam. Geography is my favorite subject to tie all subjects together, and we do this family style! We are finally at the end of our quest to study all the countries of the world. It’s been nearly four years!
Instead of using a country study, I write my own. But why? There are so many “geography around the world” curricula out there. Here’s why I write my own: I want to read books from many points of view, written by people from that country of study. I want to be immersed in a culture for longer than one week. I want more than one picture book to represent a country. Diversity in kids books has exploded. Why read one author’s take when you can read many?
The countries that remain for us are the countries of Southern, Eastern, and Northern Africa, plus the countries of Southwestern Asia. This will tie in perfectly with our ancient studies…
Ancient History: Family Style Homeschool Curriculum
We are restarting the history cycle as of January 2024. We are doing a family-style curriculum, My Father’s World: Creation to the Greeks. I’m cutting out a dry textbook and adding in Story of the World, Volume 1: Ancient History.
Of course, I’ve researched and added living books to my 6th graders’ schedules. So far, I’ve added reads for Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.
In addition, they are in AmblesideOnline Year 6 Term 2. This is when AmblesideOnline restarts the history cycle. (Worked out perfectly, God wink!) My youngest is also using My Father’s World: 1st Grade, which is… you got it, Ancient History.
I’m also reading aloud from AmblesideOnline Year 2 to the younger kids. We enjoy the literature and nature selections.
American History through the States
We started American History and our state study in January of 2023. We’re taking our time reading stacks of picture books, one state at a time. I’m not worried about cramming or condensing all the history into one year. I’d rather savor it. And…you got it, this family style homeschool curriculum is all about reading and activities
As we study every state, we explore musicians, artists, and poets from diverse backgrounds. We enjoy cooking the varied cuisines found across the United States. The show, State Plate with Taylor Hicks, is filled with fun facts about each state’s famous foods. It also gives us good ideas to try in our own cooking adventures.
Another reason it is taking so long is that we are spending time learning about the indigenous peoples of America as we learn about each region.
Our Fun Theme for 2024 is Lord of the Rings
What is a “fun theme?” Every year since 2021, we’ve come up with a fun family theme. These show up in the form of games, wall decor, birthday cakes, dress-up costumes, and activity books.
This year’s fun family theme is Lord of the Rings. Since this started with epic books followed by epic movies, I’m completely geeking out over the fun we’ll have with it this year. My youngest has already requested a cake in the shape of “The Ring,” complete with the inscription.