Cycle 1 Week 22 Tutor Plans for Classical Homeschooling
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Are you new to the Classical model and want to know more about it? Keep reading below about how it’s organized, the different cycles, our community time, and MORE!
If you already know about the Classical homeschooling model and you are ready to jump to the actual tutor ideas, click here.
A Classical model of homeschooling
We are part of a Christ-centered homeschool program that follows the Classical model. The younger children, ages 4-12, focus on a memorization-based curriculum which acts as the groundwork of learning that is built upon in later years.
Children and their parents learn key facts across the core subject areas including history, science, English, mathematics, geography, and Latin. Tutors use fun activities, games, songs, and lots of energy to introduce the new material. The parents can then expand on that material at home throughout the week.
Cycle rotation
The material is divided into three cycles, which each last one year. The cycles continue to rotate every three years, so most children who start when they are kindergarten age, complete each cycle at least twice. This allows them to develop a deeper comprehension and grasp of the material through repetition.
Cycle 1 material
This year, in Cycle 1, we are learning about ancient world history, biology, earth science, Latin noun endings, and English prepositions and verbs.
The following ideas are what I’m planning to do with the group of kids I am tutoring this year (ages 4-6). You may use these ideas if you are also tutoring in a Classical homeschooling community, or if you’re a parent who is looking for memory work ideas to use at home.
Also, you don’t have to be part of any particular Classical homeschooling group to use these ideas! These are ideas to help children learn key concepts in the core subject areas. If you are a homeschooling parent, or just a parent who wants to supplement what your kids are currently learning in school, these ideas will be helpful for you.
Community group time
Our homeschooling community has been meeting on Tuesdays. Our leader starts off the morning with everyone together in a big group setting. She typically begins that time with a devotional reading and prayer, and then continues with some announcements, celebrating birthdays, the pledge of allegiance, and anything else she wants to cover with everyone.
After this time, we split off into our different groups based on age. The tutors lead their groups into different classrooms and begin the New Grammar part of the day. This is when the tutor introduces the memory work for each core subject. Check out my post and video about how to make your own tutor board!
Cycle 1 Week 22 Tutor and Memory Work Ideas
New Grammar
English
I like to start with English each week. I have purchased a lined notebook for each child in my class to use and I lay these out on the table before our class time begins. When the kids walk into the room, they find their notebook which shows them where to sit.
I love using these notebooks because I think it’s great for the kids to get some writing practice. During the summer, I decorate the front of each notebook with each child’s name and a fun biology design related to Cycle 1 (see below for picture). You can download a template of this biology themed notebook cover here and customize for your kids.
In these notebooks, I write each week’s English memory work on a blank page as large and neatly as I can. I lay the notebooks out on the table before our class time begins. After English, I collect them and bring them back the following week. At the end of the school year, they will have all 24 weeks filled out and they can take their notebooks home with them.
Cycle 1 Week 22 English
In Cycle 1 Week 22, we learn the first four linking verbs: feel, become, remain, and taste. I prep the notebooks with two of the linking verbs already written, one dotted linking verb that the children can trace, and a horizontal line where I will have the children write the last linking verb. See picture above. Depending on the ages of the kids in your class, you could adjust this to meet their level:
- Write three of the linking verbs and have the children write the last one.
- Write three of the linking verbs normally and then write the last one very lightly or with dots so the children can trace.
- Have the children write all four linking verbs on their own.
- Write out all the linking verbs, but leave spaces in place of the first letter of each word, and let the children fill in those letters.
- Write the first letter of each linking verb and let the children write the rest of each word.
As the children are writing, I sing the same song we started singing during week 20 beginning with the definition of a linking verb, and I continue singing with the addition this week’s linking verbs. This song is to the tune of The Ants Go Marching. See my video below.
I love making little jingles to the memory work we are learning. Children memorize much quicker if it is to a song, and it’s more fun too! It’s also a great way to review the material throughout the week at home. It is so easy to play the week’s songs while you’re at home or in the car.
I hand out a sticker for each child to stick to the front of their notebook. It’s fun to find stickers that relate to some of the material we are learning about that week.
Here are some simple hand motions I also teach the children for each of these linking verbs:
- feel: gently rub your hands together, as if warming them up (symbolizing feeling something physically)
- become: start with your hands together in front of you, fingers interlocked, and then slowly separate them while spreading your fingers (symbolizing transformation or change)
- remain: hold up a steady hand like a stop sign (symbolizing the idea of staying the same and not changing)
- taste: touch your fingertips to your lips (symbolizing experiencing a flavor)
I have the children practice singing the song with me while doing these hand motions a few times.
I also have a video singing all the linking verbs and doing the hand motions. See video below:
Then, I lead a game where the children pick a hand motion of any linking verb they have learned and show the class without saying anything. The other children try to guess which linking verb the hand motion is for. I give each child a chance to show a hand motion.
Prepositions Review
I also have the kids sing and do the hand motions to the entire preposition song that we worked on last semester. I plan to have them review this once each week for the remainder of the year. See my video of a slowed down version of the entire Preposition song (weeks 2-12) and the hand motions below:
Also, check out this handout for stick figure drawings of each of the hand motions for the ENTIRE Preposition song if you want a refresher.
Timeline
I like to follow English with Timeline. Each week, I use these Timeline Cards: Set 1 (Ancient World), Set 2 (Medieval World), Set 3 (New World), and Set 4 (Modern World) I highly recommend investing in them (you should get all four sets) whether you are a tutor or a parent. I consistently use them as a tutor and also at home with my kids.
Since I have the younger children, I like to tape the paper letter that the timeline event starts with at the top of the card. I have found these letters at my local Dollar Tree. Some of the children in my class can’t read yet, so this helps them identify the event I’m referring to.
Cycle 1 Week 22 Timeline
Before our class time begins, I put seven pieces of painters tape on the wall and I hide the cards around the room. I try to pick spots that aren’t too difficult to find, but also not too easy. Then when it’s time to start Timeline, I tell the children to look around the room and see if they can find 1 or 2 cards (depending on how many children are in my group), and to bring them back to their seats.
I sing this week’s part of the timeline song as the children are looking for the cards. I sing it myself instead of playing the music so I can control the speed of the song. See my tutor video for the tune of this week’s timeline song.
When the cards have all been found and all the children are back in their seats, I go through each timeline event in the correct order and see which child has each card.
For example, I will say, “The first card is North Atlantic Treaty Organization. What letter does “North” start with?”
A child answers, “It starts with the letter “N.”
I say, “Correct! Who has a card with a letter N on it?”
I instruct whoever has the correct card to walk up to where I have put the painters tape on the wall, and to stick the card to the correct spot on the wall. We repeat this for each timeline event until all the cards are on the wall in the correct order.
Then I give each child a light up stick. I have one child at a time go up to the timeline cards on the wall and tap each one as we all sing the timeline song together. I encourage all the children to sing along and try the hand motions. Each child gets a turn to tap the cards as we sing. See my video below which includes the hand motions for this week in the timeline section:
Geography
Now for geography! The children are now sitting at the table which follows the timeline part well where the kids were standing. I like to try to alternate active parts with sitting to mix things up and keep the kids engaged.
During the week before our community day, I prepare these South America maps. I will use these next week as well instead of the trivium table maps that I usually use because they show these South American countries much better. You can print these maps and put them in a dry erase pocket sleeve or you can laminate them. This is the printer and laminator I have and use all the time. I outline the countries we are discussing this week in dry erase marker, each in a different color.
Cycle 1 Week 22 Geography: South America (West)
This week we learn about South America (West). Each child gets a prepared South America map in a dry erase pocket sleeve with each of the countries outlined in a different color. I give each child a dry erase marker and have them write the first letter of each country inside or next to the country on their map. They write “CH” beside Chile since they will use a “C” for Columbia.
I teach the children a song to the tune of Camptown Races to help them learn these South American countries. We will add more South American countries to this song next week! See my video below:
As we sing the song together several times, I have children point to each country as we sing it. Then I ask the kids, “let’s find the turquoise country with the “B.” Who remembers the name of that country? Now let’s find the purple country with the letters “CH.” Who remembers what that country is called? After we do this for each country, I have the kids find each country again and we erase the letter. For example, I’ll say, “let’s find the red country with the letter “V.” What is that country called? Now let’s erase the “V” from Venezuela.
After all the letters are erased, I repeat this and have the kids erase the country outlines as we go over each country again. We sing the song together a few more times and I challenge the kids to find the countries with no outline this time (since we erased everything)!
Depending on time, I give each child a few different colored dry erase markers and let them color in these countries. Or if you need to move on to the next subject because of time, you definitely don’t have to do this.
I want to also share about one way we love learning about geography at home. My daughter loves putting together this South America puzzle. We have an Africa and USA and Canada puzzle as well! I especially love these Geo Puzzles because the pieces are the actual shapes of the countries. They have puzzles for the other parts of the world as well!
Countries of Africa Notebook!
My children have also loved working through this Countries of Africa Notebook that I made. There is a page for each of the 54 countries of Africa plus Western Sahara. Each day, the kids get to discover one or more countries as they learn about their location, capital, iconic animal, popular dish, flag, and a fun fact.
The kids can color the maps, animals, and flags for each country as they explore! At the end of the notebook, there is a complete reference of all the African flags. I have also included two labeled maps of Africa with all the countries marked (one in color and one in black and white). Plus, there are blank maps for your children to fill in as they learn about each country. A great book to read alongside this workbook is, J is for Jollof: An African Alphabet by Dr Gloria Fátúsìn. This book has great visuals and more information about some of the popular dishes in Africa.
Learning the Countries of Africa
We are LOVING learning the countries of Africa and I made this fun Africa map that we have on our wall by our kitchen table with all the countries made out of felt.
My girls love taking the countries off and on as we learn their names and locations. Download a paper map of Africa with all the countries labeled here.
I have the patterns for all the African countries, as well as a tutorial about how to make this kind of map in my Etsy shop.
We also made up a fun song to help us learn all of these African countries!
Cycle 1 Week 22 Math: The Commutative Law
This week in math we are learning about the Commutative Law for addition and multiplication. While I’m prepping during the week, I print out a commutative law for addition puzzle and a commutative law for multiplication puzzle for each child. I print them on white cardstock. I cut them out and put the puzzle pieces for the two puzzles in a little plastic bag for each child.
When it’s time for math, I first show the children the commutative law on my tutor board and teach them a song to the tune Mama’s Little Baby Loves Short’nin’ Bread. See my video below:
I hand out the plastic bags with the cut up puzzle pieces to each child and encourage them to try to put the two puzzles together as we continue to sing the song together.
History
We learn about the British North America Act of 1867 this week. I say the history sentence once NORMALLY to the kids and tell them to listen very carefully. Then I say the history sentence again but with some “silly words” added in. I tell the kids that if they hear a silly word, to raise their hand and try to tell me what the correct word should be. Here is the correct version of the history sentence:
In 1867, the British North America Act established the Dominion of Canada. The Canadians gained total independence from Britain in 1982. French is spoken in the province of Quebec.
Here is the history sentence with silly words:
In 1867, the skittish North America Act demolished the Dominion of Nevada. The Canadians gained total attendance from Britain in 1982. Trench is spoken in the nonsense of Quebec.
Each time I say a silly word and the kids catch it, I ask them to correct it. Then I say the history sentence from the beginning, correctly, until I get to the next silly word. This way the kids are hearing the history sentence correctly several times. I repeat this until I have said all the silly words and the whole history sentence correctly.
Latin
In Latin this week we continue to learn about the 4th Declension Noun Endings. See my tutor video for the tune we sing these to. I show the children the noun endings that I have written on my tutor board and we sing the song together as I point to each one.
Then I hand out a silly voice stick to each child and we sing the song in different silly voices. These are large popsicle sticks that I painted and wrote some silly voices on.
Here are the silly voices I wrote on these sticks:
- Loud to soft
- Slow like a sloth
- Close eyes
- Squeaky voice
- Super smiley
- Excited
- Whisper
- Crying
- Fish/pucker face
- Pouty
- Scared
- No teeth
- Quiet to loud
- Mad
- Hold your nose
- Tongue out
- Mouth closed
You can also hand out a silly voice card (get these below) to each child. I just use silly voice sticks this week to change it up. The kids love doing this! It’s a fun way to make them laugh and keep them engaged, especially when they are getting tired.
Free Silly Voice and Movement Cards
Science
This week in science we learn about some kinds of weather fronts. I spread these spot markers out on the floor and tell the children to each pick one to stand on. Then I teach the children some fun and simple motions we will do as we sing each weather front:
- Cold: spin around like a tornado
- Warm: move fingers down like it’s raining
- Stationary: put hand over eyes and look around like it’s hard to see in the fog
- Occluded: clap hands to make the sound of thunder
Then I teach them a song to the tune of The More We Get Together to help them remember these.
We sing the song together several times while doing these motions for each weather front.
I also love using these science cards to help me learn about our topic and explain it in a quick and simple way to the children. Then, of course, the parents can expand on it more at home.
For review this week, we play a game called Rotten Egg. This is a fun Easter review game, similar to the Stinky Feet and Love Bug review games we played during previous weeks.
Before community group, I cut out and laminate this Rotten Egg sign and egg cards. You can download these for free! You can also just draw a rotten egg on a white board and use sticky notes as the Easter eggs if you don’t want to print anything out.
The egg cards have either a positive number on the back or a negative number with a bug. The numbers are from -2o to +20 in increments of 5.
I split my class into teams. I ask the first child a review question from any subject and after they answer they get to pick an egg card off of the board. If they don’t know the correct answer, I let the rest of their team help. They turn the card over and see it’s a “rotten egg” card or not. A “rotten egg” card is a negative number with a rotten brown color.
Whatever point value is on the back of the card gets added or subtracted from the team’s score.
The game ends when all the egg cards are gone! Whichever team ends up with the most points wins! Or you could switch it up and have the team with the least points win.
I prefer to ask review questions on the fly instead of preparing them ahead of time. Here are some more example questions I ask (remember I have the youngest children in my group):
- What is an ocean zone we learned about last week?
- What is one part of a volcano?
- What is a volcano called that is erupting?
- What was one of the Mesoamerica regions we learned about?
- Do you remember one of the African countries or rivers we learned?
- Tell me the area of one of the shapes we learned recently?
- What is one of the helping verbs we have learned so far?
Printable and Editable Cycle 1 Week 22 Tutor Plans
Cycle 1 Week 22 Memory Work Activities
Also check out the FREE activities and games that you can use at home to help your kids practice the memory work this week.
Blessings to you on this homeschooling journey!
