cycle 1 week 8 tutor materials for homeschooling

Cycle 1 Week 8 Tutor Ideas for Classical Homeschooling

Seeking new inspiration for Cycle 1, Week 8 tutor ideas for Classical homeschooling? This post offers a variety of fun and creative ways to introduce the memory work. If you’re a few weeks behind me, see my posts with tutor ideas for prior weeks:

Please note, I am not affiliated with any Classical education organization; these are simply my own ideas and suggestions based on my experience as a tutor. I hope they inspire and support you as you plan for Cycle 1, Week 8.

We love being part of our Classical homeschooling community. Read more about how God redirected our path from private education to homeschooling and Classical education here.

cycle 1 week 8 tutor idea materials

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 8 Tutor Board

Cycle 1 Week 8 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.

preschool lined paper notebook opened to cycle 1 week 8 with prepositions and blanks for kids to write other prepositions on.

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 use a light colored marker, so that the kids can trace my writing and easily see their own writing with their pencil.

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.

opened notebook with written prepositions and blanks for kids to write on zoomed in.
english notebook cover decorated with students name and biology design

Cycle 1 Week 8 Prepositions

In Cycle 1 Week 8, we learn the next five prepositions. I prep the notebooks with some of the prepositions already written, a few dotted prepositions that the children can trace, and a horizontal line where I will have the children write the third preposition. See picture above. Depending on the ages of the kids in your class, you could adjust this to meet their level:

  • Write five of the prepositions and have the kids write the last one.
  • Write some of the prepositions normally and then write one or a few very lightly or with dots so the kids can trace.
  • Have the kids write all five prepositions on their own.
  • Write the prepositions but with missing letters and have the kids fill the correct letters in.

As the children are writing, I start singing the Preposition song that we have learned so far. See my video below:

Cycle 1 Week 8 English song

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 also like playing previous week’s songs at the end of our new grammar class time to help review previous material.

I also have a video of a slowed down version of the entire Preposition song (weeks 2-12) and the hand motions here:

Slowed down version of the entire Preposition song and hand motions

I encourage the children to sing the tune with me several times as they finish up writing in their notebooks. After we sing the song several times, I hand out a sticker for each child to stick to the front of their notebook. I often try to find stickers that relate to some of the material we are learning about that week.

Preposition Hand Motions

Once the kids are finished writing, I have them stand up and show them the hand motions to this week’s prepositions:

  • Of: Sign language “o” and “f”
  • Off: one hand on top of other and take off
  • On: bring hand back down on top of other
  • Onto: Like getting onto a horse, hold reigns and small jump to side
  • Out: Point out with thumb
stick figure image of hand motion for preposition of
stick figure image of hand motion for preposition off
stick figure image of hand motion for preposition on
stick figure image of hand motion for preposition onto
stick figure image of hand motion for preposition out

Check out this handout for stick figure drawings of each of the hand motions for the ENTIRE Preposition song.

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.

4 sets of classical conversations timeline cards set out on table.

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.

timeline cards with large paper letters taped on them

Cycle 1 Week 8 Timeline

Before our class time begins, I put seven pieces of painters tape on the wall. I put the timeline cards in the correct order and have them with me. I tell the kids to first watch me as I model singing this week’s part of the timeline song and doing the hand motions. See my tutor video for the tune of this week’s timeline song and the hand motions.

Then I tell the children that they get to switch off being the leader and telling the rest of the group how loudly or softly we have to sing the timeline song. They do the following hand motions to show the class how we should all sing:

  • Raise hands above head: sing loudly
  • Hands down by belly: sing medium
  • Put hands down as low as possible: sing softly

They cannot say “loudly” or “softly”, they must show the class what they mean with these hand motions. I encourage all the kids to try the hand motions as we sing.

painters tape on wall ready for timeline cards to be hung.
timeline cards taped on wall in correct order

After each child leads us, I give them a timeline card and have them put it up on the wall on the piece of painters tape in the correct spot. Then they have a visual of the timeline cards in the correct order. See my video below which includes the hand motions for this week in the timeline section:

Cycle 1 Week 8 Tutor Ideas

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.

geography trivium table map prepped with features outlines in dry erase marker.
close up of geography trivium table map prepped with features outlines in dry erase marker.

I prepare these trivium table maps ahead of time. You could always print a map too and laminate it. This is the laminator I have and use all the time. I outline the features we are discussing this week in dry erase marker, each in a different color.

Cycle 1 Week 8 Geography: Indus River Valley

This week we learn about the Indus River Valley. I give each child a trivium table map and a dry erase marker. I tell them that we are going to go on a little trip together.

We start in our green body of water which is called the Bay of Bengal. I ask the kids, what does “bay” start with? A child answers, “B!” Then I have the children write a “B” with their dry erase marker in the green Bay of Bengal on their maps.

Then we swim around the tip of, “anyone know what country this is?” A child answers, “India!” We swim around the tip of India into the Arabian Sea which is outlined in orange. I ask the kids, “What does ‘Arabian’ start with?” A child answers, “A!” I tell the kids to write an A with their dry erase marker in the Arabian Sea on their maps.

We are pretty wet now from all that swimming and we need to dry off, so we are going to head into the purple zone on our maps which is called “The Great Indian Desert.” We are all going to dry off a bit here. As we are resting and drying off, we see these beautiful mountains in the distance called the “Himalayas.” We decide to go there, but first we must cross the Ganges River. So we get in our canoes and row across the Ganges River until we get to the beautiful Himalayan mountains. (I encourage the kids to trace the Ganges River). Now we are going to hike up to the top of one of the mountains and we have an amazing view.

Now we are a little tired and ready to go back home. So we go back down the Himalayan mountains, across the Ganges River, through the Great Indian Desert, back to the Arabian Sea, swim around the tip of India and back into the Bay of Bengal.

This is a fun story to help the children learn these new places. I also teach them a song to the tune of Row Row Row Your Boat. See my video below:

Cycle 1 Week 8 Geography song

We sing the song together several times. Then I say to the kids, “Who remembers what the location outlined in green is called?” Then I ask who remembers what the blue river is called, etc.

Depending on time, I give each child a few different colored dry erase markers and let them color in all the places we talked about. Or if you need to move on to the next subject because of time, you definitely don’t have to do this.

I have also found that it works best to review geography WHILE we are doing geography. The kids have their maps in front of them and it’s really easy to talk about places we have learned about previous weeks.

Math

This week in math we are skip counting the 14’s. I first sing a song to the tune Camptown Races to them while pointing to the 14’s on my board. See my tutor video to hear this tune.

woman with horse made out of felt and paper towel roll

Then I give each child a horse I make beforehand with paper towel rolls, some twine or yarn, a few wiggle googly eyes and this horse template. I tell the kids we are going to skip count the 14’s together while we ride on our horses in the following ways:

  • walk
  • slowing trot
  • gallop
  • jump
  • lay down and rest

After this, I collect all the horses and tell the kids that at the end of the year, they can each choose a horse to take home.

You could also give each child one of these movement cards (get these for FREE below), and have the kids switch off doing these different movements as they sing the 14’s.

Free Silly Voice and Movement Cards

History

We learn about the Age of Imperialism 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:

During the Age of Imperialism, the British established rule over India in 1858, and Queen Victoria was declared the Empress of India in 1877. Before his assassination in 1948, Mohandas Gandhi led the passive resistance movement, which helped win India’s independence.    

Here is the history sentence with silly words:

During the Age of Organism, the British established rude over Indiana in 1858, and King Victoria was declared the Princess of India in 1877. Before his vibration in 1948, Manatee Gandhi led the massive resistance movement, which helped pin India’s transcendence. 

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 the 3rd Declension Noun Endings. See my tutor video for the tune we sing these to.

latin noun endings hopscotch course

This week I make a hopscotch course that they kids will jump through as we sing. I first model for the children how to do this as I sing the song for them.

  • First jump with both feet in the first square labeled “various”
  • Jump with both feet again in the second square labeled “is”
  • Jump with right foot only in the square labeled “ī”
  • Jump with left foot only in the square labeled “em”
  • Jump with both feet together again in the last square labeled “e.”               
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "various" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "is" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "i" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "em" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "e" highlighted

The kids each get to try hopping through as we sing the first part of the tune together (the singular noun endings). Each child hops through the course individually while everyone else sings.

Then we add the plural noun endings. I have the kids line up in front of the next part of the hopscotch course with the plural noun endings. They jump through the course the same way as before, but now singing the plural noun endings part of the song.

  • First jump with both feet in the first square labeled “ēs”
  • Jump with both feet again in the second square labeled “um”
  • Jump with right foot only in the square labeled “ibus”
  • Jump with left foot only in the square labeled “ēs”
  • Jump with both feet together again in the last square labeled “ibus.”   
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "es" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "um" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "ibus" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "es" highlighted
latin noun endings hopscotch course with "ibus" highlighted

After each child gets a turn, we try starting at the beginning of the course with the singular noun endings and going through both courses (both singular and plural).

Science

This week in science we learn about some types of seed plants. I teach the kids the song to the tune of Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone to help them remember these.

Cycle 1 Week 8 Science song

First, I sing this song normally for the children. 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.

silly voice popsicle sticks

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 here) 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

For review time this week, I have three different dry erase dice. On one of them I write all the subjects (math, history, science, geography, english, and latin). On the other two dice, I write different fun actions and silly voices. Here are some ideas for actions and silly voices:

Fun actionsSilly Voices
ClapCowboy
MarchOld woman
SquatsVolcano-soft to loud
Wall SitsRobot
High KneesHold your nose
CrawlMouse
Slither like a snakePirate
Pat headBaby talk
SkipOpera
TwirlUnderwater
Tip toeStick out your tongue
Gallop like a horseExcited
Swim like a fishSleepy
Fly like a birdQuestioning
JumpWhisper
dry erase dice with subject, silly voice and action written on them

I start throwing the three dice up in the air and see how they land. For example, I could get “geography”, “squats”, and “opera voice.” Then I ask a question related to something in geography that we have learned about and the kids try to answer in an opera voice while doing squats. For example I might ask, “Who remembers the song we learned about the Assyrian Empire?” Then the kids can try to sing the song in an opera voice while doing squats. Since the kids I have in my group are pretty young, I like to usually ask questions to the entire group and let everyone try to answer.

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):

  1. Tell me some of the prepositions we have learned so far.
  2. Do you remember any parts of an animal cell or plant cell?
  3. What was one of the names of a Greek or Roman god we learned about?
  4. Do you remember the Fertile Crescent song? “The Fertile Crescent, Mediterranean Sea…”
  5. What are some animals that are vertebrates?

I let the kids switch off throwing the dice up and I ask more review questions.

Printable and Editable Cycle 1 Week 8 Tutor Plans

Here is a printable EDITABLE template of these Cycle 1 Week 8 Tutor Plans. Here is a blank template too!

Also, be sure to check out my post about teaching the Tin Whistle these next few weeks! I have a FREE Tin Whistle Plans and Activity set that you can download with lesson plans and activities for each week!

Cycle 1 Week 8 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. Here is the Cycle 1 Week 8 History game we played at home this week about the different ways animals reproduce! Sign up below to receive FREE access to activities and games for ALL the other subjects each week of Cycle 1.

Blessings to you on this homeschooling journey!

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4 Comments

  1. I cannot thank you enough for all of your videos, ideas, and materials! This is my first year tutoring and you have helped me immensely! Thank you thank you!

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