Cycle 2 Week 10 Tutor Ideas for Classical Homeschooling
This week, I’ve planned activities that balance review and discovery, giving them space to move, laugh, and apply what they’ve learned in new ways. My goal is to keep learning lively and connected as we head into the last few weeks before break!
As always, I’m not affiliated with any Classical education organization—these are just my own ideas and practices from tutoring over the years. I hope these Cycle 2 Week 10 plans give you fresh inspiration and encouragement as you prepare for your own class or homeschool day.
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.
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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 2 material
This year in Cycle 2, we’re learning about pre-Reformation to modern history, ecology, astronomy, and physics; Latin verb endings; English pronouns, adverbs, and conjunctions; skip counting, conversions, and more!
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 2 Week 10 Tutor and Memory Work Ideas
New Grammar
Geography – Southwest Asia
This week in geography we’re heading to Southwest Asia, where we’ll learn about Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Kolkata, and the Arabian Sea.
We’ll start by reviewing last week’s locations before moving east to explore this new region together. I’ll have the locations outlined on our trivium table maps in different color dry erase markers markers to help them stand out. As we say each name, the kids will use their animal figurines to point to the correct spot on their maps—an easy and fun way to keep everyone actively engaged!
I’ll share a few quick facts to help the places stick: Kolkata is a large city in India, the Arabian Sea borders India and Pakistan, and Afghanistan and Pakistan share a mountain-filled border region. We’ll talk briefly about how these countries are all part of the larger continent of Asia, but in a different area from the Far East places we’ll study later.
To help everyone remember the names, I’ll teach a simple song to the tune of Are You Sleeping (Brother John). As we sing, the kids will point to each location in rhythm with the song. Then we’ll make it progressively harder by erasing the outlines and seeing if they can still find each place while singing. See my video below for the song.
English – Demonstrative Pronouns
This week we’re learning the demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those. We’ll keep singing to the same familiar tune, Here We Go Looby Loo, so the kids can continue linking all the pronoun types together in one long, cheerful song.
I’ll introduce the new set and sing them once through with the tune, then invite the children to join in—shaking their right hand this time as they sing each word. This little movement helps keep them engaged and adds a fun rhythm as they memorize the new set.
After we’ve practiced the demonstrative pronouns on their own, we’ll sing through all the pronouns learned so far, from nominative through interrogative, tying them together as one fun, flowing song. It’s such a great way to keep building familiarity and confidence each week!
Here’s the video if you’d like to follow along with the tune and motions:
After practicing together, we’ll sing it a few more times in different ways: quiet voices, loud voices, whisper, etc.
Timeline
The timeline stays the same each cycle, and this week we continue with the next seven cards.
I often use these Timeline Cards in class: 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 4-6 year old 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 2 Week 10 Timeline
Before our class time begins, I put seven pieces of painters tape on the wall where the timeline cards will go, then I hide the cards around the room. I try to choose hiding spots that aren’t too tricky but still make the game fun.
When it’s time to start Timeline, I tell the children to find one or two cards (depending on how many kids I have) and bring them back to their seats. As they search, I sing this week’s part of the timeline song (instead of playing it), so I can set the pace and keep them focused. See my tutor video for the tune of this week’s timeline song.
Once all the cards have been found and everyone is seated, we’ll go through each timeline event in the correct order to see which child has which card.
For example, I’ll say, “Our first card is Japan’s Heian Period. What letter does Japan start with?”
When a child answers, “J!”, I’ll respond, “That’s right! Who has a card with a J?” The child with the correct card will walk up and place it on the first spot of painter’s tape.
We’ll repeat this process for each event until all seven cards are up on the wall in the correct order.
Miniature Timeline Cards
Afterward, I’ll hand out miniature timeline cards for each child to arrange in order at their seats. You can find these mini cards on CC Connected (log in, click “Forums,” and search “mini timeline cards”).
To make it extra fun, the kids will use their tiny hands again this week — no regular hands allowed! They can look at the big timeline cards on the wall for help as they work to get their mini cards in the right order.
Once everyone has finished, we’ll line up along the wall in front of the timeline cards. I’ll place spot markers on the floor so each child knows where to stand. Then we’ll go over the hand motions for this week’s timeline together and sing through the song a few times to lock it in.
See my video below for the motions and song for this week’s timeline section:
Math
This week in math we’re skip counting the squares to the tune of When the Saints Go Marching In! Listen to my tutor video to hear the tune. To make it extra fun and hands-on, I’ll use painters tape to create a large square shape on the floor.
As we sing, the kids will get to move around the square in different ways to help the rhythm and numbers stick:
- First, we’ll walk around the edge of the square as we sing the squares.
- Then we’ll hop on one foot along the sides.
- Next, we’ll jump from the inside to the outside of the square and back again.
- Finally, we’ll tiptoe carefully along the edges for a fun challenge!
These movement changes keep the kids engaged and help them connect the numbers to motion and pattern. If you have a larger class, you might want to make two taped squares on the floor so everyone has space to move safely without bumping into each other.
Math is also a great time to use these fun action cards which you can download for free below!
You can download my UPDATED printable Silly Voice and Action Cards for free by entering your email in the form below and I’ll send them straight to your mailbox!
Silly Voice and Action Cards
History
This week our history sentence is: Vladimir I brought Christianity to Russia in the 900s. In the 1500s, Czar Ivan the Terrible unified Russia. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great expanded and westernized Russia in the 1700s.
To help the kids learn this sentence in a fun and memorable way, we’ll play the “Silly Words” game again!
First, I’ll sing the history sentence correctly and ask the children to listen carefully (see my tutor video for this week’s tune). Then, I’ll sing it again—but this time, I’ll sneak in a few very silly words. For example:
Vladimir I brought chocolate chips to Russia in the 900s.
In the 1500s, Czar Ivan the Terrific unified Russia.
Peter the Grape and Catherine the Cake expanded and westernized Mustard in the 1700s.
Whenever they hear something silly, the kids will raise their hand and tell me the correct word. Each time they correct me, I’ll go back and sing that part again correctly before moving on to the next line. This keeps everyone laughing, listening closely, and hearing the correct sentence multiple times.
After the game, we’ll sing the history song a few more times together, but this time, the kids will clap to the rhythm of the song as we sing. The clapping helps keep everyone focused and adds a fun, energetic beat to wrap up the activity!
Science
This week in science, we’re learning the planets in order from the sun, and I’ve planned a fun, movement-filled activity to help the kids remember them!
I’ll start by taping pictures of each planet on the wall in order—Mercury through Neptune—along with a picture of the sun at the beginning. On the floor, I’ll make painter’s tape lines leading out from the wall so that when the kids stand on each line, they line up with the planet it represents.
We’ll all start together on the sun line, and I’ll teach the kids a simple song to the tune of Silver and Gold Have I None. See my video below for this song. As we sing through each planet, the kids will jump to the next painter’s tape line, moving farther from the sun each time.
When we reach the end with Neptune, we’ll finish the song by spinning like planets—everyone loves this part! Then we’ll head back to the sun line and sing again with a twist:
- Jump using only the right foot
- Then the left foot
- Then jump as high as possible
- And maybe even tiptoe the whole way for a quiet version!
This simple activity combines music, motion, and repetition to make learning the planets both memorable and fun.
You can grab these free planet printables here! 🌞🪐✨
Latin
This week in Latin we’re learning the first conjugation endings for the pluperfect tense: eram, erās, erat, erāmus, erātis, and erant. See my tutor video for the tune we sing these to! We’ll practice them with a fun “Echo and Build” game!
I’ll start by saying (or singing) just the first word — “eram” — and the children will echo it back. Then I’ll add one more each time, like this:
“Eram.”
“Eram, erās.”
“Eram, erās, erat.”
“Eram, erās, erat, erāmus.”
“Eram, erās, erat, erāmus, erātis.”
“Eram, erās, erat, erāmus, erātis, erant.”
Each time we add a new word, the kids echo the entire set back to me. It’s a simple, cumulative way to help them build the full ending pattern step by step while keeping their focus and energy high.
To keep it fun, we’ll switch it up each round — echoing in a quiet voice, a robot voice, a baby voice, or even a marching chant. You can download my silly voice cards for free here!
Review
Review: Jenga Game!
For review this week, we’re playing Jenga! 🎉
Before class, I write either a review question or a silly question on some of the Jenga blocks. For example, one block might say “Math,” and another might say “Animal” — which means the child answers a question like, “If you could be any animal, which would you choose?”
I like to keep the subject questions general so I can reuse this game throughout different cycles and weeks. Mixing in a few silly questions keeps everyone laughing and excited for their next turn!
During class, the children gather around the Jenga tower, and we take turns pulling out a block (without touching the others!). If their block has a question, they get to answer it before stacking it on top. We keep playing until the tower falls!
I usually ask review questions on the fly, but here are some examples from Cycle 2 Weeks 7–9 you can use or adapt:
Example Review Questions:
- What is a mountain range of Europe? (Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, Apennines, Balkans)
- What is an aquatic biome? (Oceans, estuaries, wetlands, lakes, rivers)
- What is one of the Caribbean islands? (Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico)
- Do you remember one of the absolute monarchs from last week?
- Can you try to skip count the 8s or 9s?
- Do you remember one of the European explorers?
- What is one of the pronouns we have learned so far?
This mix of subject and silly questions keeps review time exciting, helps reinforce what they’ve learned, and gives everyone a chance to participate!
Snowball Review Game
You can also play my new Snowball Game! This game is such a simple, low-prep way to bring energy and laughter into review time. Kids love the surprise of flipping over a snowflake card to see whether they’ve earned points or stumbled on a “snowball” that takes points away.
Before community day, I prep by cutting out and laminating a Snowball sign and snowflake cards (you can download these for free). If you don’t want to print anything out, you can simply draw numbers on a whiteboard and stick Post-it notes on top. On the back of each snowflake are numbers ranging from –20 to +20 in increments of 5.
Here’s how it works:
- I split the class into two teams.
- I ask the first child a review question from any subject. If they don’t know the answer, I let their team help.
- Once they answer, they get to pick a snowflake card. If it’s a positive number, their team adds the points to their score. If it’s a “snowball” (a negative number), those points are subtracted!
- The game continues until all cards are gone. The team with the highest (or lowest, if you want to switch it up!) score wins.
Cycle 2 Weeks 1-12 Review Activity Book
If you’re looking for a fun and meaningful way to wrap up the first half of Cycle 2, my brand new Weeks 1–12 Review Activity Book is the perfect companion! I designed it to help kids review, connect, and celebrate everything they’ve learned so far — from geography and history to science, math, Latin, English, and even the timeline.
Inside, you’ll find 50 engaging activities that make review time interactive and joyful. Each page reinforces memory work while encouraging deeper connections and confidence. Whether you use it during the mid-cycle break or as part of your regular review time, it’s an easy, low-prep way to keep learning fresh and fun.
You can find the Cycle 2 Weeks 1–12 Review Activity Book in both digital and physical forms my shop below!
Cycle 2 Historyopoly
One of our favorite ways to review history is with Cycle 2 Historyopoly, a brand new game I created this year.
It is modeled after Monopoly but uses all of the Cycle 2 history sentences. The kids love rolling dice, moving around the board, and reviewing history facts as we play. It turns review into something exciting and fresh, and we will definitely be pulling it out again many more times this year. You can grab this NEW game below!
Our NEW Cycle 2 Memory Work Activity Book
If you’re looking for a fun way to review the memory work at home with your kids this year, check out our NEW Cycle 2 Memory Work Activity Book. I created this notebook to give kids a fun way to practice their memory work, without adding extra prep for mom, dad, or grandma.
Inside, there’s one short activity for each subject for all 24 weeks of Cycle 2. When we do geography on Monday, they do the geography activity for that week. When we get to Thursday, they do the science page. It’s so easy to match to whatever we’re focusing on that day.
I love that it keeps things simple and fun. It’s NOW available in digital and printed form, and there is a sample page you can take a peek at if you would like too! Check it out below!
NEW Cycle 2 History and Science Placemats
These brand-new Cycle 2 History and Science Placemats are designed to make memory work fun and interactive for kids, whether you’re using them alongside Classical Conversations or on their own as a way to dive deeper into history and science.
Each placemat is filled with colorful visuals and simple explanations that bring the topics to life. Just print, laminate, and use them again and again during meals and review time. They’re an easy, no-prep way to dive deeper into the history and science topics with your kids. Get your set for Weeks 13-18 below. The first two quarters (weeks 1-12) are also available HERE! Future weeks will be available soon!
Cycle 2 Pronoun Memory Cards
These Pronoun Memory Cards cover all 75 pronouns from Cycle 2, Weeks 4–13 and can be used in three different games. Each card includes a sentence, a colorful image, and the pronoun type, making it easy for kids to connect meaning with usage.
You can sort them by pronoun type, play a classic memory match, or try the fill-in-the-blank version for an extra challenge. My kids loved playing, and it gave them tons of practice without it feeling like drill. This set has quickly become one of our favorite go-to grammar review tools!
Cycle 2 Geography Passport
We also have a fun addition for geography review — the Cycle 2 Geography Passport! Whether you’re a tutor or a homeschool parent, this printable resource helps kids track their Classical Conversations Cycle 2 geography week by week with full-color maps and matching cut-and-glue stamps.
Each page highlights that week’s memory work with clearly labeled locations, making it easy for young learners to connect what they’re memorizing with what they see on the map. Kids love collecting stamps as they “travel” through the world. You can also print these stamps on these sticky circular labels which makes it even more fun!
You can use the Geography Passport at home with your own children, or print it out for use in class. A group license option is available if you’d like to use it with your tutoring class or community group.
It pairs perfectly with the Cycle 2 Memory Work Activity Book, giving your students or children a hands-on, engaging way to practice their memory work all year long. If you’d like both resources, be sure to check out the bundle option available in my shop!
Memory Work Wonderland
Another one of our favorite ways to review is with fun, themed board games. I created a set of Candyland-style games that make memory work review exciting and interactive for kids. These games can be used with any cycle and are a great way to practice all of the memory work subjects together.
We’ve been playing Memory Work Wonderland, a Christmas/winter-themed review game (since Christmas is fast approaching!). It works just like Candyland, but with the addition of memory work review built in. Players move along the board by drawing cards with color blocks or picture spaces. Then they answer a review question that matches the space they land on. Correct answers let them stay put, but if they miss, they move back. The game also includes fun twists with slides and ladders to keep things lively. The first player to reach the cozy Christmas cabin wins!
The best part is that I now have a fall version, a winter version, and a spring version, so you can rotate them throughout the school year. You can grab each one individually, or get the seasonal bundle with all three at a special price.
These games have been such a hit in our home. They are perfect for community review days, family game nights, or just a fun way to end your homeschool week. You can find them all in my shop below.
Printable and Editable Cycle 2 Week 10 Tutor Plans
Here is a printable EDITABLE template of these Cycle 2 Week 10 Tutor Plans. Here is a blank template too! If you want the plans as they are, here is a PDF version (filled out) and a PDF version (blank).
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 2 Week 10 Memory Work Games
Also check out the FREE activities and games that you can use at home to help your kids practice the memory work this week.
I hope this helps give you some ideas and songs to use whether you are a tutor or a parent. Please comment below if you have any questions about anything.
Blessings to you on this homeschooling journey!
