Cycle 2 Week 12 Tutor Plans for Classical Homeschooling
This week’s plans focus on bringing everything together through fun, hands-on activities that remind the kids just how much they know. My goal is to keep things lighthearted and full of movement as we wrap up this semester with smiles and songs.
As always, I’m not affiliated with any Classical education organization—these are simply my own ideas and experiences from tutoring over the years. I hope these Cycle 2 Week 12 plans encourage you and spark fresh ideas for your final week of class or homeschool time!
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 12 Tutor and Memory Work Ideas
New Grammar
Geography – Eastern European Seas
This week in geography we’re learning about the Eastern European Seas—the White Sea, Barents Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea!
We’ll begin by reviewing last week’s locations before before diving into these chilly and beautiful seas. I’ll outline the seas on our trivium table maps in different color dry erase markers to make them stand out.
To make it extra fun and interactive, we’ll play a simple game called “Fishy Seas!”
Each child will get a small fish eraser or toy fish. As we name each sea, the kids will “swim” their fish across the map to the correct spot.
- When we say White Sea, they’ll make their fish “shiver” because it’s icy cold!
- For the Barents Sea, they’ll move their fish up high near the top of the map—close to the Arctic Circle.
- For the Black Sea, they’ll swirl their fish in a little circle.
- When we get to the Caspian Sea, they’ll make their fish swim in place—because it’s landlocked!
- And for the Aral Sea, they’ll pretend their fish gets smaller, since that sea has been shrinking over time.
Once we’ve practiced together, we’ll sing our geography song to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb while moving the fish across the map:
We’ll sing the song a few times, letting the kids move their fish gently across the seas in rhythm with the tune. See my video below for the song.
English – Indefinite Pronouns
This week we’re learning the next eight indefinite pronouns! We’ll keep using the same cheerful tune, Here We Go Looby Loo, so the kids can continue linking all the pronoun types together in one continuous song.
We will now shake our head as we sing each word. This simple rhythm helps the kids stay focused while reinforcing the flow of the song. I’ll introduce the new set slowly at first, then invite everyone to join in with shaking their heads once they’re familiar with the words.
Afterward, we’ll review all the pronouns we’ve learned so far—from nominative through this week’s indefinite—so the kids can see how each type connects in our growing pronoun song. It’s always fun to hear their voices grow more confident 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 12 Timeline
Before our class time begins, I put seven pieces of painters tape on the wall where the timeline cards will go.
This week for Timeline, we’re playing a fun movement game called Timeline Train! As we sing this week’s portion of the song, I’ll hold up the first card and choose a child to be the “engine.” The rest of the kids line up behind them as the “train cars.” See my tutor video for the tune of this week’s timeline song.
As we sing, the train chugs around the room to the rhythm of the timeline song. When we finish that section, the “engine” proudly hangs their card on the wall in its correct spot, and the next child becomes the new “engine” for the next event.
We’ll keep singing, chugging, and switching leaders until all seven cards are placed on the wall and the whole train is cheering, “All aboard the timeline!” 🚂
After the cards are up, we’ll stand together in front of the completed timeline and sing the week’s portion again while practicing the hand motions.
It’s a simple, joyful way to get those wiggles out while helping even the youngest kids feel part of the timeline story!
See my video below for the motions and song for this week’s timeline section:
Math
This week in math we’re learning some fun kitchen measurements — that 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon and 2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce! To help the kids remember, we’ll sing a catchy song to the tune of Alice the Camel while practicing simple motions.
Everyone will use their left hand to scoop imaginary teaspoons and their right hand to scoop imaginary tablespoons as we sing together:
Three little scoops equal one tablespoon,
Two tablespoons equal one fluid ounce.
We’ll sing the song several times through — first slowly so everyone can learn the words and motions, then faster for a fun challenge! Between lines, I’ll call out, “Show me your teaspoons!” or “Show me your tablespoons!” so the kids can practice switching between their left and right hands.
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: Napoleon Bonaparte of the French Empire was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo by British General Wellington and his allies soon after the War of 1812 in the United States.
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:
Napoleon Bubble-heart of the French Pancake was defeated at the Battle of Waffles by British General Watermelon and his puppies, soon after the War of 1812 in the Unicorn Kingdom!
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 dance around the room as we sing.
Science
This week in science, we’re learning about some other bodies in our solar system—asteroids, meteoroids, meteorites, and comets! To help the kids remember these in a fun, hands-on way, we’ll play a movement game called Space Moves!
Each space object gets its own special motion:
- Asteroid: spin slowly in place like you’re orbiting the Sun
- Meteoroid: crouch down low and start moving quickly through space
- Meteorite: land dramatically and freeze in your best “thud” pose
- Comet: sweep your arms behind you to form a long, glowing tail
I’ll call out one of the words, and the kids will jump into the matching pose. We’ll start slowly to learn each one, then go faster and faster for a round of giggles and quick recall!
I will also teach the kids a song to help them remember these solar system bodies to the tune Do Your Ears Hang Low. We will sing the song together and do the hand motions for each solar system body as we sing. See my video below for this song.
Latin
This week in Latin, we’re continuing to learn the 1st Conjugation Future Perfect Tense endings: erō, eris, erit, erimus, eritis, erint. (see my tutor video for the tune we sing these to)
To make it fun and active, we’ll play a game called “Latin Hop!”
Before class, I’ll place six lines of painter’s tape on the floor with a Latin card at the end of each line labeled with one of the endings. The kids will line up behind the first set of tape. As we sing the Latin song together, one child will hop down the tape line to the card, saying each ending as they go:
-erō (hop), -eris (hop), -erit (hop)… all the way to -erint!
When they reach the end, the next child in line will take a turn. Once everyone has had a turn, we’ll mix it up with some silly rounds — like hopping in a robot voice, whisper voice, or marching with big stomps as we chant the endings together.
It’s a simple, energetic way to help the kids hear, say, and feel the rhythm of each Latin ending, all while having fun and burning off a little energy in the process!
You can also use these silly voice cards for more silly voice ideas — 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: Trim the Tree!
For our final week’s review, we’ll celebrate with a Christmas-themed game called Trim the Tree!
Before class, I’ll draw a big Christmas tree on the whiteboard (or use a large paper cutout). Then, I’ll have a stack of colorful “ornaments” ready—these can be magnetic circles, sticky notes, or even paper shapes I cut out ahead of time in bright red, green, blue, and gold.
Each time a child answers a review question correctly, they get to add an ornament to the tree! I’ll hand them one and let them choose where to place it.
We’ll keep reviewing until the whole tree is beautifully decorated. You can also cut out the blank ornaments at the end of this Trim the Tree review game and let the kids take them home to color.
I usually ask review questions on the fly rather than preparing them ahead of time so I can keep things moving and responsive to the kids’ energy. Here are a few examples of the kinds of questions I ask (remember, my class is the youngest group):
- Can you name one of the European explorers we learned about?
- Can you skip count the 4’s?
- Who remembers a part of the sun?
- What are a few pronouns we have learned so far?
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.
NEW 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 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!
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 12 Tutor Plans
Here is a printable EDITABLE template of these Cycle 2 Week 12 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 12 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!
