3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices

My son is a little naturalist. To say that he has a way with animals is quite the understatement. He's an animal whisperer. So far in his seven short years, he's rescued a cedar waxwing, a morning dove, a Downy woodpecker, a common redpoll, numerous frogs and toads, and a rabbit that have all been injured and left for dead. He's nursed each of them back to health and has set them free. 

When selecting curriculum for him, I try to keep that love for animals and wildlife in mind. 

Here's what he'll be learning this year.
(Items with an asterisk indicate a new-to-us resource. Because we don't homeschool on Tuesdays, all subjects will be completed four times a week unless otherwise indicated.)

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Content-rich subjects

As in year's past, he will do a lot of his content-rich subjects like Morning time, history, world geography, science, art, and composer study with the rest of the family. You can see all of those subjects and curriculum choices here>>>

Personal Devotions- every day

ESV Holy Bible for Kids



God's Amazing Creatures & Me**

Language

• LLATL The Yellow Book- I was so impressed with this entire series when I did it with my oldest son last year that I've decided to switch all of my oldest kiddos over to it.  
• Finish All About Spelling Level 2 and move on to Level 3.
• Read for pleasure every day.
• Read the following books that correspond with the LLATL Yellow Book.

The White Stallion

Madeline

Meet George Washington

The Courage of Sarah Noble

• If he's not currently working through an LLATL suggested book, he will read a chapter from a book that I assign to him. These will be classics, biographies, or exceptional fiction.

Math

• Teaching Textbooks 4
• Practice math fact flashcards with a sibling for five minutes. 

Handwriting

• A Reason for Handwriting C

• Draw Write Now 7**- (2x a week) Instead of purchasing the Reason for Handwriting Transition book which incorporates both print and cursive writing like I have done in the past when teaching third grade, I purchased the cursive only edition and will use this Draw Write Now to help him review his printing skills. I thought he'd enjoy this particular book because it combines his two most favorite things in the world, animals and drawing. 

Electives

World View- 1x a week

• Lessons in Responsibility for Boys 2- One day a week, instead of reading his normal Mom-assigned book, he will read a chapter from this book out loud to me. 

Critical Thinking- 1x a week

• Mind Benders Level 3

Typing- 1x a week

• Typing Instructor for Kids

Home Ec.

• He will continue to be a child-of-the-day and help me make lunch and dinner once a week. 
• Wipe down the bathroom sink, shelves, and toilet every day after lunch.
• Weed/harvest the tomato patch through the fall.
• Feed his fish.
• Vacuum the living room as needed. 
• Sort the laundry with his older brother as needed.
• Put his own clean laundry away each week.
• Dust the house on big-chore days with his brothers.
• Help clean the boys' room and make his bed each day.

One of my most favorite things to do as a homeschool mom is to lean into the natural gifts and passions of each of my kids. By incorporating as many animal-themed resources as I can into my son's year, I'm valuing what he values and nurturing the spark that is already there.