Ancient + Medieval China: Week 4
As we wrap up our China Unit, no doubt you have a greater understanding and appreciation for this country’s great contribution to science, art and it’s delicious cuisine.
Ancient + Medieval China: Week 3
This week will be filled with adventure, inventions, and delicate art. We will learn about the true story of a famous pirate king—whose actually a woman—and we will discover who we have to thank for the paper we use today.
Ancient + Medieval China: Week 2
This week, we’ll focus on several Chinese inventions including the compass, the wheelbarrow, and fireworks. We’ll dive into the history of silk and its famous roots in China, including sharing the legend of how this ancient secret made it to the rest of the world.
Ancient + Medieval China: Week 1
We are so excited to learn about Ancient + Medieval China this week, digging deep into some of the country’s most famous lessons, incredible architectural feats, and (of course) tasty dishes.
Level 3: Ancient + Medieval China Supplies
Here’s what you need for all four weeks of lessons.
8 tips for teaching left-handed writers
Left-handed children may be at a slight disadvantage without the proper teaching methods. With a few tips and tricks, however, you can set up your left-handed child for success—no matter which hand you prefer yourself!
Level 2: Five Senses Unit
around us. We’ve packed this week with experiential activities that encourage yoru child to tune into their senses (while also learning about math, plenty of science, literacy, and more!).
Level 2: Native Peoples of Mesoamerica + South America
One of our favorite things about homeschooling is getting to introduce our children to places and cultures they might not have experienced yet. This week, we’re sharing books and activities about Native people of Mesoamerica
Level 2: Native Peoples of Mesoamerica + South America and Five Senses Supplies
Here’s what you need for our Native Peoples of Mesoamerica + South America and Five Senses Units.
Level 1: Native + First Peoples of North and Central America and Five Senses Supplies
Here’s what you need for our Native + First Peoples of North and Central America and Five Senses Units.
China Unit: Silkworm life cycle mat
Silk has a storied history in China—and it all begins with the humble silkworm! With this activity, we’ll take a closer look at the life cycle of this fascinating insect.
Level 1: Native + First Peoples of North and Central America Unit
One of our favorite things about homeschool is getting to introduce our children to places and cultures they might not have experienced yet. This week, we’re sharing books and activities about First People of North and Central America.
6 things we learned about teaching music from our LIVE with a music educator
The idea of teaching children music can be intimidating—especially if you’ve never had formal training or even any kind of music background of your own. But it doesn’t have to be! And it turns out that teaching your child the basics of understanding music might be even more natural than many of us think. ToContinue reading “6 things we learned about teaching music from our LIVE with a music educator”
Big Feelings Unit: Gratitude tree craft
et’s start by thinking of some things we can be grateful for in our own life with a game! This simple craft is a great way to give your child a tangible reminder of their favorite people and things, and it also doubles as a sweet keepsake.
Mesoamerica Unit: Pok-a-Tok Literacy Game
This fun gross motor skill game (inspired by an ancient Mayan game) will also help your child work on sight words or letter recognition.
How to teach your child music without private lessons
When private lessons aren’t an option, there are still plenty of play-based ways you can teach your child about music.
What is deschooling and how to get started
Starting out on the home learning journey can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. For many of us, homeschooling may be a completely new territory that brings many changes to the way we do things or what we have come to know (or think we know!)
Level 2: Neighborhood Unit
Broaden your child’s world view starting with the community around them with this neighborhood-themed lesson plan.
Level 2: Weather + Clouds Unit
So much is happening above our heads—let’s take a look at some of the weather and what makes it happen! This unit is packed with science experiments, as well as opportunities to work on writing, math, and even physics! Get ready for some major brain “storms.”
Level 2: Clouds + Weather and Neighborhood Supplies
Here’s what you need for our Clouds + Weather and Neighborhood Units.
Level 1: Clouds + Weather and Neighborhood Supplies
Here’s what you need for the Clouds + Weather and Neighborhood Units.
Level 1: Neighborhood Unit
This week, your child will develop art and music appreciation and math, science, and language skills while learning about their hometown, the post office, and the fire station. 🚒
Level 1: Clouds + Weather Unit
Sometimes for the best lessons, you just have to look up! ⛈ In this lesson we will learn about the water cycle, clouds, thunderstorms and some extreme(ly cool!) weather.
How to deal with homeschool guilt
The beginning of the school year can be such a rush of excitement, with choosing curriculum, gathering supplies, and getting into a homeschool rhythm. But the second or third months of homeschooling are often marked by another emotion: guilt.
Mesoamerica: Week 4
For our final week of Mesoamerica, we’ll be looking at several ways our modern culture has been impacted by these ancient cultures.
Mesoamerica: Week 3
We’re so excited to continue our journey to Mesoamerica this week, taking a deeper dive on some of the culture and values of the Aztec and Maya civilizations!
Mesoamerica: Week 2
We’re so excited to continue our journey to Mesoamerica this week, taking a deeper dive on some of the culture and values of the Aztec and Maya civilizations!
Mesoamerica: Week 1
We’re so excited to take a journey to Mesoamerica this week, exploring ancient cultures and seeing how they have impacted our life today!
Level 2: Modern-Day Egypt and Dinosaur Supplies
Here’s what you need for Week 1: Modern-Day Egypt: Books (find at your local library or order below on Amazon): Follow Me Around Egypt by Wiley Blevins We’re Sailing Down the Nile by Laurie Krebs (or listen to this Youtube read aloud or read it online on OpenLibrary.org) The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story byContinue reading “Level 2: Modern-Day Egypt and Dinosaur Supplies”
Level 2: Modern-Day Egypt
When you think of Egypt, do you only think of pyramids and pharaohs? So much has happened to egypt in the last several thousand years—and this unit study will give your child an updated idea of what it would be like to visit this country with such rich culture and history.
Level 1: Ancient Egypt and Dinosaurs Supplies
Here’s what you need for Week 1: Ancient Egypt: Books (find at your local library or order below on Amazon): We’re Sailing Down the Nile by Laurie Krebs (or listen to this Youtube read aloud or read it online on OpenLibrary.org) Hieroglyphs by Joyce Milton Muti’s Necklace: The Oldest Story in the World by LouisaContinue reading “Level 1: Ancient Egypt and Dinosaurs Supplies”
Level 1: Ancient Egypt Unit
Pack your bags and your sunscreen—we are going back in time to the mystical land of ancient Egypt! The people of ancient Egypt left us lots of clues about how they lived and what they believed, so this week we will learn about the people, their culture, and their way of life—and death.
Level 1: Dinosaur Unit
This week, your child will play paleontologist while developing fine and gross motor skills and learning about science, math, music, and cooking. 🦕
How to find your child’s sensory rhythm to help regulate their day
We are surrounded by rhythm in nature with the hours in a day, days of the week, months of the year, and seasons. It is only instinctual that our children crave a steady rhythm—it creates balance and provides a sense of security and predictability for children.
Level 2: Leaves Unit
Who’s ready to fall into learning? (Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves!) This week’s lessons are inspired by the changing season. Get ready for stunningly illustrated stories packed with science and play-based activities that cover a variety of skills and subjects, such as math, science, music, and art appreciation.
Level 2: Fall Harvest Unit
Get ready to seriously dig into the fall season with this autumnal unit study! We’ll take a closer look at the life cycle of pumpkins, practice measuring weight and reading sight words, bake up some delicious fall treats, and so much more.
Level 2: Fall Harvest + Leaves Supplies
Here are the supplies you need for the next two weeks.
Ancient Egypt: Week 2
Welcome to week two of Level 3: Ancient Egypt! For our Level 3 lessons, consider this guide a framework for your school week. Want to finish all your activities in three days and enjoy a long weekend? Go for it! Prefer to pace yourself and tackle one lesson per day? You’re the boss of yourContinue reading “Ancient Egypt: Week 2”
Ancient Egypt: Week 1
Welcome to your first week of Level 3: Ancient Egypt! For our Level 3 lessons, consider this guide a framework for your school week. Want to finish all your activities in three days and enjoy a long weekend? Go for it! Prefer to pace yourself and tackle one lesson per day? You’re the boss ofContinue reading “Ancient Egypt: Week 1”
Level 1: Fall Harvest Unit
If you think spring is the only important farming season, think again. In this lesson, we will learn how flowering plants go from seed to harvest in the fall.
Level 1: Leaves Unit
This week, your child will experience beautiful stories and playful activities while developing fine and gross motor skills and phonetic awareness and learning math, science, music, and art appreciation. 🍂
Level 1: Fall Harvest + Leaves Supplies
Here are the supplies you’ll need for the next two weeks.
How to do Tea + Poetry
As an eclectic program, The Learn + Live Letter loves to collect our favorite ideas from popular homeschooling styles and philosophies and bring them to you in a manageable, easy to follow format. Tea + Poetry is one of our favorite ideas.
How to do copywork in homeschool lessons
When our children initially learn language, they first listen to the words and then begin to speak them. Next, they learn to read and, finally, to write the language. This writing becomes another way to communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas! It is a key component of communication and expression. The first step of learning to write? Copywork.
Level 2: Dinosaur Unit
Dinosaurs once ruled the earth—let’s let them have a little fun ruling our homeschool this week, shall we? In this unit, we’ll work literacy skills as we examine all the different types of dinosaurs who roamed, flew, and swam our planet. We’ll flex our math muscles with a variety of games and puzzles. And we’ll end our week with a paleotologist-worthy dino dig.
How to teach the letter of the week in Level 1
For all of the Learn + Live Letter levels, we strive to make the activities in each meet your child at a place that is developmentally appropriate for their age. One way we do that in Level 1 is by including a letter of the week in most of the units. This letter links to the unit theme and has a natural, organic connection to other topics you will learn during the week.
Level 3: Ancient Egypt Supplies
Here’s what you need for all four weeks of our Level 3 Ancient Egypt unit study.
The 3 basic principles of Charlotte Mason homeschool
If you are looking to learn more about this philosophy of homeschool, here are the three principles that guide any Charlotte Mason homeschool.
Level 1: Foundations Unit
This week, we’ll help you create routines and introduce basic foundations of our lessons into your homeschool.
Weather + Clouds Unit: Water cycle wheel activity
This simple craft is fun to put together and gives your child a hands-on understanding of the water cycle. (Even better, it can be a great “fidget” device while you read your books for our Weather + Clouds Unit!)
Level 2: Foundations + Apple Supplies
Here’s what you will need for Week 1: Foundations Unit: Books (find at your local library or order below on Amazon): A Second, A Minute, A Week With Days In It: A Book About Time by Brian P. Cleary The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle (or read it on OpenLibrary here) Sing a Song ofContinue reading “Level 2: Foundations + Apple Supplies”
Level 2: Apples Unit
The humble apple is packed with opportunities to learn. From fractions to geography to art critique, this week your child will get to the core of a variety of big concepts. (Get it?!)
Level 2: Foundations Unit
Welcome to a new year of homeschool! Whether this is your first time with us or you’re a returning subscriber, we’re so excited to be part of your homeschool journey. This week, we’ll ease into the new year with simple routines your child can repeat throughout the year. We’ll also establish foundations and activities youContinue reading “Level 2: Foundations Unit”
The benefits of picture books for upper elementary students
In fact, picture books are extremely important to children of all ages. Even if your child is reading independently, picture books continue to have real value. Picture books offer complex vocabulary and discuss rich, thought-provoking topics. They are a valuable teaching tool, introducing people and places and sensitive and complex subjects. They teach literacy and critical thinking skills.
The art of narration—and how it can benefit your homeschool
a Charlotte Mason education is that of narration. It’s what some refer to as “retelling,” or simply “telling again.” In narration, the child retells what they have just heard or read from a text, whether it be historical fiction, nature stories, or history. Narration is a deceptively simple concept, but with a little know-how and practice, it can yield great rewards.
What are living books?
Simply put, a living book brings a subject to life. It engages the reader, bringing them into the story and presenting inspiring ideas. They are often written in narrative form, allowing the reader to step into the story.
6 things we learned from our IG LIVE with an occupational therapist
From sensory processing to fine and gross motor skills, having a better understanding of how your child processes the world physically could be the secret to unlocking more success academically.
14 homeschool supplies to keep on hand for Level 3
If you’re subscribed to our Level 3 lessons, we’ll send you a supply list every month for what you’ll need to complete the activities in our unit study. But if you want to feel more prepared (and cut down on what you need to buy each month), we recommend having these 14 staples in your supply closet all year long.
Learn + Live Letter Level 3 Books
We’re so excited to have you join us for our Level 3 unit studies for the 2021/2022 school year! This year, we are trying to give you as much advance notice as we can to get books for your lessons. Throughout the year, we’ll be updating this blog post with the books you’ll need, aiming to update you at least a month before you need them.
Learn + Live Letter Level 2 Books
We’re so excited to have you join us for our Level 2 unit studies for the 2021/2022 school year! This year, we are trying to give you as much advance notice as we can to get books for your lessons. Throughout the year, we’ll be updating this blog post with the books you’ll need, aiming to update you at least a month before you need them.
Learn + Live Letter Level 1 Books
We’re so excited to have you join us for our Level 1 unit studies for the 2021/2022 school year! This year, we are trying to give you as much advance notice as we can to get books for your lessons. Throughout the year, we’ll be updating this blog post with the books you’ll need, aiming to update you at least a month before you need them.
Modern-Day Egypt Unit: Feed the Crocodile Math Activity
Ready for a math activity that’s truly a *SNAP*? 🐊 This activity will strengthen your child’s understanding of greater than/less than using the Nile crocodile! Keep scrolling for instructions on how to make your crocodile and set up the activity, and then check out our list of ways to play. What you need: 2 popsicleContinue reading “Modern-Day Egypt Unit: Feed the Crocodile Math Activity”
How to homeschool with a younger sibling around
If you’re homeschooling with a toddler in tow, don’t despair! Here are a few tips and tricks to help everyone feel involved without sacrificing the integrity of the lesson.
How to do Read + Discuss
When you are doing the lessons that include a Read + Discuss activity, we are encouraging you to have shared reading with your child. During and after your reading, there are several ways to engage your child and strengthen their reading comprehension.
How does Learn + Live Letter work?
Learn + Live Letter in 2020, it was our goal to create a curriculum that fostered joy in learning—for both your child and you. In this post, we’ll break down exactly what to expect when you subscribe, how the curriculum works, and how you can tailor it to your family’s needs. For more information, we also recommend visiting our FAQs page, as well our Levels page for our full scope + sequence and pricing information.
How to naturally increase reading comprehension
new homeschool grownups, it can feel intimidating to teach. However, it becomes a natural skill when students have become familiar with and, eventually, internalized the common elements of all stories.
Foundations Unit: Build a clock activity
Ready to take a closer look at time? This simple, hands-on activity lets your child build their own clock, emphasizing the order of the numbers and how to tell time to the hour.
How to turn a trip to the beach into a lesson
Some of our favorite lessons come from experiential learning. Here’s how to encourage discovery and learning on your next family trip to the beach.
20 life skill-building chores that are age-appropriate for your preschooler or kindergartener
We are firm believers that some of the best learning in childhood happens organically. Exploring the backyard, going on field trips, and simply being an active part of your day will teach your child just as much as a day spent doing intentional school—and in some ways the lessons will be even more valuable.
5 things we learned in our IG LIVE with Honey! I’m Homeschooling the Kids
One of our favorite parts of being an eclectic homeschool curriculum is getting to meet and learn from incredible homeschoolers from a variety of backgrounds and approaches. Throughout the summer, we’ve been introducing several of our favorite experts who practice different homeschool philosophies and sharing their best lessons here.
Organizing your homeschool room: 5 things to declutter right now
It’s an age-old homeschool conundrum: Yes, homeschooling means scads more freedom and the ability to customize your child’s education journey…but it also means a whole lot more stuff. Here are five things you can declutter right now to free up space in your homeschool area.
7 things we learned from our IG LIVE with The Confident Homeschooler
summer series! Serena is founder of The Confident Homeschooler, a homeschool coaching and education company that works with families to find the schooling philosophies and curriculums that will work best for them. We sat down with Serena to discuss how to reflect on the past year in a way that will propel your future homeschool, how to avoid homeschooling from a place of fear, how to stop comparing your journey to others, and more.
Getting started with chapter books for younger children
You’ve likely been reading to your child all their life, but sometimes grownups can be intimidated by the idea of reading a chapter book to very young children. But you shouldn’t be!
How to turn a trip to the aquarium into a lesson
Honestly, if we could pick only one type of activity for our subscribers to do for each lesson, it would probably be the field trip. As much as we love living books with captivating stories and eye-catching illustrations, there’s just something magical that happens when your child sees what they are learning about in realContinue reading “How to turn a trip to the aquarium into a lesson”
What I want you to know about our first year of Learn + Live Letter
This past week was momentous for my family for a few reasons. First and foremost, my oldest child completed her kindergarten year of homeschool, ending our second year as a homeschool family! My daughter’s graduation also marked the first full year of the Learn + Live Letter. As my co-founder, Cynthia, and I have talkedContinue reading “What I want you to know about our first year of Learn + Live Letter”
Sharks + Ocean Animals Unit: DIY steel drum craft
The steel drum is one of the most recognizable sounds of calypso music! After learning a bit about calypso in our Sharks + Ocean Animals Unit, bring the music to life with this simple DIY version your child can play at home.
Forest Unit: Mini sloth craft
The sloth might be one of our favorite residents of the rainforest! Now, let’s craft a mini sloth that will be right at home in any rainforest diorama.
Forest Unit: Macaw Template
Let’s make a macaw craft that can soar in the emergent layer of our rainforest diorama. 🦜
Beaches + Ocean Unit: Interviewing + charting activity
Interviewing and charting are two important skills your child will use throughout their education career and life! This simple activity introduces these important concepts while also helping your child connect with friends and family.
Beaches + Ocean Unit: Snorkeling craft
Snorkeling is one of the best ways to get up close and personal with the ocean. Can’t make it to the surf? This fun craft puts your child in the mask (and snorkel!) while giving them practice writing their name. Let’s dive in!
5 myths about teaching homeschool math
Do you have anxiety about teaching math to your child? Let’s break down a few myths that will help alleviate your fears.
Butterflies + Migration Unit: Butterfly Pollination Activity
Butterflies are one of our favorite pollinators! We’ve discussed in other activities how other animals help to get plants the pollen they need to make seeds, but in this post, we’re taking a closer look at the butterfly proboscis (AKA, a long, strawlike tongue that coils and uncoils) and how a butterfly spreads pollen when it drinks a flower’s nectar.
Butterflies + Migration Unit: Butterfly life cycle craft
This beautiful craft takes a closer look at the butterfly’s fascinating life cycle and metamorphosis. This craft can be done in several steps (not necessarily all at once) depending on your child’s level of attention and interest.
Butterflies + Migration Unit: Butterfly Sequencing
This simple activity is a play-based way to teach your child about the concept of sequencing. Start by putting the materials together, and then find a way to play that meets your child’s abilities where they are.
Butterflies + Migration: Butterfly numbers activity
Butterflies do some pretty smart work for the planet. Today, we’re going to borrow some of their smarts for this hands-on math activity that helps your child gain a deeper, more holistic understanding of numbers that will serve them in all their math lessons.
Ancient Egypt: Nile River Model
The Nile River flows north, down the mountains of Egypt towards the Mediterranean Sea. As it flows, it forks into what is called the delta. For this activity, we’re going to make a model of the Nile River and its delta.
Insects + Spiders Unit: Bug rescue bin
Help! These friendly bugs have gotten trapped in a spider web, and they need your child to help them get free. (Plus, your child will work on fine motor skills and hand strength they’ll need for writing later on. 😉)
Spring Unit: Dirt Cups Dessert Recipe
Ready for a sweet way to learn about the spring season? These simple dirt cup desserts are easy to make (your child can likely make them by themselves!), and incredibly delicious.
Spring Unit: Shoebox chicken coop craft
Let’s bring what we’ve learned about caring for chickens into our free play! Here’s how to make a simple chicken coop craft your child can play with again and again.
Insects + Spiders Unit: Web Walk Literacy Activity
By strengthening your child’s gross motor skills as they learn, we help them to make deeper connections and stay engaged. For this literacy activity, we’re going to engage your child in movement while practicing spelling.
Insects + Spiders Unit: Spider silk strength activity
Spider silk is a really strong substance! 🕸️🕸️🕸️ Let’s have a little fun with our own experiment. This spider’s web inspired STEM activity will test your child’s engineering skills while encouraging them to think creatively.
3 ways to feel more confident as a homeschool teacher
One of the first steps to deschooling yourself as a homeschooling teacher is boosting your confidence as a teacher! Here are three ways to do it.
Birds Unit: Hummingbird pollination activity
Hummingbirds’ main source of food is the nectar from flowers, tree sap, pollen, and insects. By eating the nectar and pollen from flowers, hummingbirds actually help flowers! It’s a special process called pollination. This activity shows us how it works.
Flowers Unit: Georgia O’Keeffe collage craft
Georgia O’Keeffe is a famous artist who loved painting beautiful, close-up pictures of flowers. For today’s lesson, we’re sharing a Georgia O’Keeffe paper collage activity from The Usborne Art Treasury.
Flowers Unit: Flower Word Families Activity
Word families are words that share a phonic pattern. They often rhyme and are used to help children decode and eventually learn to read. For our activity today, we will play with words that end in the same sound and are spelled with the same letters.
Flowers Unit: Simple Plant Respiration Experiment
This experiment is designed to teach your child about one of the important jobs leaves do for plants. Leaves are extremely important to all plants because they make the plant’s food.
6 books that can help boost your confidence as a home educator
Whether you’re just dipping your toe into the homeschool world or you’ve been swimming in this pool for a while, we could all use a confidence boost now and then. One of the best ways to feel more empowered with your education choices? Learning about all the different ways to educate a child!
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