Travel to Learn US Geography

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #185, Travel To Learn US Geography, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Travel to Learn US Geography

In “Travel to Learn US Geography,” Episode, #185, Meredith Curtis shares ways to teach US geography as if you were on a road trip through each US state and territory highlighting natural wonders, historic landmarks, and interesting people and places. Learn to use mapping, road mapping,  sightseeing, drone videos, cooking, baking, and research to discover our beautiful country. Grab your road map, pack your suitcase, and don’t forget your camera—we’ll see lots of beautiful places! Traveling, even from your family room, is a great way to learn geography the fun way!

 

 

 


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Show Notes

Hi! I love to travel. If only I could pack up the minivan and travel from state to state for a year or two.

Country Overview

  • How USA grew
  • Regions: Landforms, Climate
  • Farming

Road Trip & Packing

  • If we were going.
  • Why it’s their favorite class.

Regional Overview

  • Maps – colorful and fun
  • Mapping
  • Food, culture, music, landmarks, natural wonders, rivers, lakes

Take a Tour

  • State Description
  • Places to See
  • Food, crops, resources, fun things to do

Research

  • Statehood, flower, bird, fun facts
  • Copy flag – make it beautiful

Road Mapping

  • Lost skill with GPS
  • Where roads go and how they meander
  • g. Interstate highways (S to N even) (W to E odd)

Cooking & Baking

  • I dish or meal from each region
  • Kids LOVE this!

In Class Online

US Geography course at True North Homeschool Academy

Use God Bless the USA Exploring States & Territories

God Bless the USA State Capitals & Abbreviations

Travel God's World God Bless the USA Exploring States & Territories by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions God Bless the USA State Capitals & Abbreviations by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions, Inc.
  • Videos (esp Drone, travel, adventure)
  • Games
  • Questions: “What do you notice about this state flag (seal, capitol, coin, stamp)
  • Photo of Map Shape: “Give me the capital and abbreviation)

US Geography Online Class

Jr High US Geography

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US Geography Resources

Travel God's World God Bless the USA Exploring States & Territories by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions Travel God's World God Bless the USA Cookbook by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette at Powerline Productions God Bless the USA State Capitals & Abbreviations by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions, Inc. Travel God's World God Bless the USA State Flags & Seals by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions
Travel God's World God Bless the USA State Stamps & Coins by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions Travel God's World God Bless the USA State Sorting Mats by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions National Parks Fact Cards by Meredith Curtis Travel God's World God Bless the USA National Parks Memory Game by Meredith Curtis at Powerline Productions

More Online Classes with Laura, Meredith, and Leanne

Check out all the great classes at True North Homeschool Academy!

Science Exploration A for K-3rd Grade at True North Homeschool Academy Science Exploration B for 4th-6th Grade at True North Homeschool Academy True North Homeschool Academy High School Computer Science Class Healthy Living for Teens Class with Meredith Curtis at True North Homeschool Academy
World History of the 20th Century for High School with Meredith Curtis at True North Homeschool Academy 8th Grade Math and PreAlgebra with Leanne Benjamin at True North Homeschool Academy Algebra I with Leanne Benjamin at True North Homeschool Academy Algebra 2 with Leanne Benjamin at True North Homeschool Academy

 


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Essential Computer Skills for Teens

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #184, Computer Science Online, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Essential Computer Skills for Teens

In “Computer Science Online ,” Episode, #184, Laura Nolette & Meredith Curtis discuss Laura’s Introduction to Computer Science course online at True North Homeschooling Academy and the essential computer skills for teens. Laura, a 30+ year veteran and continuing student of the IT world, offers some insight into why students need a computer science class and what they can learn in this one. Meredith and Laura talk about the computer related challenges they have helped homeschool students overcome as they learn online.

 

 

 


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Show Notes

What Students Need to Know About Computer Science

  • Basic history of computers
  • What computers do
  • How they work
  • How they think
  • What’s in a computer
  • What works with a computer
  • What is computer programming or game design
  • The internet – How it works how it was built
  • Internet safety
  • How can you use the internet to make money?
  • Office application
  • How to make apps work
  • How to find work on your computer
  • How to organize your computer
  • How to customize or personalize your computer

Teaching Computer Science Online

  • Learn What They Need Now
  • Learn What They Will Need in the Future
  • Start with the Basics
  • Using the internet to learn
  • Using the internet to share or submit documents
  • Compare & Learn To Use Different Systems
  • Microsoft Office 365 – including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Google Chromebook – including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
  • MacBook or iMac – inclkluding Apple Pages, Numbers, and Keynote

Teacher Experience

  • Been around computers since childhood
  • Worked as a IT professional for over 30 years
  • Involved in the beginnings of the internet
  • Siblings are all IT professionals
  • Taking more classes still

Always keep learning

True North Homeschool Academy - Introductions to Computer Science

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More Online Classes with Laura, Meredith, and Leanne

Check out all the great classes at True North Homeschool Academy!

Science Exploration A for K-3rd Grade at True North Homeschool Academy Science Exploration B for 4th-6th Grade at True North Homeschool Academy US Geography for Jr High with Meredith Curtis at True North Homeschool Academy Healthy Living for Teens Class with Meredith Curtis at True North Homeschool Academy
World History of the 20th Century for High School with Meredith Curtis at True North Homeschool Academy 8th Grade Math and PreAlgebra with Leanne Benjamin at True North Homeschool Academy Algebra I with Leanne Benjamin at True North Homeschool Academy Algebra 2 with Leanne Benjamin at True North Homeschool Academy

 


Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

Cozy Mystery English Online

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #183, Cozy Mystery English Online, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Cozy Mystery English Online

In “Cozy Mystery English Online,” Episode, #183, Laura Nolette & Meredith Curtis discuss Meredith’s Who Dun It high school English course online at True North Homeschooling Academy. Writing a novel in high school and creating Who Dun It high school English course has been a win-win for their teens. Who Dun It is fun in a co-op and online classes where students read and write cozy mysteries. This out-of-the-box high school English course is a blessing to many homeschool families who want to experience the adventure of clues, red herrings, plot twists, creating suspects, and leading their detective on a merry chase until the murderer is apprehended.

 

 

 


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Show Notes

Our experience with novel writing in high school and eventually writing a who-dun-it.

Writing a Cozy Mystery

  • Cozy -no gore, clean, focus on solving a puzzle
  • Create detective, sidekick, friends, and suspects (characterization)
  • Create a scene-by-scene plot
  • Suspect’s Motives
  • Clues/Red Herrings
  • Setting/Tone/Mood/Christian Worldview
  • Plot Twists
  • Logic – Wrapping It Up

Who Dun It At Home

  • Read “Golden Age” Mystery Novels & Short Stories
  • Discuss Novels & Short Stories
  • Write a Short Story first semester
  • Write Novel second semester
  • Create Well-Rounded Characters/Introduce to Family
  • Read Sections of Short Story & Novel Aloud to Family
  • Get Input from Family
  • Watch Cozy Mysteries & Discuss with Parents

Who Dun It? Murder Mystery Literature and Writing High School Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Dun It in Homeschool Co-op

  • Read “Golden Age” Mystery Novels & Short Stories
  • Discuss Novels & Short Stories
  • Write a Short Story first semester
  • Write Novel second semester
  • Create Well-Rounded Characters/Introduce in Class
  • Read Sections of Short Story & Novel Aloud
  • Peer Review Writing Club Style
  • Watch Cozy Mysteries & Discuss

Who Dun It? Murder Mystery Literature & Composition Class at True North Homeschool Academy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Dun It Online

  • Read “Golden Age” Mystery Novels & Short Stories
  • Discuss Novels & Short Stories
  • Write a Short Story first semester
  • Write Novel second semester
  • Create Well-Rounded Characters/Introduce in Class
  • Read Sections of Short Story & Novel Aloud
  • Peer Review Writing Club Style
  • Watch Cozy Mysteries & Discuss

Who Dun It at True North Homeschool Academy

Literature & Composition: Who Dun It

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Literature Resources

Our curriculum works great at home; or in church, homeschool co-ops, and online classes, too! 😊

American Literature & Research British Literature & Writing High School Class Foundations of Western Literature by Meredith Curtis Communications 101:Essays and Speeches High School Class

 


Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

20th Century World History Fun Online

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #182, 20th Century World History Fun Online, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

20th Century World History Fun Online

In “20th Century World History Fun Online,” Episode, #181, Laura Nolette & Meredith Curtis talk about Meredith’s 20th Century World History Class online at True North Homeschooling Academy. First, they talk about history co-oping and how they ended up leading a co-op and teaching online. They discuss history labs (design an amusement park, diaromas, acting out battles, radio shows, commercials) and how they add depth and fun to history studies.

 

 

 


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Powerline Productions, Inc.

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Show Notes

Our experience  history co-oping and teaching online

History Classes In Person – Co-op

  • All ages together for history lab
  • Separate classes for discussing history material
  • Archaeological Dig
  • “Olympic Games”
  • Quill Pens & Berry Ink
  • Tin Punching
  • Act Out Stagecoach Robbery
  • Underground Railroad Game (similar to capture the flag)

History Labs in the 20th Century

  • Games through the Century
  • DIY Miniature Gold
  • Diaroma of Battlefield – Trench Warfare
  • War II Poster
  • Listen to Music from each Decade
  • Radio Show – Truthful Reporting from Vietnam
  • Create an Airplane Company & Make Commercial
  • Plan a Trip on Route 66
  • Design an Amusement Park
  • Mapping
  • Family Trees
  • Much more!

Why Teaching the 20th Century Is Needed

  • So much of history is being rewritten
  • 20th Century impacts 21st Century
  • Socialism/Communism needs to be understood
  • Wars/Terrorism/Civil Rights Movement/Eugenics/
  • Set them up for success in the more formal years

World History 20th Century

  • Online classes at True North Homeschool Academy
  • 2 Classes – Middle School & High School
  • Textbook & Workbook at Home
  • Powerpoint, Videos, Project Sharing, and Discussion online

Benefits of Online History Fun

  • Teen LIKE history
  • Teens learn with other teens
  • Just one hour a week for 15 weeks/semester
  • Pleasant, wholesome atmosphere

20th Century World History at True North Homeschool Academy

  • World History of the 20th Century for High Schoolers

World History - 20th Century Class at True North Homeschool Academy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Twentieth Century History Modern World for Jr. High Students

20th Century Modern History for Jr. High at True North Homeschool Academy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sign up for our Newsletter

100 Homeschool Hacks by Meredith CurtisSign up for our updates and get your copy of 100 Homeschool Hacks FREE. Sign up here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

History Resources

Our curriculum works great at home; or in church, homeschool co-ops, and online classes, too! 😊

HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century: High School Workbook by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century Middle School Workbook HIS Story of the 20th Century Cookbook by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette

 


Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

HSHSP Ep 176: Hands-on Learning in Homeschool High School, Interview with Susan Evans

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on HSHSP Ep 176: Hands-on Learning in Homeschool High School, Interview with Susan Evans.

HSHSP Ep 176: Hands-on Learning in Homeschool High School, Interview with Susan Evans. Make homeschool high school fun and effective with experiential learning. Don't take school so seriously! Have fun! #HomeschoolHighSchoolPodcast #HandsOnLearning #ExperientialLearning #HomeschoolHighSchool #SusanEvans

 

HSHSP Ep 176: Hands-on Learning in Homeschool High School, Interview with Susan Evans

Do your homeschool high schoolers have days that they HATE their studies? Teens get bored with nothing but textbooks! Join Vicki and our friend, Susan Evans, who reminds us that teens don’t outgrow the need for experiential learning! When they have hands-on experiences, they regain a love for learning.

Susan is an expert on hands-on learning. That’s the way she educates her homeschool high schoolers. Her good-natured teens still love education because Susan comes up with hands-on experiences for their transcript credits.

Susan reminds us that having fun in education, makes education successful. She tells the story of teaching writing in a low-performing school. She did mystery events with her. Then her students wrote mystery stories about the event. The next testing showed her students scored significantly higher on their standardized tests, because they were now engaged and encouraged.

When she started homeschooling her kids, she decided to keep those hands-on learning principles going with her own kids education. She did not give up experiential learning even when her kids reached high school levels. Susan reminds us to bring more joy to your home through hands-on learning!

Bring more joy to your home through hands-on learning!- Susan Evans Listen to this episode of Homeschool Highschool Podcast and get lots of ideas for experiential learning in homeschool high school.

What are some hands-on learning experiences that Susan has used in her homeschool high school?

Need some ideas for experiential learning in your homeschool high school? Susan Evans is an endless fount of hands-on blessings. Remember, don’t take yourselves too seriously. Have lots of fun! You can get inspiration at her YouTube channel and website.

Here are some of Susan’s favorite ideas:

  • Science labs:
    • Animal classification wall. Susan and her family cover a wall poster board diagrammed with kingdoms, phylums, genus, species. Add photos.
    • Potato head genetics: Susan and her teens practice dominant and recessive genes with different kinds of eyes, noses and ears on their Mr. Potato Heads.
  • History:
    • Hold feasts from each location and time period: Susan finds recipes online and in library books. The family works together to cook and present the meal. They eat in period costumes. Then they follow up with period-related activities.
    • Re-enactments: Susan and her family attend Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactments. National, state and local parks often have interpreters who do some re-enacting.
    • Plays: Susan’s family particularly enjoys Shakespeare plays during the summer when her community holds free “Shakespeare in the Park” events. They also attend other period plays.
    • Visit events and shops: Susan’s family visits antique car shows and antique shops. They learn about period cars, furniture and culture. Nothing can substitute for actually knowing what these things look like!
    • Field trips: Homeschool high schoolers never outgrow field trips. No matter where you live, there are some field trip opportunities. And given time and resources, vacations can turn into larger educational field trips. After all, ALL of life is education! Vicki, Sabrina and Kym have lots of field trip ideas for homeschool high schoolers in this episode of Homechool Highschool Podcast.
    • Parties from each decade of the 20th century: Susan’s family throws Decade parties. Everyone wears costumes and shares food and activities from the decade being studied. (Susan reminds us that right before Halloween, you can find cheap costumes.) An example of a Decade Party: For 70s party: buy a Walmart disco ball, bake a *record cake*, play music of the era with a YouTube 1970’s pop music mix.
  • Literature:
    • Re-enact scenes from family read-alouds: Susan’s homeschool high schoolers re-enact scenes from the famous literature. Her teens especially loved re-enacting their favorite scenes in The Iliad and The Odyssey.
    • Hold mystery partiers after reading mystery novels: Susan started this tradition while teaching in public schools. Her homeschool high schoolers still love reading mysteries then throwing a celebratory mystery party.
    • Have treasure hunts after reading Treasure Island or other pirate novels: Susan loves hiding treasures with clues and maps. Her teens get a kick out of the game.
    • Bible: Susan’s family acts out Bible stories. She says that over time, they have re-enacted the entire Bible!
  • Career Exploration: Practice interviewing. Susan’s homeschool high schoolers have loved 7Sisters Career Exploration curriculum and posts. Here’s a YouTube link to her sons practicing what NOT to do at a job interview.
Susan Evans. Photo used by permission.

Susan Evans. Photo used by permission.

How does a homeschool mom plan and organize hands-on activities for homeschool high school?

Susan says prayer and getting her teens involved are important! Here are her tips:

  • For planning our lessons, Susan suggests starting with prayer when she plans her subjects each year. She believes that God created our creativity, so she expects Him to give her fun ideas…and He does!
  • Give teens job to research, plan and organized hands-on activities.
  • If they drive, they can even Log these hours.
  • Don’t take yourselves too seriously. Relax and have fun!
  • Log hours for all these hands-on activities. These hours go towards leveling-up credits in a way that is fun and memorable.

Join Susan’s Treasure Vault for TONS of ideas for hands-on learning in homeschool high school. Start with encouraging posts at Susan Evans Hands-on Learning. AND catch her YouTube Channel.

HSHSP Ep 176: Hands-on Learning in Homeschool High School, Interview with Susan Evans