The Art of Collaboration: AI-Driven Unit Studies

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

AI Driven Unit Studies

236: The Art of Collaboration: AI-Driven Unit Studies

Randi Smith from Peanut Butter Fish Lessons is my guest again and in this episode wee demonstrate how you can collaborate with AI to create AI-driven unit studies.

Randi is using Khanmigo and Meryl is using ChatGPT. Be sure to listen to our 3-part series on ChatGPT we recorded a few months ago for more ideas on how to use AI in your homeschool

Also see Randi’s post on Creating a Unit Study with AI for another example of AI-Driven Unit Studies.

Here are some screen shots of the responses we each got as we prompted the AI

Randi’s from Khanmigo

Meryl’s from ChatGPT

Please note: sometimes ChatGPT’s responses were longer than one screen so I just showed you a partial answer.

You can find Randi at

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Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

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AI Driven Unit Studies

Fall Unit Studies

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Fall Unit Studies

Fall Unit Studies – Episode 87

 

In this episode, we discuss Fall Unit Studies. Fall is the perfect time to take a look at Unit Studies.  Fall provides so many opportunities to take advantage of Unit Studies.

Mentioned on the Show

  • How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
  • Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie
  • Johnny Appleseed

Things to Do:

Pumpkins

  • Pumpkin Patches
  • Baking and Cooking with Pumpkins and Pumpkin Seeds

Leaves

  • Nature studies
  • Drawing leaves
  • Cutting Leaves
  • Crafts with leaves
  • Science projects with Leaves

Hurricanes

  • Tracking
  • Study the Science behind
  • Home preparedness projects

 

Find us on FacebookInstagramPinterest and Twitter

Please visit www.fpea.com to learn more about who we are!

Web-based Unit Studies

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Web-based unit studies

Episode 48: Web-based Unit Studies

Web-based unit studies are NOT simply pdfs instead of physical books, but rather interactive and accessed through an online classroom.

What are web-based unit studies?

  • mini online self-paced classes
  • make use of online resources eg videos, interactive websites, online games, audio, infographics
  • have online projects where the students use digital tools to show what they have learned

Why include web-based unit studies in your homeschool?

  • unique nature of the resources which can bring subjects alive
  • engaging
  • kids learn techie skills
  • prepares students for online classes at high school and college<

How can you make your own web-based unit studies?

1. You can set everything up on Trello or Google Docs and get your kids to check off assignments as they complete them.

2. Pick a topic (eg.baseball) and search for resources using phrases like “baseball for kids”, “online baseball game”, “baseball infographic”, “baseball interactive”.

3. Search on Youtube and Vimeo for videos. Also, look at Edpuzzle as they have videos with embedded quizzes.

4. Search for “digital breakout baseball”. Learn more about digital breakouts on this episode.

5. Create online games using something like Classtools.

Visit this blog post to see a short video of the “inside” of a web-based unit study.

Use coupon code HWT50 – for 50% off any one full-priced web-based unit study from FundaFunda Academy.

And look at the online unit studies offered by Beth Napoli at Techie Homeschool Mom.

Be sure to join our Facebook group where we carry on the discussion about Homeschooling with Technology.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review!

Contact Meryl via email on meryl@mediaangels.com or connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook

Web-based Unit Studies #unitstudy #onlinehomeschool #podcast


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How and What to Teach with Science

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Unit Studies are an ideal way to teach science for how and what to teach with science in your homeschool. You have the flexibility and freedom to determine what your children learn when and still satisfy the scope and sequence. Have fun!

How and What to Teach with Science

You’ve asked the question, “Should I Teach Science in my Homeschool?” and have decided to make the jump. Now it’s time to decide how and what you should teach. Before you begin, you’ll want to answer a couple of questions.

  • Will you use a text book or a hands-on (unit study) approach?
  • What type of scope and sequence will you use?
  • What science disciplines will you choose?

What’s a good definition of science disciplines?

Science disciplines are science topics with many sub-categories for study. For our purposes, we’ll talk about Earth Science, astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Earth Science is the study of geology. Astronomy is the study of matter in space. Biology is the study of all living things. Chemistry is the study of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter. Physics is the study of matter and energy.

What’s the difference between using a text book and a unit study?

There is a big difference! A textbook has limited, structured reading material for each year with a minimal amount of experiments.  By contrast, a unit study uses a scope and sequence to combine books, field trip opportunities, and experiments. It’s a general guide to appropriate grade-level topics for each subject and grade level from K-12.

Understanding a Scope and Sequence

A scope and sequence can be used as a guide to determine if there are any facets of academics, such as science, you have not yet studied, or would like to study again. Or it can be used as a casis for a unit study. Having a scope and sequence will give you an idea of what should be covered. Lifetime homeschoolers aren’t usually concerned about what’s studied at each level as in traditional schools.

Does this mean I advocate teaching whatever, without rhyme or reason? No, I don’t recommend that at all. You can cover the material required, during the grade level of your choice, and at your child’s readiness level. One of the freedoms of homeschooling is flexibility!

Grade Level Guidelines for Teaching Science

Following are basic guidelines (or a brief scope and sequence) for each grade level:

  • Grades K-3- Teach the basic scientific method, stressing observations, collecting data and basic measurement. Reinforce studies with field trips and nature studies.
  • Grades 4-8- Scientific method: stressing methodology, collecting date, recording observations. Long-term project, such a science fair. Reinforce studies with field trips.
  • Grades 9-12- A complete understanding and application of the scientific method in all phases of experimentation. Stressing methodology, data collection, recording observations. Long-term project, such as a science fair. Labs are important.

Is there room for rabbit trails and non-traditional study topics?

Absolutely! We’re homeschoolers, after all! We love our rabbit trails. You can study things such as gardening, physics at an amusement park, animal husbandry, and more.

So we can see, Unit Studies are an ideal way to teach science in your homeschool. You have the flexibility and freedom to determine what your children learn when and still satisfy the scope and sequence. Have fun!

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Media Angels Creation Bundle Membership Site

 

Get an entire K-12 Creation Science Curriculum for less than $70.

About Our Books:

Why should you teach your children about Creation? Because everything else they read that is remotely science related teaches evolution as FACT. Shouldn’t your children learn there is more than one side to the story? Do you want your child to be informed? We do and we consider this our mission at Media Angels.

About the Study Guides:

These study guides include a readable outline of the main points in the Creation vs. evolution discussion, the major talking points you should know and ways to educate the children in these points with hands-on activities and experiments. This series isn’t a read-it-one-time and forget it! This series will be repeated again and again and is for K-12th!

If you want a course in Creation Apologetics for kids, this is it!

Additional Resources

Activity Packs for each of the study guides which contain hands on activities you can photo copy for your family.

Creation Kids Classes: On Demand

-Six weeks worth of classes — one per week for ages K-8th grade (high school if you’ve never studied Creation).
-Audio Recordings
-Handouts and Websites to visit
-Further research
-Bonus interviews

media angels membership subscribe button

Do I Really Need to Teach Science in My Homeschool?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Do I really need to teach science in my homeschool?

Do I Really Need to Teach Science in my Homeschool

In a word — yes! Science helps us to learn about the works of the wonderful world God has created for us to live in.

Child development experts have shown that children learn best by experiencing with all of their senses. Science is multi-sensory; that is, science incorporates all of the five sense: smelling, hearing, feeling, seeing, and (sometimes) tasting. Science incorporates tactile or hands-on learning.

Multi-sensory experiencing shouldn’t stop at kindergarten and become replaced with textbooks and workbooks!

Why Should I Waste My Precious Time Experimenting When I Teach Science?

Children of all ages very rarely understand a subject completely just by reading about it. In Jane Hoffman’s book, The Original Backyard Scientist, the forward tells the importance of experiments in relation to child development. It states: “The study of science provides the child with all the necessary ingredients needed for active learning and cognitive growth. Therefore, it is one of the best avenues through which the child can learn about the world around him.”

Granted, it would be much easier just to tell the child, “A grapefruit and vinegar are both sour,” but doing helps the child remember.

What Are Some Other Subjects That Science Encompasses?

Science encompasses reading, comprehension, writing, spelling, mathematics, history, and critical thinking. Just doing one science project or unit study can encompass all those subjects and more.

Can You Give Me an Example of a Unit Study?

Yes- here’s a thumbnail sketch of a Geology Unit we studied which demonstrates how many subjects and though processes are naturally incorporated.

  • I read aloud and we discussed books on geology.
  • The children retold the information using their own words.
  • They read books independently on the subject.
  • From the books we read, we formed a list of spelling and vocabulary words.
  • Then wee made sentences out of these words for our grammar.
  • Geography was covered as we graphed information on a world map and studied famous geologists of the past.
  • For Bible, we read Genesis 1:1-31 alongside parts of Streams of Civilization, comparing evolution and creation through historical perspective.
  • They loved classifying rocks into types and organizing a rock collection.
  • Classical music from the periods we studied helped keep an historical perspective.

Experiments in a Unit Study

From my Geology Unit, I used experiments from several sources.

Using the scientific method, the children placed drops of lemon and vinegar on different pieces of stone, then observed the results. Previous knowledge told them that vinegar and lemon are sour. The children now expanded their base of knowledge by learning that vinegar and lemon are acids. They used reasonoing and logical thinking skills to deduce the effect that acid has on rocks.

When a child does experiments, it helps build the character traits of confidence, attentiveness, perseverance, cooperation, and more.

In conclusion, teaching science in your homeschool is an important part of growing your child’s character, their knowledge of their Creator, and cooperation among their siblings. It’s well worth your time.

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Media Angels Creation Bundle Membership Site

 

Get an entire K-12 Creation Science Curriculum for less than $70.

About Our Books:

Why should you teach your children about Creation? Because everything else they read that is remotely science related teaches evolution as FACT. Shouldn’t your children learn there is more than one side to the story? Do you want your child to be informed? We do and we consider this our mission at Media Angels.

About the Study Guides:

These study guides include a readable outline of the main points in the Creation vs. evolution discussion, the major talking points you should know and ways to educate the children in these points with hands-on activities and experiments. This series isn’t a read-it-one-time and forget it! This series will be repeated again and again and is for K-12th!

If you want a course in Creation Apologetics for kids, this is it!

Additional Resources

Activity Packs for each of the study guides which contain hands on activities you can photo copy for your family.

Creation Kids Classes: On Demand

-Six weeks worth of classes — one per week for ages K-8th grade (high school if you’ve never studied Creation).
-Audio Recordings
-Handouts and Websites to visit
-Further research
-Bonus interviews

media angels membership subscribe button

Education Methods: Unit Studies, Charlotte Mason and Learning Lifestyle

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Unit Studies, Charlotte Mason and Learning Lifestyle

Education Methods: Unit Studies, Charlotte Mason and Learning Lifestyle

Podcast #8

In this episode,  Florida Parent Educators Association (FPEA) Chairwoman, Suzanne Nunn discusses the Unit Studies, Charlotte Mason and Learning Lifestyle education approaches.

Please join us as we travel along this journey on our podcast adventure. Let’s get connected! Learn more about the Florida Parent Educator’s Association and homeschooling in the beautiful state of Florida. If you are interested in homeschooling our convention is every year in May during Memorial Day weekend.

Please visit www.fpea.com to learn more about who we are!

FPEA Logo

Educational Methods Overview

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Education MethodsEducational Methods Overview

Podcast #6

The Florida Parent Educators Association (FPEA) Chairwoman, Suzanne Nunn discusses several of the homeschool education approaches and provides a brief description of each one. Look forward to future episodes, where she will go into further detail of these methods.

Please join us as we travel along this journey on our podcast adventure. Let’s get connected! Learn more about the Florida Parent Educator’s Association and homeschooling in the beautiful state of Florida. If you are interested in homeschooling our convention is every year in May during Memorial Day weekend.

Please visit www.fpea.com to learn more about who we are!

FPEA Logo

Curriculum & Learning Styles – Cathy Duffy

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

CathDuffyInterviewListen as your host, Felice Gerwitz interviews her special guest, Cathy Duffy. They discuss everything for why Cathy began homeschooling her three boys, now adults, to the difference between learning styles and modalities. Cathy tackles the hard questions in regard to Common Core standards and how homeschoolers perceive this pointing out a very interesting fact – data collection, which we should all be aware of and guard against.

Don’t miss this great interview with curriculum specialist Cathy Duffy.

Visit Cathy at CathyDuffyReviews.com and subscribe to her enewsletter and connect with her on Facebook as well CathyDuffyReviews

Cathy is author of the book – 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum