Does anyone have any lesson plans for home schooling?

Question

Ideas for any lesson would be great, also looking for project ideas .... must be cheap ideas and suitable for a 12 year old boy!!

Answer 1

We don't have lesson plans and nor do we buy packaged sets of stuff, although this method seems popular in the USA.

You need to sit with your son and have a chat to find out what he would like to learn and in what manner.  It is, of course, useful to do some English and maths but each child learns differently so it is likely that any packaged sets designed by others will not suit his interests or methods of learning.  

You would be better off hunting around for the type of books that he'd enjoy learning from.  When my daughter was at school, we couldn't believe how bad and how unsuitable most of the books were that were being used.  Take your son to a good library or bookshop and let him decide which ones interest him most.

As for projects how about giving him a patch of garden or window box to look after, or perhaps do a local history project  by visiting your County Archives / Record Office (most of which are free or just a couple of £s to visit).  Astronomy would also be interesting, although it would mean waiting for clear night skies and you can download sky maps from the internet.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have tons, but it would be best to make up your own going along with your sons learning style and interests. You can find many on the internet or packaged sets you can buy.Just type whatever you want to study and lesson plans into the search field.

Answer 3

Project ideas (mostly from what my 14yo has done / is doing):

He can create his own computer game (2d arcade style) with GameMaker (only $20) - first link.

Perhaps a little advanced and a little pricey, but a local home schooler has successfully used an old water heater and some plumbing supplies to create his own bio-diesel refinery.  I am waiting on him to give me a quote for building me one!  So perhaps some business potential in this too.

Build a website - perhaps a "project ideas for homeschoolers" website.

Research your family genealogy.

Clay animation.

Metal Detecting (you don't have to buy a really expensive one to have fun and find stuff - we use one that was only about $30 - Discovery or National Geographic branded I think).

Plant black walnut trees if you have the land to do so.  We are in the process of planting 25.   Black walnut as timber for wood is very pricey ($3,000 - $6,000 per tree currently).  The idea is that in 30 years or so, the trees will be mature and my son may have his own kids going off to college and the trees that he is planting now will help pay for his kids tuition.

Start and run an online student newspaper (link two and my own business).

Do some model (estes) rocketry.

You might also want to look into the Congressional Awards for youth at the third link.

Write a book.