a unit of study on US Government MINI UNIT The WonderHere Family-Style Curriculum. Copyright © 2020 by WonderHere. Published by WonderHere, Lakeland, FL, 33803. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys- tem or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher except as provided by USA copy- right law. Printed in the Unites States of America. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number Pending 2 © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved Dearest Parents, We are honored and thrilled that you’ve chosen Speaking of! Our Language Arts and Mathematics us to come alongside your family as you pursue activities are based on Finland’s acclaimed learn- a wonder-filled education for your children! For ing benchmarks and encourage deep and critical the next six weeks, you and your children will thinking, without losing that sense of play and explore and learn about all things government! curiosity. Remember that our First Things First This learning may cause your child to have some guide is there to help you navigate our founda- wonders along the way... champion them to tional learning elements that make our curricu- pursue those wonders. Remember, YOU are their lum unique! greatest cheerleader! Be encouraged, moms and dads! Your child is a This unit’s Invitations to Play and Create have problem solver, community-minded, a coura- been specially designed to spark creativity, en- geous learner, filled with wonder, and capable of courage play, and develop a love of learning with much... and so are YOU! We are here to help you in your child. To us, that’s just as important as the be their best teacher. We’re rooting for you! reading and math lessons and activities! Tiffany & Jessica © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved 3 Unit Overview Nature Journaling Composer Study Literature Observe rules and “God Bless “America: A Pat- laws in nature and America” by riotic Primer” by society Irving Berlin Lynne Cheney Rights, Week 1: Week Responsibilities, Rules, & Laws Rules, Nature walk with “For Your Country “What if litter pick-up and My Country” Everybody Did by Irving Berlin That?” by Ellen Good Week 2: Week Javernick Citizenship American Flag “Goodbye France “A is for America: Neighborhood (You’ll Never Be An American Hunt Forgotten by the Alphabet” by Week 3: Week U.S.A.)” by Irving Devin Scillian Landmarks US Symbols & Berlin The Branches of “Let’s All Be “Grace for Government Americans Now” President” by by Irving Berlin Kelly DiPucchio Week 4: Week Hierarchy Government Government Community Help- “White “Whose Hands ers I-Spy Christmas” by Are These?: A Irving Berlin Community Helper Careers Careers Week 5: Week Guessing Book” by Helpers & Helpers Community Miranda Paul Learn about bees “Anything You Newsela article of as an endangered Can Do (I Can Do choice species Better)” by Irving Events Current Current Week 6: Week Berlin 4 © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved Week 6: Week 5: Week 4: Week 3: Week 2: Week 1: Current Community Government US Good Rights, Helpers & Hierarchy Symbols Responsibilities, Events Citizenship Careers Rules, & Laws Same Game,NewRules Current Events Trivia Current Events Sudoku Career Day Mock Trial:The3LittlePigs LEGO Monuments Citizenship Playmat Invitation toPlay My PlaceinthisWorld My FamilyConstitution My OwnNewsreel Dream Board RapSong Government Patriotic Mix Invitation toCreate 5 © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved Materials List Thematic Tub Nature Journaling Literature • Small US flag “America: A Patriotic • “Supertoob: Primer” by Lynne USA Figure Cheney Rights, Playsets” (sold Week 1: Week on Amazon). Responsibilities, Rules, & Laws Rules, • “Learning Resources • Gloves “What if Everybody Magnetic U.S. • Trash bags Did That?” by Ellen Map Puzzle” • Trash picker upper Javernick Good (sold on (optional) Week 2: Week Citizenship Amazon) • “USA Presidents TOOB with 8 “A is for America: Presidential Toy An American Figurines” (sold Alphabet” by Devin on Amazon) Scillian Week 3: Week Landmarks US Symbols & • Acrylic paint “Grace for President” • Paintbrushes by Kelly DiPucchio • Branch from nature • Table cloth or Week 4: Week Hierarchy Government Government butcher paper “Whose Hands Are These?: A Community Helper Guessing Book” by Careers Careers Week 5: Week Helpers & Helpers Community Miranda Paul Newsela article of choice Events Current Current Week 6: Week 6 © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved Invitation to Play Invitation to Create • Poster, chart paper, chalkboard, or whiteboard for brainstorming • Drawing/sketch paper Rights, • Pens Week 1: Week • Several black tea bags Responsibilities, Rules, & Laws Rules, • Citizenship Playmat (see • Colorful construction paper Appendix) • White copy paper • Small toys, figurines, or Lego • Scissors and glue people •Colored pencils, crayons, markers Good • Hole punch Week 2: Week Citizenship • One brass brad • Nesting bowls (optional) • Mathematical compass (optional) • Legos • 1 cup white chocolate chips • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips • 8 cups Chex Mix cereal US • 1 cup powdered sugar Symbols Week 3: Week • 1 cup red, white, and blue M&M’S • 1 cup pretzel sticks • 1 cup mini marshmallows • The True Story of the Three Little • Pencil Pigs by Jon Scieszka. • Paper • Computer or phone Week 4: Week Hierarchy • Headphones (optional) Government Government • Career Day Sudoku document • Poster (see Appendix) • Old magazines • Scissors • Scissors Careers Careers Week 5: Week • Glue Helpers & Helpers Community • Markers • Free Newsela.com account • News articles • Index cards • Video camera or phone • Pencils • Table or desk • Index cards (optional) • Whiteboard (optional) Events Current Current Week 6: Week • Microphone (optional) • “Professional” kids’ attire (optional) © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved 7 Unit Projects Empathy Experience Letters to Veterans What if we all approached education This unit as we study government, we from the belief that what we learn, want to give your family the opportu- we could then in turn use to help oth- nity to encourage members of society ers? What if... this whole thing is about who sacrificed much to give us the more than your child gaining new skills freedoms we enjoy. and learning new knowledge? What if their growth, their gifts, their talents Take some time in these six weeks to could be used to make the world a bet- write a thoughtful letter to a veteran or ter place? even current service men and women. Visit operationgratitude.com for letter We at WonderHere believe in these writing tips and logistical information “what ifs” wholeheartedly. Time and on how to send your letter out. Also, time again, we’ve seen children come check out our First Things First guide to life when given the opportunity to for more on why community is includ- serve others. ed in our learning strategy! 8 © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved Phenomena Based Learning (PBL) Take a moment to think back on your List) like an invitation own personal experiences learning to come explore. Let about government in school. We’re them tinker, observe, pretty sure that “project time” is the play, and wonder. We last thing that comes to mind. Perhaps promise, this is time some reports, and lots of memorization well spent. (none of which are inherently bad). Spend time in the weekly PBL pages of But what if we told you that your child this Instructor Guide with your child. could learn so much about govern- Let the weekly Invitation to Play and ment, laws, citizenship, careers, and Invitation to Create activities drive current events through hands-on, their questions. project-based learning? Use the Project Time section in their Well, the truth is they can! Set inten- workbook each week to record what tional time each day for Project Time. they wonder and what they do with Make it the first fruits of your homes- those wonders. chooling time, not an after thought. Also, check out our First Things First Set out all of the Thematic Tub guide for lots more information on materials and goodies (see Materials Phenomena Based Learning. © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved 9 Minis If you’ve got multiple children at home We believe in family togetherness and ranging in ages, then you may be all know that your “Mini” can glean much too familiar with this scenario: from this thematic unit. You’ve worked hard to set the tone for Taking time to include them in an your homeschooling day with your old- intentional and developmentally est. You’re both zoned into a lesson in appropriate way will help set a peaceful the workbook or are working hard on tone for your homeschooling day, as a project, when your toddler decides to well as build a solid foundation for take part... wanting to help sissy paint their own learning at a young age. her poster or feeling the need to scrib- ble all over her “Your Turn” page. Your So, here are a couple of ways to “invite” oldest starts to get distracted, frustrat- your Mini to learn along with their ed even, and that peaceful morning siblings in a way that won’t make you you planned seems to be falling apart. want to tear your hair out! It’s also Mom (or dad) guilt sets in, because you a great opportunity for your older want to make yourself available to all children to help “teach” their younger your kids. siblings, so everyone wins! 10 © WonderHere | 2020 | All Rights Reserved Book Baskets Busy Baskets Using the basket of Mini-friendly It’s important to give books that are suggested below, al- your Mini opportunities low your mini time to explore the pic- to explore and tinker, tures and words. Place writing tools using and growing their for them to draw as a response to the gross and fine motor skills. Place the books in the basket.