Around PA in 180 Days Paperback – June 14, 2023

Welcome to Around PA in 180 Days. In Pennsylvania, most student learn about their state in 4th grade but for homeschooled children, or those in other learning environments, we might ask, “Why wait?” There’s never a better time to start exploring the state in which one lives. Too often we look at what’s big and famous in other states, and forget that there is a wealth of goodness, information, and adventure within a few minutes or hours of home. With that in mind, this curriculum is designed with lower elementary students in mind. If your child cannot yet read, use the chapters as a read-aloud while your child colors the pictures.This is not designed as a complete curriculum, but rather a foundation and outline around which you can design a curriculum that best fits you, your child, your family, and/or your classroom. Each lesson starts with a story about a young boy named Victor and will be the springboard for whatever you decide to explore within that lesson. Using this book, students will explore landforms, wildlife, Native Americans, colonists, pioneers, the American Revolution, the Civil War, industry, and famous people - all related to Pennsylvania.Knowing that PA students are expected to complete 180 days of school, there are 36 lessons so you could complete one lesson each week and complete your 180 days that way. However, no one is going to complete their schooling in 36 consecutive weeks of five days each, and I wouldn’t want you to do that. Some lessons will be of lower interest and you’ll move right along whereas you might spend a few weeks on another lesson.Before you begin each unit, look at the lessons within it. Check out the ideas in this Instructor’s Guide, and start to brainstorm what you might like to add to that unit. Write in your own ideas. Search the internet for videos, links, and more information. Check out books from the library. This book pairs well with a Timeline book, and you can add any of the people or events studied. None of these lists are exhaustive so remain open. It’s very possible that you, your child, or your class will get excited about a particular topic, and you will want to sit with that for an extended period of time.I hope that you have as much fun exploring Pennsylvania and its history as my family has. Read more