Living Curriculum
-The Larger Way
Orchard Blossom Academy utilizes several sources in assembling our curriculum, but primarily uses AmblesideOnline for Groups, Form III (A, B, and C) - a free curriculum that combines multiple grades together for the various subjects in the vein of a one-room schoolhouse. All students have their own specific assignment schedules especially regarding school work at home according to their current skills and abilities.
Ambleside Online for Groups is a free curriculum that is available to you even if you do not remain at Orchard Blossom in the future. Form III is generally designed for students in 7-9th grade who have already had a strong basis in the kinds of beautiful and challenging books used in the AmblesideOnline curriculum, along with Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education. Older students (e.g., 9-10th graders) will likely be assigned higher levels of work at home (reading/writing especially) as they are able and ready to manage an increase in assignments and difficulty. 6th graders may need a decreased assignment load in comparison with older students, etc. The beauty of partnering with a homeschooling parent is making these informed decisions together.
The Larger Way: Curriculum Overview
Second Breakfast: Curriculum Overview
-Second Breakfast
The curriculum for Second Breakfast is designed from several living resources. Many Charlotte Mason educators call these subjects "The Riches," although it should be said that they are as essential to the feast of education as are history, writing, science, and math. Many today consider these "extras," but it is deeply formative for a student to be put "mind-to-mind" with great artists, composers, and writers (e.g., Shakespeare), and indeed, to become "friends" with a piece of art, a beautiful symphon.
Second Breakfast opens the doors to appreciation for beauty that enriches our lives. It does not seek to align itself in time period or style with the other aspects of current learning (i.e., history) because as Charlotte Mason teachers us, the student does not need connections drawn for them artificially. Rather, our minds weave a great web of understanding where ideas and images find a place together in a broad room.
Some Specifics
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To understand more about how picture study will be conducted, this article by Miss Marjorie Evans is an excellent read.
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To understand more about why and how we include music appreciation with students, this page from AmblesideOnline is a good resource
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For students age 6-10, Shakespeare Society class includes hearing a beautiful summary of several Shakespeare play retellings read aloud (either Edith Nesbit or the Lambs' edition, as well as learning to memorize some lines from plays, and creative narrations of the story. They will perform lines (in costume if wished) at the end-of-year Orchard Blossom Program.
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For students age 11-18, Shakespeare Society will include reading together through the full text of at least one of Shakespeare's plays, memorization of lines, viewing of an excellent version of the play, and a performance of at least a scene or two from the play at the end-of-year Orchard Blossom Program.
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Folk dancing has historically been a way to delight in movement and music together as a group. We will learn several folk dances and have fun (moms included!)
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Nature study includes creating a phenology wheel, creating a nature journal, learning about a specific topic in nature each season through object lessons, and honing our own observation and attention skills in nature walks.