Drizzle Fizzle doing school

       

      About 2 weeks ago, my son  was chosen to be a beta tester for a home-school K12 website called e-learningk12.  ELearningk12 has been around for 11 years and is endorsed by Homeschool.com. Nancy Troup in collaboration  with Beth Marcello and Celeste Robichaux founded e learning back in 1990 and the school has been going strong since.  The program encourages everyone to make sure that it meets your State standards for education, but since I live in Texas our home-school laws are pretty lax. (One of the main reasons I wont' leave Texas!) They offer financial assistance, grants, the accept all major credit cards, cash, checks, bank drafts, just about any form of payment you can imagine.

      Right now all we have access to are the History. Geography and Science areas to test for the next 2 months. Then we will write a review of the products, teachers, assignments , etc.  We really like the program so far, but wish some of the lessons moved a little slower and the videos were a little longer, with more visual information. My son, who is 4 3/4 is a visual, hands on learner, so these are important elements we have to consider with any program we choose.

(Ok the above was typed  about 3 weeks ago and I never got around to finishing it, so I am now, with the update on how it is all going for us)

As many of you may know I have the privilege of being able to beta test the E Learning K12 program for my youngest son, who will be 5 in October. E Leaning does homeschooling, after school tutoring, enrichment classes and the like for grades K-12. The program is very thorough, in fact I think it may be a little to advanced for it.Now please keep in mind my son does not turn five till the Middle of October, so he's technically Pre-K age and not K age and this program was designed for Kindergarten! I asked to beta test it because I thought it would be good to get the perspective of a mother who had the option to put her son into Kinder because of the age border. I though seriously about placing him Kinder this year, but opted to put him in Pre-K instead, but I was curious if I made the right choice.Maye this will be helpful for some other parents who are debating this same issue.  Now I do have to say that my son really enjoys all the songs that they sing to reinforce the work and he loves all the "art" projects that he does as well.Below is a list of all objects covered in the History and Geography portion for Kindergarten.

 If you are interested in the program here is the link to their web site: http://www.elearningk12.com/log-in

Drake make the world, including oceans, continents, and clouds

Drake using spatial senses to draw his room

Course Introduction

      Parent: Course Introduction

    *      Materials Needed for Chapter 1

Unit 1: Spatial Sense

      1 - Introduction to Our World

      2 - Land or Water?

      3 - Maps and Globes

      4 - Continents and Oceans

      5 - North and South Poles

      6 - Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

      7 - Review and Mid-Unit Assessment

      8 - Directions

      9 - Directions: Using the Sun

      10 -Directions: Using a Compass

      11 - Mountains, Hills, Plains

      12 - Rivers and Lakes

      13 - Landforms Activity

      14 - Spatial Sense Review

      15 - Culminating Shoebox Activity

         Activity   015 Shoe Box Activity

      16 - Post-Assessment

Unit 2: The Seven Continents

      17 - Introduction to the Seven Continents

      18 - Graham Cracker Continents

      21 - Country or Continent

      23 - Continents Review and Assessment ( this is were we are as of today)

      Module 21 - Introduction to North America

         Module 22 - North American Countries

          Module 23 - North America: The Grand Canyon

      Module 24 - North America: Plants

      Module 25 - North America: Animals

      Module 26 - North America: Statue of Liberty

      Module 27 - Mexico

      Module 28 - Canada

      Module 29 - North America: Games and Review

      Module 30 - Assessment: North America

      Module 31 - South America: Introduction

      Module 32 - South America: Andes Mountains

      Module 33 - South America: Manchu Piccu

      Module 34 - South America: Amazon/Rainforests

      Module 35 - South America: Animals

      Module 36 - South America: Plants

      Module 37 - South America: Review and Assessment

      Module 38 - Africa: Location and Shape

      Module 39 - Africa: Animals

      Module 40 - Africa: Plants-The Peanut

      Module 41 - Africa: The Pyramids

      Module 42 - Africa: Sahara Desert

      Module 43 - Africa: Review of Africa

      Module 44 - Africa: Assessment

      Module 45 - Review

      Module 46 - Review and mid-unit Assessment

      Module 47 - Asia: Largest Continent

      Module 48 - Asia: Animals

      Module 49 - Asia: Plants

      Module 50 - Asia: Great Wall of China

      Module 51 - Asia: Momotaro

      Module 52 - Asia: Review of Asia

      Module 53 - Asia: Post Assessment

      Module 54 - Europe: Location and shape

      Module 55 - Europe: Animals

      Module 56 - Europe: Plants

      Module 57 - Europe: Structures

      Module 58 - Europe: Review of Europe

      Module 59 - Europe: Assessment

      Module 60 - Australia: "Land Down Under"

      Module 61 - Australia: Animals

      Module 62 - Australia: Plants

      Module 63 - Australia: Sydney Opera House

      Module 64 - Australia: Review of Australia

      Module 65 - Australia: Assessment

      Module 66 - Antarctica: Ice and Snow

      Module 67 - Antarctica: Plants

      Module 68 - Antarctica: Animals

      Module 69 - Antarctica: Review

      Module 70 - Antarctica: Assessment

      Module 71 - Review all continents

      Module 72 - Review all continents

      Module 73 - Post Assessment

      Module 74 - Location of the United States

      Module 75 - Location of the United States

      Module 76 - My State: Location

      Module 77 - My State Flag

      Module 78 - My State Capital

      Module 79 - My State Bird

      Module 80 - My State Flower

      Module 81 - My State: Climate

      Module 82 - My State: Characteristics

      Module 83 - My State: Landmarks

      Module 84 - My State: Customs

      Module 85 - My Community: Location

      Module 86 - My Community: My Address

      Module 87 - My Community: Landmarks

      Module 88 - My Community: Customs

      Module 89 - My Community A to Z

      Module 90 - U.S. States - Places to Visit

      Module 91 - U.S. Landmarks - Places to Visit

      Module 92 - Review of U.S. Geography

      Module 93 - Assessment

Native Americans

      Module 94 - Introduction of Native Americans

      Module 95 - Pacific Northwest: Chinnok

      Module 96 - Chinook: Food

      Module 97 - Chinook: Clothing

      Module 98 - Chinook: Homes

      Module 99 - Chinnok: Totem Poles

      Module 100 - Compare Chinook to Life Today

America: Early Exploration and Settlement

      Module 101 - Pacific Northwast Region Review

      Module 102 - Plains Region: Comanche

      Module 103 - Comanche: Animals

      Module 104 - Comanche: Homes

      Module 105 - Comanche: Clothing

      Module 106 - Compare: Chinook and Comanche

      Module 106 - Compare: Chinook and Comanche

      Module 107 - Review and Assessment

      Module 108 - Southeast: Cherokee

      Module 109 - Cherokee: Food

      Module 110 - Cherokee: Homes

      Module 111 - Cherokee: Clothing

      Module 112 - Cherokee Native Americans Review

      Module 113 - Compare and Contrast 3 Tribes

      Module 114 - Review of Native Americans

      Module 115 - Post-Assessment

      Module 116 - A Round World

      Module 117 - The Indies

      Module 118 - Christopher Columbus

      Module 119 - Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand

      Module 120 - Life in 1492

      Module 121 - Methods of Travel

      Module 122 - Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria

      Module 123 - The Voyage of Columbus in 1492

      Module 124 - Indies and Indians

      Module 125 - The Pilgrims

      Module 126 - Mayflower voyage

        Module 127 - Mayflower Compact

      Module 128 - Plymouth Rock

      Module 129 - Plymouth Colony

      Module 130 - Squanto

      Module 131 - The First Thanksgiving

      Module 132 - The First Thanksgiving (continued)

      Module 133 - Thanksgiving Today

      Module 134 - Thirteen Colonies

      Module 135 - Thirteen Colonies (continued)

      Module 136 - Declaration of Independence

      Module 137 - Declaration of Independence (continued)

      Module 138 - A New Country

      Module 139 - Slavery in Early America

      Module 140 - Fourth of July Celebrations

      Module 141 - Fourth of July Celebrations (continued)

      Module 142 - Review of Early Exploration

      Module 143 - Post-Assessment

U.S. Presidents

      Module 144 - Familiar Faces

      Module 145 - George Washington: First President

      Module 146 - The Cherry Tree

      Module 147 - Father of Our Country

      Module 148 - Thomas Jefferson: Third President

      Module 149 - Books!

      Module 150 - Declaration of Independence

      Module 151 - Abraham Lincoln: Childhood

      Module 152 - Honest Abe

      Module 153 - Civil War

      Module 154 - Theodore Roosevelt: Childhood

      Module 155 - Love of Nature

      Module 156 - Teddy's Bear

      Module 157 - Current U.S. President: Background

      Module 158 - Current U.S. President: What He Does

      Module 159 - Review of Presidents

      Module 160 - Post Assessment

U.S. Symbols and Figures

    * Module 161 - U.S. Flag- Characteristics

      Module 162 - U.S. Flag - What it Means

         Module 163 - U.S. Flag - Respect of the Flag

      Module 164 - Statue of Liberty -facts

      Module 165 - Statue of Liberty - symbols

      Module 166 - Mount Rushmore

      Module 167 -  Washington, D.C.

      Module 168 - The White House

      Module 169 - Review of U.S. Symbols

      Module 170 - Post-Assessment


    * E Learning K12 Science for Kindergarten 

      Chapter 1: Plants
          o
            1 Introduction to Plants
                             a Introduction to Plants
                            b Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow
                
            2 Intro to Plants Vocabulary
                                  002a Introduction to Plants - Vocabulary
                                002b Resource Sheet - Vocabulary
               
            3 Living and Non-living
                               003a Living and Non-living
                               003b Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow
          
            4 Living and Non-living Worksheet
                                004a Resource Sheet - Living and Non Living p1
                                004b Resource Sheet - Living and Non Living p2
               
            5 Living and Non-living Leaf Template Project
                                005 Living and Non-living - Leaf Template Project
                                  Template for Leaf Project
           
            6 Living and Non-living Outdoor Activity
                              006 Living and Non-living - Outdoor Activity
          
            7 What a Plant Needs
                                  007a What a Plant Needs
                                   007b - Resource Sheet - What a Plant Needs
                                   007c Groovy Garden
                 
            8 What a Plant Needs Experiment: Plant Seeds
                              008a What a Plant Needs - Experiment: Plant Seeds
                              008b Resource Sheet- Log Sheet for Experiment
              
            9 What a Plant Needs Art Activity
                             009a What a Plant Needs Art Activity
                             009b Worksheet 1: What a Plant Needs Art Activity
                              09c Worksheet 2: What a Plant Needs Art Activity
      
            10 Parts of a Plant
           
                  010a Parts of a Plant
                  010b Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush
          
            11 Parts of a Plant - Worksheet
           
                  011 Resource Sheet - Parts of a Plant
      
            12 Parts of a Plant - Art Activity
                           012 Parts of a Plant
          
            13 How Plants Get Food
                                013 How Plants Get Food
           
            14 How Plants Get Food - Experiment
                             014 How Plants Get Food
          
            15 Mid-Unit Activities And Assessment
                                  015a Mid-Unit Review
                                   015b Mid-Unit Assessment
             
            16 Where Do Seeds Come From?
                                  016 Where Do Seeds Come From?
         
            17 Book: A Special Seed to Plant / Art Activity
                                  017 Book: A Special Seed to Plant / Art Activity (this is were we are so far)
        
            18 Parts of a Seed Worksheet
                                018 Resource Sheet - Parts of a Seed
       
            19 Plants as Food
                                 019 Plants as Food
                               019 Resource Sheet - Plants as Food
         
            20 Plants as Food: Making Peanut Butter!
                                020 Plants as Food: Making Peanut Butter!
            21 We Need Plants!
                                 021 We Need Plants!
          22 Fruits and Vegetables Craft
                              022 Fruits and Vegetables Craft

            23 Plants Culmination - Lapbook Activity Part 1
                               023a Lapbook Activity Part 1
                                023b Resource Sheet - LAPBOOK p1
                               023c Resource Sheet - LAPBOOK p2
                               023d Resource Sheet LAPBOOK P3
                          023e Resource Sheet LAPBOOK p4
                          023f Resource Sheet LAPBOOK p5
                             023g Resource Sheet LAPBOOK p6
                             023h Resource: Seed Chart
     
            24 Plants Culmination - Lapbook Activity Part 2
                              024 Plants Culmination - Lapbook Activity Part 2
   
            25 End of Unit Assessment
                              025 Plants End of Unit Assessment
    *
      Chapter 2: The Human Body ( Skipped, although I really wish they would have covered this)
 
            26 Human Body Intro
                              026a Introduction to The Five Senses
                            026b Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
     
            27 Sense of Sight
                           027 Sense of Sight
      
            28 Sense of Sight
                          028 Sense of Sight-Colors
    
            33 Sense of Smell
         
            34 Sense of Smell
       
            35 Sense of Touch
             
            36 Sense of Touch
               
            37 Five Senses Review
        
            38 Five Senses Game and Mid Unit Assessment
            
            39 Body Parts
        
            40 Exercise
    
            41 Exercise
         
            42 Healthy Foods
               
            43 Healthy Foods
      
            44 Healthy Foods
   
            45 Healthy Foods
   
            46 Cleanliness / Hygiene
      
            47 Cleanliness / Hygiene
       
            48 Rest
  
            49 Rest
   
            50 Review and Culminating Activities
 
            51 Unit Assessment - Human Body
    *
      Magnetism
    
            52 Introduction to Magnetism
                             052a Introduction to Magnetism
          
            53 Magnetic or Not
           
                  053 Magnetic or Not
                   053b Resource Sheet - Color the Magnet
         
            54 Magnetic Testing
                                   054 Magnetic Testing
          
            55 How do Magnets Work
           
                  055 How do Magnets Work
          
            56 North & South Poles
                            056a North & South Poles
                              056b Worksheet - Magnetic Poles( This is were we are on Magnets, they skipped the human body section)
          
            57 Make a Compass
                             057 Make a Compass
      
            58 Fishing for Magnets
             
                  058 Fishing for Magnets
   
            59 Magnetic Field Lines
         
                  059a Magnetic Field Lines
                  059b Resource Sheet - What's Magnetic
 
            60 Magnetic Shapes
                           060 Magnetic Shapes
      
            61 Hopping Frog
                   061a Hopping Frog
                  061b Resource Sheet - Hopping Frog Template