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CHC Lesson Plans: Fourth Grade

Book cover: 'CHC Lesson Plans: Fourth Grade'

The overall format of these lesson plans is very similar to the 3rd grade lesson plans. Basic texts for core subjects are: Saxon Math 5/4, God's Little Angels, Rare Catholic Stories and Poems, My Catholic Speller Level C, Language of God Level C, Faith and Life 4, A Year with God, My Temple of the Holy Spirit (included in appendices), Catholic Boys and Girls Health, Everyday Science Sourcebook, Our United States (included in appendices)and 1001 Facts for Your Catholic Geography Bee.

Art Fraud Detective: Spot the Difference, Solve the Crime!

Book cover: Art Fraud Detective: Spot the Difference, Solve the Crime!
Author(s): 
Anna Nilsen
Andy Parker

This is an exciting and fun art supplement that kids are sure to love (makes a great gift for Christmas or a birthday). There are three main parts to the book. First is an introduction which explains a problem the art museum is having with forgeries. Several gangs of artists have copied original works, but made very slight changes to them. The object of the book is to identify who is responsible for the various forgeries by looking carefully for very specific clues.

Beginning Apologetics 1: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith

Book cover: Beginning Apologetics 1: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith
Author(s): 
Fr. Frank Chacon
Jim Burnham

When I first considered converting from a "mere Christianity" form of Protestantism to the Catholic faith, I had several issues to deal with. I believed that "Scripture alone" was the rule of faith. I thought that the Catholic Church had added several non-Biblical doctrines throughout the years – for example, praying to Mary and the saints and the existence of Purgatory.

Find the Constellations

Book cover: 'Find the Constellations'
Author(s): 
H. A. Rey

I've always loved looking at the stars, but have never been able to identify anything but the big dipper on a starry night. For many years, I've wanted to learn more, but with the busyness of life, this goal has long eluded me. Enter ... Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey. Over the past few weeks, my two oldest children and I have started identifying the constellations with the help of this book and The Stars: A New Way to See Them (by the same author).

Sun Slower, Sun Faster

Book cover: 'Sun Slower, Sun Faster'
Author(s): 
Meriol Trevor
Thirteen-year-old Cecelia Morne was staying at Welston Manor for a time (not long after World War II ended) while her parents were out of the country. This family estate in the countryside near Bristol, England, was owned by her uncle, Ambrose Morne. Ambrose had a great-nephew, Richard, who was also staying there. Cecelia ("Cecil") soon become good friends with Rickie and his tutor, Dominic. One day Dominic showed Cecil and Rickie a small room hidden in a wall of the old manor. A little later, the two children entered the room. It had a door on each wall.

Rand McNally Historical Atlas of the World

Book cover: 'Rand McNally Historical Atlas of the World'
This is a full-color, reasonably priced booklet of historical maps from every major age and civilization. It would be a worthwhile to every library - public or private. Here is a complete list of the larger two-page maps contained in this book (there are numerous smaller maps as well):

  • Human Emergence on the Changing Face of the Earth: Growth of Civilization to 200 A.D.
  • Alexander's Empire 336-323 B.C.
  • Roman Republic 31 B.C.
  • Roman Empire about 120 A.D.
  • Roman Empire about 400 A.D.

Famous Men of Rome

Book cover: 'Famous Men of Rome'
Author(s): 
John Haaren
A.B. Poland
Our first year of homeschooling we used a dry textbook for American history. Well, we didn't really use it - we put it off as much as possible and the year passed with only the first few chapters read.

Our second year of homeschooling, we discovered Greenleaf's Famous Men series (through enrolling in the Kolbe Academy Home Study program). What a difference! It was our first exposure to literature-based history study, and the idea of studying time periods through "real books" was a formative one in our homeschool.

Greenleaf Guide to Famous Men of Rome

Book cover: 'Greenleaf Guide to Famous Men of Rome'
Author(s): 
Cynthia Shearer
The Greenleaf Guide to Famous Men of Rome is an optional supplement for the book. It includes, for each lesson, a vocabulary list and several discussion questions designed to bring out the key points of each biography through a Christian (biblical) perspective. The discussion questions are excellent narration starters and really do help bring out the theme that "individual people and their actions have a significant effect on history".