See review of full 2nd grade Lesson Plans here.

I love homeschooling and am fascinated with science but frankly I've been pulling my hair out over the past few years trying to keep up with what I'm "supposed" to be doing with science.

Let's see, first my children are to be drawn into the topic through stories that the child will find captivating (Charlotte Mason.) Next they are to memorize facts related to the topic and "think" about it logically (Classical method) and also conduct experiments (hands on.) Finally the little ones are to pull it all together in a journal or lab manual in order to consolidate it in their minds and truly make it their own. The parent-teacher is also to organize these science activities in a logical way and carry them out while simultaneously teaching her other children who also have their own captivating home-grown science programs.

With all these challenges it's little wonder many of us have let science fall to the way-side or have reverted to boring, lifeless textbooks. I'm excited to say that this won't be the case for our younger children anymore. Catholic Heritage Curricula Grade 2 Lesson Plans pull together what will be for many families the ideal science program. Using just two easy to use books, Easy As 1, 2, 3 Science Overview and Catholic Stories from Science 2, the authors have woven a science program that: draws the student into the topic through interesting stories, provides factual information to be discussed and learned, offers links with real life events and experiments, and relates all matters back to God.

Catholic Stories from Science is in a larger and more readable format then the first edition. Each story immediately captures the attention of the student by using events that are in their everyday life. For example, the complicated topic of pheromones is made simple by telling a story about a family cat who marks his territory (and do you know how it is that God has marked you?) Who would have guessed that exocrine glands could be so interesting! After the students interest is caught the author provides detailed factual information that provides a firm foundation for later science studies.

These stories are paired with assignments from Easy As 1, 2, 3. At first glance, this book appears too simple to be helpful, but in reality it is extremely clever for it has broken into chunks the important aspects of science, working first from the most fundamental level, while at the same time providing discussion prompts to encourage the child to "think" about the topic rather then just memorize and regurgitate. How does this play out in the real homeschool. In one of the first weeks of the lesson plans we see that the child is reading a chapter about the physical make-up of an animal in Catholic Stories from Science. During that same week he is assigned the grade appropriate plan in Easy As 1, 2, 3 which instruct him as to a particular family of animals to study (e.g. carnivores.) The family makes use of their own library to read more about that animal family and then follow the suggestions in Easy As 1, 2, 3 for activities such as making comparison charts or tracings along with simple experiments. For the family that wants more experiments specific assignments from Everyday Science Sourcebook are offered. Toward the end of the week the child begins to pull the material together through discussions with his parent-teacher using the discussion prompts in Easy As 1, 2 3. These thoughtful prompts range from questions about the usefulness of the way the animal was designed to thinking of ways that God's faithfulness is seen in the organization of the universe.

So many science programs skip around from topic to topic or start at a high level without offering the fundamental information that serve as the building blocks for higher level science studies. After ten years of creating my own lesson plans I'm delighted with the CHC plans and am especially pleased that the second grade science plans provide structure within which science is connected with real life experiences. Thank you, Catholic Heritage Curricula; this summer will see me laughing in the fields with the children and not inside, cramped over a notebook amidst a pile of science books that refuse to give up the perfect lesson plan.

The supplements are carefully woven into the third grade lesson assignments, but for those who prefer not to use the lesson plans the supplements alone could easily be used for enrichment and would make purchasing the plans worthwhile. For example the book report supplements contain clear guidelines for helping young students write book reports, a checklist to help the student in their efforts, creative ideas for written reports or oral reports and hands-on project reporting. There are over 20 beautifully illustrated forms to be used for writing the reports or keeping track of books that have been read. These are not the normal squares and circle forms on the market, but are ruled pages containing illustrated borders depicting Victorian, Catholic and nature scene which would appeal to the eyes of both children and adults. Book report books comparable in length sell for about $6.99.

In addition to the book report supplement, the plans include a series of reading comprehension pages. Once again the pages are visually attractive to the student and they focus on questions designed to encourage beginning literary analysis as well as the usual comprehension type questions. These pages are based on three outstanding books: Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls, More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls, The Little Apostle on Crutches. Almost 50 pages in length, this supplement is comparable to workbooks that sell for about $8.99 with the added feature that they are Catholic and clever in their design.

"At the Feet of Mary: Holy Rosary Project." is the most beautiful introduction to the rosary that I have seen. It is designed as a hands-on project to bring the faith to life. Each week the child focuses on a different mystery through discussion, readings from a lovely description of a child's trip to shrines, the coloring of gorgeous illustrations that form part of a prayer book and meditations that are clearly explained. The prayer book that the child makes includes illustrations that will touch the heart of a child because they depict the Mysteries as seen through the eyes of a child. At the end of this 5 week project the child has produced a gorgeous prayer book. This supplement is 65 pages long and nothing on the market even remotely compares to the depth and beauty found in this project, but books on meditating, understanding the rosary and illustrations on the rosary combined would stand at about $15.95.

The fourth supplement focuses on geography and is entitled "Tour a Country." It includes both a general plan for the study of any country, as well as nine sets of four week plans for studying specific countries. (i.e., 36 week course covering nine specific countries.) The instructions are easy to follow and have a Catholic world view. The pages themselves are beautifully illustrated and the activity pages are sure to please the children. We have been using a "Countries of the World" activity book that cost $15.99, but will be switching to the "Tour a Country" supplement as the activities are more interesting and the study approach is more focused and logical as well as Catholic.

Finally, there are: monthly planners and certificates which could be used for any grade or program; thirty pages devoted to the teaching of third grade which answers home schooling questions as well as teaching independence; a dozen pages of memory gems and how to use them; illustrated chore and virtue charts Similar books covering home schooling helps, charts and poetry together would cost at least $12.99 If one were to buy books that covered the material contained in each of the four supplements the cost would be over $50.00 but the books wouldn't be Catholic in approach or presented in a way that allows the home school mother to efficiently teach the subject. For the family that home schools using material other then those published by CHC it is clear that the supplements alone make the plans well worth the price. You won't be disappointed. (365 pages of lesson plans and supplements cost $38.95 from CHC)

I have just finished planning the school year for my 5th and 8th graders using the new CHC Lesson Plan Guide for the Middle School Years, and I have never had such a productive and enjoyable time of it! Normally, I like to plan, but there never seemed to be enough time or information in one place to do it effectively or efficiently. I prefer a customized curriculum for each of my students, emphasizing their particular interests while shoring up their weaker subjects. With six students alongside little ones, planning the school year's curriculum is a very time-consuming process. CHC has made all the difference for me this year.

The Lesson Plan Guide is just that–-a complete guide to designing your student's studies for each of the middle school (grades 5-8) years. There is structure within flexibility, and many options to appeal to a diversity of students with different gifts and talents. This is not a "school-in-a-box" that you can open and immediately put to work. You will need to spend a few hours for each grade level, looking over the courses that are detailed for you, and considering your student. But, this investment of a few hours will provide you, as the teacher, with a firm overview of the path you will take to meet the goals at the other end of the school year. Having that "big picture" helps tremendously when motivation lags. Using the CHC Lesson Planner (reviewed elsewhere) will simplify this customization further as they were designed to be used together.

Each of the four years is laid out with a plan for core subjects, non-core and elective subjects, enrichment materials, and parent resources. Sample schedules for each grade level are provided as an example of a balanced workload for a typical student. Unique to CHC are the Independent Study Charts that show the student which material he should be able to work on without direct teaching. Six detailed hands-on student courses are provided for up-to-date, beautiful Catholic textbooks in the areas of history, virtues, and Church history. As if that weren't enough value for the money, the Guide also offers wonderful teacher resources that provide the "what-you-need-to-know-to-teach" writing, science, and world history at these grade levels. Several authors contributed these resources, and the different approaches to these subjects are refreshing in their variety.

CHC has managed to produce a wonderful plan for middle-grade students that features the best characteristics that we have come to expect from them:

• do-able projects that the children both anticipate and cheerfully complete;
• a unique hands-on approach to most subjects that truly engage the student on several levels;
• an underlying structure that the teaching parent becomes familiar with as the year goes on;
• a progression in critical thinking, the ability to work independently for longer periods, and solid academics at a comfortable pace as the years pass.

All in all, this book is one of the best investments available for a Catholic homeschooling family who prefers to individualize their student's curriculum, within limits, while providing a thoroughly Catholic education utilizing multiple methods of learning

This book contains:

Planning Guides:

• Fifth Grade: (18 pages)
• Sixth Grade: (18 pages)
• Seventh Grade: (18 pages)
• Eighth Grade: (20 pages)

Hands-On Student Courses:

• 5th Grade From Sea to Shining Sea Hands-On Study Guide (9 pages)
• 6th Grade All Ye Lands Hands-On Study Guide (9 pages)
• 7th Grade "The Virtue Tree" Student Course (44 pages)
• 7th Grade "Timeline of the Republic" Guide (19 pages)
• 8th Grade: 2000 Years of Christian History Study Guide (12 pages)
• 8th Grade: "Timeline of the Ages" (19 pages)

Teacher Resources:

• "Jump Start Your Writing" (26 pages)
• "Science in a Nutshell" (24 pages)
• "World History Timeline" (46 pages)

It's the Jazz Age, roadsters are the rage, and an engineer in Massachusetts is raising a vibrant family of 12 children. Welcome to the world of the Gilbreths, where everything comes 'cheaper by the dozen'.

Frank B. Gilbreth originated the science of 'motion study', to improve efficiency. He and his wife Lillian collaborated happily on books, factory layouts, and their large family. This book is essentially a family biography written by two of the Gilbreth children. Uproariously funny for families of any size, Cheaper By The Dozen will be particularly fun for homeschoolers to read. Mr. Gilbreth takes an active part in the children's education; painting glow-in-the-dark constellations on the ceiling and playing foreign language records during 'unavoidable delay' in the bathroom. Nuisance boyfriends, tonsil removal, and new babies are mundane occurrences at the Gilbreth home, and Father uses every event to teach science, and efficiency. The results are predictably hilarious.

Poignant, memorably funny, and always realistic, Cheaper By The Dozen can be read out loud or on its own. It is a genuine experience of life in the early 1900's, with all the attitudes and prejudices of that era, and will be a learning experience for your whole family.

Note: There is an instance of profanity in Chapter 2 which can easily be edited by a proofreading parent.

Video/DVD: This book was made into a movie in 1950 and is one of our family's favorites - a real classic. It is available on DVD.