Horses Unit Study!

So, for our school work, we are finishing the year out with unit studies since we didn't like the curriculum we had been using. I use a lot of free units from the internet and build up from there. But the boys wanted to do a horse unit and I couldn't find a free one online. So this is my first attempt at building a unit from "scratch." I really actually enjoyed it but I wouldn't want to do it all the time. It takes a lot of time and Shane has been to the Effingham library every day this week (almost). He is tired of that. HA! I don't know how many homeschool moms look at my blog and for those who don't homeschool this isn't going to be very interesting but I thought I would share what I came up with. This is planned to last 2 weeks for my boys who are 4 and 6.

My book list:
1. Why Do Horses Have Manes? by Elizabeth LacLeod
2. I love to draw horses! by Jennifer Lipsey
3. The Pebble first guide to horses by Zachary Pitts
4. The Ultimate Horse Book by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
5. Ponies and horse by Fiona Lock
6. The Silver Horse switch by Alison Lester
7. Justin Morgan had a Horse by Marguerite Henry

All the books were checked out from the Helen Matthes Library except for Justin Morgan had a Horse which I already had on my bookshelf.

(in the plans the number in parenthesis will correspond to the book number listed above) all numbers following will be page numbers in that book)

Books number (6) and (7) are read aloud books for the 2 week period. Book (5) is a book that the boys will read to me for phonics and reading practice.

Books numbers (1) and (4) have some evolutionary content that we will just leave out. Use your own discretion.

I am not including any of our plans for phonics, math, poetry reading, bible memory, nature studies, etc. This unit covers science, social studies/history, art, some language arts(not enough for an older child but could easily be filled out...I think), and some math (although not enough to "count" for math for 2 weeks)

WEEK 1

Monday:
Science: Horse anatomy (2)8 & (4) 14-16
LA: Spelling & vocabulary list

1. horse
   
2. pony
3. mane
4. hoof
5. tail

Art: foot print art craft

Each day will we read about a different breed of horse. Both the Ultimate Horse book and the Pebble Beginner guide have good pictures and descriptions of different breeds. From the information in the Pebble Guide we will create a graph of the different breeds we study regarding average height and weight. Will will also map where each bread is most commonly found.

Tuesday:
Social Studies: History of domestication/taming of horses (1)8 & (4)12
Math: Measuring with hands (1) 11
We will measure different things using our hands. Discussion over the confusion this could cause with different sizes of hands

Wednesday:
Science: markings/colorings (2) 14-16 (1)33 (4) 20
Language Arts: Spelling & Vocabulary

1. star
2. strip
3. bay
4. blaze
5. palomino

Art: draw a horse (2) we will practice this as often as they want for the rest of the unit

Thursday:
Social Studies: Tack and Equipment (2) 9 (4) 198 Grooming (4) 202
Language Arts: Spelling & Vocabulary

1. saddle
2. bridle
3. stirrup
4. halter
5. brush

Don't forget to keep researching breeds. And to keep up on the read-alouds.

Friday:
This day is a day "off" since we plan to go to an Ag Day Festival. I'm sure there will be some horses there. :-)

WEEK 2
Continue reading Justin Morgan had a Horse and The Silver Horse Switch. Also, continue study of breeds and the graphs for comparison.

Monday:
Science: Diet and Health (4) 206-208
Math: Age in horse years (1) 45
Art: horse book marks

Tuesday:
Social Studies: record breakers
Science: Gaits (4) 18

Wednesday:
Science: Communication, Moods, & Senses (1) 42-57 (4) 22-24
Art: stable frame


Thursday:
Social Studies: Safety (1) 62
Math: work on finishing graphs and making them look nice

Friday:
Social Studies: Jobs horses have (4) 222-230

**The last couple days are scheduled lightly on purpose so we can "catch up" whatever we have not finished. We can finish making our graphs and we can finish our read alouds. We will also be practicing our drawing horses throughout the 2 weeks.

I am pretty excited to see how well it all actually fits together and works as we test it out. I'll post pictures as we go.

Readalouds: If we read each week day, in order to finish both books in the 10 day unit, we will read 17 pages/day from Justin Morgan had a Horse and 7 pages/day from The Silver Horse Switch.