Biomes of the World

Biomes of the World

by | Sep 8, 2019 | Education Materials

Biomes of the World

Sara Bean of “Love at Home Education” has created an entire series on the different biomes of the world. These units can be purchased as one entire unit or separately.  Each of the six units targets all grade levels, K-12, and there are dozens of activities to choose from in each individual unit. For example, at least one full page of links is included to supplement each of the individual biome units.  These links include suggestions for subject specific books, art, as well as poetry.

All Units include:

  • Reading List
  • Blank Homeschool Reading Logs
  • Journal
  • Free Photos
  • Block Letters that form the words for particular animal/plant studied.
  • Mini Units
  • Writing Guidelines for K-12

(Post contains affiliate links).

Biomes of the World – Tundra

Interesting study of the Vikings, with fascinating supplemental activities. For example, Norse poetry, how to make Viking Bread. Also, awesome projects including making jewelry, and how to make white dye fabric. Another interesting project involves learning about the Vikings' individual style of boats.

Mini Units

  1. Arctic Owl
  2. Poppy
  3. Arctic Wolf
  4. Willow
  5. Lichen
  6. Woolly Mammoth

Rainforest, Boreal Forest, and Deciduous Forest

Three different types of forest are categorized as Biomes of the World today.

All three biomes are divided into separate units.

These units all contain mini units.

Rainforest:

  • Cocoa
  • Jaquar
  • Lemur
  • Passion Flower
  • Toucan
  • Vanilla Orchid

Also included is an Aztec, Mayan, and Inca journal page.

Deciduous Forest

  1. Azalea
  2. Chipmunk
  3. Holly
  4. Raccoon
  5. Timber Wolf
  6. Willow Tree

Boreal

  1. Beaver
  2. Fir Tree
  3. Lynx
  4. Pine Tree
  5. Spruce Tree
  6. Wolverine

Grasslands

Mini Units:

  1. Bison
  2. African Lion
  3. Racka Sheep
  4. Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly
  5. Coneflower
  6. Lemongrass

Desert

Mini Units:

  1. Cactus
  2. Gila Monster
  3. Kangaroo
  4. Mesquite Tree
  5. Snap Dragon
  6. Desert Tortoise

Overall, these Units provide plenty of fun activities and food for thought and can be utilized as part of any K-12 Life Science curriculum.

Keep in mind, however, that the Biomes of the World curriculum assumes the “Continental Drift” theory is a fact. In case you aren't familiar with the idea of the “Continental Drift,” theory and the term “Pangaea.”

The “Continental Drift” theory states that at one time all the continents today existed as one big body of land. The term, “Pangaea,” is in reference to the one big body of land.  The “Continental Drift” theory states that the current continents we have today are the result of the one body of land breaking apart into separate continents At a very slow rate. Thus, the “Continental Drift,” theory states that the continents existing today took 3.3 billion years to form.

Unfortunately, the “Continental Drift” theory is stated as fact in every single unit, throughout the entire curriculum.

I do accept as valid that there may have, at one time, been one large continent, or Pangaea. However, I don't adhere to the belief that the Pangaea formed at a slow rate as is stated in each of the Biome units.  I believe there are other valid explanations for how the continents separated. I also believe that 3.3 billion years was not necessary to make this happen.

For example, a worldwide flood with its catastrophic conditions easily could have resulted in one big body of land being broken up into several.

In fact, the Bible states in Genesis 7:11-12, 17-20 (King James Version)

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.

18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

Based on these verses, it is clear to me that the flood of the Bible was enough to break up “Pangaea” and that it would not have required 3.3 billion years.

To Find out more about Love at Home Education and the Biomes of the World Unit Studies, click here.

Other Recommended Resources

Paleontologist Kids Activities Unit Study

When Did Dinosaurs Live?

Why My Son Doesn't Believe in Evolution

Not All Fats Are Created Equal

Kids Cookbooks Volume 1

Sara Bean’s Heart Unit Study

Sara Bean’s Heart Unit Study

by | May 9, 2019 | Education Materials

The heart is an extremely complicated organ. No matter how many times I have studied it, including in college, and while teaching my son, I have had difficulty remembering the details. Sara Bean's Heart Unit Study simplifies many of the difficult-to-grasp concepts. This complete curriculum set is for all ages, kindergarten through 12th. (Post contains affiliate links).


Love at Home Education

Three examples of science based unit studies: Sara Bean's Heart Unit Study, Penguin Unit Study and Plant Unit Study.

Adding color and fun to the process of learning always makes learning more fun. with Sara Bean's Heart Unit Study, your children can learn about the heart while having fun.

Sara Bean, from “Love at Home Education” designed this curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Regardless of Your Child's Age, Kindergarten through 12th grade, they will benefit from the Heart Unit Study.

Also, like I said before, remembering the facts of the heart is not as easy as it sounds. So, even if your child has already studied the heart, this cute little study will be perfect for a review.

Also, since the unit study pack provides activities for all school-age levels, if you have several kids at different ages. They can all work on the unit together. This would be an awesome opportunity to practice collaborative learning.

What's Included in the K-12 Heart Unit Study

  1. Heart Sight Words for younger kids with directions on how to use them
  2. Two Heart Words to Learn for Kindergarten through second grade, complete with definitions. Cards can be printed and have a pretty red border.
  3. A total of four words for 3-4 grade (the two previous plus two added).
  4. Two additional for 5-6, another two for 7-8, and two more for 9-12. This may not sound like a lot of words, but the heart is a complex organ and the definitions of these words are hard to remember.
  5. Super interesting heart trivia facts, for example, how many times does a heart beat, how much blood does it pump, and more.
  6. Parts of a heart diagrams – for K-6, for coloring and labeling, with beautiful color pictures and cut and paste labels.
  7. For 7-12, more advanced labeling, learning and memorizing
  8. A black and white diagram for coloring and labeling
  9. Questions on “How Does it Work?”
  10. Memorization exercises for all grade levels
  11. Research assignments for 7-12 grades
  12. Copy writing practice for Kindergarten through 1st
  13. Three Writing prompts for K-1; Three writing prompts for 3-6, with more advanced requirements. For example, sentences to paragraphs. Specific questions are provided.
  14. More advanced writing prompts for 7-12 grade

Love at Home Education

K-6 Parts of Heart – Coloring and Labeling Activity – Sara Bean's Heart Unit Study

And the price for Sarah Bean's Heart Unit Study is right. If you want a digital-only copy, it's just $6.00. She even offers the option to purchase a digital and printed copy as a set, for only $10 plus shipping (which is very reasonably priced).

One thing I want to mention, since I have a son with learning challenges.

Just because a curriculum is set up for specific grade levels doesn't mean you have to stick strictly to each grade level.

For example, if your child is in third grade but is still struggling to form letters with a pencil. In this situation, I would strongly suggest to use the copy work exercises in the heart study, even if he or she is older than the stated age.

Writing stuff down helps everyone learn better.

And don't forget something important. Typing can be a form of copy work as well. If you have a child like mine, who is now 14, and has too many writing assignments to do, for example. It would not be time-efficient to make them write everything down. Instead, have him or her type some of the work. It's okay to allow your child to type instead of handwrite everything.

Never Forget: The Goal is Learning

So, if your child is in 1st grade, is brilliant, and can handle the 7-12 grade activities, then give it to them! Whatever is developmentally appropriate is, well, appropriate. 🙂

I have discovered that kids never really outgrow the “hands-on” stage despite that most traditional schools stop hands-on work for most subjects. So, no matter how old your kids are, they're not to old for some hands-on work! All of Sarah's unit studies, including the heart study, will give your children plenty of opportunities to do hands-on activities.

To check out this awesome heart unit study, and to grab a copy for yourself, click here.

About Homeschooling Dietitian Mom

For other k-12 curriculum reviews, click here.

For Sara's MLK Jr. K-12 History Curriculum, click here.

For a book review on a cute book about what snow teaches us about God, click here.