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Using One Book or Subject for Many Grade Levels

© Teresa Higginbotham

One of the best ways to save time and money in homeschooling is to integrate several grade levels into one subject area and then vary it from there. Here is an example: You decide you would like to teach about Christopher Columbus. After checking your curriculum objectives you find that all of your children need to be learning about explorers so teaching it your first grader and your third and fourth grader is fine. Next step: Find a material that they all can learn from. You can read aloud an upper level book stopping to explain things to your younger child or you can turn it around and find a picture book on the subject and enjoy a read aloud time with your kids then increase the complexity of the subject with the older children later on. Proceding from here is where you can individulize each child's approach to the subject matter.

Projects for Lower Elementary:
Corresponding Art Project
For example make little ships in a mobile, draw out the route Columbus took on a map, etc.
Simple Journal Entry
What would you do if you were Columbus and all of your men were complaining because they thought they were about to fall off the Earth?
Math/Social Studies
Use a map key and count how many miles the ships traveled.
Film
Check with your local library to see if they have any videos on Columbus suited to this age level.

Projects for Upper Elementary:
Corresponding Art Project
Make a paper mache model of what mapmakers thought the earth looked like at that time. Simple Essay
Give them three research related questions to be answered using an encyclopedia or webquest.
Dramatization
Have them create a simple puppet or drama performance of the story you just read.
Social Studies
Read a more detailed account of Columbus's voyage either through a novel or nonfiction source.
Film
Check with your local library to see if they have any videos on Columbus suited to this age level.

Projects for Secondary
Five Paragraph Essay
Have them form a thesis on three reasons why exploration was vital at this time in world history. Using encylopedias, webquests, and other research resources have them find at least one source to back up each reason.
Creative Interpretation
Have them write a play on the subject, create an original art project, create a dance or music interpretation.
Math
Have them figure out Columbus's time table. How many miles did they probably travel per day with the type of ship they had?

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