Lots of Questions on LHFHG

[NicoleJ]

Hello! I am looking for program for my DD who will be 6 (gr 1) next year. I have a few questions:

a) How much writing is in LHFHG? Is it mostly copywork, or is some of it creative writing?
b) I see that there is no LA workbook for LHFHG (unlike the others that have the Rod and Staff English books). Why is this? Are the LA skills written into the manual? If so, what skills are covered?
c)In the LHFHG sample, the maths text that connects to the hands-on activities are the Singapore Kindergarten books. My DD would be up to the 1A and 1B books. Do the activities match the 1A and 1B books too? Is it scheduled in, or in the appendix?
d) My DD has already done the Rod and Staff ABC series. Is the Gr 1 Skills book scheduled in too, or only the R&S D and E books?
e) In the History Stories for Children book, are the stories mainly from around the world, or mainly focusing on American history?
f) Are the questions and discussions written into the manual for the read-alouds applicable to any story you chose? We aren't into talking animals so much, and I would probably want to change the books for the read-alouds.
g) What are some of the science activities that are written into the manual?
h) What are some of the other acitivities that are written into the manual that are a lot of fun and learning? What have you enjoyed about LHFHG?

I really love the look of HOD and hope you can answer my questions for me. Thanks!

[my3sons]

Hello! I am looking for program for my DD who will be 6 (gr 1) next year. I have a few questions:

a) How much writing is in LHFHG? Is it mostly copywork, or is some of it creative writing?
b) I see that there is no LA workbook for LHFHG (unlike the others that have the Rod and Staff English books). Why is this? Are the LA skills written into the manual? If so, what skills are covered?
Dc doing LHFHG are in this stage of writing (as described in the placement chart):
Ready to learn formal manuscript printing, or able to begin writing words
So, dc do fine motor skills in their handwriting book of choice, their fine motor skills book(s) of choice (either R & S Workbooks or Thinking Skills Grade 1), and on Day 4 of Storytime in the form of early writing practice emphasizing names and simple words.

If your dd is placing more in the Beyond Little Hearts column in the placement chart for writing, you may want to do the right side of Beyond with her (which includes 1 x a week grammar lessons, daily spelling activities, 1A/1B math hands-on lessons, and genre-based Storytime books. If she places in Beyond skillwise in every column of the first page of the placement chart, you may just want to have her do Beyond.

c)In the LHFHG sample, the maths text that connects to the hands-on activities are the Singapore Kindergarten books. My DD would be up to the 1A and 1B books. Do the activities match the 1A and 1B books too? Is it scheduled in, or in the appendix?
1A/1B is scheduled with the Textbook/Workbook in the Appendix of LHFHG. 1A/1B's hands-on math lessons are part of Beyond's plans. As I mentioned, many moms will just get the Beyond guide if their dc need to up the LA/math but fit best in LHFHG for everything else.

d) My DD has already done the Rod and Staff ABC series. Is the Gr 1 Skills book scheduled in too, or only the R&S D and E books?
They are both scheduled in the daily plans of LHFHG.

e) In the History Stories for Children book, are the stories mainly from around the world, or mainly focusing on American history?
I thought there was a good balance, but I'm American. I guess you'd have to take a look at that. I know many families that are not American simply add a study of their country 1 x a week, but not usually in the younger guides, I guess.

f) Are the questions and discussions written into the manual for the read-alouds applicable to any story you chose? We aren't into talking animals so much, and I would probably want to change the books for the read-alouds.
The questions are specific to the Thorton Burgess books. They follow Bloom's Taxonomy and were excellent for building our dc's comprehension skills. You could change out the books, but you'd be missing these skills...
*Day 1: basic comprehension discussion questions
*Day 2: retelling the story in a variety of ways
*Day 3: critical thinking questions including some vocabulary discussion
*Day 4: early writing practice emphasizing names and simple words
*Day 5: moral connection questions with personal application

g) What are some of the science activities that are written into the manual?
*Shaping boats out of aluminum foil and testing the boats to see if they float in a tub of water, using wind (blowing) and waves to move it
*Plants need sun, water, soil, and air to grow. Activity with cards and acting out each need.
*Clouds - cotton ball first light, then soak in water to become heavy, then dripping like rain, etc.
*Clear cup - make edible layers of the earth's soil
*Flashlight - modeling revolution and rotation of earth
*Forces - push and pull activity - search around house and find examples of each, note on 2 column paper
*Soap to clean germs off hands - saran wrap is "skin", permanent marker circle on saran wrap is a "sore", color sore with brown washable marker to be "dirt", cotton ball with oil rubbed on skill for "skin's oil", dip in water to wash off ("dirt" washes off), wash in soapy water ("oil" washes off), sore remains.
These are just some from the first 9 units I randomly shared here. The science experiments are wonderful! They demonstrate the concept well, they are easy enough dc can actually do them, they match the history, they use stuff I have on hand, they are fun, and they always get done.


h) What are some of the other acitivities that are written into the manual that are a lot of fun and learning? What have you enjoyed about LHFHG?
I'll link you to the LHFHG photobook for this one, as a picture is worth a thousand words.
http://heartofdakotasphotobooks.shutterfly.com/25

As far as what I've enjoyed about LHFHG, there are too many to share here. But, I love that it begins with the Bible and integrates Biblical history within the 1 year sweep of history beautifully. Many dc profess their faith for the first time when doing LHFHG. Kenneth Taylor's "Devotions for the Children's Hour" gave us deep discussions that were so meaningful. I love that book. The "Family Time Bible" is one of our all-time favorite children's Bible - beautiful illustrations, sticks very close to the Scriptures, and comprehension building questions. The hands-on in LHFHG was perfect for that age. The science experiments, the large gross motor skills incorporated into Scripture memory work, the history activities, the art projects, the Rhymes in Motion, Thinking Skills box of plans - all of this made for a good balance between hands-on skills and seatwork skills. They were FUN, and we did them all year long - never missed a one. And I don't plan ahead. That tells you how easy these are to do. Hide 'Em in Your Heart - love that CD. I don't ever get tired of listening to it. The Thorton Burgess books - really helped my dc learn to listen more attentively. They were short and kept their attention, and the loved them. We bought as many as we could when we finished LHFHG, as the dc wanted to read them on their own too. I also loved that because of the way the day is structured, I had ample time to really focus on LA and math skills, especially phonics. Because the short lesson method was used, there was a good balance of work in all skill areas, and enough time for focus on the 3 R's. LHFHG gave us a great year. It helped our dc feel like homeschooling was interesting, fun, varied, full of the Lord, and most of all, that they could be successful with it and enjoy it every single day.
I really love the look of HOD and hope you can answer my questions for me. Thanks!

In Christ,
Julie

[NicoleJ]

Thankyou Julie! I knew you would answer with a comprehensive and detailed answer! That has really helped me make some decisions. Nicole