Hello! The resources here are suitable for students in classrooms, working one-on-one with tutors, or working with the help of a parent at home. They are simple, easy-to-use, printable PDF files. We hope you find something you like!
Hello! The resources here are suitable for students in classrooms, working one-on-one with tutors, or working with the help of a parent at home. They are simple, easy-to-use, printable PDF files. We hope you find something you like!
Who better to show the usefulness of a well-asked question - and the importance of a clear and concise answer - than Sherlock Holmes?
In ‘The Adventure of the Red-Headed League’, Holmes and Watson are presented with an odd and seemingly innocent set of clues. Why was the pawn-broker hired by the Red-Headed League – and so suddenly dismissed? It could be that there is more to this mystery than at first meets the eye! In fact, the fortunes of two daring thieves, and a fortune in gold, are at stake. For young readers who are ready for their first Sherlock Holmes mystery (but who would rather not read about murders or ghosts), this is an excellent tale!
Contents:
• The full, original tale of ‘The Adventure of the Red-Headed League’, divided into ten short sections
Following each section:
o Five questions to be answered separately in a student’s notebook
o Vocabulary, in alphabetical order, with definitions or synonyms (making the word comprehensible in the story’s context), from the chapter just read
o A ‘looking up close’ page, exploring one main theme of the section just read, such as pipes, what a pawnbroker is, transportation in Holmes’ time, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, etc. (with pictures)
Directions:
• Read one section of the book at a time. Use the vocabulary list to help with understanding the story (and practise looking things up in alphabetical order). Answer the questions in a separate notebook. Read the ‘looking up close’ page for fun. Enjoy a good, old-fashioned, Sherlock Holmes mystery!
Who better to show the usefulness of a well-asked question - and the importance of a clear and concise answer - than Sherlock Holmes?
Join Holmes and Watson as they take to the fresh air of Devonshire in search of a horse thief – and likely murderer! When the prized racehorse known as Silver Blaze disappears only days before a race, Holmes presumes that the mystery will solve itself. After all, who could hide a horse for long? The murder of its trainer, however, requires serious attention. This story is suitable for young readers who are ready for a classic murder mystery! (There is a small amount of ‘gory’ detail.)
Contents:
• The full, original tale of ‘The Adventure of Silver Blaze’, divided into ten short sections
Following each section:
o Five questions to be answered separately in a student’s notebook
o Vocabulary, in alphabetical order, with definitions or synonyms (making the word comprehensible in the story’s context), from the chapter just read
o A ‘looking up close’ page, exploring one main theme of the section just read, such as Dartmoor, horseshoes, 19th century farms, walking sticks, etc. (with pictures)
Directions:
• Read one section of the book at a time. Use the vocabulary list to help with understanding the story (and practise looking things up in alphabetical order). Answer the questions in a separate notebook. Read the ‘looking up close’ page for fun. Enjoy a good, old-fashioned, Sherlock Holmes mystery!
Bonus! Includes a set of notebooking pages that can be used to answer questions, write out vocabulary, or in any other way you see fit!
I sat on my bed and looked out at the quiet woods, black and silver in snow and moonlight, and serene. There was nothing watchful or brooding about that stillness; whatever secrets were hidden in that forest were so perfectly kept that their existence could not be suspected nor even imagined by any rational faculty.’
‘Beauty’ is a retelling of the classic fairy tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Written in 1978 and widely considered to be a classic, the novel is an excellent choice for readers in the 12-13 age group. Written in an easy, polished style, it is the sort of book that one reads more than once to relish the vivid characters, tantalizing details and satisfying plot. The carefully-crafted embellishments are all solidly founded on European history and folktale ‘magic’.
In this file you will find questions and a few Bonus Assignments to make a solid Reading Comprehension unit for the novel. Included are:
· Detailed instructions for how to proceed
· Thoughtful written response questions, one for each of the ten chapters. Some of these include additional materials such as a painting or poem (included)
· Simple versions of the original folktale in English and in French
· Bonus assignments (essay writing, further research, Beauty’s Reading List, cake-baking, etc.)
Please note, the novel must be purchased separately.
This test is based on the information on pages 12-21 of ‘Western Civilization, A Brief History’ by Jackson Spielvogel, 4th Edition, used in Advanced Placement High School History classes. You may use some or all of the contents, according to your own study schedule.
Contents
52 Multiple Choice Questions
9 Bonus Multiple Choice Questions
1 Long Answer Question
Answer Key
Here is a mini-lesson plan to go with the free music file: Pause & Play ‘Spooks’, featuring the Variations on an Original Theme in c minor by Beethoven.
‘Pause & Play’ Music Appreciation mini-lessons are made for elementary-age students and their teachers or parents. Download the free basic file here:
If you want to learn to knit, and you’re not sure where or how to start (or whether you’ll even like knitting), this guide may provide just the basic, step-by-step encouragement you need!
Here you will find 49 consecutive lessons which will guide you to learn, practise and apply basic knitting skills. These skills are, in order: how to ‘cast on’; how to do the ‘knit’ stitch; how to do the ‘purl’ stitch; how to ‘cast off’; how to combine ‘knit’ and ‘purl’ stitches to make 11 different knitting patterns; and how to do three, more advanced stitches (‘yarn over needle’, ‘knit two together’, 'purl two together’) which will also be used in patterns. Labels are provided for each of the patterns, which you can pin to your finished samples for easy reference. Three bonus lessons provide basic instructions for completing a simple project: a washcloth or doll blanket, a hair ‘thingy’, or a scarf.
Important: Please note that this is only a lesson guide; the lessons here only offer a plan for you to follow in order to acquire the skills you need, one at a time, in an enjoyable, encouraging, effective and satisfying manner. To learn the actual mechanics of knitting, you will need to refer to a handful of clear, full-colour, free websites (addresses provided), or to a library book or parent/friend.
Knitting and other crafts (such as paper mosaics) are excellent tools for developing fine motor skills. This in turn can improve a student’s performance in other areas such as playing a musical instrument, writing neatly, attention to detail, patience, and the ability to concentrate for longer periods of time. Go slowly and be generous with your praise – fine work takes practise and perseverance!
Here are six pieces of beautiful art from historical Egypt. Each has been prepared for use as a paper ‘cut and paste’ puzzle. There are a simpler 6-piece puzzle and a more difficult 10-piece puzzle for each work of art.
Cut and Paste puzzles are a proven and effective way to improve younger students’ fine motor skills, as well as their ability to solve visual problems.
Older students may also complete this type of activity, with a dual purpose, integrating hands-on learning into a study of ancient Egypt, or as a ‘change of pace’ from intellectual activities.
The selection of great art in this collection will encourage young people to admire and appreciate beautiful works, developing their artistic taste and greater cultural knowledge.
Take a moment to appreciate the beautiful colours and images of a time and place gone by!
Bonus: Includes a page of questions that can be used to investigate the who-what-when-where-why-how of any one of the paintings.
Schubert is a small brown dog. He is very intelligent, but he often makes mistakes! This story and workbook will introduce the young student to 150 German words and phrases, in ten short chapters. The text is in English, with German words embedded and translated, giving each one a context and entertaining you as you go!
Following each chapter there are:
· A vocabulary list, without articles (to avoid declension complications).
· An exercise to practise adding ‘the’ and ‘a’ to the nouns, to learn which nouns are masculine, feminine and neutral (all in the Nominativ case).
· A short ‘Notice’, a quick bit of information about the German language (such as ‘all German nouns begin with capital letters’) with a question included (such as ‘how many nouns are there in this chapter?’)
· A ‘Fill in the Blanks’ page specific to that chapter, for review or a quiz.
· A special page focussing on words linked by theme, loosely associated with the chapter, such as Haus or Farben. Some vocabulary from the extra page may appear before or after its assigned chapter, or nowhere else at all.
There are also four pages to introduce the concept of gendered nouns, and a very short introduction to the composer Franz Schubert (with a link to some of his music)
This test is based on the information on pages 30-37 of ‘Western Civilization, A Brief History’ by Jackson Spielvogel, 4th Edition, used in Advanced Placement High School History classes. You may use some or all of the contents, according to your own study schedule.
Contents
50 Multiple Choice Questions
5 Bonus Questions
1 Long Answer Question
Answer Key
‘Dignity. Always dignity.’
Each ‘At The Movies’ selection is a movie that is both enjoyable to watch, and a good starting-place to explore important topics. High school students can expand on their analytical and writing skills by answering questions, writing plot summaries and character descriptions, and pondering upon important, far-reaching themes in discussion or essay-writing assignments.
About the movie: Singin’ In The Rain
Don Lockwood is a successful movie star, and Kathy Selden is just starting out. They meet when he flees a crowd and ends up hitching a ride with her. Sparks fly, and it seems that their first impressions will never be overcome. As both of them navigate the ups and downs of show business, they continue to bump into each other. Don’s best friend Cosmo Brown, a composer, and Lina Lamont, the star everyone thinks Don is in love with but whom he can’t stand, are also never far from trouble. Movies are just about to change from silent pictures to ‘talkies’ and not everyone’s career will stand the shift. Will Don and Kathy stay true to each other amidst the chaos, or will the demands of show business overwhelm their personal values and friendships?
Rating: G (imdb.com) / Date of release: 1952 / Language: English / Subtitles: no / Country: U. S. A. / Purchase: Youtube, Amazon, Etc.
Note: The movie must be procured separately.
Here are six pieces of beautiful art depicting Victorian London. Each has been prepared for use as a paper ‘cut and paste’ puzzle. There are a simpler 6-piece puzzle and a more difficult 10-piece puzzle for each work of art.
Cut and Paste puzzles are a proven and effective way to improve younger students’ fine motor skills, as well as their ability to solve visual problems.
Older students may also complete this type of activity, with a dual purpose, integrating hands-on learning into a study of the Industrial Revolution or Sherlock Holmes, or as a ‘change of pace’ from intellectual activities.
The selection of great art in this collection will encourage young people to admire and appreciate beautiful works, developing their artistic taste and greater cultural knowledge.
Take a moment to appreciate the beautiful colours and images of a time and place gone by!
Bonus: Includes a page of questions that can be used to investigate the who-what-when-where-why-how of any one of the paintings.
What if you could actually talk with your favourite pet? Or live in the wild with your favourite wild animals?
In this classic short story, Roald Dahl tells the compelling tale of a young boy who has a special ability to communicate with animals. In stark contrast to the greed of those around him, he sees an ancient sea turtle for the amazing, feeling creature that it is.
This unit study guides students to dive deep into the story and explore all sorts of topics related to human-animal communication, while relishing a unique piece of fiction. Assignments emphasise self-expression, reflection and good writing. They are suitable for students in grades 7 and up.
Please note: The Boy Who Talked with Animals is protected by copyright and must be procured separately. All other necessary resources are included in this unit study or available for free online (links provided).
Contents
*About this Unit Study & Before You Begin
Guide to all Assignments
Section Assignments
Section Questions to be completed in a notebook
Section Questions Worksheets
Written Exercises for the Full Story
Focus on an Excerpt
Reflection Questions
Creative Assignments
Make a Short Video
Write a Short Story – Properly
Exploring the Story’s Themes through Music and Art
Music: Flight of the Bumblebee (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov)
Music: The Trout (Franz Schubert)
Art: Humans and Animals in Art (Three Paintings)
Exploring the Topic Further: An Ocean of Possibilities
Documentary: Understanding How Animals Think and Feel
Wildlife safety
Doctor Dolittle: Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
Who better to show the usefulness of a well-asked question - and the importance of a clear and concise answer - than Sherlock Holmes?
In 'The Adventure of the Three Students’, Holmes and Watson find themselves at the heart of an old university, where someone may have tampered with an Ancient Greek exam. The future of a promising student, and the reputation of a noble house of learning, hang in the balance! As it turns out, it is not too late for one character to make a noble gesture that will bring all to a happy conclusion. For young readers who are ready for their first Sherlock Holmes mystery (but who would rather not read about murders or ghosts), this is an excellent tale!
Contents:
• The full, original tale of ‘The Adventure of the Three Students’, divided into ten short sections
• Following each section:
Five questions to be answered separately in a student’s notebook
Vocabulary, in alphabetical order, with definitions or synonyms (making the word comprehensible in the story’s context), from the chapter just read
A ‘looking up close’ page, exploring one main theme of the section just read, such as Gothic architecture, tea, pencils, Victorian furniture, the long-jump, etc. (with pictures)
Directions:
• Read one section of the book at a time. Use the vocabulary list to help with understanding the story (and practise looking things up in alphabetical order). Answer the questions in a separate notebook. Read the ‘looking up close’ page for fun. Enjoy a good, old-fashioned, Sherlock Holmes mystery!
Who better to show the usefulness of a well-asked question - and the importance of a clear and concise answer - than Sherlock Holmes?
In ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, Holmes finds himself assisting none other than the king of Bohemia! The problem seems trivial until the lady involved, one ‘Irene Adler’, proves to possess unexpected cleverness and charm. Could the great Sherlock Holmes find himself outwitted - by a woman? For young readers who are ready for their first Sherlock Holmes mystery (but who would rather not read about murders or ghosts), this story will surely entertain!
Contents:
• The full, original tale of ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, divided into ten short sections
Following each section:
o Five questions to be answered separately in a student’s notebook
o Vocabulary, in alphabetical order, with definitions or synonyms (making the word comprehensible in the story’s context), from the chapter just read
o A ‘looking up close’ page, exploring one main theme of the section just read, such as cabinet photographs, what a bijou villa is, a Victorian wedding, what iodoform and nitrate of silver are, etc. (with pictures)
Directions:
• Read one section of the book at a time. Use the vocabulary list to help with understanding the story (and practise looking things up in alphabetical order). Answer the questions in a separate notebook. Read the ‘looking up close’ page for fun. Enjoy a good, old-fashioned, Sherlock Holmes mystery!
Bonus! Includes a set of notebooking pages that can be used to answer questions, write out vocabulary, or in any other way you see fit!
Who better to show the usefulness of a well-asked question - and the importance of a clear and concise answer - than Sherlock Holmes?
In ‘The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle’, Holmes’ great detective skills and Watson’s faithful support of his friend are at their most admirable. The disappearance of the famous blue jewel is easily explained . . . or is it? Set at Christmastime in old London, Holmes solves this case with his usual flair - and also, perhaps, saves a man from a life of crime. For young readers who are ready for their first Sherlock Holmes mystery (but who would rather not read about murders or ghosts), this is an excellent tale to start with!
Contents:
• The full, original tale of ‘The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle’, divided into ten short sections
Following each section:
o Five questions to be answered separately in a student’s notebook
o Vocabulary, in alphabetical order, with definitions or synonyms (making the word comprehensible in the story’s context), from the chapter just read
o A ‘looking up close’ page, exploring one main theme of the section just read, such as hats of the time period, how people lit their homes, the difference between supper and dinner, what betting is, keeping warm in old London, etc. (with pictures)
Directions:
• Read one section of the book at a time. Use the vocabulary list to help with understanding the story (and practise looking things up in alphabetical order). Answer the questions in a separate notebook. Read the ‘looking up close’ page for fun. Enjoy a good, old-fashioned, Sherlock Holmes mystery!
Bonus! Includes a set of notebooking pages that can be used to answer questions, write out vocabulary, or in any other way you see fit!
Sometimes, a good laugh is all it takes to chase away a bad mood or the Homework Blues! Use your own notebook to make a ‘Journal of Funny Moments’. Choose a ‘Story Beginning’ to help you get started. Without trying too hard, describe a real or imaginary funny moment. Fill a page (or half of a page) with writing, in a simple conversational style. Share the ‘funny moment’ with others and have a good laugh! Cut out and paste images (included - or draw your own!) to decorate and label your notebook and stories.
This is a short writing exercise that can work at any time during the school day!
Here is the complete, original novel. Download for free to accompany ‘Reading Comprehension: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson’ from Canadian Winter Homeschool Materials.
Here is the complete, original novel. Download for free to accompany ‘Reading Comprehension: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen’ from Canadian Winter Homeschool Materials.