New Bee Homeschooler

We have been putting the final touches on our unit study for the ancient Maya. We started off our discussion on Meso-America and narrowed our interest down to the ancient Maya.  I want to focus more on the Aztecs but Mr. Awesome and Mr. Senior 2013 are throwing out other topics for our next unit study topic.

Tiny still likes this topic so we haven't settled on our next unit study. Too, I think we may focus some on our new curriculum we just got. It's hard for us to stay away from a good unit study for long so maybe the change to cooler weather will make them decide on a topic.

In most unit studies we find an abundance of hands-on things to do but for this topic they really were focused on reading. However, we did find some hands-on things in the book Amazing Maya Inventions You Can Build Yourself  that we liked. We spent quite a few days learning about the tzolk’in calendar, also called the Sacred Round. It wasn't as easy as the Maya made it look to line up the two circles for the calendars side by side.

{tzolk’in calendar. pic att and link to learn about it.}

But we did manage to make two circles like the book said and followed the directions but I am not so sure we managed to use it like they did. It made us appreciate the advancements they made in math, building and a written language.

I added this calendar circle as a minibook in the lapbook. So here it is, the next lapbook for you. It has 9 minibooks.

Download the minibooks below.

Majestic Builders here.

Did You Know here.

Can You Answer here.

About the Ancient Maya here.

Calendar Circle here.

Jewelry and Jade here.

Maya Writing here.

Names to Know.

Resplendent Quetzal here.

Then of course you know I have to make something for you to  put on the outside of your lapbook for a cover in case you don't have wild hair and want to create one. So here are two cover choices.

                       Dnload Cover here.                                  Download cover here.     

Remember too all of my minibooks or downloads are usually kept separate and not one big HUGE download. I do this because it helps to keep organized when you can pick/choose what you want to download or keep on your computer.  Also, I do it this way because you may prefer to notebook and you can use individual minibooks and decorative pieces from the front cover to create your own notebooking pages. It is rare that I do one huge download. Just letting you know there is a method to my madness.

Also I wanted to be sure you knew our facebook page has moved. We finally bit the bullet and changed our name to the name we have been wanting to use all along, New Bee Homeschooler. Remember, we are sharing other freebies there and it is not just  for new homeschoolers. That is our one facebook page for both Dynamic 2 Moms & New Bee Homeschooler. Here is the link if you are not following us yet on the new page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Bee-Homeschooler/152877401517180

I made a few organizational changes to our school area this year and am ready to share that with you next. Here is a glimpse of one area I had to redo. I FINALLY got my teacher's manuals for history and other subjects in a notebooking system I heart. I will have my pictures to share on the small but meaningful changes made to our area.

You know I heart quotes each day. I find this one inspirational today as I think about you and the countless other educators as we daily give to our kids. Also, I was talking in my workshop Monday night how you do give up some things to homeschool but they seem so insignificant now when you see the blessing of your children. {sappy moment thought}. It just made me think of this today.

The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy."

~ Kalu Kalu~

Hope you enjoy the downloads. Hugs and you know I love ya,

Don't forget, to click LIKE on our new facebook page.