More Curriculum!

     So I have received the rest of the curriculum that I have ordered.  That's not to say I won't be buying more because I am sure I will, but I feel like I have a lot of good material here to get us started next year.

*Our Nation (Macmillan/McGraw-Hill)  $7.95 Used  ISBN 0-02-149267-0
   This is as much a history book as it is a social studies book.  I love it!  It's quite possibly my favorite book so far, but I enjoy history, so I am biased. The book begins in 30,000 B.C. and goes all the way through modern day. It focuses on geography, civilizations, culture, citizenship, economics, government, and the roles of science and technology in society.  A reference section at the back of the book includes several atlases, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, a presidential timeline, facts about the 50 states, and more.  Literature is used throughout the book as well to reinforce the subject matter.  Very comprehensive and engaging.

*Our Nation Practice and Activity Workbook (Social Studies Grade 5) $9.68  ISBN 0-02-150390-7
  To be used with the Our Nation textbook.  Definitely worth having if you are using the textbook.  The activities look interesting and thought-provoking.

*Houghton Mifflin Math (5th Grade) $12.95 Used ISBN 0-618-27722-6
  I chose this book because this is the same publisher the school my son currently attends has been using for years.  The pages are full of colorful illustrations, examples, graphs, etc. to help you.  There are plenty of assignments and practice tests.  I only wish I could find a teacher's copy so that I would have an answer key.

*Houghton Mifflin Math Homework Book (Grade 5) $9.48 New ISBN 978-0-618-43803-7 and Houghton Mifflin Math Practice Workbook (Grade 5) $8.86 New ISBN 978-0-618-389612
  While not exactly the same, there isn't much difference between the two.  The Homework Book has an average of 13 problems per page while the Practice Workbook has around 30.

*McGraw-Hill Science (Grade 5) $12.50 Used ISBN 0-02-280038-7
  Again, this is the publisher/series that my son had been using for years and it has worked well.  Lots of colorful pictures, highlighted vocabulary, lesson review questions and easy science experiments.  I wish I could find an accompanying workbook but so far I haven't been able to.  The chapter reviews are good but there are several smaller lessons included in each one.  We may end up keeping a science journal to replace the workbook.  Major themes include Structures of Plants and Animals, Interactions of Living Things, Earth and Its Resources, Weather and Climate, Properties of Matter and Energy, and Motion and Energy.

*Spectrum Writing, Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 978-0-7696-5285-6
  Excellent colorful workbook that walks you through the writing process.  It explains the purpose of writing, the structure, active and passive voice, descriptive writing, main ideas, settings, sequencing, letter writing, finding the main idea, persuasive writing, explanatory writing, and informative writing.  There are more more elements but obviously my list is already quite lengthy.  There is an answer key in this book for some of the exercises.