The Wolfe Pack {Reviews~Resources~Suggestions~Support for the Discerning Homeschool Mom}

providing the discerning homeschool mama with support on her journey

Martin Luther King Jr: A UNIT STUDY Read~Write~Create~Explore~Enjoy~Learn!

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.} 

Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic! To read more about the concepts behind my UNIT STUDIES, read this. 

If you find it handy to have a simplified printable of these suggestions, you can find one, along with several free MLK printables,  here in the FREE MLK Unit Study Printable Pack.

Otherwise, read on for a more detailed version with links embedded! 

{Note: The links are pink! Just think, “pink link” if you are wanting to follow a link to something.}

 

INTRO: I am seriously embarrassed and downright ashamed to say that we have never done much to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day in our homeschool. We have learned about him in our history lessons multiple times over the years but we have never actually celebrated the national holiday and the man behind it. But, after being inspired by something I discovered in the  Celebrate It! Digital Grab Bag, I am determined to rectify that this year! 

READ: As you can imagine, there are loads of books about Martin Luther King Jr. I’ve narrowed this list down to just a handful geared towards a few different levels of readers.

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo is a pretty simple book which makes it great for early readers or as a family read aloud. It touches upon the civil rights issues of the day but in a child-friendly tone. It also tries to highlight why his birthday is a national holiday which makes it the perfect choice for January. 

Despite the fact that the big-headedness of the cover illustrations bother me, I usually like the content of the Who Was series, and Who Was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr by Bonnie Bader does not disappoint. It’s a short chapter book that covers the entirety of his life and even includes a timeline. It was written for 3rd Grade+ and opens up a whole lot of discussion doors on civil rights, segregation, discrimination, protests, etc. but in an appropriate manner for this age group. Another good option from a newer series, in case those big-headed covers of Who Was creep you out too, is The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.: A Biography Book for New Readers by Christine Platt. It is written with the same audience in mind as the Who Was series and does a great job of covering MLK’s life too. 

For slightly older kids, I highly suggest Martin Luther King: The Peaceful Warrior by Ed Clayton. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s kind of hard to come by on the internet but your library may have a copy. Mine did! This book was written by somebody who worked directly with Martin Luther King Jr. and, therefore, has a much more REAL feel to the book, as opposed to one written by an unimpacted author who just pulled info from a Google search. But, it is still presented in an appropriate manner; just be prepared for deep conversations about segregation and racial inequalities to spring up. 

You can also use this fun and free MLK Mini Book Pack. It includes two options: one with text and one without so it is appropriate for more than one level. It covers MLK’s life in ten steps but leaves the detailed history up to you. If you want to just introduce your younger kids to MLK in a most basic fashion, this book would do just that. But, you can certainly expand on each step with more discussion. It is free and available on its own but is also found in the  FREE MLK Unit Study Printable Pack.

And because I am trying really hard not to spend precious time reinventing the wheel, here is a link to a very thorough list of MLK book suggestions from Peanut Butter Fish Lessons, divided into age categories. 

WRITE: For younger kids, there is this quick and simple Writing Activity. It is part of the FREE MLK Unit Study Printable Pack. This activity can be tailored to writing about a child’s own personal dreams or to connecting their own child-sized civil rights dreams to that of  MLK. 

For older kids, the FREE MLK Unit Study Printable Pack also includes a couple of writing prompts that ask the kids to think about and respond to issues related to racial segregation and discrimination.  There are two styles of lines to accommodate two levels of writers. 

LEARN:  For an easy yet thorough introduction to MLK, check out this Martin Luther King Jr Fact Pack. It introduces your 3rd-6th graders to the life of MLK with ten pages of Informational Text Passages and Comprehension Questions and includes information on his childhood, family life, education, church leadership, civil rights work and death. It does cost a wee bit but with discount code 25OffMLK, you’ll save 25% which means it will only cost a wee-wee bit {like less than a fancy coffee at McDs wee bit!}

CREATE:  This super cool art project was what inspired me to finally put together some lessons for MLK! What I really like about this is that it’s not just an art project. It’s an art project that makes ya think! AND, it’s easily adaptable to a wide range of ages. The instructions ask the kids to draw little icons but it also includes a version where you can just print them out for smaller kids. But, we skipped the icons altogether and decided to write out definitions. I LOVE how it turned out! 

This is the example from the creator…so, obviously much prettier than ours! We got this project as part of the Celebrate It! Digital Grab Bag which was a GREAT DEAL and included all sorts of great resources. If the sale is over, I’d still head on over there to check out the site and sign up so you are hooked up for future sales. 

EXPLORE:  If you and your kids want more MLK, you’ll find a couple of videos below. Depending on age, you may want to watch with your kids.

You may also want to check out this Pinterest Board.  It has a carefully curated collection of ideas of how to teach about and celebrate Martin Luther King Day! 

Why Our Kids Need to Understand the ELECTION PROCESS {no matter how we feel about politics}

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Whether you are a classic homeschooler whose kids have never stepped foot in a traditional school or you are a reluctant parent facilitating your child’s education at home during this crisis….

Whether you have precious early elementary kids or moody teenagers nearing adulthood…

Whether you detest politics or live and die by Fox News…

Whether you cried when Obama‘s second term was up, voted for Trump in 2016, or have been burning for Bernie for several years, doesn’t matter.  Your kids need to understand the election process. 

No matter what you believe or how you feel about the 2020 presidential candidates, your kids need to understand our country’s election process. 

And here are three simple reasons why…

ONE: KIDS NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR HISTORY It wasn’t until I started homeschooling my own son that I developed an understanding of the value of our country’s history. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve always been patriotic and knew basic facts about the founding of our country but I never truly appreciated the need to understand our full and complete history. Our history is one of both planning and perseverance, and the process by which we elect our presidents is a testimony to both. The concept of the Electoral College was not accidental. The age at which the president can be elected is not arbitrary. The allowances that different states have to run their elections is not incidental. All of that was planned. And it was all planned for a reason. And our kids need to understand all of it. 

TWO: KIDS NEED TO KNOW THEIR FAMILY’S VOICE IS BEING HEARD Especially in the unprecedentedly uncertain times of today, our kids need to know that we are not voiceless members of a tyrannical society. Our kids need to know we live in a democratic country where every citizen has a say. Understanding the election process not only teaches how we can each use our voice appropriately and effectively, it can also lead to an understanding of the legislative process of our government. We vote to put the lawmakers into place. Our kids need to know that their families have a voice and that those voices are being heard. 

THREE: KIDS WILL VOTE SOMEDAY As adults, we need to recognize that we are raising voters. When I taught a Presidential Election class for our co-op in 2016, we did quick math to figure out in which future election each kid would get to vote. The kids probably felt that four, eight or twelve years away was an eternity, but it really brought home to ME that the responsibility of voting was just around the corner for our kids. I remember my first time voting. I was excited. I was proud. But, I did NOT, in any way, shape or form, understand the severity of that responsibility and all that it entailed. I guess I was more preoccupied with getting the attention of Billy Barry during my US Government class in public school than I was focused on understanding the process by which we elected a president…or even what that truly meant. We are raising voters and it’s never too early to teach them about the election process. 

And, believe it or not, Election Day 2020 is just days away! 

So, whether you are a classic homeschooler or a pandemically-induced parent facilitator…

whether you have First Graders or Freshman….

whether you watch CNN, Fox or no news….

whether you love or hate Trump doesn’t matter. 

Your kids need to understand our country’s election process. 

 

If you’re needing a fun and easy way to teach your kids about our country’s election process, you might want to check out this fun and highly informative Presidential Election Fact Pack.

It’s a very simple, yet thorough way to teach about the Electoral College and the entire process by which we elect our president. I have used it with ages ranging from 6 to 14 with great success and loads of fun!

And, if you are looking for a fun and totally FREE way to track the results on Election Night, check out this Presidential Election Tracker Pack! 

The Value of Celebrating Your State’s Birthday

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.} 

I’m a California girl who was born and raised in the same house all through my childhood and then attended college just a few hours up the coast from my hometown.  But after marrying my husband, we moved to Missouri where we lived for three years, followed by three years in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In 2010, we moved to Kansas and we’re still here in the year 2020! While it’s very different than my coastal home state, it offers its own unique beauty and interesting characteristics.

Shortly after moving here, we started homeschooling our only son and I quickly connected with a co-op.  Since we knew very few people in town, the co-op was a Godsend to us in a variety of ways, not the least of which was showing me that I was sorely lacking in Kansas history. Apparently, it’s typical for Kansas kids to celebrate Kansas Day every year.  “What is Kansas Day,”  you might be wondering? I wondered the same thing until my new co-op crew filled me in.  It’s the day set aside to celebrate Kansas’ statehood. Kansas became the 34th state on January 29, 1861, therefore, every year on January 29th, kids all across the Sunflower State celebrate its “birthday.”

Kansas Day celebrations take place in classrooms and homeschools alike with sunflowery crafts, yummy treats and loads of lessons on the state mammal, bird, reptile, motto and more. And this happens every year for Kansas kids; it’s not just a Fourth Grade standard like it is in California. It’s something they look forward to annually. Our local libraries offer special programs, bakeries make themed cakes and teachers shift their lessons for the day to include all things bison, sunflower and tiger salamander. 

If you’re wondering, like I did at first, WHY so much effort goes into Kansas Day, let me give you the two-cent opinion of a Californian transplanted to Kansas after short stints in Missouri and Michigan. 

It teaches STATE HISTORY to our kids. 

It imparts a STATE IDENTITY in our kids. 

It instills STATE PRIDE in our kids.

And, it’s fun! 

Knowing that the American Bison is the Kansas State Mammal or that the Barred Tiger Salamander is the Kansas State Amphibian seems like nothing more than silly trivia at first. But, when the kids learn how each animal was chosen, they learn state history because there are actual legit, logical reasons behind those decisions. When they can begin to recognize that “Sunflower Bank” and “Bison Electric” are not just randomly chosen business names, they’ll begin to identify with their state as a whole. And when they learn what the state motto means, they’ll surely come away with some pride for the state’s founding fathers and their journey to statehood. 

As mentioned earlier, I was born and raised in California. From PreK through a Masters Degree, I was educated in the state and I LOVED growing up there.  And, yet, I could not tell you when California’s statehood actually took place. If given a few minutes, I could garner an educated guess on the year based on a few history facts that I’d need to pull up from the recesses of my brain, but I could never tell you the month and day. I could tell you the state nickname for sure, probably the state mammal and possibly the flower. But if you were to ask me about the state bird, state amphibian or state motto, all I could provide would be purely wild guesses.

{For my UNGoogled guesses on California Facts, go to the very end.}

I’ll admit that when I was first introduced to the concept of Kansas Day, I was a bit skeptical. I assumed it was a fluff holiday and an excuse to take the day off from regular schooling. But, as our KS years have rolled on and our KS Day celebrations have ramped up, I now see the value in celebrating your state’s birthday. 

It teaches STATE HISTORY to our kids. 

It imparts a STATE IDENTITY in our kids. 

It instills STATE PRIDE in our kids.

And, as a bonus, it is loads of fun! 

So, do you know when your state’s birthday is?

Do your kids?

Check the list below and start planning a party! 

If you happen to be a current Kansan, like me, check out my Kansas State Fact Pack. It’s chock-full of Kansas State facts and fun activities! 

And, for ALL state birthdays, an excellent place to start is with your state’s edition of the Discover America, State by State series.  Below is just a small selection, but there is one for every single state {and even DC.}

, , , ,

My UNGoogled guesses on California Facts:

{Year of Statehood: 1851} WRONG! It was actually 1850, so I was close!

{State Nickname: Golden State} CORRECT! Yay me!

{State Mammal: bear} MOSTLY CORRECT. It’s the Grizzly Bear. 

{State Flower: poppy} CORRECT! Not sure why I knew that. 

{State Bird: golden eagle} Eeks! So WRONG! It’s the California Quail.

{State Amphibian: Sonoran Desert Toad} Totally WRONG! It’s the red-legged frog,  but my guess sounded so legit, didn’t it?

{State Motto: Go home! We have no more gold.} Obviously WRONG, but ya gotta admit, it was a funny guess. It’s actually “Eureka!” 

That’s a score of only 43%! EEKS! That’s not good! I bet if I had celebrated California’s birthday every September 9th, I would’ve done a whole lot better! 

Three Reasons WHY You SHOULD Teach Your Kids About COLUMBUS

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.} 

With Columbus Day just around the corner, you may find yourself wondering what exactly to teach about CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS or whether to teach about him at all. If so, don’t worry, you are in good company. Each time fall rolls around, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS becomes a hot topic in the homeschool world. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS is not a cut/dry topic so homeschool moms start asking questions and seeking answers….

Why do we CELEBRATE Columbus Day?

How do you decide WHAT to teach about Columbus?

Should you even BOTHER teaching about Columbus AT ALL?

Should I just IGNORE Columbus altogether since he’s so CONTROVERSIAL?

Did our teachers LIE to US?

Is this all just part of a larger CONSPIRACY?

What else is UNTRUE?

If you have not seen the heated debates, join most any homeschool group on Facebook and enter “CHRISTOPER COLUMBUS”  in the search bar. I can just about guarantee that it won’t come up with all warm and fuzzy comments and cute little crafts of ships made with paper and straws. 

You’ll see comments that include:

murder,  innovative,  horrible, brave,  awful,  corrupt,  plague, leader,  genocide, life-changer,  conspiracy, vilify. 

So, with so many conflicting opinions, how do we decide what to teach about COLUMBUS or whether to teach about him at all?

As any seasoned HOMESCHOOL MOM knows, one of the most beautiful benefits of educating our kids at home is that we get to CHOOSE what we teach our kids. But as liberating  as that is for some moms, it is also stressful  for others {especially the newer homeschool mom.} The responsibility of what, when and how to teach can be felt as a burden  and some moms need help in answering those questions above. 

I hardly paid attention in my high school history classes {sooooooooooooo boring} and I certainly don’t have a degree in history {I did marry a man with a MA in US History…maybe that counts for something, ha ha} so I won’t pretend to know the answers. But, I will tell you this…

I believe you should teach about COLUMBUS. 

What exactly you should teach, I can’t say. That’s up to you. But, I do believe you should teach, in the very least, the basics of COLUMBUS. 

Here are three reasons why… 

ONE: Columbus is a part of history, whether you like it or not.

Whether you like the man doesn’t matter. The fact remains that CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS was an explorer who ventured west and inadvertently landed in South America. WHY he wanted to explore a western shipping route doesn’t change the fact that he did. WHAT he did when he got there doesn’t change the fact that he got there. HOW he treated the people that he encountered doesn’t change the fact that he brought Europeans with him. You don’t need to celebrate him in order to include him in your history lessons. But, I do believe you should teach about COLUMBUS.

Choosing what to teach in your homeschool is a lovely blessing but it is also an immense responsibility. We don’t get to shy away from all topics that make us uncomfortable. If we did, I would’ve skipped slavery, WW2 and Roe v Wade. But, it’s irresponsible for us to pick and choose to teach only what we like. In the very least, share only the established, meaningful facts and allow your kids to make a judgment call on his character later in life. But, teach about COLUMBUS. 

TWO: It would be very hard to teach American history without including Columbus.

Without the inclusion of COLUMBUS in your explanation of the discovery of the New World, I’m not sure how you can present a full picture of American history. It’s undeniable that what COLUMBUS accomplished impacted other explorers which eventually led to the discovery, exploration and development of North America. Could we be sitting here if COLUMBUS had never set sail on the Ocean Blue in the year 1492? I suppose so. God could’ve used somebody else to make that trek. But, the fact remains that God chose COLUMBUS and COLUMBUS played an integral part in the history of our fair nation and it would be disingenuous to teach otherwise. Even if you simply include the most basic facts, you need to teach about COLUMBUS. 

THREE: Columbus is the perfect example of God using an imperfect person.

Imperfect men in history are nearly as old as the world itself so cutting out all of their contributions would leave us with nothing. I’m assuming you have heard of Adam? He manages to still hold some merit in the shaping of our earth’s history even though he messed things up pretty quickly. King David? He murdered a man because he lusted after that man’s wife but he still receives a lot of attention for following God’s plans in other ways and making a lasting impact on God’s chosen people.

Let’s turn away from the Bible for a moment and consider other chunks of history. How many of our Founding Fathers were slaveholders? A quick Internet search indicates that there were DOUBLE the number of slaveholding Founding Fathers than not. How many presidents of our own beloved nation have made mistakes in times of war that have resulted in the loss of innocent lives? I can’t even begin to imagine but, without knowing top-secret CIA information, I can just about guarantee that every man that has ever held the position of President of the United States has made mistakes…some of which have resulted in generational-impacting consequences. Should we just pretend they never served as President and ignore their time in history? No, that would give us an incomplete picture of history. 

The hard truth is that every man {except one} who has ever walked this earth has done bad things and made major mistakes. With the exception of one, every man who has ever taken a breath has been a sinner. Not one man, except Jesus, has been perfect. The hard truth is, COLUMBUS is in great company. Whether you choose to teach your kids about his human flaws, bad choices and unintended consequences is entirely up to you but I do believe you should teach about COLUMBUS.

 

What do you think? Do you plan to teach your kids about CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS? 

For a very basic explanation of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, check out this fun Rebus Story for early readers.

You can get it free in my store here. 

And if you want to cover the voyage of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS in more humorous and honest detail, check out 

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