1. Olympic History and Culture Mini Unit Study

FundaFunda Academy offers a web-based mini unit study all about the history and culture of the Olympics, from Ancient Greece up through the present day and beyond. It will also cover the difference between the Winter and Summer Games, where the Olympics have taken place in the past, as well as when they have been cancelled, boycotted, or postponed.

Explanations of Olympic symbols, mascots, and logos are also included. There are even activities for making your own Olympic torch, mascot, and more! Additionally, FundaFunda Academy has a fun summer Olympics bingo containing things you could see or hear while watching the Summer Olympics.

This is just $5 and contains the assignments seen below:

Enter this giveaway to win one! If you purchase it and win, you will be refunded for your purchase

2. The Boys in the Boat Online Book Club

Literary Adventures offers online book clubs for middle schoolers and high schoolers featuring The Boys in the Boat, the story of an Olympic rowing team from the early 20th century. These book clubs come with instruction on spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. They also offer ideas for hands-on activities and engage students through critical thinking questions and writing projects.

3. Music of the Olympics

Music in Our Homeschool has a free fifteen-minute music lesson on the music of the Olympics. The lesson covers four Olympic classics: Bugler’s Dream, Olympic Fanfare and Theme, The Olympic Hymn, and When You Believe. Once you’ve taken the course, you’ll be able to recognize the pieces when you hear them in the Olympics!

4. Summer Olympics Digital Breakout

Digital breakouts are like online escape rooms, and this one is all about the Summer Olympics! It works through Google Forms, a platform that many people are already familiar with. It’s aimed at late elementary or middle school-aged children, but it can provide fun for all ages. Additionally, it comes with an answer key, so you won’t be left frustrated!

5. Official Olympic Resources

The Olympic Museum offers PDFs on a wide variety of topics from Olympic history to overviews of past games to fun activities. These PDFs are all free and are available on their website. They are a great way to get excited about the Olympics, and learn something too!

6. The Science Behind the Olympics

The U.S. National Science Foundation offers a number of videos on some of the science behind the Olympics. From the forces required in weight-lifting to the fluid dynamics behind swimming events, these videos can spark curiosity and answer the questions of eager observers.

7. 2024 Summer Games Handbook

This fun and interactive Summer Olympics Handbook comes with a plethora of mini studies to get you up to speed for this year’s Olympic games. From biographies of Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, and Usain Bolt, to an dive into the histories of France as a whole and Paris specifically, there is something in this handbook for everyone! It is geared toward grades 1-6, but it sure to bring excitement and insight to the whole family.

8. Fanschool

You’re already making predictions about which countries will win which events, so why not make it official? By joining the Summer Olympics Fanschool, you can do just that! Enter your predictions before the opening ceremony, and receive points each day based how well your picks do. The top three winners in the U.S. will receive a Chromebook prize! This is completely free to participate in!

Hopefully, these resources will put you well on the way to finding answers to all of your Summer Olympics-related questions. If you have more questions that these resources do not answer, post them in the comments below and we’ll take a look. Happy learning!

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*Some of the links in this blog post may be affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you buy something through them, but you do not pay anything extra.

As a parent, choosing the right English curriculum for your middle schooler can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there – from traditional textbooks to online programs to literature-based studies. How do you decide what’s best for your child? First, take a deep breath. There is no one-size-fits-all curriculum that works for every student. The “best” choice depends on your child’s learning style, interests, academic strengths and weaknesses, and your family’s educational philosophy. That said, here are some middle school English curriculum paths to consider:

FundaFunda Academy

FundaFunda Academy offers a number of English courses for middle schoolers, including Writing Fun for Middle Schoolers and Writing Mechanics. FundaFunda classes are asynchronous (no live component) but have weekly deadlines and the students interact with each other and the teachers.

Writing Fun for Middle Schoolers

Writing Fun for Middle Schoolers is perfect for students who hate to write. The assignments are unusual and sometimes a bit zany. The purpose is to make writing so enjoyable students forget they are writing! Instead of grades, students will receive feedback which will include plenty of praise for what they have done right, as well as suggestions for improvement. Plus, they will be able to earn prizes!

Writing Mechanics

In Writing Mechanics, on the other hand, students will learn the mechanics they need in order to write well. They will do exercises to improve their grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary and then they will put what they have learned into practice. Students will also learn to proofread their own work and peer review their classmates’ essays. This claims aims to prepare students for the rigors of high school English classes.

Seven Sisters Homeschool

Seven Sisters Homeschool offers a wide variety of English courses for middle schoolers. Some of their longer form options include Middle School Short Story Writing Guide: Fairy Tales and Middle School Guide to Essay Writing. The also offer various literature study guides. 

Middle School Short Story Writing Guide: Fairy Tales

In Middle School Short Story Writing Guide: Fairy Tales, students will learn to understand the elements of a fairy tale, create characters, establish settings, develop backstory, form plots, write dialogue, edit, and proofread. This course is designed to be used 4 days a week for 5 weeks. The lessons are short and designed to help students achieve success.

Middle School Guide to Essay Writing

Middle School Guide to Essay Writing is a 10-week course designed to be used 4 days per week. It teaches students basic essay format, persuasion, literary analysis, how to write compare/contrast essays, how to write editorials/letters to the editor, and it also includes tips for taking short-answer essay tests to give your student skills they will need for the future.

Literature Study Guides

Seven Sisters Homeschool’s literature guides are meant to be used in conjunction with the book they relate to. These guides teach students about background information, genre, vocabulary words from the book, and summarization and plot development. They include comprehension questions for each chapter and suggested supplemental activities as well. There are literature study guides for a wide variety of classics including Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Snow Treasure, and Sarah, Plain and Tall.

Literary Adventures

Literary Adventures offers a plethora of online bookclubs for students of all ages, including middle schoolers! Each one is designed to take about a month to complete they include background information and hands-on activities. They are designed to instruct your student in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, literature, and writing. There are many options to choose from, including A Wrinkle in Time, Holes, Bud, Not Buddy, and Wonder.

The array of choices may seem bewildering at first. But look at your child and family’s needs, and don’t be afraid to mix and match components from different programs. Taking the time upfront to carefully select the right fit can immensely enrich your student’s middle school English experience.

Looking for More Resources?

If you are curious about other options, take a look at this blog post on online English games!

The post Homeschool Middle School English appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

Wondering what your child’s high school English curriculum will look like? Confused by the abundance of options? Wanting to see a four-year schedule? FundaFunda Academy offers no shortage of high school English courses for you and your child to explore. So, which English courses should your child take during their four years of high school? Read on to find out!

Three Tracks

In large part, the courses your child takes will depend on their skill level. That’s why we offer three different tracks: struggling, average, and advanced.

Struggling

If English is not your child’s strongest suit, or if they don’t like English very much, we recommend the struggling track. It is slower-paced, and the basics are emphasized in freshman year before moving on to longer essays in subsequent years.

Average

The average track is designed for the students who have some experience with the basics of paper-writing and literary analysis, but who are not quite ready for more intense courses. This is our most commonly used track. Students begin with a firm grounding in MLA format before moving on to various literature courses of their choice.

Advanced

Finally, the advanced track is for students who have extensive prior experience with English and who love it. This track cuts to the chase, putting students through their paces with more challenging literature courses from the start.

The Courses

Choosing curriculum is no easy task for any parent. Here at FundaFunda, we hope that, with the right information, you will be able to make the decision that is best for you and your child. Below is a brief description of each of our English courses. That way, you can know exactly what your child will be studying in any given year, and you can use these descriptions to build a schedule that works for your family.

Writing Mechanics

This class is intended for students who need practice with the mechanics of writing. These are the tools they need in order to do well on the ACT and SAT, and also to write papers at college. The class will cover punctuation, grammar, vocabulary, and proofreading using a variety of online, self-grading resources. Students will write several essays, as well as learn to peer review one another’s essays before they are graded by a teacher.

High School English Literature and Composition

This class is designed for 9th grade students and prioritizes learning the basics of writing essays for future high school and college success. It includes an introduction to MLA format, ongoing vocabulary and grammar work, and a comprehensive array of literary elements, genres, and subjects. It is an overall introduction to high school English so students are better prepared for higher level classes.

Exploring Jane Austen

In this 1/2 credit class students will explore the world Jane Austen lived in, read 3 of her novels and compare them to film versions as well as discuss how relevant they are to our lives today. Assignments will consist of asynchronous discussions, video responses, fun projects like creating social media profiles of the characters, and one or two written essays. There will be an optional live discussion at a time that works for most of the class.

Visual Literacy

This 1/2 credit course intends to give students the tools to notice more of the images in their daily life and learn how to critically engage with them. Over the 16 weeks, students will watch movies, television shows, YouTube channels, music videos and look at photos, advertisements, artwork, graphic novels, and websites.

British Literature

Starting in Anglo-Saxon England, this course will reach back in time to some of our earliest literature and study how the written word has been used to convey cultural shifts and political and religious ideas. Students will read novels, plays, short stories, and poetry by the prominent writers of British literature. 

American Literature

Starting with the Foundational Literary Period and ending in the Postmodern Era, this class covers all the major writers and poets in American literature. Students will read novels, plays, short stories, and poetry that reflect the ideas, struggles, and achievements of the last 400 years. 

Independent Honors English

This class is ideal for the self-motivated, capable Junior or Senior who needs an English credit and cannot attend a class in person. Students will read a variety of works focused around storytelling, which is the foundation of every culture in the world. From reading myths and fables to contemporary novels and memoirs, students will be exposed to a variety of voices and genres, as well as lessons learned from centuries of lived experiences. They will look at how new stories are built from old ones and consider why there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to exploring the human condition.

Need More Options?

Here are some other English options we like:

• Music in Our Homeschool’s Ten Weeks of Shakespeare Introductory Course. This is self-paced and parent graded
• Literary Adventures has many self-paced options for high schoolers
• Seven Sisters Homeschool has a variety of English courses for all four years of high school, as well as study guides for literature books and this course on how to write a research paper

In Conclusion…

This is a lot of information to take in. If you have any questions about any of these courses, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be more than happy to assist you in any way that we can. You can email info@fundafunda.com or the teacher listed for a specific class. Good luck on your high school English journey; we hope to hear from you soon!

Other Blog Posts You May Enjoy:

• Online English Games to Use in Your Homeschool

The post Suggested Sequence of FundaFunda’s High School English Classes appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

1. Creating Digital Gifts Unit Study

Dive into a world of creativity with this online unit study on creating digital gifts. Teens can complete it at their own pace, and by the end of the course, they will know how to make a wide variety of gifts, all online. From virtual Christmas cards to online jigsaw puzzles, many teens will enjoy working on these projects and sharing them with friends and family.

2. 3D Pen or Printer

What if teens could imagine an object, and then make it in real life? Well, with a 3D Pen or a 3D printer, they can do just that! Although these things may seem complicated, they are fairly straightforward to use and there are numerous online tutorials to get your teen started!

3. Fiber Arts Kit

Crocheting, knitting, macrame, all of these are fun ways to keep teens creative and crafty. While there is definitely a learning curve, online tutorials can be a huge help. Kits like this one, this one, or this one are great ways to get started!

4. Interactive Science Kits

Combine learning and creativity with hands-on science kits. Whether it’s building a robot or conducting chemistry experiments, these kits turn education into an exciting, creative endeavor.

5. Programming Classes

Unleash their coding talents by gifting a course in programming. Whether it’s Scratch for beginners, or Python for the more advanced, learning to code is a journey in logic and creativity.

6. Outdoor Gear

Outdoor gear can be an excellent gift for creative teens as it encourages them to explore and draw inspiration from the world around them. Items like a durable backpack, compact sketching or painting supplies, or even a portable hammock provide tools for creative expression in natural settings.

7. Canva Graphic Design Class

Encourage a passion for graphic design with a course on how to use Canva, a popular website. Dreaming up and designing their own logos, advertisements, and posters allows teens to express their unique perspective and storytelling abilities.

8. Subscription to a Book Box

Book subscription boxes that include not only a carefully selected book but also related items like artistic bookmarks, exclusive artwork, or creative writing prompts can be delightful for literary-minded teens. LitJoy gives you choices of books and fun accessories, if you or your teen like a little agency in process.

9. Photography Class

Encourage a passion for photography with a photography class. Capturing the world through a lens allows teens to express their unique perspective and storytelling abilities. Choose from either asynchronous or self-paced options.

10. Stop-Motion Animation Kit

Animation software or tools, like a stop-motion animation kit, can be a great way for creative teens to bring their ideas to life in a dynamic and visually engaging way. Containing everything your teen needs to get started, these kits are a great launching point for your amateur animator. It is compatible with Windows or MacOS.

11. Cooking Class

Introduce the world of cooking in the most hands-on way possible: cooking classes! America’s Test Kitchen offers subscriptions to an online video library, and Sur La Table offers individual live Zoom sessions with cooking professionals.

12. Candle-Making Kit

Foster creativity through candle-making with this kit from SoftOwl. Scents, wax, and containers are all included–everything your teen needs to make their own candles! Candle-making kits are especially appropriate holiday gifts, and are a wonderful way to brighten the darkest time of the year!

13. Digital Business Classes

Has your teen ever wanted to open up an Etsy shop or start their own podcast? These classes can set them on the road to success in such ventures! They are an excellent gift for any enterprising young person in your life.

14. SIM Games

A SIM game can be an ideal gift for creative teens as it offers a virtual canvas for them to build, design, and experiment. Games like Cities: Skylines, SIM City, or Stardew Valley provide a platform for creative expression, allowing teens to construct and personalize entire worlds, homes, and characters. Through strategic decision-making and design choices, they can explore their architectural, artistic, and storytelling skills in a dynamic and interactive environment.

15. Art Classes

Fuel your teen’s artistic inclinations with online art history classes. Art supplies such as sketchbooks, paints, or a graphic tablet work well in conjunction with class, providing an outlet for self-expression.

In Conclusion…

In gifting these kits and courses, we aim not only to celebrate the present but to sow the seeds for a future where creativity flourishes in every aspect of teens’ lives. Let’s embark on this journey of fostering creativity together, making a truly extraordinary holiday season.

Wishing you and your teen homeschoolers a season filled with creativity and joy!

The post Gifts to Spark Creativity in Teens appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

In Conclusion…

Community service not only benefits the students involved but also the broader community. Being involved in something beyond oneself is an important experience for high schoolers, as it is an essential part of being a good citizen. Virtual community service can allow students to make a difference when their schedule allows, without having to worry about a big time commitment or transportation issues.

The post Virtual Volunteering: High School Community Service Opportunities appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

Tip #1: Be Curious

The whole reason that people take a class is to learn something they didn’t already know. Sometimes, though, a student’s biggest takeaway isn’t what they originally set out to learn. When taking an online class, students learn about much more than just their topic of study. They will learn how to interact with others in a digital environment, how to use a myriad of websites and online tools, and how to navigate a digital classroom. These skills will benefit them for the rest of their lives, but they will only learn them if they are able to keep an open mind.

One of the most useful online classes I have ever taken was FundaFunda Academy’s Computer Applications class. Sure, I learned how to use a lot of online programs, but mostly I learned not to be afraid to try new things. There were so many assignments and so many programs to learn that I didn’t have time to be afraid. Now I am confident with computer programs and websites, even new ones that weren’t covered in the class. This has been a huge help to me in the years since I took that class and I still learn new programs every year.

So encourage your student to ask questions and be curious about how to do things, and then help them learn to do those things well. Their future self will thank you for it!

Tip #2: Be Communicative

In online classes, as with in-person classes, it is easy to get stuck on an assignment. The difference with an online class is that there is no teacher standing in the room with your student, ready to help them figure things out. Just because they can’t see a teacher, though, doesn’t mean they’re not there. 

Even in online classes, there are ways for your student to contact their teachers, either through a messaging system in the learning platform, by email, or by phone. Don’t forget that their teachers want them to succee and are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Don’t be afraid to have them reach out and get help!

Tip #3: Be Willing to Make Mistakes

This is probably the hardest part, but as with anything new, your student needs to realize that they won’t get everything right. Sometimes they will make mistakes.

I remember taking my first online class. It was FundaFunda Academy’s Scratch Programming class. I’m the type of person who always has things turned in early, but I accidentally turned in a week’s worth of assignments late. Something just didn’t quite work out right when I was planning my school schedule and I accidentally took two weeks off as a break instead of one. Naturally, I wasn’t too happy with myself, but I pulled it together and managed to submit two weeks’ worth of assignments in one week and got myself back on track.

We are all human, and we all make mistakes. It’s important to learn from those mistakes and not beat ourselves up about them. Acknowledge the mistake and then move on. Don’t let your student allow mistakes to destroy their experience in an online class. One small failure does not mean students can’t still succeed in their online classes.

Tip #4: Be Flexible

Not every week will have the same amount of work, which can sometimes be frustrating. In FundaFunda Academy’s American History class, the Civil Rights module is much longer than the other modules. When I took the class, I did what I could to get ahead and prepare for that module, but it was still a lot of work. This is where the advantage of homeschooling comes in. As a homeschooler, your student’s schedule is a whole lot more flexible than that of someone in public school. As a result, they can shift their other subjects around to make room in the weeks when an online course takes up more of their time. Flexibility with time and school subjects will be a huge help to your student in an online class.

I hope these four tips help you feel more prepared to walk your students through their first online class, and that the tips help them succeed in online classes. While they aren’t always easy, they are definitely worthwhile. By being curious your student will ensure that they learn as much as possible during the class. Being communicative will keep your student from getting stuck for too long. A willingness to make mistakes will make your student’s experience much more pleasant, and flexibility will keep your student on track to finish strong. Good luck with your online class. Happy studies!

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