In addition to the coloring sheets, worksheets, and books I plan for us to discover this summer I have also got a few fun places in store for us to visit with our time off.  Now don’t worry, I have also planned for plenty of down time and time just spent hanging out. But I refuse to sit idly by while she spends her entire summer inside watching Scooby Doo movies.

As KG is now reading at a second grade level, I have printed out a copy of the Dolch Second Grade Sight Vocabulary List as well as a recommended spelling list.  I have also gathered numerous math worksheets for us to work together on.  I have a system in place that will assure learning and enjoyment this summer.

Summer Lesson Plans

Summer Scheduling

On Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays we will focus on vocabulary and the themed lessons I have collected for that week.

Thursday and Fridays will combine themed lessons with first and second grade math.

Occasionally I have a learning weekend trip to various sites here locally including a working farm and a renaissance faire.  On Mondays, a movie theater in a neighboring county shows a children’s movie at 10 am for free and we are planning on catching a couple of these.  Also, our library offers a summer reading program which starts this weekend and runs until the end of July.  They will have fun activities and story hour every week that we can also attend for free.

As far as I can tell I have about 8 weekends before the start of the new school year, so I am hoping to plan enough activities that we are able to stay busy, but are also able to enjoy time together as a family.  I am planning on our visiting the Louisville Science Center and President Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace.  We are also looking forward to exploring Mammoth Cave this summer and going to Holiday World.

Many weeks we will be following along with a theme which I will be detailing here every Monday.  Some of the themes include: Ocean Life, President Abraham Lincoln, Father’s Day, Birthdays, and the 4th of July.  I have included crafts, snacks, and games in my plans along with suggested reading for us to pick up after storytime at the library.

I hope you follow along with me as I try to feel my way around our first Summer Break.  I will update you each week with what we’re doing, though there are a few weeks we will not be following a schedule as the week is shaping up to be plenty busy any way.

I’m wondering…what do YOU have planned for this summer?

For more even more great summer boredome busters, get over to We are THAT family’s WFMW!!

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. Travel Toy Boxes
2. Back to the Grind…Babies, Travels, Birthdays, and More
3. Family Slumber Parties in Our Home

Based loosely on Phyliss Wheatly’s life, Louisa tells the story of Farih Morowa, later renamed Louisa Wheatley.  Born a Princess in a Senegali tribe, Farih is the ultra-intelligent, spoiled daughter of a king until she is grabbed from the banks of the Senegal River on her birthday.  Farih is forced on to a horrible slave ship packed with other people kidnapped, just like her, for a grueling three month trip to Colonial America.  She is then sold to Mr. Wheatly, who changes her name and gives her a job as a house slave.

Louisa is trained, nurtured, and taught by Mrs. Wheatly and the other house slaves. While she does not personally face the horrific treatment of a slave, the treatment is detailed in the book (told through her eyes).  Emmel follows her life with great detail and passion, giving us a true view of what Phyliss Wheatly’s life may have been like.

We follow Louisa through childhood; experience her fear, trepidations, joy that comes from Christ, triumphs and failures.  We experience her rise to fame, joy from marriage and childbearing. We cry with Louisa when she looses her first son in childbirth and cheer as she rises above the many prejudices she will face in her lifetime and gains her freedom.

Louisa is an excellent resource for your home, your child, the classroom, and yourself.  It opens your eyes to the autrocities faced by slaves throughout time.

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