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How to Submit a Unit (or Lapbook) to HSS
All titles must be approved by HSS
staff. Please
contact us
before you write your unit to make sure that the unit suits the purposes of
Homeschool Share. Thank you!
1) Please type your unit into a word processor or HTML program. We can take
documents from programs such as Word, Works, WordPerfect, OpenOffice, etc.
Another alternative is to simply type the entire unit into an email message.
2) Review your unit to see if it meets our "ideal" unit (see below).
3) Please be sure your unit includes the title and author, your name (as well as
email address if you wish that to be located on the document).
4)
Contact us
and let us know that you have it ready.
5) Please note that all submitted units are subject to approval. Material you
send may be edited by HSS; we may ask you to revise or add to what you have
written. We reserve the right to do the same.
6) While it's not mandatory, it is helpful if your unit is written in Calibri
14 pt. It is also helpful if you don't center anything or do any
formatting yourself (such as adding space, adding bullets, bold, underline [with
the exception of book titles within your study], or using the tab key--PLAIN is
the easiest for us to work with). Also, it's really nice of you to
go ahead and run the spell check for us.
Basic Guidelines for any HSS
Unit
1) The book should be a really good children's book that has educational value.
Ideally, a "living book." What is a living book? One that thrills your heart,
one that the children beg "Please just one more page" if you should stop in
middle of it, one where you lose yourself in the story and the time period, one
that when you are done you wish there were more to read.
2) Your unit should not be dependent on web pages. While it's wonderful that you
refer to various web pages, please keep in mind that pages are deleted daily
from the web. Some parents may be printing these lessons off at the library and
may not have time to peruse the web looking for information. So, please do not
make your lessons dependent on reading a certain webpage. Instead "flesh out" the
lesson, by summarizing information, so that a parent can do the lesson without
even reading a website.
For example, please do NOT do this:
Science: Animal Classification: Discuss www.somewebpage.com with your child.
Instead, type out an actual lesson on animal classification, and then offer a
website (or a couple) for more information or a website with a worksheet that
might enhance the lesson. However, if you have a topic of research to
go-along with your unit, but you don't have time to research it yourself, please
include your idea (just don't count it as one of the 8 min. lessons). For
example, "your older student may enjoy researching Eric the Red..."
These non-traditional book reports should adhere to the following guides:
Book Bites Lapbooks
~ Based on an approved picture book
~ Include a minimum of eight minit books
~ Copyright free images on the minit books that are clean (not pixilated)
~ Clear directions for cutting and folding
~ Should not require additional research to be done by the student
Story Studies
~ Based on an approved chapter book
~ Include a minimum of twelve minit books
~ Copyright free images on the minit books that are clean (not pixilated)
~ Clear directions for cutting and folding
~ May require additional research (on topics pertaining to the book) to be done
by the student
Unit Study
Guidelines
~ Unit should be based on a quality children's book approved by the
Homeschool Share Team
~ Unit must include a minimum of eight activities for learning and enrichment
appropriate for preschoolers
~"Lessons" must be directly linked to and inspired by the literature
~"Lessons" must be completely fleshed out so that a homeschooling teacher can
pick up and go without having to do additional research
~Web links aren't necessary, but can be added to enhance a lesson. Please
limit to a few key websites as the internet is fluid and links constantly
change.
Lapbook Guidelines
~ Images must be copyright free
~
Images should be clean-looking
~
Lapbook should include eight or more minit books with instructions for
cutting/folding
~
Lessons should be included when necessary for understanding the activity
~
Any research necessary for completion of the lapbook should be written up (in
your own words) and submitted as well
~ Activities should be fun and appealing for preschoolers
Please note: Homeschool Share does not accept units or lapbooks based on
popular cartoons or movie characters.
Unit Study Guidelines
~ Unit should be based on a quality children's book approved by the
Homeschool Share Team
~ Unit must include a minimum of eight lessons for learning and enrichment
appropriate for 4-6 year olds.
~ Lessons must be directly linked to and inspired by the literature
~ Lessons must be completely fleshed out so that a homeschooling teacher can
pick up and go without having to do additional research
~
Web links aren't necessary, but can be added to enhance a lesson. Please
limit to a few key websites as the internet is fluid and links constantly
change.
Lapbook
Guidelines
~ Images must be copyright free
~
Images should be clean-looking
~
Lapbook should include eight or more minit books with instructions for
cutting/folding
~
Lessons should be included when necessary for understanding the activity
~
Any research necessary for completion of the lapbook should be written up (in
your own words) and submitted as well
~ Activities should be fun and appealing for 4-6 year olds
Please note: Homeschool Share does not accept units or lapbooks based on
popular cartoons or movie characters.
Unit Study
Guidelines
Unit should be based on a quality children's book approved by the
Homeschool Share Team. A full unit should contain 1 to 5 different lessons per the following
subjects with a minimum of 8 lessons total:
Social Studies (includes history, geography, cultures, holidays and traditions,
occupations, issues of human relationships, etc.)
Language Arts (including defined vocabulary, writing, grammar, punctuation, literary
devices, parts of a story, genre, ideas for copywork, etc.)
Art (great artist tie-in, art in the style of the illustrator, medium used, art
technique, music lesson, etc.)
Math (applied math, everyday math)
Science
A Bible application or character study lesson is also appreciated.
If you don't include a Bible lesson within your unit, the team at Homeschool
Share may add one for you.
If you have
fun things to do along with the unit, those may be added to a "Just for Fun"
section at the end. This can include a recipes, field trips, and crafts.
You may also want to add a "Resources" section. You may want to
include a library list as well as a few key websites that help enhance your
study.
Lapbook Guidelines
1. Images must be copyright free. Images from Microsoft, WP, and
other free sources are acceptable. If you can't find what you are looking
for,
contact us, and we can help you.
2. Images should be clean-looking (not pixilated or distorted).
3. Lapbook should include a minimum of ten minit books . If
you need help thinking of some ideas, we will try
to help with the brainstorming process.
4. Books should include clear instructions for cutting/folding.
Unit Study
Guidelines
Unit should be based on a quality picture book approved by the
Homeschool Share Team. Books for this level are generally longer and
meatier than books for Level Three.
Since many moms use Level Four units
for two weeks, they should have at least 14 lessons from a variety of subjects
and topics.
Lapbook Guidelines
1. Images must be copyright free. Images from Microsoft, WP, and
other free sources are acceptable. If you can't find what you are looking
for,
contact us, and we can help you.
2. Images should be clean-looking (not pixilated or distorted).
3. Lapbook should include a minimum of ten minit books . If
you need help thinking of some ideas, we will try
to help with the brainstorming process.
4. Books should include clear instructions for cutting/folding.
It is almost impossible for us to set concrete guidelines for a chapter book due
to the many variables (length of book, topics presented in book, length of
chapters, etc.). Please remember that your lessons need to be fleshed out
and complete (background information and research should already be present for
the majority of your lessons). The lessons should be plentiful (teachers
and students should have a variety of lessons to pick and choose from). If
you would like, you may submit a rough outline for approval once you know which
direction(s) you will go with your unit.
For an example of what we consider an excellent chapter book unit study, please
view Homeschool Share's unit for Stuart Little.
Rather than relying on
one book that is read each day of the week, these units revolve around one
theme (such as chocolate, Beatrix Potter, or pigs) and are dependent on a
variety of books to enhance learning.
Unit Study
Guidelines
Unit focuses on a minimum of three core books
(all books need to be approved by HSS staff)
The majority of the lessons should directly tie to the books.
Multi-book units should have a minimum of twelve lessons.
Lessons should be completely fleshed out (researched and background information
provided as applicable).
Examples of Animal Studies
~ These units focus
around one animal or a group of animals (mollusks, lizards, polar animals).
~ Lapbook should have a minimum of ten minit books with clear instructions
for cutting and folding
~ Images on minit books need to be clear, not pixilated, and copyright
free
~ You need to submit research and lessons (written in your own words) from
a variety of sources
~ We appreciate a library list of fiction and nonfiction books that can also be
used to go-along and enhance the lessons/lapbook experience.
Please note: If you enjoy researching, but you don't want to make minit
books, please join our Yahoo! Group. There are other moms
there who enjoy making minit books but don't want to do research. We can
team you up with someone and get your Animal Study done (and you both benefit!).
Thanks so much for your interest in Homeschool Share! It's people like you
who are making this site a success!
And now back to our own unit-study-writing, lapbook-making, and homeschooling,
Ami, Celia, & Wende
Clip-art on this page licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com.
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