This is such a great update! I'm planning to use Core Knowledge history/social studies starting in kindergarten with my daughter! Also looking into Handwriting Without Tears!
So right now we are using Kindergarten CKLA Domain 10: Colonial Towns and Townspeople. That domain contained 10 reading selections that were a mix of nonfiction texts about life during colonial times and fictional short stories that took place in that time period. In the teacher's guide there is also a book list of books that would go along with this topic. Right now we are reading 1-2 selections each day and talking about what life was like in the past. Right now we are just reading the selections and talking about them. The Core Knowledge website offers more detailed lessons if you are interested. To get to this domain from the website, you would need to first click on the red "Download Free Curriculum" button in the top right corner of the website. From there you would filter by language arts and kindergarten. Next choose the domain you'd like to look at. Once you have clicked on the domain, scroll down and click the red "Download Free PDF Version" under the heading "Read-Aloud Anthology." You will be able to see the reading provided and a list of suggested books to go along with the topic.
Your insights about Blossom and Root Space was helpful, I've been considering it for our kindergarten in September. Maybe we'll go with something else. I was looking at CK Science and it seems like it might be a lot of work, prep, but maybe something he might enjoy. Have you done that one? We're going to use History Quest Early Times for our 9 year old and thinking maybe our kinder can just kind of tag along. Have you looked into it? Your little guy may be a bit young for it yet though, I believe it suggests grades 1-6. Is there a suggested age you think would be good for watching CNN10? I feel like my kiddos may be a bit too sensitive for some of the intense topics, and may not be the best way to start their day. I'd love to find something like happy news, heroes, cool discoveries, or something like that. 😅
We are going to be using Core Knowledge for both science and history this year! I'm also nervous about the amount of prep the science will take, but I am excited for something that's more hands on. I have heard, Blossom and Root changes a bit in the first grade level to include more experiments and such, but I haven't used it to know for sure. I've heard good things about History Quest, but we haven't used it. If you're interested in everything we plan to use with our kiddo we just released our curriculum picks video! 😁 CNN10 is definitely created with middle and high school students in mind. Now that CNN10 is done for the summer, we have been watching old clips from Reading Rainbow, and it has been awesome! They will read a picture book to your kiddo and also give some background information. For example we watched one recently where they interviewed a train conductor and then read a book about a train.
