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I have a few practical questions. In your 10 things before age 10 article, you lay out a routine for how the day might go. But did you have any kind of lesson plan for the week or the year? Did you set any goals?
Second question — when creating a timeline we obviously start with creation, but how far BC is that? And how do I really get started? I have my long paper for it, but how far apart on the paper do I make marks and how many years between the marks? I’ve never done a timeline on a big scale like this so I just need a bit of help to get me going. Thanks! Amy Estes
Lesson Plans?
Yes, I would make goals — general goals. I would have ideas in my head about what I wanted to study or what I wanted to read. Generally, for me, I figured out what I wanted to study or read, and then the kids studied along with me. I would make general goals or plans, but if something new came up, I wouldn’t hesitate to change my plans.
Here might be some examples:
I hear that a famous violin player will be performing at the city library. That calls for dropping everything and attending the performance.
The city decides to pave our street. Be sure we’ll be watching at the curb every day instead of doing any pre-planned activities.
Having a garden will often interrupt plans — you will tend to the fruits and vegetables as needed.
Academic plans should give way to Daddy’s schedule. You’ll want to spend time with him whenever possible.
Making a Timeline
Concerning the timeline, I follow the chronology of James Ussher in his The Annals of the World
James Ussher
You can pattern your own paper timeline after this one.
So thankful for both the question and the answer–I’m on the same track! I’d like to post a similar question about math–I’m mulling a sort of “scope & sequence”, including possible activities for completing it, for doing “living math” until age 10. I’ve added the suggestions from the Teaching the Trivium book, but I wonder if I’m re-creating the wheel here–is there some sort of list of activities &or list of prerequisites for beginning formal math studies at age 10? If not I’ll just keep plugging away and maybe I’ll publish it one day. I just want a list to help me make sure we give some attention to the necessary concepts so that each successive 10-year-old is ready. Plus it helps us say with great confidence, “YES! We did math today!” to whomever might ask.