ECC - What is too young for 7th & 8th

[Julie in MN]

My three kids will be doing ECC next year, ages 14, 12, and 9. My 14 yo is not quite ready for high school. My question is: is Global Art and Wee Sing Around the World too babyish for her? Should I substitute them with something else?

Also, how important are the Inflatable Globe, The Great Animal Search and Fun With Easy Origami to the curriculum? Can I omit them and not miss anything important? Thanks a bunch!
Tracy

Hi Tracy,
I think the babyishness depends greatly on the kids.

For instance, at our house...

1. Music: Both my 12-year-old and his mother (!) still enjoy the Wee Sing music, including the little singers who often introduce themselves in their own language. Hey, we even sing along with the Wee Sing CD that's in the preschool package (which is my grandson's very favorite). I compare our music additions to camp songs :o)

2. Art: I don't really plan to use the craft book again when ds does ECC in 8th grade, because I'm not crafty and don't know what to do with the things when we're done. However, I will be willing to use it if he chooses. Some of them really do give a feel for the country's crafts.

3. Globe: Some sort of round globe is extremely helpful in ECC, but it doesn't need to be that one. It helps if it is fairly current (i.e. doesn't say USSR etc.). The inflatable one is also enjoyed by my ds just because he likes to toss stuff around & knows I would frown if he tossed our non-inflatable globe :o)

4. Animal Search book: We never used it; Crystal still uses it at her house 5 years later. How's that for a range? It could always be in the book basket & possibly assist with some of the animal pages for older kids...

5. Origami: I think it's a fun option during the study of Japan, but you may have another set on hand. It doesn't need to be this particular one, but it's an inexpensive choice.

[lyntley]

We are finishing up ECC. My kiddies are younger but I think global art will be fine for all ages. I actually did a lot of the projects right along with the kiddos and enjoyed them. I think it would really depend on your children.

I know 14 year olds that would be fine with Wee SIng or at least help the younger ones. We added music from the library or found music on line to get a taste of the music from various cultures as well. You wouldn't need to purchase any other resources to do that.

You don't need the inflatable globe, any globe will do. The idea there is just so that the children are able to not only identify a location on the wall map but on the globe as well. It is good for them to see the difference. I found an inflatable globe at a local teacher store here for 5 or 6 dollars. I think I've seen a globe bouncy ball at walmart for a dollar. Again though the idea of the globe is for perspective.

We used an origami book that we already had. There are plenty of origami books at the library too. In fact my library actually had "Easy Origami" so not a major neccesity either. We didn't have the Great Animal Search book and we survived, however, I think it could have been useful with some of the research packet that my oldest was doing. My kiddies were also really fascinated with the animal studies that we did do. I will probably get it next time around but again we survived without it.

If you are planning on getting the basic package the only thing I would say absolutely don't leave out is the Missionary stories. My friend has the whole set so I borrowed them. My library also has some of them. But in my opinion they are NOT to miss.

[TurnOurHearts]

Hi Tracy :)

I'm sure it depends on the maturity of your 14yr old, but might you be able to turn art/music over to your oldest to LEAD your younger ones? I think it would be a great opportunity to sit down with your oldest child when you're preparing for the week, hand him/her the art, and discuss which projects could be done under limited parental supervision (usually choices are given from the book). Also, in discussing the WeeSing information & listening to the songs ~ you can provide tips (such as, make sure you listen to a song at least 3 times so you can really get it in your head), but then have the expectation that this oldest child can direct his/her younger siblings in a learning activity. Is this something you can see as a possibility with your children?

Just a thought ~ :)

[TracyLee01026]

Thank you ladies, all very good ideas and points. I guess I was thinking, also, that she should be doing art and music that will prepare her for high school level. I looked at the Global Art at the convention and thought it looked more like simple crafts, than an art curriculum. I know ECC is designed to span a wide range of ages and grades 2-6 primarily (I realize there is a 7 and 8th grade supplement, but not for music and art). I'm sure she could teach the younger two and would be willing to do that, but would it benefit her to do supplements in these two area closer to her age since high school is nearly upon us?

Any ideas about what to use that would work well with the ECC theme?
Thank you for your help,
Tracy

[courthart246]

Thank you ladies, all very good ideas and points. I guess I was thinking, also, that she should be doing art and music that will prepare her for high school level. (I realize there is a 7 and 8th grade supplement, but not for music and art). I'm sure she could teach the younger two and would be willing to do that, but would it benefit her to do supplements in these two area closer to her age since high school is nearly upon us?

Any ideas about what to use that would work well with the ECC theme?
Thank you for your help,
Tracy

Just an idea. My boys are not very crafty and did not enjoy the crafts from Global Art, so we went a different route. We got the Usborne Art Treasury. (Make sure that if you look into this book that it is called Usborne Art Treasury, not Usborne The Children's Book of Art.)

We studied an artist from the country we were studying (if the book included it), and then did the project listed along with it. For instance when we studied Russia, we read about Kandinsky and made a Squares with Concentric Circles painting. This book does not have artists from every country, so sometimes we did one from the same continent we were studying.

The art projects are not difficult, but might take on an even neater appearance on your 14 year old's end, since my ds is only 8. The information in this book about the artists is pretty simple, and depending on the artist, you or your child could look up more info at the library or online. However, I know some of these artists did not lead the best of lives, so we were quite pleased with the simplicity of this Usborne book for us. There was Van Gogh, who had a sad end to his life, but the book states the facts simply. I just skipped the last sentence. Anyway, this is just an idea for something different, where your dd could also study artists if Global Art isn't enough.

We added our art projects to our Geography notebook in the continent in which the artist was from. So there wasn't the storage issue of the Global Art project. I do have an up and coming little crafty artist, so maybe we will use Global Art when she does ECC. We'll see.

Also, we did not use the inflatable globe, but greatly enjoyed The Great Animal Search and Origami.

[lyntley]

OHHH great idea courtney. I guess we did that too with library books. SOme of that is actually in the TM but we expounded on it a bit whenever there was opportunity. I'm going to take a look at that book for next time around. Sounds like a nice one to have on hand.

[TracyLee01026]

I just found a possible resource. It is called Artistic Pursuits--The Elements of Art and Compostiion, Jr. High, Bk. 1. Its emphasis is on art around the world. It is written to the student and requires no teacher prep. time. It comes with fine art prints by the masters and teaches not only art forms and techniqe but also culture, ideas and or/artist that created them. It has a final project. The Old Schoolhouse website gives it a 5 star review and says it is CM friendly. It is a bit pricey--$42.95, but it sounds like it is worth it.

[cbollin]

I would like some help from some of you MFW veterans. What do I *need* to buy and what can I do without? For example, for my 13yo ds, who will technically be an 8th grader, do I need to buy a passport and flag stickers for him? Would that be too babyish? I really don't think he would mind having those things but I thought I would ask.

I think the 8th grader should have the passport and have to "keep track" of it as if he were on a plane visiting places. Nothing babyish about these passports that MFW has. They are there to help have fun and introduce the idea of traveling around the world.

Flag stickers are used for learning locations of places as well as part of the passport. I once heard David Hazell, of MFW, saying something like "there are times I wish we'd put on the website: get a flag sticker book for each person in your family who would like one."

So, that'll be your call if he "needs" one or will enjoy it. Even if you have to get some kind of alternative sticker for the passport, you'll need some stickers. Just make it easy on yourself and get the book.

We enjoyed ECC. hope it blesses you as much.

-crystal