By Raylene M. Hunt
So, it’s that time. Your students have reached the sixth grade (or higher) and you have to cover Maine Studies. But how, and with what will you accomplish this? After all, your student just isn’t a textbook kid, right? You need something more hands-on, more interactive or more engaging. Well, it turns out that HOME is here to help. For the past six years, HOME leaders have been researching and writing unit studies. When used alone or combined, these studies can form a Maine Studies curriculum that is tailor made for your student.
Let’s take a walk through the currently available titles, and I’ll give you some ideas on how you can mix and match them to cover Maine Studies. But first, let’s take a look at what a state study might cover. While learning about the state you live in, you can explore the geography, history, economy, natural resources, tourism, government and famous individuals from or residing in the state. With this in mind, let’s explore HOME’s unit studies to see how they can help you create an individualized Maine Studies program.
Remember - every HOME unit study is designed in a way that illustrates how a subject of interest to your student can be explored in a manner that will cover most, if not all, of the required subject areas. With this in mind, you will find that most unit studies include a Maine Studies section. You can use one unit study or a combination of units to suit your own needs and goals.
The following headings help to break down areas of study and corresponding units.
Maine Geography
If you want to explore the geography of Maine, why not look at Maine Towns Named for Presidents or Tour the World in Maine, which talks about towns named for other famous cities and countries. Also consider Forts of Maine and Lighthouses of Maine. Both are strategically located along our coast and up our major river ways. Any one of these, or the group of them combined, will give a good overview of the geography of Maine.
Maine History
If you’d rather focus on the early history of Maine, consider a combination of Joshua Chamberlain and the Civil War; Colonial Maine and the Freedom Trail; Forts of Maine; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere; Slavery, the Underground Railroad and the Maine Connection and The Province of Maine During the Revolutionary War.
Famous Mainers
To study people rather than events, look at famous people in or from Maine and combine these studies: Lillian Nordica, Longfellow and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, Lost on a Mountain in Maine, Joshua Chamberlain and the Civil War, and even Eleanor Roosevelt.
Maine Government
Capital Day: Junior Legislators is a HOME unit study devoted exclusively to the study of Maine government. Maine government is always an important aspect of any Maine Studies program.
Natural Resources
Apples, HOME Grown Gardens, Pancakes: Blueberries and Maple Syrup, as well as Harvesting the Sea, Farming: Then and Now, and Maine Potatoes (which are all coming soon) are unit studies that look at various natural resources in Maine.
Tourism
Seaglass, Sled Dogs, Towns Named for Presidents, Tour the World in Maine, Maine’s Rocky Coast, Lighthouses of Maine, Forts of Maine, Backyards and Beyond: Maine Wildlife, Trains (coming soon) and Natural History Museums (coming soon) all include aspects of travel and tourism.
The Economy
Combine the studies listed under Natural Resources and Tourism, and you’re looking at key factors in Maine’s economy.
You can pick and choose whatever studies are of the greatest interest to your students, or mix and match them to create your own unique Maine Studies curriculum with ease.
Still not sure what to do? Give us a call to set up an appointment for a free curriculum consultation, and let us assist you in choosing the right studies for your own custom-designed Maine Studies Program!
Raylene M. Hunt is a veteran homeschooling mom, and has played a major role in helping develop HOME’s Unit Study program since its inception in 2012.