Classical Writing Primer Resource Page Spring

Primer–Spring Resources

Primer–Spring Required Resources

In addition to the Primer-Spring Student Workbook, you will need:

Primer–Spring Teaching Helps (purchase from Lulu)

This booklet has instructions and information for the nature study and picture study lessons, tips on teaching the spelling and grammar lessons, and an answer key for the exercises that warrant it.

Primer–Spring Picture Study PDF (free download)

This PDF includes images of the paintings from each week’s picture study.

The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse, by Thornton Burgess

The narration selections all come from this book, so you will need it for all twelve weeks. Purchase a hard copy of the book with the link above or read and print online here.

Resources for Copywork in Primer-Spring

These are a few of the books from which copywork selections are drawn:

Resources for Artists and Paintings in Primer-Autumn

Pieter Bruegel at Olga’s Gallery
Pieter Bruegel at WebMuseum
Mary Cassatt at Olga’s Gallery
Mary Cassatt at WebMuseum

Picture Study Books For Optional Enrichment

The series Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists by Mike Venezia is helpful for introducing children to artists. This series is available at many libraries, or you can buy the books through the links above.

Resources for Nature Study Topics in Primer–Spring

Flower Parts Diagram

This is a very simple illustration of the basic flower parts. This is perfect for your child to copy or cut and paste.

Parts of the Flower

A little more detailed illustration with a short explanation of each flower part.

E-nature Field Guide to Wildflowers

A great help in identifying wildflowers. You can also search for information on flowers you would like to know more about.

Cloud Types http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/leaf/Treekey/tkframe.htm

An overview of cloud types with clear illustration and explanations.

The Water Cycle

Simple explanation and illustration. As with many science sites, belief in evolution is assumed, so you may want to discuss that assumption with your child. Another helpful site with a good illustration is here.

e-Nature Field Guide to Insects

This is an interactive field guide with pictures and a good deal of information on each insect.

Nature Study Resources for Primer–Spring Optional Enrichment

Learn to Draw Flowers

Simple directions for learning to draw specific types of flowers.

Press Flowers to Preserve Them

Step by step instructions and a link to a YouTube video showing how to do this.

Garden Planning Tool

Better Homes and Gardens' easy-to-use garden planning site.

Handbook of Nature Study Blog

This is a blog with fabulous ideas for using Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study. You will enjoy perusing the whole site—it's jam-packed with gorgeous pictures and wonderful nature study lessons. Highly recommended.

Guide to the Life Cycle of a Flowerde

A site with links to lots of other sites - including many interactive activities. Should be especially helpful for younger students.

Nature Study Books and Gear for Primer–Spring Optional Enrichment

Field guides are handy to have for your nature walks, since it is a little impractical to take your computer. The National Audubon Society versions are a compact size and hold up very well. They also have lovely photographs and are easy to use. For the wildflower field guides, make sure you get the correct region—East or West.

A couple of tools to help make bug viewing easier! The Bug Viewer has a magnifying glass on top, which makes it much easier to observe small insects. The butterfly net is a wonderful tool for catching grasshoppers, crickets, and other critters.

Fun extras for your insect observation. Ant farms are so much fun to watch, and you can collect ants in your own yard if you don't want to wait for the mail-order ones. The butterfly garden lets you watch the miracle of metamorphosis from caterpillar to cocoon to live butterfly.

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