Explorers Program Books – Grades K-3

(Note on costs: Most of these can be found at amazon.com or other online sources such as half.com, abebooks.com or thriftbooks.com for a very minimal price. Rainbow Resource also carries many of them. The Savannah campus has a lending library that operates on a first come/first served basis. Other campuses may also offer books in the lists as used. Please contact your director about this.)

Required Literature:

(These books will be the focus of our history exploration, will increase our understanding of literary elements, and will improve thinking, reading decoding, reading comprehension and listening skills. They will be read aloud in class and at home several times by the parent or student if he is able to read them. Many are on the K- 3rd reading level.)

  1. Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile by Tomie dePaola
  2. Let My People Go by Tilda Balsley
  3. Saint Valentine by Robert Subuda
  4. Croco’nile by Roy Gerrard
  5. Mummy Cat by Marcus Ewert
  6. Romulus and Remus by Anne Rockwell/ ISBN 978-0689812903
  7. Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott/ISBN 978-0805003116
  8. Aesop’s Fables illustrated by Charles Santore
  9. Surprise Trojans! The Story of the Trojan Horse by Joan Holub/ISBN 9781481420877 ( A Ready to Read book)
  10. Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Pope Osborne/ISBN 978-0375828898
  11. King Midas and the Golden Touch by Charlotte Craft
  12. The Great Alexander the Great by Joe Lasker/ISBN 978-0670348411
  13. Ming Lo Move the Mountain by Arnold Lobel/ISBN 978-0688109950
  14. The Empty Pot by Demi
  15. The Early Reader’s Bible by Gilbert Beers or The Rhyme Bible Storybook by Linda Sattgast

Required English/Grammar/Editing:

Your Director will contact you in the summer with the name of your grammar book.

Suggested Read Alouds:

(Parents are encouraged to borrow or purchase some of these for read aloud at home. The students will be able to read some of these alone also. All of these are highly recommended for a home library.) It is suggested that students be read to for at least 20 minutes every day for 4 days a week.)

  • The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helms (Weeks 2, 9-16 Old Testament)
  • Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki (Weeks 4-8 Egypt)
  • Seeker of Knowledge by Rumford (Weeks 4-8 Egypt)
  • Greek Myths for Young Children by Amery (Weeks 19-27 Greece) Parents should use discretion when introducing Greek myths to young children and make sure they understand the truth of God’s Word.
  • The Iliad by Olmstead/ ISBN 978-1-4549-0612-4 (Weeks 28-34 Rome)
  • The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack (Week 18 Ancient China)
  • The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children’s Poems (read once a month in class with activities)
  • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
  • Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by McDonald
  • Little Pear by Lattimore (about a Chinese boy)
  • James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot
  • The House at Pooh Corner by Milne (read throughout the year)
  • Tales of Peter Rabbit by Potter (read throughout the year)
  • Make Way for McCloskey by McCloskey (includes 8 great books from this author)
  • Stone Soup by Brown
  • Mike Mulligan and More by Burton (loved by boys)
  • The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  • The Wind in the Willows by Grahame
  • Billy and Blaze Books by Anderson
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Atwater
  • The Story of Dr. Doolittle by Lofting
  • Classic Tales of Brer Rabbit by Daily and Harris
  • The Hundred Dresses by Estes
  • Amelia Bedilia by Parish (girls love these)
  • Strawberry Girl by Lenski
  • Homer Price by McCloskey
  • The Velveteen Rabbit by Willliams

Science Read Alouds:

(Parents are encouraged to use living and informative books to teach science concepts for this age group.)

  • Let’s Read and Find Out Science by Harper Collins Publishing (Excellent beautiful colorful books on reading level of students this age—HIGHLY RECOMMENDED but some not from Christian World View)
  • Abeka Science Books Grades K-3rd (Try to find old color editions-They are the best.)
  • I Wonder Why Series by Kingfisher Books (Excellent)
  • The Berenstein Bears’ Big Book of Science and Nature
  • Rookie Read About Science Series
  • Is A Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? By Wells (also see other titles by this author)
  • Any Magic School Bus Science books or DVD’s (Students this age who watch these DVD’s only for science have completed their science curriculum, in my opinion.)

Suggested Phonics Programs:

(Parents may already have a Phonics/Reading Program that they are using successfully with their children, but if you need one, these are the two I highly recommend for effectiveness and enjoyment for the student and ease for the parent. They are both very effective because they are multi-sensory, meaning they use all learning styles.)

Explode The Code Online -covers grades K-4 and can be bought at Homeschooler’s Buyer’s Co-op for around $35.00! No matter what level your student is reading on, it will test and put them on the correct level. It grades and self corrects to make life very easy for the parent!!! MUST BE SUPPLEMENTED BY PHONICS READERS so that students can practice the phonics skills they are learning. I suggest: Now I Am Reading Phonics Readers, Bob Books or Scholastic Little Leveled Readers.

All About Reading- Take online free assessment to determine level. It comes with Phonics readers, letter tiles, phonogram cards, plenty of practice reading and fun games for the students, but is not cheap. However, it is an excellent program.

****For a list of beginning reading books that students love such as the Dr. Seuss books, go to www.sonlight.com and see their lists for K-3rd grades.

PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS WILL BE GIVEN A WORD FAMILY ACTIVITY EACH WEEK FOR HOMEWORK. This will only reinforce what is done at home, and students will also be given a brief spelling test in class each week on words from the word family. An example of a word family and word family words is: en with the words pen, men, pen, sharpen, ten, etc. The older students will find more complicated words and the younger students will stick with the simple ones. THIS WILL REINFORCE READING SKILLS GREATLY.

Spelling and Handwriting Suggestions:

Parents will need to purchase a separate handwriting curriculum and students in grades 2 and 3 may need to purchase a separate spelling curriculum unless your phonics program already has one or you feel what we do in class is enough. Students at this age can always be tested on their phonics words they are learning, and this is enough. Students in grades K and 1st will have enough spelling instruction from phonics and what we do in class. IT IS BEST TO KEEP SPELLING AND PHONICS TOGETHER AT THIS AGE WHEN POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE SOME SIMPLE SIGHT WORDS ARE ALSO TAUGHT FOR SPELLING.

Handwriting:

Handwriting without Tears

D’Nelian Handwriting (This is my favorite because students can make an easy transition to cursive.)

Spelling: (For those who want an additional program.)

All About Spelling Sequential Spelling