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Language Arts

__ Using all forms of literature, interpret, write about, debate on, critique, analyze and evaluate for accuracy what you've read. (Poetry, drama, novel, short story, folklore, myths, etc….)

__ Analyze news articles, advertising, propaganda and speeches and know the techniques writers use to cause you to form opinions

__ Prepare and write advertising, news articles, propaganda and speeches

__ Debate and present publicly using well organized materials

__ Read Romeo and Juliet and/or Anthony and Cleopatra and Greek, Roman and Norse mythology in particular (this follows the guidelines for studying World History in 9^th grade)

__ Write poems, short stories, reports, essays, narratives, journal entries, letters and abstracts of articles using proper form, correct grammar and correct punctuation as well as in an organized manner (as applicable).

__ Study effective techniques of writing and apply these techniques

__ Effectively use standard writer's references such as periodicals, periodical indices, style and usage guides, dictionaries, thesauri and collections of quotes.

__ Use software to create and publish written work

__ Study roots of words and how they evolved in English

Basic 9^th grade math skills (for all levels)

__ Use measurement either directly or through equations to evaluate the length, area and volume of objects.

__ Translate between and within customary and metric units of measurement.

__ Study interest and compound interest as it relates to credit cards and consumer loans.

__ Prepare a budget of daily expenses and log daily expenses. Compare the two. (This can be used on a personal basis or more effectively on a family budget basis.)

__ Plan college expenses and budgets and savings.

Algebra

__ Translate word problems to algebraic equations

__ Simplify ratios of algebraic expressions

__ Use the correct order of operations when evaluating equations

__ Solve and graph equations involving absolute value

__ Explore the properties of monomials, binomials and polynomials and add, subtract, multiply and divide

__ Solve equations and inequalities with one or two variables

__ Factor polynomials

__ Solve word problems involving ratio, proportion and percents

__ Explore the properties of relations and functions

__ Graph linear and non-linear equations

__ Other topics: Pythagorean Theorem, fractions and fractional equations, squares and square roots, quadratic equations, radicals, probability

__ Scientific method and experiments

__ Write reports on experiments using as a guide the steps in the scientific method

__ Microscopes and techniques

__Cell structure and function

__ DNA and RNA

__ Protein synthesis

__ Genetics

__ Evolution

__ Classification

__ In depth study of representatives from each kingdom

__ Plant reproduction and photosynthesis

__ Plants and the Earth's environment

__ Ecosystems

__ Human anatomy and physiology

Note: We use literature to teach Geography and History. I cover the same topic no matter what age the child is. I simply gear the reading and writing assignments towards the level the child is on. I teach world history two years, American History one year and a regional history one year. Each year I also include work in our nation's, state's and community's governments or we study world governments. Then I begin the cycle again. This means that I do not chose the topic based on grade level. Each homeschooling family should decide what system they prefer.

This list of activities, goals and topics would be appropriate for just about any grade level with adjustments. I added extra topics to remember to touch base on for the ninth grade.

World History

__ Student will write a paper contrasting two ancient cultures including research on their cultures, government, religions, art and architecture, daily life, resources and history. (And then other papers about a cultures living in the 1^st - 10^th centuries, 10^th-13^th centuries, and 14^th-16^th centuries.)

__ Student will maintain a notebook containing timelines, maps and notes on events, cultures and people as they are discovered, read about or reported on.

__ Student will study archaeology, its techniques for finding, obtaining, storing and dating artifacts and the method by which archaeologists draw conclusions from their research.

__ Student will maintain a timeline and maps of Biblical events as we study them in the Bible.

__ Student will read a variety of books on events taking place between the dawn of mankind and the 16^th century and discuss these books.

__ Student will research and report on how the physical characteristics, climate and area resources affected the history of each area or nation or civilization studied.

__ For each event or era or civilization, the student will also use periodicals, biographies, and primary resources to research and report.

World History topics (* I make an effort to include roles of women and scientists into what we learn as these topics are neglected usually.)

__ Prehistoric peoples

__ Early civilizations

__ Greece and Rome

__ The Biblical Middle East

__ Early India, China and Japan

__ The rise of Islam and Buddhism

__ The Middle Ages

__ Early American cultures, civilizations and communities

World Government

__ Name the different types of governments currently in power

__ Describe the founding and history of three governments currently in power in our world

__ Describe what role an individual can play in international affairs (prayer, mission support, letter writing, activism, etc)

__ Research and report on issues facing our global community and propose solutions.

__ Adolescence and changes

__ Energy and exercise

__ Nutrition

__ Sleep and rest

__ Illness and microbes

__ Personal cleanliness

__ Rules for social gatherings

__ Abstinence

__ Drugs, alcohol and tobacco

__ Personal safety