A Homeschool Curriculum Spine is a quick reference tool for all that you intend to do in a specific subject, for a specific grade. There are a number a items that may be added to the Spine. Here is an indicative list of stuff that you can put into it.
Identify Your Primary Resource
Based on the subject this could be a text book, a curriculum guide, or anything else that you are basing the rest of the lessons in the homeschool classroom on. Make sure that this is always checked when you set out to teach something. Other stuff is optional, but this is not.
Text Book
You may choose to follow a specific text book for a subject. Ensure that you enter the details of what you covered from the text book and what you would like to do as well. That way you can keep checking off the chapters as you move along.
Reference Books
You may like to add certain books for specific chapters to reinforce what is being taught. Mention the name of the book and the lesson that it will supplement information for. This can be done as an added bonus.
Hands-on Projects
Some concepts lend themselves very easily to hands-on activities for the children to practice. Make a list of all possible activities that can done for this particular subject. Leave some space as you will be adding more stuff to the list as the academic year goes on.
Worksheets
If you have printouts you can stick them in the Spine. Otherwise write down the name of the workbooks that you want to use. You can even add the names of the websites or forums that you intend to get the worksheets off.
Unit Study
Sometimes a Unit Study may work for a number of subjects. Feel free to add it to the Spines for all of the subjects. You may also choose to do only parts of the Unit Study for a specific subject.
Related Movies
This is a fun activity that can still help your homeschool student to learn. Add the list of names that you feel would prove educational to the Spine. Tick them off as you finish watching them.
Field Trips
Keep a list of places that you may like to visit to reinforce certain principles being taught in a specific subject. When a place shows up often enough, plan a day trip and cram in all the data that you need to share.
