When Moms ask what I would have used to teach my 4 to 8 year old, I have to say my favourite unit study is still Five in a Row. A literature-based unit study Five in a Row is enjoyed by children around the world!
When a group of homeschool moms get together and the talk turns to Five in a Row, you will hear comments such as "I love Five in a Row!!" and "My kids love Five in a Row!"
If you are new to Five in a Row, let me tell you a little bit about the program. It was developed by Jane Claire Lambert, a homeschool veteran of 17 years and now a grandmother. Each week you read to your child one of the fifty-five stories that have won various awards such as Newberry Awards for excellence in literature and Caldecott Awards for excellence in illustrations.
Good literature is a wonderful way to introduce our children to the world around us. Jane Lambert has taken these classic children's stories and successfully developed unit studies which include art, history, vocabulary, geography, science, character qualities, math, language arts, literature studies, health, and writing. All of the favourite, in print classics used in FIAR are available through CHER's online web store. Some of the books have gone out of print, some are back in print, and a few are no longer available. Most have been available in the public library.
Also included in FIAR are a suggested schedule, weekly planner, maps, and an appendix full of helps or each week. The three volumes of FIAR could be completed in a year if you include the summer weeks, or you could go for a year and a half if you take summer, Christmas and other breaks. You will need to add math and phonics instruction to complete your program.
Before Five in a Row and More Before Five in a Row are a wonderful introduction to quality literature for the little ones, ages 2 to 4 and ages 3 to 5. They truly are "Inspired Learning Through Great Books!"