A La Carte & Supplemental
Our A La Carte & Supplemental options can be purchased without (or in addition to) subscriptions. They come in all shapes and sizes––from one-time resources covering a particular holiday, to a week or month-long unit, to an entire year collection. These are great options to try out our curriculum after school, to explore particular topics, or to enhance curriculum you are already subscribing to.
Explore our Book A Week units, Holiday Packets, and Summer Packs here, and delve into learning!
Supplemental Collections
Ancient History Maps Pack
Unit Details +
Ancient History Maps Pack
Bring Ancient History into your home with our beautifully illustrated maps of the Kingdoms of Egypt, Alexander the Great's Empire, Ancient India, and more! Our illustrator Josh Ronda created 20 unique maps depicting regions often taught along with Ancient History, which are included in our History & Literature curriculum. This map pack is a wonderful supplemental resource for those who don't need our full History & Literature curriculum package and is appropriate for all ages. With 20 colorful maps for printing as well as black and white versions of each for coloring, marking, and learning geography, our Ancient History Maps pack is an amazing deal!
What’s Inside the Ancient History Maps Pack:
1 color map and 1 black and white map of each of the following 20 regions:
- Fertile Crescent
- Egypt and the Sahara Desert
- Kingdoms of Egypt
- Mesopotamia
- India
- China
- Africa
- Red Sea
- Phoenicia and Assyria
- Early Greece
- Cyrus’ Empire
- Alexander the Great’s Empire
- Americas
- The Punic Wars
- The Roman Empire at Its Greatest
- Ancient India/Mauryan Empire
- Modern Day China
- Caesar’s Roman Empire
- Rome Splits in Two
- The Byzantine Empire
Level:
- All
Artist:
- Josh Ronda
Black American Painters — Titus Kaphar & Jean-Michel Basquiat
Unit Details +
Black American Painters — Titus Kaphar & Jean-Michel Basquiat
Literature-based, artist-focused lesson plans that are part of our Young Masters Collection. Learning the basics—color, line, shape, space, form, value & texture—inspired by famous artists opens up a child’s capacity to actualize their imaginations. Art opens us up to new worlds of possibilities. Learn about each artist over the course of a month, explore a piece of their work and activities to apply their techniques. Each monthly unit also includes a book and an element inspired by their work.
Learn about Titus Kaphar with activities like making a whitewash activity, creating a human cutout, and painting a self portrait. Then learn about Jean-Michel Basquiat with activities like are making a layered collage, creating a personal symbol, and taking a virtual tour of the 2019 exhibition of Basquiat’s work at the Brant Foundation in New York City.
What’s Inside each unit:
- Artist of the Month
- Artist Background
- Element of the Month
- Book of the Month
- Book Overview
- Famous Works
- Discussion Questions
- Artist-Inspired Projects
- Exploring the Element
- Materials
- Additional Books About the Artist
- Recommended Products
Level:
- First/Second Grade
Length:
- 2 Months
Contributor:
- Emma Saperstein
Collection Materials:
- Journal
- Monthly Materials
Women Artists — Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo, Ruth Asawa
Unit Details +
Women Artists — Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo, Ruth Asawa
Literature-based, artist-focused lesson plans that are part of our Young Masters Collection. Learning the basics—color, line, shape, space, form, value & texture—inspired by famous artists opens up a child’s capacity to actualize their imaginations. Art opens us up to new worlds of possibilities. Learn about each artist over the course of a month, explore a piece of their work and activities to apply their techniques. Each monthly unit also includes a book and an element inspired by their work.
Learn about Mary Cassatt with activities like re-enacting a Cassatt painting, playing with monoprints, and drawing outside with shadows; Frida Kahlo with activities like painting a jungle self portrait, making Frida's Flowers, and cooking Mexican style fried rice; and learn about Ruth Asawa with activities like weaving with nature, playing with wire, and exploring the David Zwirner Gallery online exhibition of Ruth Asawa’s works.
What’s Inside each unit:
- Artist of the Month
- Artist Background
- Element of the Month
- Book of the Month
- Book Overview
- Famous Works
- Discussion Questions
- Artist-Inspired Projects
- Exploring the Element
- Materials
- Additional Books About the Artist
- Recommended Products
Level:
- First/Second Grade
Length:
- 3 Months
Contributor:
- Emma Saperstein
Collection Materials:
- Journal
- Monthly Materials
Book A Week
Eric A. Kimmel's retelling of Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
Unit Details +
Eric A. Kimmel's retelling of Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
Anansi stories originated in Ghana, passed on through storytelling. Though early versions depict him in various forms as different animals or even a man, Anansi is best known in contemporary literature as a spider. He is a “trickster,” and Anansi uses his experience with a moss-covered rock to trick many forest animals out of their food supply. But have no fear! Look closely, for as Anansi is tricking animals, Little Bush Deer is watching and plotting to help her friends get their food back.
Some of the activities in this unit are drawing the flag of Ghana, learning about the anatomy of a spider, and making a toy djembe drum.
What’s Inside:
- Book of the Week
- Book Summary
- Story Discussion & Analysis
- Poetry
- Journaling
- STEAM
- Contributor’s Choice
- Materials
- Recommended Products
- Recommended Books
- Other books by the Author
Level:
- First/Second Grade
Length:
- 1 week
Contributor:
- Jennifer Perneel
Materials:
- Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
- Black tempera paint
- Craft Sticks
- Drawing Implement
- Green Paint, several shades
- Hot Glue Gun or Craft Glue
- Large Rocks or Stones
- Map of Africa
- Moss
- World Map or Globe
- Ghanaian Flag
- Yarn
- Journal, optional
- Colored Pencils
- Construction Paper or Cardstock
- Glue Stick
- Paintbrush
- Printer
- White Printer Paper
Barney Saltzberg’s Beautiful Oops!
Unit Details +
Barney Saltzberg’s Beautiful Oops!
Oops! So often that means, “Uh oh!” That is not the case in here—young readers will be thrilled with the creative ways Barney
Saltzberg turns smears, stains, and tears into beautiful pieces of art!
Some of the activities in this unit are a "finish my doodle" art project, blow painting, and folded paper art.
What’s Inside:
- Book of the Week
- Book Summary
- Story Discussion & Analysis
- Poetry
- Journaling
- STEAM
- Contributor’s Choice
- Materials
- Recommended Products
- Recommended Books
- Other books by the Author
Level:
- First/Second Grade
Length:
- 1 week
Contributor:
- Jennifer Perneel
Materials:
- Beautiful Oops!
- Glycerine
- Oil Pastels or Colored Chalk
- Straws
- Dawn dish soap
- Newspaper
- Colored paper scraps
- Water
- Journal
- Cardstock
- Colored pencils
- Construction paper
- Crayons
- Glue stick
- Masking/Painter’s tape
- Tablecloth
- Tempera Paint
- Tray or baking sheet
- Sharpie marker
- School glue
Beverly Cleary's Beezus and Ramona (Chapter Book Edition)
Unit Details +
Beverly Cleary's Beezus and Ramona (Chapter Book Edition)
The Chapter Book Editions have lesson plans for one week, but the book is intended to be read over a longer period.
Ramona is impossible! Trouble. Exasperating! At least that is how big sister Beezus feels. This book explores the relationship between these sisters. Beverly Cleary's Ramona books in this series have won a National Book Award in 1981 and Newbery Honor medals in 1978 and 1982.
Some of the activities in this unit are making bunny ears, drawing "Ralph", and making applesauce.
What’s Inside:
- Chapter Book
- Book Summary
- Story Discussion & Analysis
- Poetry
- Journaling
- STEAM
- Contributor’s Choice
- Materials
- Recommended Products
- Recommended Books
- Other books by the Author
Level:
- First/Second Grade
Length:
- 1 week
Contributor:
- Jennifer Perneel
Materials:
- Beezus and Ramona
- Index Cards
- Ingredients and Tools for Applesauce (recipe provided)
- Steam Shovel Image
- Yarn
- Journal, optional
- Colored Pencils
- Construction Paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Stapler
- White Printer Paper
- White School Glue
Holiday Packets
Flag Day
Unit Details +
Flag Day
“We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty.“ —George Washington, attributed
The United States of America celebrates its birthday annually on the fourth of July. Although not as well known or widely celebrated, Flag Day specifically honors the American Flag. Find out more about this holiday and its origins with fun resources and activities for the whole family.
What’s Inside:
- What is Flag Day?
- Songs & Poetry
- Flag Etiquette
- Fun Facts
- Meaning of the United States Flag design
- Recommended Books
- Recommended Movies & TV
- Additional Resources & Activities
Level:
- all ages
Length:
- 9 pages
Halloween
Unit Details +
Halloween
This pack of holiday history & resources is a three for one—covering the origin and history of Halloween, All Saints Day, and El Dia De Los Muertos. Enjoy a selection of poetry, books, and shows that will help your family explore the history and traditions of these popular holidays.
What’s Inside:
- Halloween Origin & History (pre-Christian & Christian)
- Songs
- Selection of Read Aloud Poetry
- El Dia De Los Muertos Origin & Terms
- Selection of Books (preschool-adult)
- Movie & Television Selections
- +more
Level:
- all ages
Length:
- 10 pages
Veterans Day
Unit Details +
Veterans Day
President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the commemoration of Armistice Day in 1919. Armistice Day became a federal holiday in 1938. In 1954 – after the bloodbath of World War II, followed up with the Korean War - Armistice Day became Veterans Day, to honor all veterans for their military service in wartime or peacetime. Our Veteran's Day holiday pack is full of recommended supplemental reading and resources for the entire family.
What’s Inside:
- Origin
- Poetry
- Recommended Books
- Recommended Movies & TV
- Additional Resources & Activities
- +more
Level:
- all ages
Length:
- 5 pages
Summer Packs
Mummies, Myths, & Mortals
Unit Details +
Mummies, Myths, & Mortals
The focus of the Mummies, Myths, and Mortals Summer Collection is rooted in ancient history. We spend a month in each culture:
Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. Each month, children will be exposed to the well-known pieces of each empire while also meeting some of the lesser known royalty and hearingsome of the lesser known stories.
Length:
- 3 Months
Contributor:
- Jennifer Perneel
What’s Inside each monthly unit:
- Focus Overview
- History Literature Readings
- Reading Summary
- Historical Background
- Comprehension Questions
- Enrichment Activities
- Materials
- Recommended Products
- Recommended Books
- Printable Maps & Templates
Collection Materials:
- + Weekly Materials
Installations & Paintings - Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Lee Krasner, Andy Goldsworthy
Unit Details +
Installations & Paintings - Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Lee Krasner, Andy Goldsworthy
Throughout this collection, you will encounter a carefully curated group of artists who represent a range of cultures, mediums, and life experiences. Each artist's practice leaves a new, unique light and plays a significant role in art history. You and your child(ren) will enjoy one book each month that engages the artist of the month’s practice, background, or context and then engage in activities to build artistic skills and understanding.
Length:
- 3 Months
Contributor:
- Emma Saperstein
What’s Inside each monthly unit:
- Artist of the Month
- Artist Background
- Element of the Month
- Book of the Month
- Book Overview
- Famous Works
- Discussion Questions
- Artist-Inspired Projects
- Exploring the Element
- Materials
- Recommended Products
Collection Materials:
+ Weekly Materials
(Women) Scientists, Substances, & Solar Systems
Unit Details +
(Women) Scientists, Substances, & Solar Systems
The topic of this summer science collection is Scientists, Substances, and Solar Systems! The first month will meet four incredible women in science whose impacts are still vital to use today. The second summer month will let you and your child dive into Substances! The children will learn some basic chemistry while experimenting with some fun substances. The final summer month will take you and your child(ren) out of this world into the Solar System! The children will be introduced to our vast solar system through activities and art projects.
Length:
- 3 Months
Contributor:
- Jennifer Perneel
What’s Inside each monthly unit:
- Focus Overview
- Reading
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension Questions
- Activities
- Materials
- Recommended Products
- Recommended Books
Collection Materials:
- + Weekly Materials