Today I am so excited to share with you this amazing homeschool curriculum that I wish I had known about many years ago. The Origins Curriculum draws inspiration from the unschooling philosophy and is rooted in research. It adopts a student-centered and interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes project-based activities. The curriculum supports emergent learning, allowing students to explore their interests while receiving direction and guidance. As many of you know, we have been unschooling for many years and I always have found it hard to find an unschooling curriculum that we liked. That is, until now!
You see, Origins Curriculum is not an unschooling curriculum per se, but an online curriculum inspired by unschooling and grounded in research. The curriculum takes students on an educational journey worldwide, immersing them in global biomes and providing in-depth knowledge about various regions. Students learn about the people, plants, and animals of these regions, as well as topics such as water cycles, food systems, weather patterns, soil types, climate, environments, and the interconnectedness of these regions within the global web. The curriculum encompasses many subjects, including reading, mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, music, art, and more. Additionally, it integrates eco-literacy and mindfulness throughout the learning experience. This curriculum is fully comprehensive and holistic. It is nature-based, secular, and has won many awards, too!
Through the Origins Curriculum, students develop critical-thinking skills that enable them to tackle real-world problems. They also cultivate confidence in their own identity, purpose, and the meaning they find in their educational journey.
So, what makes the Origins Curriculum stand out?
The Origins Curriculum offers families a flexible and customized approach that caters to children’s diverse range of learning styles. It proves to be a valuable resource for families seeking to meet the unique curiosities and needs of their children.
When utilizing the Origins Curriculum, parents take on the role of delivering the educational content directly to their child in a manner that they deem most suitable for their child’s individual requirements. This personalized approach allows for a tailored learning experience.
A standout feature of the Origins Curriculum is its highly integrated approach to addressing the educational needs of young learners. It is thoughtfully designed to accommodate various learning styles, ensuring that parents can effectively meet their child’s needs regardless of the specific area of learning in which their child excels.
Regardless of whether children exhibit neurodivergent traits, possess different multiple intelligences, or come from diverse backgrounds such as new or experienced homeschoolers, all can confidently embrace the Origins curriculum. The foundational elements for success are embedded within the curriculum, granting learners the flexibility they need.
What learning styles do best with this curriculum?
The Origins Curriculum equips homeschool educators and students with the necessary skills, strategies, and content to make informed decisions about their learning journey. The curriculum provides guidance on identifying suitable materials based on our recommendations, allowing individuals to tailor their educational experience according to their preferences.
In alignment with Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, the Origins Curriculum takes into account various aspects:
- Naturalist: The curriculum revolves around nature, aiming to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the natural world. It also incorporates regular opportunities for outdoor learning experiences.
- Visual/Spatial: Students are encouraged to explore and engage with their surroundings actively, rather than solely relying on screen-based learning. Monthly art lessons and suggested projects enable students to express themselves through visual arts. Furthermore, most lessons include strategies tailored to visual learners.
- Linguistic: The curriculum’s redesigned approach equips students with the necessary skills and strategies to become proficient readers and writers, empowering them to pursue their individual learning interests confidently.
- Logical/Mathematical: Each biome is taught by breaking it down into its constituent parts, allowing students to grasp the concepts of interconnection and systems thinking. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the world we inhabit.
- Bodily/Kinesthetic: The Origins Curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning experiences, as it believes that direct engagement with the world facilitates optimal learning. Students are involved in activities such as observing nature during hikes or neighborhood walks, conducting science experiments, and creating and sharing artwork and written pieces.
- Musical: A new addition to the curriculum is the inclusion of lessons on music from various biomes worldwide, as well as exploring the sounds of the natural world.
- Intrapersonal and Interpersonal: Mindfulness lessons are integrated into the Origins Curriculum to help students understand their own socio-emotional well-being and develop empathy towards others. These concepts are interwoven throughout the curriculum, fostering care and concern for all living and nonliving elements of our planet, and promoting a sense of responsibility toward protecting Earth.
By addressing these diverse intelligences, the Origins Curriculum aims to support holistic development and nurture students’ appreciation for the world around them.
What subjects are covered in the Origins Curriculum?
Mindfulness: Students are provided with a supportive environment and guidance to cultivate mindfulness skills. This includes techniques for sensory calming, improving focus and attention, and developing present-moment awareness. Through mindfulness, students also enhance their social-emotional intelligence.
Reading & Writing: The curriculum builds a strong foundation in language skills by offering comprehensive strategies for reading and writing. Literature is used to foster confidence in reading while writing opportunities encourage creative self-expression and empower students to effect positive real-world change. Students are encouraged to independently explore subjects that ignite their passions.
Culture & Society: Through social studies, students have the opportunity to explore human culture and history, promoting self-reflection and understanding of others. This encourages critical and creative thinking, empowering students to imagine and actively participate in shaping a better future.
Nutrition: The curriculum educates students on the importance of maintaining a healthy body through an exploration of nutrients and their functions. Emphasizing a farm-to-table approach, sustainability and food sovereignty are highlighted. Thematic recipes provide hands-on learning experiences, promote exploration of global food cultures, and foster meaningful connections.
The Sciences: Students are engaged in discovering and comprehending the world around them through scientific exploration. Lessons and hands-on experiments deepen their understanding of natural phenomena and strengthen their connection to habitats and ecosystems that sustain us.
Movement: Opportunities for physical activity are incorporated to help students release energy, strengthen their bodies, and promote mental calmness. A variety of yoga-inspired videos and other movement-related content are provided to help students ground their feelings and improve focus.
Mathematics: The curriculum takes a holistic approach to math, linking it to the natural world. Lessons aim to develop conceptual understanding, provide meaningful practice opportunities, and encourage students to apply their mathematical knowledge in practical contexts.
What makes this Curriculum different than all the rest?
As many of us know, the focus of pre-k and public school education has primarily been on academic skill sets geared towards employment, neglecting the kind of education that fosters children’s understanding of the world around them.
The philosophy of Origins Curriculum is centered around the belief that holistic and sustainable education should provide children with the opportunity to acquire and practice thinking skills, communication skills, and tools for emotional regulation. It aims to nurture children’s inherent sense of care and concern for nature and all its inhabitants, while also modeling choices and decisions rooted in an Earth and human-centered ethic that celebrates diversity and avoids exploitation and exclusion.
To foster eco-literacy, Origins Curriculum offers children:
- Diverse learning experiences that integrate various knowledge areas.
- Unstructured time in natural settings, allowing for contemplation and connection with the environment.
- Opportunities to observe changes in their surroundings over time.
- Involvement in real-life activities such as gardening, cooking, building, caring for animals, and engaging in artistic expression.
- Development of collaborative, investigative, and critical thinking skills.
- Exposure to multiple languages and rich cultural diversity.
- Cultivation of a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world.
- Multiple learning experiences that emphasize sustainability and the early development of eco-consciousness.
- Exposure to biomimicry, a framework that leverages nature’s wisdom to address a wide range of topics and promote environmental literacy, all with an inspiring message that encourages students to become positive agents of change.
This unique combination of academics, mindfulness, and an eco-conscious approach sets Origins Curriculum apart. It is designed for both classroom teachers and homeschool educators, offering a preschool curriculum for children aged 3 to 5 and a homeschool curriculum for elementary children from kindergarten to 5th grade. Additionally, Origins Curriculum provides lesson plans and courses for middle school and high school students.
With the Origins Curriculum, children have the opportunity to engage in diverse learning experiences that integrate various knowledge areas and recognize that the Earth is a living entity consisting of interconnected patterns of relationships. They will learn to understand the ways of nature, deepening their understanding of themselves and their place within the natural world, and they will learn that mindfulness is a pathway to self-awareness and a means to experience a sense of belonging to the Earth.
With these principles at its core, Origins Curriculum represents a new paradigm in education. Its aim is not only to provide children with a strong academic foundation but also to support philosophies and ideals that cultivate emotionally healthy individuals who value the wise use of resources, appreciate cultural diversity, strive for gender equality, and embrace the principles of democracy.
We’re so glad this type of curriculum exists in this crazy world we live in and I am so impressed with the educational content, quality, and resources of this curriculum. Don’t just take my word for it, though. Here are some fantastic testimonials from other homeschooling families:
Learn more and sign up today at https://www.originscurriculum.com/.
