Canadian Home Education Resources

Does anyone have kids that are fascinated by horses? In honour of Stampede starting here in Calgary, our Weekly Pick is the History of the Horse Basic Bundle. A unit study that allows your student to immerse themselves in the world of horses for a whole year, the bundle includes resources to learn facts about horses, exciting novels featuring horses, and even a book on how to draw horses! My younger self would have been so happy to study these books. If you want to go even deeper, we do have a Deluxe Bundle with even more books and a game of Horse-opoly. Happy Stampede everyone! -Michelle

Given that June is a great month for cycling, how about an inspiring story of a cyclist who used his talents and reputation to protect others? Our Weekly Pick is “Bartali's Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero” by Megan Hoyt, and it focuses on a Tour de France winning sports hero who secretly supported the Italian Resistance in World War Two. I really enjoyed this story, learning about the clever tricks Bartali used to transfer information and even distract the German forces so that prisoners could be smuggled to freedom! My favourite part is that he never spoke of his brave actions during his lifetime, and he is quoted as saying “Good is something you do, not something you talk about”. I think it would be a really enjoyable and inspiring read-aloud for a family. - Michelle

If your younger children struggle with fear as mine did, our Weekly Pick might be the gently encouraging picture book you’re looking for! “Evergreen”, by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell, is about a timid little squirrel who is tasked by her mother to bring soup to her sick Granny Oak. To make the journey she has to face many of her fears, and in doing so she discovers she is much more capable and resilient than she thought. The whimsical illustrations combined with a new interpretation of the Little Red Riding Hood story are really delightful, and the story is heart-warming. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! -Michelle

Have you seen your first butterfly of the season? We’re preparing for Painted Lady butterfly larvae to arrive on Monday, and I’m looking forward to seeing them spread their wings soon! If you’re looking for a picture book about butterflies that stands out from the rest, our Weekly Pick is perfect for you. “Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian” by Margarita Engle tells the true story of a young, curious girl in the 1600s who defied the established medieval attitude that insects were evil. Studying caterpillars and their transformations secretly, she took careful notes and made detailed paintings, determined to change the way people saw insects. She later became a famous scientist, artist and traveller, who did indeed influence how insects were perceived. Perhaps this story will inspire your family to study butterflies carefully too! -Michelle