Mycology & Herbology Patchwork Study

Welcome to the Harbor + Sprout Mycology & Herbology Patchwork Study, the July 2024 release of our original elementary-level homeschool unit study curriculum. This unit study features 4 weeks of lesson plans and materials covering all 9 of our core subjects and a playful supplemental section of thematic activities. This unit study is meant for use by children ages 3-12. 

Click here to download a free sample of a Patchwork Study.

This unit is delivered via a secure link as a digital download. Shop corresponding Mycology & Herbology curriculum for all ages here!

CONTENT:

Handbook

Daily, weekly, and monthly planning pages
Book list including stories, poems, and field guides with recommended ages, subject correspondence, and brief summaries for each title
Scope and Sequence
Family read aloud with discussion guide and recipe
Character kit- new monthly character illustrated by Stephanie Groves to act as your guide through the unit

Science

Week 1: What is Herbology? In this lesson, you will explore the science of herbology, their tools, and their practices. You will build your own herb dehydrator. 
Week 2: What are Herbs? In this lesson, you will explore the anatomy of herbs and begin your own herbal journal that you can use when you observe herbs and other plants. 
Week 3: What Herbs are in Your Kitchen? In this lesson, you will explore herbs used in medicine. You will learn about theoretical and practical studies, active ingredients, and how herbs interact with the body.
Week 4: What Can You Make With Herbs? In this lesson, you will explore recipes involving herbs. Create aromatic compress, harvest dandelion syrup, bug bite salve, and an herbal first aid kit. 

Nature Study

Week 1: What are Fungi? In this lesson, you will explore characteristics of fungi, investigate the three main types of fungi, discover mushroom anatomy, and research natural compounds. 
Week 2: Life Cycle of a Mushroom: In this lesson, you will explore the life cycle of a mushroom from spore to full maturity, discover mushroom species, and graph the types of substrates in your community. 
Week 3: Decomposers and Recyclers: In this lesson, you will explore the role of fungi in our planet's food chains, discover two ways fungi decompose wood, explore fungi in our planet's carbon cycle, and research the carbon footprint of different human activities. 
Week 4: Mutualism: In this lesson, you will explore the different types of symbiotic relationships formed between two organisms, learn about three fungi mutualistic partnerships, and investigate different species of lichen. 

Language Arts

Week 1: Herb Words: In this lesson, you will expand your Mycology and Herbology vocabulary, enhance your spelling ability, research the origins of a word, and expand your storytelling skills. 
Week 2: Mullein Meadow: In this lesson, you will enjoy the peom “Mellein Meadow." Allow the poem to inspire your art, practice summarization, and practice your handwriting. 
Week 3: Transitive & Intransitive Verbs: In this lesson, you will study the differences between these verbs, how to use them in a sentence, and how they interact with other parts of the sentence. 
Week 4: Fairy Tales: In this lesson, you will explore fairy tales and common characteristics of these stories, including, settings, characters, themes, and endings. 

Writing

Week 1: Five Senses: In this lesson, you will begin your study of descriptive writing by exploring your five senses.
Week 2: Adjectives: In this lesson, you will learn about adjectives and how they add dimension to your writing. 
Week 3: Adverbs: In this lesson, you will learn about adverbs, how to use them in a sentence, and the impact they have on your descriptive writing. 
Week 4: Story Writing: Now it’s your turn to write a story using as much description as possible to make it interesting to your reader. 

History

Week 1: Classifying Living Organisms: In this lesson, you will discover the history of herbology and mycology, the people who study them, the system of classification, and why classification is important. 
Week 2: Collecting & Preserving Plants: In this lesson, you will explore the history of plant collection and preservation through paintings and herbariums. 
Week 3: A Botanical Garden for the New World: In this lesson, you will learn about the role of the botanists during the colonization of North America. 
Week 4: The Girl Who Drew Mushrooms: In this lesson, you will learn about illustrator, Beatrix Potter, who drew mushrooms. 

Geography

Week 1: Oregon, USA: In this lesson, you will explore the characteristics and culture of Oregon, USA. You will learn fun facts about the state, its anthems, and its flag. 
Week 2: Maps: In this lesson, you will familiarize yourself with the continent of North America and the state of Oregon. 
Week 3: Oregon Culture and History: In this lesson, you will immerse yourself in the culture of Oregon. You will discover the Native Americans who reside in the Pacific Northwest and the history of the Oregon Trail.
Week 4: Fungi in Oregon: In this lesson, you will learn about some of the world’s tallest mountain peaks- the Seven Summits.

Music

Week 1: Musical Genres: In this lesson, you will learn about that music has different categories, much like fungi and other plants. 
Week 2: Blues and Jazz: In this lesson, you will explore the rich history of blues and jazz, its origins, improvisation, scale, structure, form, rhythm, tempo, themes, lyrics, and its relation to Oregon. 
Week 3: Giants of Blues and Jazz: In this lesson, you will discover the life and music of two influential musicians, the King of Blues, B.B. King, and a Jazz Giant, Louis Armstrong. 
Week 4: Some Instruments in Blues and Jazz: In this lesson, you will explore the instruments in blues and jazz music, including the piano and the trumpet. 

Art

Week 1: Herbology: In this lesson, you will explore form in art and take something flat and make it 3-dimentional? 
Week 2: Plant Lore: In this lesson, you will explore space in art and how the empty spaces are just as important as the pigmented parts. 
Week 3: Mycology: In this lesson, you will explore texture in art and how it changes the way it makes the piece look. 
Week 4: Fungi Folklore: In this lesson, you will explore shape in art and incorporate mushrooms in your art. 

Math

Week 1: Herb Garden Geometry Activity: In this activity, you will learn about geometry by planning a garden layout. 
Week 2: Herbal Tea Blend Fractions: In this activity, you will learn about fractions by creating herbal tea blends using different herbs. You will explore and practice basic fractions, including 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8. 

Week 3: Mushroom Foraging Adventure Probability: In this activity, you will learn about probability by solving word problems related to a mushroom foraging adventure. 
Week 4: Mushroom Multiplication Maze: In this activity, you will navigate the mushroom multiplication maze to bring the mushroom to the basket. 

Supplement

• Anatomy of a Mushroom
• Coloring Sheets
• Finish the Other Half
• Herb or Mushroom?
• Flashcards
• Herbology Crossword
• My Mycology Words
• Bilingual 3-Part Cards
• Bilingual Medicinal Herbs
• Apothecary: Medicinal Herbs
• Spellings Puzzles

This unit is delivered as a downloadable zip file. H+S Patchwork Studies average approximately 550-650 pages of content. While the download does include the option to print the full unit straight through front and back, we recommend printing on an as-needed, as-you-go basis. Enjoy your Mycology and Herbology adventures!