Homeschool Multiple Ages with Passport to More Adventures Unit Study Curriculum

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Passport to More Adventures is a unit study curriculum that uses The Magic Treehouse Merlin Missions book series by Mary Pope Osborne as its spine and takes kids on a wild adventure across a variety of experiences. 

The Waldock Way Passport to More Adventures is a continuation of the company’s Passport to Adventures series which incorporated the first series of adventures of Annie and Jack into a comprehensive unit study, perfect for homeschoolers who are just beginning their independent reading journey.

I say independent reading journey because, years ago, I attempted reading this series to my son when he wasn’t as strong of a reader as he is now and if I’m being honest, the books are challenging to read as read-alouds.

I say this because they’re truly geared for beginner readers so the phrases are repetitive and seem to fall flat when read aloud. This is of course no reflection on The Waldock Ways unit study series, but rather a personal opinion of the books themselves.

Magic Treehouse Books: Ideal for Reluctant and Beginning Readers

I will say though that these chapter books are ideal for beginning readers and struggling readers alike. In fact, in an NPR article, third-grade teacher Christine Lavallee says of kids who read the series.

“They have the same two characters, they have the treehouse, there’s always some magic involved, there’s an adventure they have to go on, a mystery to be solved — so as a reader who is just starting out, they can follow it a little bit better,” Lavallee explained to NPR. “And they don’t have to build the structure of the story in their minds like you might with a text you have never read before. So it just gets them ripping through books.”

The author, Osborne herself explains the appeal of the series, “It’s been proven, I think, as a gateway into reading,” Osborne says. “Children start with Magic Tree House, and then they move on to harder books, and they take a leap. So I see myself as just a launchpad, and I wanted all kids to have that opportunity.”

And I believe that’s true, The Magic Tree House books can help a struggling reader feel accomplished in reading a full chapter book. Reluctant readers also benefit in that they’re able to read through the series with ease, which in turn, fosters their love of reading even more. 

Pairing the books in the series with a unit study curriculum like Passport to Adventures and Passport to More Adventures is just icing on the cake! Your child will enjoy the books and you’ve got an easy unit study to work through at whatever pace you set. 

What’s Included in Passport to More Adventures Unit Study Curriculum?

Passport to More Adventures Teacher’s Manual

Within the Passport to More Adventures unit study curriculum teacher’s manual, you’ll find a comprehensive supplementary book list, several game titles to incorporate into your studies and movie night suggestions.

Additionally, because these unit studies are designed to be used by the whole family, you’ll also find activities for all ages as well as field trip ideas. Jessica even includes a link to YouTube playlists and Pinterest boards with activities and resources that correspond with the book topics!

Passport to More Adventures Teacher’s Manual

There’s a separate student notebook for Passport to More Adventures that includes, coloring, tracing, and copywork pages tailored to a variety of ages as well as a map page, fact, and fiction comparisons, and writing prompts to incorporate an ELA component to the studies. 

In addition to the above, you’ll find timeline cards to help put the historical facts into perspective – an important aspect, especially when working with younger children who may not have a complete grasp on time and history.

Jessica also includes ideas on ways you can use the timeline cards in your homeschool lessons. The Waldock Way is big on interactive and hands-on components, so of course, you’ll find both a memory game and a Go Fish-inspired card game to gauge comprehension.

Timeline cards to chart your way through history as you complete each unit, with multiple ways to use them.

There are 28 units in the Waldock Way Passport to More Adventures Unit Study, each is designed to last a week. The unit study covers science, history, art, geography & more, in a hands-on multi-sensory way so it works well for all types of learners. 

How We’re Incorporating Passport to More Adventures in Our Homeschool

As mentioned, before we even completed the first set of lessons for Christmas in Camelot, my son had finished reading book #2, Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve, and had already asked me to order the third book in the series, Summer of the Sea Serpent. Now I’m not one to try to slow him down when he wants to forge ahead, especially when it comes to reading, so I’m going with it and modifying the curriculum to fit our needs.

Since we’ve yet to complete all of the activities in unit one, I’m adding a few of them to our weekends – and since by the end of the weekend, he’ll have finished three books, I will likely incorporate a few activities and resources from each unit into one weekend-long activity. One of the great things about homeschooling and homeschooling with unit studies, in particular, is that you can tailor the content to fit your needs, the needs of your lifestyle and family, and your children’s needs! 

The Waldock Way makes this easy by providing a wide range of activities and resources for a variety of ages, learning styles, and lifestyles; it’s the perfect combination for eclectic homeschoolers like us. 

Get Passport to More Adventures

If you’ve wondered about the Magic Tree House series and often thought the books would make a great addition to your homeschool curriculum, look no further than Passport to Adventures and Passport to More Adventures!