![[The River Houses]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/arms-icon-100x100.png "The River Houses"){kind=icon}
![[Nebraska State Bird & Flower]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/nebraska-stamp-1982a-100x150.png)
Take a homeschool tour of the U.S. states and the countries of the world with the River Houses. This week: Nebraska, Rwanda, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Open up your atlas and almanac and follow along with us!
🚂 AMERICAN ICON: The Golden Spike of 1869
Teach a little homeschool history lesson today on the anniversary of the completion of the North American transcontinental railroad in 1869.
🌟 STAR BRIGHT: Polaris and Ursa Minor for May
![[Ursa Minor Star Chart]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/polaris-ursa-minor-chart-135x150.png)
Make the acquaintance of the pole star Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor this month, one of the most important stars in the northern hemisphere sky, and make it your homeschool friend and sky-mark for life.
🦅 FRIDAY BIRD FAMILIES: Thrushes
![[Homeschool Science & Nature Study]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/birds-thrushes-150x112.png)
Come along on our homeschool tour of North American birds and pick up some great science and natural history lessons along the way. This week: the melodious Thrushes.
🖋 🪺 WONDERFUL WORDS: Anne Bradstreet for Mother’s Day
“Great was my pain when I you bred, / Great was my care when I you fed. / Long did I keep you soft and warm / And with my wings kept off all harm.” (Our ornithological homeschool poem-of-the-week, from the early American poet Anne Bradstreet, for Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May.)
🇺🇸 WEEKLY AMERICAN HERITAGE: Great Basin National Park
![[Homeschool American Heritage]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/america-250-150x120.jpg)
For America’s 250th anniversary, discover the history and landscape of the United States with your homeschool students. This week: Great Basin National Park in Nevada.
📚 LEARNING THE LIBRARY: The Artistic 700s
![[Dewey Decimal System]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/dewey-decimal-classes-150x79.jpg)
Explore your local library and the whole universe of knowledge with our homeschool tour of the Dewey Decimal System. This month: the Artistic 700s.
🗓 QUICK FRESHES for Homeschool Families – Week of 4 May 2025
![[Weekly Homeschool Almanac]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/calendar-generic-150x88.png)
Great homeschool teaching tips and wonderful little lessons for the week ahead, including: Migrating birds, golden spikes, American explorers, tall buildings, fallen forts, marvelous musicians, Romanian rivers, a toast to the early bird, and more!
🌎 🇺🇸 SUNDAY STATES: Nevada, Portugal, Russia, and More
![[Nevada State Bird & Flower]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/nevada-stamp-1982a-100x150.png)
Take a homeschool tour of the U.S. states and the countries of the world with the River Houses. This week: Nevada, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, and Russia. Open up your atlas and almanac and follow along with us!
📸 PHOTO CHALLENGE for May: “Flowers” and “Flags”
![[Homeschool Photography Icon]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/camera-flash-emoji-150x150.png)
Calling all homeschool photographers! The Wikimedia Commons Photo Challenge is a great way for enthusiastic homeschool photography students to develop their skills and gain some recognition for their work. This month’s themes are “Flowers” and “Flags.” Take a look!
🔭 WATCHERS OF THE SKIES: Homeschool Astronomy for May
![[Homeschool Astronomy]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/emoji-telescope.png)
Our homeschool review of the educational wonders that you and your students can watch for in the northern hemisphere night sky during the month of May.
🐦 WHAT BIRDS ARE MIGRATING Through Your Neighborhood?
May is Bird Migration Month in the River Houses. Here’s how you can find out what birds are migrating though your homeschool neighborhood this month (or any month of the year).
🦅 FRIDAY BIRD FAMILIES: Sylviid Warblers and Allies
![[Homeschool Science & Nature Study]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/birds-sylviids-150x99.png)
Come along on our homeschool tour of North American birds and pick up some great science and natural history lessons along the way. This week: the Sylviid Warblers, Leaf Warblers, Grasshopper-Warblers, and Old World Flycatchers and Chats.
📚 🌼 WONDERFUL WORDS: May and the Poets
“Come, ye rains, then if ye will, / May’s at home, and with me still; / But come rather, thou, good weather, / And find us in the fields together.” (Our literary homeschool poem-of-the-week, from Leigh Hunt, for the merry month of May.)
🗓 🐦 🎓 HAPPY HOMESCHOOL MAY from the River Houses!
Happy homeschool May! Here are some little lessons, teaching traditions, and wonderful educational opportunities you and your students can watch for this month.
🇺🇸 WEEKLY AMERICAN HERITAGE: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
For America’s 250th anniversary, discover the history and landscape of the United States. This week: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia.
🗓 QUICK FRESHES for Homeschool Families – Week of 27 April 2025
Great homeschool teaching tips and wonderful little lessons for the week ahead, including: Migration months, precise predictions, celebrated composers, sky scrapers, penny postage, Paraguayan rivers, a toast to all farmers, and more!
🌎 🇺🇸 SUNDAY STATES: West Virginia, Paraguay, Poland, and More
![[West Virginia State Bird & Flower]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/west-virginia-stamp-1982a-99x150.png)
Take a homeschool tour of the U.S. states and the countries of the world with the River Houses. This week: West Virginia, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, and Poland. Open up your atlas and almanac and follow along with us!
🐦 HOMESCHOOL NATURE NOTES: MAY is Bird Migration Month!
![[Homeschool Science & Nature Study]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/peak-us-migration-dates-150x91.jpeg)
Bird migration is one of the world’s most wonderful natural phenomena. Don’t miss the chance to teach your homeschool students about it, during May and all through the year.
🌳 HOMESCHOOL HOLIDAYS: Happy Arbor Day Weekend!
![[Arbor Day Stamp 1932]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/arbor-day-stamp-1932-130x150.jpg)
It’s National Arbor Day! Why not celebrate this delightful dendrological occasion by planting a tree in honor of your homeschool this week.
🦅 FRIDAY BIRD FAMILIES: Gnatcatchers, Dippers, & Kinglets
![[Homeschool Science & Nature Study]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/birds-gnatcatchers-150x98.png)
Come along on our homeschool tour of North American birds and pick up some great science and natural history lessons along the way. This week: the tiny Gnatcatchers, Dippers, and Kinglets.
🎂 🎭 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILL! (Shakespeare, That Is)
Happy birthday to the Bard! Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday this week with some free teaching materials from Shakespeare’s birthplace itself.
🇺🇸 WEEKLY AMERICAN HERITAGE: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
For America’s 250th anniversary, discover the history and landscape of the United States. This week: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas.
🖋 🌸 WONDERFUL WORDS: Loveliest of Trees
“And since to look at things in bloom / Fifty springs are little room, / About the woodlands I will go / To see the cherry hung with snow.” (Our flowery homeschool poem-of-the-week, from A.E. Housman, for the loveliest of trees.)
📚 BOOKS & LIBRARIES: A Free Course on Classic Children’s Literature
![[Hillsdale College]](https://riverhouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/hillsdale-college-logo-150x150.png){kind=logo}
If you’d like to teach some classic children’s literature in your homeschool and are wondering how to go about it, this free online course from Hillsdale College in Michigan could be just the thing for you!
🎵 HOMESCHOOL MUSIC: Relax With Randall Thompson’s “Alleluia”
Feeling cooped up and stressed out? Calm your homeschool down with the peaceful “Alleluia” of American composer Randall Thompson, born on this day in 1899.
🖋 🕊 WONDERFUL WORDS: George Herbert’s “Easter Wings”
“O let me rise / As larks, harmoniously, / And sing this day thy victories: / Then shall the fall further the flight in me.” (A special soaring homeschool poem-of-the-week, from George Herbert, for Easter.)
