12-Month Homeschool Plan — One-Sentence Intent/Plan (age 14)
- Year overview: A cohesive 12-month plan that spirals Biology, Chemistry, and Physics alongside AoPS-driven math, balancing weekly hands-on labs, targeted practice, monthly assessments, and project-based synthesis to build mastery and application.
- Biology: Study cells, genetics, natural selection, genetic modification, health and disease, medicines development, plant and animal systems, homeostasis, ecosystems and material cycles through concise theory lessons, guided labs, case studies and a capstone ecology or genetics project.
- Chemistry: Cover states of matter, mixtures and separations, chemical changes, extraction, metals and equilibria, periodic trends, reaction rates, energy changes, fuels and earth science with hands-on experiments, lab reports and a mini research project on environmental chemistry.
- Physics: Explore motion and forces, conservation of energy, waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, radioactivity and astronomy, electricity, magnetism and induction, and particle/matter models using demonstrations, experiments, data analysis and an applied engineering challenge.
- Mathematics: Begin with an Alcumus diagnostic and, if needed, complete AoPS Prealgebra before progressing through Introduction to Algebra and Introduction to Geometry with daily Alcumus practice, biweekly problem sets, monthly timed quizzes, and emphasis on written solutions and proof.
- Writing: Produce a 2,000-word researched essay with footnotes and bibliography emphasizing paragraph cohesion, thesis scaffolding, source evaluation and iterative drafting with teacher and peer feedback.
- Extended science investigation: Conduct an extended experimental investigation linking chemical processes to environmental impact with spreadsheet data collection, simple statistical summaries and a public-facing report.
- Music: Develop ensemble performance skills and basic music theory while continuing technical practice on violin and piano through weekly rehearsals, theory drills and periodic mini-recitals.
- History & Humanities: Research and publish a public-facing blog post or mini-exhibit on a historical topic (for example, a Carolingian estate), practicing source analysis, argumentation and material-culture interpretation.
- Digital & Practical skills: Learn introductory Python for data handling and simple visualizations alongside iterative model-making projects to strengthen measurement precision, design thinking and applied computation.
- Personal & Social: Build metacognition and resilience with structured peer-teaching opportunities, stress-management techniques for assessments and regular reflective check-ins.
- Assessment & pacing: Monitor progress with weekly formative checks, monthly cumulative reviews, quarterly mock exams and Alcumus mastery reports to adjust pacing and prioritise remediation or acceleration as needed.