Welcome to the FAQ page for Branches! We’re so happy you’re thinking about this program and considering it for your family. We’re always here to help and support so don’t hesitate to reach out via email at [email protected]. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can, probably after following our own kids down the offshoot of learning we took that day.
Branches is an ebook, and the files are PDFs. You can access your downloadable files via the Branches Dashboard, which you will receive access to at checkout. The downloads for Branches do not expire. You are licensed to print one copy of each unit for your use.
Branches is 32 weeks of learning. There’s no pressure or expectation that you’ll finish all 8 units in one school year, but if you do and you’re looking for more…don’t worry. We are already hard at work on 8 more units. More is coming!
Branches is a multi-age elementary curriculum built for the family to learn together, designed especially for kindergarten through 5th grade. The author of Branches, Susie Allison, wrote Playing Preschool for families with children age 2.5 to 5 years old.
If your oldest child is entering kindergarten, Playing Preschool Year 2 might be a better fit for their first year of homeschooling.
Branches is an 8-unit, 32-week home learning curriculum. It includes 500+ pages of material from detailed daily lesson plans, printables, and multimedia resources. There are also suggested books, board games, and a playlist for each unit. Learn more about all the features included with Branches here.
Branches is a secular home learning curriculum. It is “evergreen” and does not follow a calendar, season, religion, or hemisphere.
Yes! Of course! Please check out our samples page to see interior pages of Branches and a full week of the program.
Branches focuses on the discovery subjects—science, social studies, the arts, and more. We always recommend you check your state/local homeschooling laws to ensure you are meeting those requirements. Branches is designed to be done as a family in addition to separate, leveled math and reading. This program does not include any explicit reading or math instruction. We recommend finding math and reading programs that work for your children in addition to learning together with Branches. Depending on the ages of your children, additional language arts (grammar, writing skills, and/or spelling) may also be helpful.
Branches is not aligned with Common Core standards by grade level. If you are required to, or choose to, align with Common Core standards in your homeschool, please see the skills list under each unit. You can compare those skills with the Common Core requirements for your state to determine whether or not Branches will be a good supplement to your other learning materials.
The Branches curriculum leans into the power of multi-level, multi-age, multi-ability learning. Branches uses open-ended questions, creative prompts, and hands-on activities to help topics and concepts resonate with different ages. In some areas of the program, you’ll see leveled options where you can choose the best path for your child(ren). Working with multi-age learners often returns to the application of knowledge. Asking, “Why don’t ocean animals sink?” is a valid question for both a 6-year-old and a 10-year-old, and the answers will be vastly, beautifully, and wonderfully different. Listening and sharing new ideas helps all of us grow as learners.
Yes! Branches was written with homeschooling AND traditional schooling families in mind, because all children deserve access to foundational knowledge and hands-on learning. The curriculum is full of skills and concepts to support children in the school system and those learning at home. Whether you choose to do a few units of Branches over summer break, all of it during the school year as homeschoolers, or anywhere in between, this program is for you.
No! Branches is “evergreen” – meaning you can start it at any time, on any hemisphere. It is not tied to any holidays, seasons, or calendars.
Eight detailed, enchanting unit studies are included in your purchase of Branches. The 8 units are, in alphabetical order, Animal Adaptations, Classic Tales, Dinosaurs, Geography, Landforms, Solar System, States of Matter, and Weather. Each unit includes four weeks of learning. You can choose the order of the units for your family.
It is recommend learners be at least Kindergarten age and confident with asking and answering questions, starting a complex task or activity and seeing it through, as well as being able to express their ideas.
For families with children ages 2.5 to Kindergarten, check out the curriculum Playing Preschool, which was written by Branches author Susie Allison.
In an effort to keep Branches as affordable for families as possible and available world wide, Branches is an ebook and only sold as digital downloads. You are licensed to print one physical copy of each unit for your own use.
Branches focuses on the discovery subjects—science, social studies, the arts, and more. We always recommend you check your state/local homeschooling laws to ensure you are meeting those requirements. Branches is designed to be done as a family in addition to separate, leveled math and reading. This program does not include any explicit reading or math instruction. We recommend finding math and reading programs that work for your children in addition to learning together with Branches. Depending on the ages of your children, additional language arts (grammar, writing skills, and/or spelling) may also be helpful.
Branches lessons predominately rely on supplies from around the house or that are typically used when learning at home (whiteboard, index cards, and construction paper). Many items are things you already have around the house (a flashlight, a cookie sheet), and other supplies can be easily be borrowed from friends (dinosaur figurines) or purchased inexpensively (air dry clay).
No. Branches is sold as an 8-unit, 32-week program for $49.90.
This price is comparable to two single unit studies from other curriculum companies, but with Branches, you receive all 8 units.
Branches is built on flexible routine and designed to take about 45-minutes to 1 hour per lesson. This will vary family-to-family and day-to-day, depending on the age of your learners, the suggested materials you use (books, games, etc.), and how many extensions or offshoots you take inside the daily lesson plans. Each lesson can be done all at once, or broken into pieces to best fit your schedule. Discuss the guiding question at the breakfast table. Listen to the unit’s chapter book as an audiobook in the car. Do a hands-on experiment after dinner. Branches supports all learning styles and schedules.
Sample Branches
Buying a homeschool program for your family is a big decision. Instead of hoping this program will be right, try it for a week.
Use the free homeschool curriculum sample of Solar System Week 2 to see how Branches looks and feels with your family.