Star Wars and Education

[training5]

What great resources exist out there that you have used to inspire your little Jedi to actually enjoy school? How have you worked it? Any unit studies?

How about book series for the 10-12 yr old crowd? Someone mentioned a series once but I can't find it after searching. She said it was inspiring her daughter to change her attitude and behavior.

Thanks to all in advance.

May the Force be with you! (my son asked me to add that)

[laurad1125]

This isn't exactly an answer to your question, but we've done some things to tie into ds(10)'s love of Harry Potter and Pokemon.

1. He has some quills we made from pen refills and feathers to use on his parchment for school if he likes (supplies from Michaels and Office Depot)
2. Spelling sentences and writing topics are often related to his interests. At the beginning of the year we spent over a month with him writing a Pokemon for Moms book that he seemed to enjoy. I did learn about Pokemon then, too.
3. There are Star Wars chapter books out there as well. I frequently alternate more "pop" literature like pokemon books with what I consider to be more classics for his school reading.
4. Assign the same work but pretend your in a Jedi school. We pretend he's at Hogwarts sometimes. I'll pretend his subjects are the Hogwarts subjects:
chemistry = potions
history = muggle studies
biology = care of magical creatures
and so on.
5. Sometimes I'll talk about house points, and the quidditch game last night and I'll send him outside for flying practice, etc.

As a side note - for his recent birthday, we got him a Hogwarts student kid. It included: a bag similar to those carried in the movies, an acceptance letter, some empty plastic bottles for "potions", paper and quills, some wizard topic books. He adored it (and I must say I'm fairly proud of the idea myself) and I can see us using the stuff once in a while in school.

FWIW....

[JWSJ]

We use the technology seen in the Star Wars series to inspire our son to learn about science. He loves it. There is nothing like seeing passion about ideas.

The morality/religion in Star Wars seems too inconsistent and conflicting for use in teaching anything.

[mom31257]

I think it was my dd that you may be talking about. She has read several series from the library. I know one is called Jedi Quest. Another is called Jedi Apprentice. There may be a third, but I'm not sure. I haven't used them for school because I try to let some of her reading just be for pleasure. She has seemed to have more self-control in areas like anger and rebellion against authority. She said bad things always happen to the characters because of their attitudes in these areas including pride as well.

If you could get a Leapster or Didg, there are new Jedi Math programs for those, although I don't remember if your son's age was included. My ds is getting a Leapster 2 for Christmas that is themed for Star Wars.

Here's a link to printable charts with Anakin and Yoda on them. You could use that for his assignments or for specific skills he needs to acquire. Scroll down near the bottom to find them under Star Wars.

http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/behaviorcharts3-10.htm

Here's another link to coloring pages. You might could use those for art.

http://www.coloringbookfun.com/star_wars/

Here's another website that I just found but don't have time to check out much, but I will be making time this week. It looks like it's teacher resources by George Lucas.

http://www.lucaslearning.com/index.htm

Have fun your young padawan will!

[training5]

Thank you ladies! My Star Wars guy is 12 so a LeapStar might be below his level. Great idea, though!