Unschooling Portfolio 2024-2025

Hazel engaging in free play outside.

The following blog post is a portfolio of learning for Hazelwood Parham. It includes highlights, but not every aspect or incident of learning during the time between approximately early mid-May 2024 and mid-June 2025. This year could be considered their “4th-grade” year.

Birthday cupcakes & pizza always gets a smile.

Attendance Statement:
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Home Education Law, Hazel has received “a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days of instruction OR nine hundred (900) hours of instruction. . .at the elementary level.”

Digging for treasures & critters out in the yard.

Book Log:
A PDF of most of the books read by or with Hazel and logged by Beanstack between the dates of May 11th, 2024, and June 10th, 2025, can be viewed here (Beanstack's formatting/order is weird & cannot be changed).

Additional Reading Materials:
Highlights (magazine)
LEGO Magazine
National Geographic (magazine)
Dictionary
Thesaurus

Hazel's museum of rocks & such found digging in the yard.

Language Arts

Hazel has strengthened their independent reading and spelling this year and engaged in more writing through chatting with friends in online games, writing books in Minecraft, and writing greeting cards for family members. They have a good grasp on the seven main parts of speech (noun, verb, adverb, etc.) and basic punctuation rules. They know how to use Google, the dictionary, a thesaurus, and glossaries to find information. Hazel signed up for this Summer Reading Challenge through the Woods Run branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which started on June 1st. Last Summer, they completed all reading challenges. Every day, Hazel has either been read to or reads aloud to one of their parents or brother.

YouTube Channels/Series
Jewish Language Project
PJ Library
Shalom Sesame
StorylineOnline

Movies/Shows
Super Why

Games/Apps
various writing/spelling apps
Scribblenauts Showdown
Scribblenauts Remix
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Hebrew for Kids

Other Resources
Beanstack (keeping log of books read)
PJ Library/PJ Our Way (book subscription)
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Woods Run
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Main
Northland Library

Hazel likes using puppets at the library to tell stories.

Hazel reading aloud from a book that explains relationships between different animals & plants.

Mathematics

Hazel can add, subtract, divide, and multiply multi-digit numbers. They can figure out fractions and decimals. Hazel enjoys learning and creating maths tricks and shortcuts. They are provided with opportunities to work with fractions, measurements of various kinds, counting money, and making change. Hazel is proficient using both Gregorian and Hebrew calendars, and has improved their ability to read an analogue clock. Hazel spent a lot of time playing Stardew Valley this year, learning to manage a farm and resources, strategise how to farm efficiently, and manage their in-game money.

YouTube Channels/Series
Numberphile
ViHart

Games/Apps
Chess
Checkers
Backgammon
Mahjong
UNO
various jigsaw puzzles
Minecraft
Tangrams
Maths Dice
various dice games
Hanafuda
Dreidel
Rush Hour/Rush Hour Jr.
Stardew Valley

Other Resources
Highlights Puzzlebuzz (puzzle magazine)
Connectagons
Magnetic Titles
Penrose Tiles
Pattern Blocks
Marble Runs
LEGO
Minecraft Math workbook
Various Dice

Café & Uno dates are the best! 

Playing dreidel & counting gelt with family during Chanukah.

Playing Rush Hour because puzzles are the best!

Working a seascape puzzle with family.

Science & Technology

Hazel has had a variety of experiences with different areas of science study: biology, anatomy, zoology, horticulture, ecology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, entomology, meteorology, and more! They have been more interested in anatomy, cryptozoology, and all things related to space and the Universe this year. Hazel continues their deep appreciation for the Earth, keeping rubbish and recycling out of habitats for animals and insects, and keeping our air and water clean.

YouTube Channels/Series
Discovery Snake (reptiles & amphibians)
Ants Canada (ants!)
Oh Worm! (awesome dissection videos)
NASA
National Geographic
ASAPScience
NOVA PBS Official
Clint's Reptiles
Discovery
Discovery UK
Hip Hop Science
Journey to the Microcosmos
Minute Physics
Sci-Show
Sci-Show Space
Sci-Show Kids
Sixty Symbols
Mike Likes Science

Movies/Shows
Battle Bots
Pokémon: Indigo League
Pokémon: Horizons the Series
Pokémon: Master Journeys
Pokémon: Ultimate Journeys
Pokémon: Journeys
Pokémon: To be a Pokémon Master
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution
Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles
Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle
Pokémon Concierge
The Last Kids on Earth
Life on Our Planet
Wild Kratz

Websites/General Research
Minecraft command block coding
Minecraft Redstone contraptions
Relationships in Biology (commensalism, parasitic, mutual, etc.)
Rube Goldberg and machines
Eclipses (Lunar/Solar)

Games/Apps
Doodle God
Toca Boca Toca Lab Elements
Toca Boca Toca Lab Plants

Other Resources
Welcome to the Museum: Anatomicum (Wiedermann & Paxton)
Magnets (various kinds)

Learning about chickens & how to take care of them.

Examining a House Centipede after rescuing it from the kitchen sink.

Hazel, the Moth Whisperer!

Hazel likes to identify & eat plants in the yard, plant things, & dig up treasures!

Social Studies & Geography

Hazel continually explores various cultures, especially those that are part of their heritage. They also explored spiritual aspects of Judaism and Sufism. They read many books (including biographies), listening to music, eating food, and talking with people to learn about cultures, traditions, and religions/spiritual practices. Hazel also covered topics pertaining to forms of government, voting, and Pennsylvania history. We spent additional time discussing how the current administration has made and is trying to make executive orders and laws, which significantly hurt BIPOC & LGBTQ+ people, veterans & disabled people, children & families, and immigrants. Hazel has a strong sense of justice, not tolerating bigotry, and calling out hateful instances and people.

YouTube Channels/Series
CrashCourse
CrashCourseKids
My Jewish Learning
BimBam
The Wise Channel
Life Where I'm From
HiHo Kids
Global Oneness Project

Movies/Shows
Story Bots

Websites/ General Research
Jewish (Mizrahi & Sephardi) holidays, culture, & spirituality
Romani culture
African American culture
English culture
Indian (Punjab & Kashmir) culture
Lakota Sioux/Blackfeet culture
Welsh culture
Czech culture
Persian culture
Irish/Irish Traveller (Minceir) culture
Spanish & Basque Cultures
Racism & Antisemitism
Presidential power & executive orders

Games/Apps
Geography Bingo
Cozy Grove

Other Resources
Grow A Good Citizen Kit & web resources
Tea & coffee cultural connections around the world
Listening to NPR in the car
Map of the United States
United States map puzzle

Hazel named their Rabbit on their Stardew Valley farm Nowruz after the Persian Spring holiday.

Hazel likes celebrating Jewish holidays & learning about their Jewish culture.

Hazel likes going to the Elks Lodge #339 with their dad, learning about their community outreach, & meeting different people from the community.

Health, Safety, & Physical Education

Hazel is a very active child who enjoys all-weather and unstructured outside play, riding their scooter, and just about anything that involves gross motor skills. They like to try new and interesting foods! Hazel is included in meal-planning, cooking/baking, and food shopping. We have ongoing conversations about digital literacy and safety, kitchen safety, and safety around water and fire, including what to do if there was a fire in our home.

YouTube Channels/Series
Binging with Babish
Adam Ragusea
Adventure Agents
Blackforager
Clueless Bushcraft
North Spore
Pop'n'Olly
Primitive Survival
Queer Kids Stuff
Insider Food
Headspace for Kids

Movies/Shows
Nailed It
Jr British Bake Off
Floor is Lava
Is It Cake?

Games/Apps
Olli Olli World
Toca Boca Kitchen
Toca Boca Kitchen 2
Inside the Body
Operation

Other Resources
Sex is a Funny Word (Silverburg)
The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families (Simon)

Hazel likes to climb trees.

Hazel has a hammock in their room to help with rainy day zoomies & to get vestibular sensory input.

Hazel LOVES corn on the cob & getting to shuck fresh ears of corn.

Hazel loves dancing to all kinds of music, but accordions at the Elks Lodge is a fave.

Fine Arts

Hazel enjoys drawing, colouring, and making various crafts. They regularly make music using their father's synthesizers. They have used various media to express themself, including: origami, markers, crayons, coloured pencils, stickers, mosaic, playdough & clay, keyboard, synthesizers, stylophone, chalk, LEGO, loom, and miscellaneous craft/art supplies. Hazel also enjoys creating worlds and levels in various video games. 

YouTube Channels/Series
InfiniteDrift
Make:
Mumb Jumbo
North of the Border
NPR Music
PuzzLEGO
TrixyBlox
The Art Assignment

Games/Apps
Minecraft
LittleBigPlanet 3
Bloons TD6
Mario Maker 2

Other Resources
Synthesizers
Sampler
Art Supplies
Kid Craft time @ Library

Hazel likes making critters out of LEGO Bionicles.

A Crown of Thorns sea star Hazel made out of Connectagons.

A paper bag kite & hand puppet that Hazel made at Kid Craft time at the library.

Hazel using a sampler keyboard to make some music.

Additional Resources

Additional resources that were not easily classified, but that were utilised during the year.

YouTube Channels/Series
Khan Academy
Khan Academy Kids
TED-Ed
National Geographic Education
PBS Kids
BrainPOP

Games/Apps
Terraria
Retro NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy games
Among Us

Hazel is definitely a cool person!