You Are Going To Love This Week 4 Planner
đ Our Twist For Week 4 Planner: We Are Bringing Portugal Into Our Home-ed
I am so excited because Week 4 of our home-ed year feels like a holiday planning week! One of the biggest perks of homeschooling is that we can travel off-season, which means quieter places, better prices, and more freedom to explore. And after much discussion, weâve chosen Portugal as our next destination!
Even though weâre not heading off this week, I want to start weaving Portugal into our September homeschool curriculum. The idea is to connect geography, culture, science, and maths to our upcoming tripâso when we finally set foot in Lisbon and along the coast, the kids already have a sense of where we are and what to look for.
Of course, weâll also keep tracking the changing autumn in County Cavan Ireland: shorter evenings, colder mornings, and leaves turning gold. September is such a beautiful month for seasonal learning in Ireland, and I donât want us to miss those moments either.
đ Week 4 Daily Homeschool Plan
So let’s dive into our learning plan for this week as we blend Portugal prep + Irish autumn themes
| Day | Subjects & Focus | Activities |
| Day 1 – Mapping Portugal | Geography: Locate Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula, learn about borders, coastline, and rivers like the Tagus. Reading: Portugal Facts Writing: Short paragraph â âWhat I imagine Portugal will look like in September.â | Create a colourful map labeling Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, and the Atlantic Ocean. (use a blank page or a print of a blank âPortugalâ boundaries) |
| Day 2 â Lisbon: The Capital City | History/Geography: Learn why Lisbon became important during the Age of Exploration. Cultural Facts: Explore azulejos (Portuguese tiles). Maths: Identify patterns and symmetry in tilework. Writing: Start travel journal entry â âIf I were walking in LisbonâŚâ | Sketch your own Portuguese tile design inspired by online photos. |
| Day 3 â Portuguese Coast & Science | Science: Research marine life on Portuguese coast, compare with Irish coastline. Hands-On: Salt water vs. fresh water egg experiment. Maths: Measure salinity by weighing how much salt dissolves before crystals reappear. Creative: Postcard drawing from the sea in Portugal. | Theatre of Science Live |
| Day 4 â Maths in Everyday Life | Practical Maths: Learn about euros, practise converting to other currencies, role-play a market visit. Geometry: Explore Portuguese architectureâarches, domes, pavements, shapes. Writing: âWhat would I buy at a Lisbon market?â | Create a pretend shopping list in euros with prices. |
| Day 5 â Folklore & Autumn Comparisons | Culture: Read about The Rooster of Barcelos and compare to an Irish myth (the Giant). Science/Weather: Compare Lisbonâs September climate to Cavanâs. Record Irish weather all week. Creative Writing: âOn a sunny September day in PortugalâŚâ | Luggage and snack packing! |
đ Why Plan Like This?
For us, homeschooling is about flexibility and connection. By preparing for Portugal now, our kids will arrive there with curiosity already sparkedâready to notice the tiles, taste the food, feel the climate, and recognise the landmarks. And by continuing to observe Irish autumn in Cavan, we keep grounded in the rhythms of home.
This blend of seasonal learning, cultural geography, and hands-on science makes our homeschool days both structured and exciting. So don’t forget, it’s free and ready to download here: Week 4 Fall Planner
Before we kicked off this new planner, we started with a paragraph of writing and page of spellbound (you can choose any books for those but if you want mine just drop a line and I’ll send on the details to you) After that we went for a walk, it’s important to soak some vit D whenever we can đ
đď¸ Keeping Our 2-Year-Old Busy During Lessons
Of course, homeschooling with more than one child means finding ways to keep my busy toddler entertained while the older one focuses on learning. At two years old, itâs all about hands-on playâsometimes messy, sometimes simple, but always engaging. I like to set up independent toddler activities nearby so my little one feels included without disrupting lessons. Some of our go-to ideas are:
- Messy play trays with rice, pasta, or water beads (sensory learning at its best).
- Playdough or clay for squishing, rolling, and pretending.
- Water painting on a chalkboard or patioâmess-free but creative.
- Nature baskets filled with safe leaves, pinecones, and shells for sorting and exploring.
- Stickers, crayons, and large paper so they can âdo schoolâ alongside the big kids.
These simple setups give my toddler a chance to develop motor skills and independence, while I guide my eldest through geography, maths, or science. Itâs not always seamless (what family day ever is?), but building a rhythm that respects both ages makes our homeschool days run more smoothly.
