Electricity

In the kids' co-op science class they have been learning all about circuits and electricity. They got to do cool things like make a flashlight and wire a box house. We are taking three weeks off from history and science, but we are using the time to catch up on little things we haven't finished. So, I thought I'd post some pictures of the kids' houses that they wired. They can turn on lights in each of the rooms. They had a great time wiring, and then decorating their houses. I'll let you guess which one is the girls' house and which one is the boys'.

Week 13

This has been an abnormal week for us because I had parent conferences at work and was at work all day Monday. Plus, we have the Sanchez kids staying with us for most of this week. So, we really just began our history today. We spent some time wrapping up the Ancient Americas to which I didn't feel that we had done justice.. After this week we will be taking three weeks off from history and science. We'll will still do regular (although not daily) math, Spanish, and Latin. We'll use the time to finish up a couple of projects from history and/or science that we have not yet had time to finish. So, week 14 will not be until the first week of January. Perhaps I'll use this time to updat what the kids are doing in their other subjects.

History:

Literature:

Seth's Compare/Contrast Essay from week 11

There are many differences and similarities between the Indus Valley and China during the Ancient times. Both of them were farmers, and they both lived next to a river. One of the main differences is their religions. The Indus Valley region believed in Hinduism, whereas China believed in Taoism and Confucianism. The next thing is government. The Indus Valley believed in the caste system, and China had an emperor. Last, was their writing. The Indus Valley used cuneiform, which was made up of lines and triangles. China used caligraphy which were small pictures that originally looked like the word. All in all there are more differences than similarities.


This is Seth's first attempt at a compare/contrast essay. I would say it is OK for a first draft, but the transitions are a bit stiff and artificial. I think we'll spend some time working on this before we make a final draft.

Week 12- TOG

This week we will be learning about Ancient America. This week we did not have a writing assignment because the kids had quite a bit of work to do in their writing class at our co-op.

History:

Literature:

World View:

I had found this beading loom at a garage sale a few years ago and I remembered how much I had enjoyed making a beaded headband when I was in campfire girls. So, I picked it up, knowing it would come in handy one of these days.

But, I also knew that, while Annsley could handle this detail work, the other kids could not. So, I came up with the genious (if I don't say so myself) of using our cardboard weaving looms and big pony beads to do bead work.

The kids enjoyed the project so much that they decided to do this for their Christmas ornament for the year. Here is a sneak preview of one in progress. It will be a beaded tree.

Here are the projects that Seth finished.

Week 11 TOG report

This week we are taking a whirlwind tour of Ancient China.

History: This week the kids are both reading the same book.

Literature: The kids are both reading this for literature this week.

World View:

Writing: This week Annsley is working on her outlining skills. She is taking five sections of the history book and making an outline from them. Seth is working on writing a compare/contrast essay and he will write an essay on the similarities and differences between Ancient China and the Ancient Indus Valley civilization.

Here are the kids trying to pick up a candy-corn with chopsticks. (Yes, I'm trying to get rid of the Halloween candy! :-)) You can also see a glimpse of the lapbook we did today. We learned the Chinese numbers and made a number book where we wrote different things from China. I kind of modified the idea from the Enchanted Learning Chinese Number book.

Next we made paper. I think this is a fascinating process and I'm amazed at how well it works. I found a paper-making kit at a garage sale 5 years ago and we did this same project the last time we did Ancient History. First you make the "slurry", a pulpy, watery mixture of cotton, torn paper (and other things). Next you use the little screen to strain the water out. Turn it onto a towel and let it dry.

Unit 1 Celebration Night

We started the evening with our Seder dinner. This was a wonderful way to culminate the unit on Jewish holidays. It really brought it to life. The kids made Seder plates.

After the Seder both sets of Grandparents came over to hear oral reports and to look at all the things the kids have learned this unit. I was very proud of the kids, especially the ones (Seth) who feel uncomfortable in front of others.



Annsley gave her speach about daily life in Mesopotamia.

Cade gave his speech about how mummies were prepared (thus the Egyptian costume)

Claire gave her speech about pyramids.

Seth gave his speech about the different parts of the tabernacle. He is looking down because he is using the model we made as a visual aid.

Kailyn gave her speech on the different Jewish holidays.

Here is a picture of the kids showing their work. They have all their projects from the unit and their lapbooks. They are explaining it to the grandparents.

About out Memory CD

I received a few questions about our Memory CD, so I thought I would post my response here.

Most of the things we are working on for memory work are from CDs from other programs. So, I have them all ripped onto my computer and each week or two, I change the playlist and burn it on my re-writable CD.

Once they have mastered a poem (or song) I take it off the CD and put it into our review notebook. Our review notebook is broken down into 31 sections (one for each day) and I divide the learned stuff evenly over the days. Then, after we do our CD we review the 2-3 things that are on that day's review list. (On Friday we do the review for Saturday and Sunday also.) I will also add poems or songs back onto the CD if the kids are forgetting something and need more review.

I put in the CD first thing after Bible time and the kids work on memorizing the things on it. They like it because they can color, jump on the mini-trampoline, or something else while they are doing it as long as I can hear them saying the memory work. They feel like they are "putting off school" so they always want me to add things to their CD. And, they don't know that I am thrilled that we are getting to memory work. It has made all the difference in the world for us actually getting around to it!!

There are some things that are not on CD's (like some of the Bible passages we are learning) and so I plug my mic into my computer and use a basic program to record my voice and save it on the computer. The free program I use is on my computer. It is under "programs" then "accessories" then "entertainment" then "sound recorder." I stumbled on this by accident one time, so check to see if you have this option. It only records for 60 seconds, but it has been fine for me so far.

I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions.

What's on our Memory CD right now?

Romans 12
The Spider and the Fly (poem from Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization)
President Song (from Broadway Kids sing America)
Ten Commandments song (from Classical Conversations CD)
Jonathon Bing (poem from Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization)
Charge of the Light Brigade (poem from Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization)
Adestel Fidelis (from Lingua Angelica)
Skip counting-cubes (from Classical Conversations CD)

Week 10 report

This week we start Unit 2 of TOG. The focus will be on a variety of Ancient Cultures. This week focuses specifically on the Indus River Valley.

History:

Literature:

Bible/Worldview:

We are still finishing up some last minute work for our Seder dinner this weekend, but we did take some time to make cookie dough maps of Ancient India, complete with chocolate chip Himmalaya Mountains!

Apologia Zoo 1-lesson 5

This week we learned about different kinds of nests. In fact, the kids wanted to build their own.

Week 9 report.

We finished up the 3 week mini-unit on Jewish holidays. The kids finished the books they were reading from the last two weeks. They also finished the punch out model of the tabernacle. They each wrote an essay about the different parts of the tabernacle. They finished their unit 1 lapbooks and are proud of their work. We will be having our Seder this Friday night. After the Seder we'll have a museum/presentation of our work to the Grandparents.

Tapestry of Grace-week 8

This week, we will be continuing the study of Hebrew holidays. We will also be continuing our work on the tabernacle. The reading assignments come from the same books as last week, so there won't be any new reading to add. Nothing new and exciting to add.

Tapestry of Grace-week 7

I had good intentions (really, I did) of blogging every week with TOG as a record of our work, but the road to you-know-where is paved with good intentions. We are loving Tapestry of Grace! This week one of the main focus points was on the Tabernacle.

History/Bible Literature Reading:

The book of Exodus

Annsley is really enjoying reading Wonders and Miracles. It is a beautiful book about Jewish holidays. We got it from the library, but it is one I think I would like to own. Seth, on the other hand, is not enjoying Tirzah that much. He was not happy from the start when he saw a girl on the front cover. It is only week one of three on this book.

Writing:

This week in writing the kids completed the reports on Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. We also wrote a paragraph on the outer courtyard of the Tabernacle. I'll post those when we get them typed up.

Fine Arts:

We finished the weaving projects from last week, using the colors that were used in the tapestries of the tabernacle. The kids made a tent and slept in that as if they were camped around the tabernacle. They decided to be from the tribe of Judah because they were close to the front and in the line of Christ.

Seth's weaving

Annsley's weaving

Tonight we went to a Shabbat service at our local Jewish synnagogue. It was very interesting and the Torah reading went along just perfectly with what we have been studying.