Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

The World Through the Alphabet: A

Because I have a lot of little (11 months, nearly 3, and 4 1/2) and just one "school age" (nearly 7), we're doing this year with an alphabet theme.  Most letters get two weeks (a few like "x" get only one).  Here's what we did for the two "A" weeks.

• Country-  Australia
• Missionaries-  The Shead family (from Australia, working on going to Chile)
• "Hero"-  Dr. Graham Staines (also from Australia)
• Character trait- assisting others (verses: Luke 22:26 and Acts 20:35a;  Plants Grown Up p 405-406 (do any two) and p 383-384 (do any two)
• Science: astronomy

We're reading our way through the Bible (storybook style) and memorizing the books of the Bible (week one was Genesis to Deuteronomy; week two was Genesis to Ruth).  Prince Berryboy (1DS6) supplements with art (about to start I Can Do All Things), Grammar (First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind), Handwriting (Handwriting Without Tears), Math (Singapore) and Spelling (Spelling Workout).  I'm planning to use a lot fewer purchased curriculum next year (no grammar or spelling curriculum; still debating math), but I'm still nursing, so not having to spend ALL my downtime in planning is a lifesaver.

Here are some useful links for the above themes.

Astronomy

• A solar system coloring book
• Astronomy for Kids
• EasyFunSchool's Astronomy unit study
• Eyes on the Sky (Hands-on Astronomy for Kids)
• Kids Astronomy (has NEAT course for kids aged 8-18 with a free certificate of completion)
• NASA for Kids
• The Nine Planets (a multimedia tour)
• Starry Skies
• Day 4: Astronomy from a Christian Perspective

The last two sites (and EasyFunSchool) are the only ones with a Christian perspective, so use the others at your discretion.

Australia

• Kids Down Under
• Australia for Kids
• Australian Children's Books
• Australian Kids' Songs
• Australia for Kids2
• Kids at the National Museum of Australia (see the Play and Behind the Scenes sections)
• Google Maps for Australia (use the hybrid or satellite option and scan way in... see if you can find the Sydney Opera House!)
• Enchanted Learning and their Country Report Organizer

Dr. Graham Staines

I couldn't find anything for kids on this gentleman.  Instead, I read (to myself) this article and then told it to them in my own words.  The fact that the younger son was the same age as 1DS6 had quite an effect on the listening factor of my children.

The Shead family

If you would also like to pray for the Shead family, you can visit the CMS informational site.  The family kindly responded to our email and has a newsletter with their prayer requests.  They happen to have three boys very close in age to my three boys.

Prince Derryboy (2DS4) is also doing worksheets on the letter of the week and a few other things.  You can also go to Letter of the Week for more letter-themed ideas.

[Disclaimer/ Legal/ blah:  You are welcome to use the information here in any way you like.  Print it, share it, use it.  I do ask that you do not get any money off this-- hey, I worked hard! *laughter*-- and that you do not claim it as your own work.  If you want to link back to my blog, feel free, but you don't have to.  Thanks!!]

Chelo