Physical Science: Module 1

We just finished Module #1 of Apologia's Physical Science.

6:14 PM - Sep. 15, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Easy Grammar

Easy Grammmar Plus  has been a hit so far with my 8th grade boys.   Even my 9th grade daughter wanted to play  Preposition Bingo  with us.  They were disappointed I hadn't pre-planned a prize for the winners.  The sequencing of lessons begins with knowing and understanding the function of prepositions and prepositional phrases.  Complex sentences are so much easier to parse once the prepositional phrases are crossed out. 

This book is a wondeful review of all the punctuation, capitalization, and word usage skills learned the kids learned in the Daily Grams series.

The Easy Grammar Plus level is suitable for 7th-9th grade and provides a cumulative review of all basic grammar concepts.

5:13 AM - Aug. 22, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Curriculum Plans for 2007-2008

This year I have two in 8th grade and one in 9th grade....starting our high school years!   We will continue to do Math, Science and Foreign Language altogether.  The boys will do their Grammar and Religion together with me.  I also have a good amount of discussion topics with my daughter, planned for Religion.  I'm looking forward to a new year with a focus on deepening our relationship with one another.

Bible/Religion:

Holy Bible

Chief Truths of the Faith by Fr. Laux  (9th grade)

Catholic Morality by Fr. Laux  (9th grade)

Our Life in the Church   of  the Faith and Life series  (8th grade)

Catechism in Examples  (8th grade)

various biographies from the Vision Book series

Mission Outreach: and other monthly service projects

English:

Grammar and Composition Third Course  (9th grade)

Easy Grammmar Plus  (8th grade)

Spelling Workout

Vocabu-Lit

Journalism co-op class  (9th grade)

History & Literature:

Christ and the Americas  by Ann Carroll   (9th grade)

U.S. History and Geography & American Literature   (Mother of Divine Grace) (9th grade)

World History & Literature    (8th grade)

All Ye Lands   by Rollin Lasseter (8th grade)

Book of Centuries

Math:

Saxon Algebra 1 (together)

Math Counts Team

Science:

Exploring Creation with Physical Science by Jay Wile

Rock Springs Nature Center: observation and classes*

     *"Wetlands" class and seining in September

Nature Notebooks

Foreign Language:

Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish  Level 1

Spanish Co-op class

Fine Arts:

Millikin University Children's Choir

St Patrick's School Band: flute trumpet and clarinet players

private piano lessons

Physical Education:

Decatur Gators Swim Team

For Mom:

Homeschool Tracker

8:53 AM - Aug. 10, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

Apologia's Physical Science

This course is designed to be the last science course the student takes before high school biology. Thus, it is generally recommend as an 8th grade course. I have an 9th grader and two 8th graders.  

The course discusses such topics as the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, weather, the structure of the earth, environmentalism, the physics of motion, Newton’s Laws, gravity, and astrophysics. The author especially concentrates on the myths generated by the environmentalist movement. There are many hands-on experiments to do, and they all use household chemicals and supplies. Reportedly, it is an excellent course for preparing the student to take a college-prep high school science curriculum.   We love the way the author writes conversationally, directly to the student.

Future posts about what we're learning will be posted in the future

Lab List by Module

Setting Up an Apologia Notebook

6:00 PM - Aug. 3, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

2007-2008 History Plan: Part 1

    World Cultures and Geography

Just finished our literature-based History Study

Spine Text:  All Ye Lands  (Ignatius Press)

Literature:  Choose 8-12 titles from recommended lists (included)

Writing Assignments as noted

(AYL=All Ye Lands)

Lesson Plan	Resource	Directions
Week 1
Day 1	AYL	Read pages  1-15
Day 2	AYL	Page 16:   Let’s Consider (1-4) Select one question and answer in good paragraph form
Day 3		Revise/correct your paragraph with mom.  Final copy for grade.
Day 4	Literature	Choose a book to read: Children’s Homer (Colum) Ides of April (Ray) Bronze Bow (Speare) Shadow Hawk (Norton) Hittite Warrior (Williamson) God King (Williamson) Victory Walls (Hyman) Beyond the Desert Gate (Ray)  Start reading book
Week 2
Day 1	Literature	Read chosen book
Day 2	Literature	Read chosen book
Day 3	Literature	Finish chosen book
Day 4	Literature	Write a book recommendation or critique to a friend based on the book you just read.  Give at least three supporting reasons/examples for your opinion.  Don’t forget a very clear introductory and concluding statement about your overall impression of the book. (150-200 words)

Week 3
Day 1		Revise/correct your paragraph with mom.  Final copy for grade.
Day 2	AYL	Read pages 17-31
Day 3	AYL	Read pages 31-41 Look at Chapter Review questions, find answers and answer orally with mom.
Day 4	AYL	Page 42:   Let’s Consider (1-6) Select one topic and answer in good paragraph form.  Hand in for grade.
Week 4
Day 1	AYL	Read pages 43-50
Day 2	AYL	Read pages 51-60
Day 3	AYL	Page 61:  Chapter Review Answer each question using complete sentences.
Day 4	AYL	Go over answers with mom and discuss any questions.

Go to Weeks #5 - #8

4:42 PM - Apr. 19, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

2007-2008 History Plan: Part 2

Week 5
Day 1	AYL	Read pages 63-70
Day 2	AYL	Read pages 70-78
Day 3	AYL	Read pages 79-84
Day 4	AYL	Page 84:  :  Chapter Review Let’s Remember Answer each question using complete sentences.  Hand in for grade.
Week 6
Day 1	AYL	Read pages 85-93
Day 2	AYL	Read pages 94-100
Day 3	AYL	Page 101:  Let’s Consider (2-6) Select one topic and answer in good paragraph form
Day 4	AYL	Revise/correct your paragraph with mom.  Final copy for grade.

 

Week 7
Day 1	Literature	Choose a book to read: The Silver Chalice  (Costain) The Robe  (Douglas) Augustine Came to Kent (Willard) Saint Benedict: Hero of the Hills (Windeatt) Fingal’s Quest (Polland) Son of Charlemagne (Willard) Beowulf the Warrior (Serraillier) Saint Bruno The Carthusian (Ravier)
Day 2	Literature	Read chosen  book
Day 3	Literature	Read chosen  book
Day 4	Literature	Finish chosen book
Week 8
Day 1	Literature	Start book report:  Develop an outline with a thesis statement and three key word phrases with supporting evidence/examples from your book
Day 2	Literature	Write the three middle paragraphs expanding on evidence to support your thesis with descriptive examples.  Concentrate on transitions from one paragraph to the other.
Day 3	Literature	Write introduction and conclusion paragraphs.  Include title of book in both.
Day 4	Literature	Edit with mom’s input.  Revise and hand in for a grade.

  

Go to Weeks #9-#12

6:14 PM - Apr. 18, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

2007-2008 History Plan: Part 3

 

Week 9
Day 1	AYL	Read pages 103-109
Day 2	AYL	Read pages 109-120
Day 3	AYL	Read pages 121-129
Day 4	AYL	Page 130:    Let’s Consider (2-6) Select one topic and answer in good paragraph form
Week 10
Day 1	Literature	Choose a book to read: (you may also select from past titles you have not read) Ballad of the White Horse (Chesterton) Murder in the Cathedral (Eliot) Rolf and the Viking Bow (French) Saint Dominic and the Rosary (Beebe) Beorn the Proud (Polland)
Day 2	Literature	Read chosen book
Day 3	Literature	Read chosen book
Day 4	Literature	Finish book

 

Week 11
Day 1	Literature	Based on the books you have read this semester, what have you learned about what it means to live out your Christian faith?  Write a paper giving examples from one character or various characters to give concrete examples.  (200 words or more)
Day 2	Literature	Edit with mom’s input.
Day 3	Literature	Finish fnal revision and hand in for a grade.   Choose next  book to read: (you may also select from past titles you have not read): The Red Keep (French) Son of Charlemagne (Willard) If All the Swords of England (Willard) The Hidden Treasure of Glaston (Jewett) The Lost Baron (French)   Start reading.
Day 4	Literature	Read chosen  book
Week 12
Day 1	Literature	Read chosen  book
Day 2	Literature	Read chosen book
Day 3	Literature	Finish chosen book
Day 4	Literature	Give an oral narration of your book to your mom or dad.

 Go to Weeks #13-#16

8:07 PM - Apr. 17, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

2007-2008 History Plan: Part 4

 

Week 13
Day 1	AYL	Read pages 131-135
Day 2	AYL	Read pages 136-145
Day 3	AYL	Read pages 145-150
Day 4	AYL	Page 150: Let’s Consider (1-3) Select one topic and answer in good paragraph form
Week 14
Day 1	AYL	Read pages  151-158
Day 2	AYL	Read pages  158-167
Day 3	AYL	Read pages  167-176
Day 4	AYL	Read pages  176-180

Week 15
Day 1	AYL	Page 180:   Let’s Consider (2-5) Select one topic and answer in good paragraph form
Day 2	AYL	Edit and revise paragraph with mom.  Hand in for a grade.
Day 3	Literature	Choose next  book to read: (you may also select from past titles you have not read):   Francis and Clare (Homan The Merry Adventures of Robinhood (Pyle) Saint Elizabeth’s Three Crowns (Thompson) St. Thomas Aquinas (Chesterton) or St Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars (Lomask) St. Anthony and the Christ Child (Homan) Nacar, the White Deer: A Story of Old Mexico (de Trevino) Start reading.
Day 4	Literature	Read chosen book
Week 16
Day 1	Literature	Read chosen book
Day 2	Literature	Read chosen book
Day 3	Literature	Finish book.
Day 4	Literature	Choose a character in the book you finished.  Using the first person perspective, write a description of the culture and the problems they faced. Ex) “I am Francis of Assisi…..

Go to Weeks #17-#20

8:39 PM - Apr. 16, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment