Posted in School News
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This was listed at www.chirotoons.com . I can't wait to try it with the girls.
A few years ago at a homeschool show we attended, a lady shared a neat nature project with us: Collecting Spider Web Art. It was so neat (and we've had requests to repeat it), that we'll share it here with you.
Here's how you do it:
1) Locate a spider's web, hopefully somewhere outside. Have the kids gently shoo away the spider ("Go on! Git!").
2) Tape a white piece of paper on some cardboard to make it stiff.
3) Take a can of spray paint and spray through the spider web. Don't spray so hard it tears up the web. You want to coat the web but leave it pretty much intact.
4) While the web is still wet with the paint, hold the cardboard/paper BEHIND the spider web and pull it TOWARD you slowly, so it comes right flat through the web. Set aside to dry thoroughly. The painted spider's web will stick to the paper, and when it dries, you'll have a painted "print" of the web itself.
This lady said her kids (and grandkids) had quite a collection of these mounted in a notebook, and the variety of webs you can find is truly amazing. Every web is different, a true work of art, and a testimony once again that there is a Master Designer and Creator of all things... |
Posted in School News
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My family and I are getting ready to leave on an extended trip to Europe. We'll be spending most of our time in France. Being the good homeschool mom, I've been trying to prepare the girls before we leave. One of the things we've done is use Rosetta Stone French. It's an amazing program that I highly recommend. The girls beg to do it each day and we've all learned so much. www.rosettastone.com Some libraries offer this online to their patrons.
We spend a lot of time in the car. Another program we're using is Berlitz Basic French. It's an oldie, but goodie! We were fortunate to borrow it from a friend. It consists of three 60-minute audio cassettes (yes, I said cassettes! LOL) and a 192 page study guide with exercises and notes.
Finally, I recently found this http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/ It's a wonderful site that offers a new French word a day in story form. She also has several books to purchase. You can get on her mailing list and receive the new words directly in your email box.
I'll be sure to post when we return from our trip and let you know if our French programs paid off.
Au revoir! |
Posted in School News
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We just started our 5th week of school this year. I thought it was about time that I posted our curriculum. First of all, this is not at all what I thought we'd be doing just a couple of months ago. I had my mind (and heart) set on doing the Prairie Primer. We're still doing the Little House books, but not using the Primer as our total curriculum. A couple of my friends introduced me to www.amblesideonline.org and I quickly was addicted. My girls have commented that "this is the best school year ever". Because they are so close in age, I've put both of them in Year 4. We do a lot of reading out loud. Daily, I find them arguing over who gets to read what out loud. This is how school should be. To top it all off, I'm enjoying the topics and reading just as much as they are. Here's what we're doing (subject to change at any time! LOL!):
Musicial Instruments-violin and piano Penmanship/copywork- Bible verses and famous quotes Music Appreciation-Mozart, Vivaldi, Chopin Artist Appreciation-Van Gogh/Rembrandt Foreign language-Rosetta Stone French Handicrafts-Keepers at Home Nature Study-Secrets of the Woods, The Handbook of Nature Study, Keeping a Nature Journal Science-The Story of Inventions, Madame How and Lady Why Religion-Polished Cornerstones, Trial and Triumph Geography-Kon Tiki, Minn of the Mississippi Literature-Robinson Crusoe/The Incredible Journey/Rip Van Winkle Poetry-Tennyson/Dickinson/Wordsworth Shakespeare-Romeo and Juliet Grammar-English For the Thoughtful Child 2 History-This Country of Ours, Prairie Primer Math-we're still undecided. We've always done Singapore and actually have the new books. I have one child who dreads math. I'm trying to come up with something that will make it more fun and something she looks forward to. So far we've been playing a math game called Count Down. The girls love it. I'll keep you updated on what we come up with.
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