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Posted in Book Review

I recently The Great Eight:  How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable).  What a fantastic book.  It was really enlightening to read such a positive book.  Scott Hamilton has such a wonderful outlook on life.  He has written this book with such sincerity and common sense.  The eight "steps" to being happy really are common sense though I may struggle with some in the face of challenges and difficulties.  But, my goodness, if Scott Hamilton can keep such a positive outlook through the difficulties he has faced in life (from a childhood "mystery illness" to battling cancer twice), I can definitely give it a better attempt in the face of my not-so-life-threatening daily struggles.  Scott uses skating as a metaphor for life.  His stories are very down-to-earth so he doesn't come across as a "you can only be happy if you do..." kind of person.  This was a very enjoyable book to read.

         

 

Posted in Workboxes

We are on our second week of workboxes.  We really love them.  I love how much more I can work into my school day.  Ami summed it up so much better than I ever can.  I agree with every point she made.  Here's what they did today... 

When you look at this list, remember that we do Bible reading, memory verses, science and geography together.  (Items below in red are done with Mom.)

The Princess

• Add date to calendar and complete math journal
• Math workbook and flash cards
• Pattern Blocks
• FIAR - work on Peter Rabbit lapbook
• Fruits/Veggies file folder game and Peter Rabbit puppets to color
• Copywork
• Solar System file folder game
• Nouns review worksheet (underline each noun, then mark each one person, place, or thing with colored pencils)
• Book for me to read to her (Tops and Bottoms)
• Free Read (read for 10 minutes and choose 1 to narrate)
• Spelling (All About Spelling Level 1)
• Sentence blocks (Use blocks to make 5 sentences and show to mom when done.  She actually asked to write each sentence when she was done so we reviewed capital letters and periods.)

The Wild One

• Correct yesterday's math lesson.
• Math test
• softschools.com math activities (15 minutes)
• correct yesterday's dictation and complete lesson
• Enchanted Learning online solar system quiz
• Review common/proper nouns with worksheet; then begin illustrating grammar pages with common nouns/proper nouns
• Neil Armstrong (instructions to read chapter 2, and then he was to come see me for the lessons - we made it through Wright Brothers, King Edward, and Europe lessons)
• Spelling (All About Spelling Level 2)
• Wright Brothers (printed out WB e-book from School Express, had him read the info, and complete notebook page about them)
• Free Reading (30 minutes)
• Typing Practice
• Copywork (Neil Armstrong copy work from HSS)

Posted in Lapbooking

Last week, The Princess and I read and lapbooked Baby in a Basket.  We used lapbook pieces from HSS. 

As you can see, during this unit we discussed dressing for the weather (this story takes place in Alaska), camoflauge (white arctic animals blending in with the snow), learned a few new vocabulary words (plank. thermos, and a few others), reviewed fiction/nonfiction, and talked about being like the ant (prepared).

 

 

We did a bit of math related to the story and discussed polar animals.

We mapped the route from Alaska to Washington and discussed the state bird/flower for each of those states.

The Princess listed a few fiction and non fiction books she has read.  And, she labeled pics of kids playing in the snow with :) and :( depending upon whether they were dressed correctly or not.

Toothbrush painting... This is her snow scene - complete with a hill to slide down and a moon to light the way...

What is home?  Is it just the building you dwell in?  Is it the four walls that contain you and all your stuff?  Not to me.  That is what I used to consider home.  But, now home is KY.  I miss "home" so much.  We have been in TX for almost 8 months, and it is not home.  Home is KY and the church we attended there.  Home is KY and all the friends I left behind.  Home is KY and my old MOPS group.  Home is KY and the youth group The Teenager was a part of.  Home is KY and the dance studio and favorite ballet teacher The Princess had to leave.  Home is KY and the friends The Wild One still talks to on the phone every now and again. 

I do believe that God had/has a purpose in us moving to TX.  I do know that it is my job as an obedient child to say "Yes, sir" and follow that call.  And, I did.  I also know that in time His purpose will be revealed.  I know that The Princess will someday fall in love with our new dance studio and her new wonderful ballet teacher.  I know that The Teenager has found a new "home" in his Young Life group.  I know that The Wild One has found a new "home" in his buddies here in the neighborhood.  I also know that if I would move just a little bit outside my comfort zone, I would probably find a "home" in the new church we have begun attending. 

I know that Satan knows my weak spots.  I do not like change.  I do not like meeting new people.  I do not like joining new groups (Sunday School, etc).  And, I have made a decision to not allow Satan to have that stronghold over me any longer.  I will "step out" on those days when I just want to stay home because I don't know anybody.  And, I know that one day soon, Texas will be "HOME".  Until then, I will continue to pray for a new "home" here.

Posted in Homeschool

We are on Spring Break this week.  But, I am beginning to plan next week's lessons.  We will be finishing up stars for Astronomy.  We will finish exploring North America and head to South America (and the rainforest) for geography.  The Wild One will begin reading Neil Armstrong, and The Princess and I will read The Tale of Peter Rabbit.  I will read aloud Capyboppy and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as we move to the South American rainforests.  I will make a North America review game for the kids, and I may make one to review the planets.  That all depends upon how productive I am this week...

 

Posted in Family

We are on Spring Break this week (since The Teenager is).  I have a monster to-do list.  Hopefully, I can accomplish most (if not all) of it.

• Have each child help clean bedrooms/closet sorting through clothes/toys for consignment/yard sales        The Princess     The Wild One      The Teenager
• Clean and organize sewing room
• Clean and organize school room
• Purchase fabric for curtains in The Princess's room, living room, and sitting room
• Order wall border the The Wild One's room
• Plant flowers around both trees in the front yard
• Restock freezer with muffins (at least 6-8 dozen)
• Plan the following units:  rain forest, Neil Armstrong, desert, The Cricket in Times Square
• dentist appointments for the kids and I
• Head to dance store for new ballet slippers
• Go to mall for a return, buy baby gift
• Ship notebooks to Grandma in TN and books for paper back swap
• Scrapbook with The Princess and Wii tourney with the boys
• Get house picked up before mother-in-law comes Thursday
• Plan and create lapbook for "A Little Princess in the Making" for my Princess - I plan on using this as a Bible study for training her up to be a "girl of grace"

 

Posted in Lapbooking

I love this book.  The Princess and I read/studied this book a week or so ago while we were all in Canada in Geography.  It's about a little girl living in Canada who is going to wak under the ice and collect mussels by herself for the first time.  We used the unit study at HSS.  You can find additional lesson ideas in Five in a Row Vol. 1.  In this unit, The Princess and I studied Canada, Inuit people, animals that live in tide pools, and memories of "first times". 

             

 

Posted in Bible

I posted in a previous note about our Bible memory system.  Someone commented and wanted more of an explanation.  So, here goes...

First, we start each day reading from this Bible... (Sorry, can't get the pic to load right, but if you click the "x" it will take you to Amazon.) 

     

After that, we work on our memory verses.  We use the method on Charlotte Mason's website. I have been very pleased with how much the kids are retaining (and me).  We have 13 cards in our file so far (we started this after Christmas break).  I do find that for now, I do have to trigger their memory with the first word or two of the verse.  But, I hope to eliminate this the further we get in our box.

Posted in Workboxes

It is amazing what a new system will do for your day.  Ami posted about Sue Patrick's Workbox System  on the HSS forums.  After looking around Sue's website and purchasing/reading her book, I had to try it for myself.  WOW!  I have always considered myself a fairly organized and structured person.  But, sometimes I am too structured.  I have a hard time following rabbit trails in our school day, because it "isn't on my schedule".  I find myself looking at things online and in books and thinking about how fun The Princess or The Wild One would think "it" is, but I don't follow through with it because "there isn't enough time".  Well, now there is!!  We started this system yesterday (yep, only used it once and already singing its praises). 

The concept is that you have 12 numbered boxes for each child.  Each box holds an assignment or activity for that child.  If the assignment/activity requires help/instruction from mom (math, spelling, etc) then the box is tagged with a "work with mom" card.  (see pics below)  Believe it or not, I now find time in my day for the fun stuff I couldn't fit in before.  One huge thing this system does for me is that it virtually eliminates "wait" time.  I don't have to send someone to "find something quiet to do" while I finish working with the other child.  Now, I can stagger the instruction lessons, and they work independently the rest of the time.

Here's what our days look like now.  I've posted a sample schedule below.

We start school at 9:00 with me reading from the Bible and reviewing our memory verses.  Then we do our science (MW) or Geography (TR) lesson together.  After that, we break for snack.  After snack, they start their boxes.  They work through their boxes until noon when we break for lunch.  After lunch, I read from our read-aloud book before the kids go back to their boxes to work until they are finished.

The Princess (K):

1. Add date to wall calendar and complete math journal
2. Structured reading with Mom (this has our reading book for the week – Baby in a Basket – and the minit books we will complete today to go with it)
3. Journal – If I had a hot air balloon, I would go…(She has to write that sentence starter, finish the sentence, and draw a picture.)
4. Math workbook page and flash cards with mom
5. Free Reading (She chooses a book/books to read for 15 minutes.  She then narrates one story/chapter to me.)
6. Phonics sort – matching picture cards to the correct short vowel sound
7. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – read book on her own, stamp “s” in a “S is for Star” minit book, glue pics into a “Who did she see sleeping” minit book
8. Spelling with mom
9. Spin a Shape game
10. Gingerbread Man to read aloud to Mom
11. Shamrock matching game
12. Shamrock tracing page for fine motor practice

The Wild One (5th grade)

1. Correct math lesson from yesterday.  Set timer for 5 minutes and complete timed test.
2. Free reading for 30 minutes
3. Math Test
4. Spelling with Mom
5. Typing for 10 minutes
6. Mad Libs x2 (printed and in his box)
7. Grammar lesson
8. Dice math – roll 2 dice and combine numbers to form two 2-digit numbers which he will then multiply
9. Writing Strands lesson
10. Structured Reading – Stone Fox
11. Track your musher (updates his Iditarod musher’s statistics on his record sheet and does the math involved – how long has he rested in total, how many more miles to go, etc)
12. Mexico word search (our country this week for Geography)

The word searches, sorting games, etc are things I would have had a hard time fitting in my day before this system.  Because I can add a few fun learning activities in their boxes throughout the day, I don't hear "what do I do now". 

This is The Princess working this morning.  You can see our boxes under the window.  The boxes stacked to the right of the rack are ones she has already worked through.  She can see her work load diminish as the day goes on.

This is a close-up of the numbered box.  The tag above the number "4" lets her know to come get me for the lesson.

Here is a post-it with lesson instructions on it.  She shouldn't have to ask me "what do I do?". 

The clock tag lets her know to set the timer for a determined amount of time (here it's 15 minutes).  When the timer beeps, this activity/assignment is over. 

Posted in Book Review

This book grabbed me from the beginning.  I am amazed by this young girl's faith and trust in the Lord.  Rachel's journal entries really opened my eyes.  I am amazed at the depth of her understanding of what it means to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding".  She was proclaiming her love for her heavenly Father right to her very last breath.  Am I that brave?  Do I trust Him enough to do that?  I like to think I do.    My eyes are definitely open a bit wider as to what can happen when I trust in the answer to the prayers I voice.  I highly recommend this book.  It has definitely encouraged me in my walk...

Posted in Homeschool

We had a pretty light week last week.  We had a late start day (which turned in to a no school day).  We had to cut out a few group lessons one afternoon when The Princess fell asleep during her quiet time.    So, this week we are getting back on track. 

We're moving steadily through our math books.  The Wild One will be working on fractions (multiplying them, finding equivalent ones, and changing improper ones to mixed numbers).  The Princess will be working on counting by 2's/3's and counting change.  She'll also continue working on her subtraction facts and figuring perimeter. 

We'll continue working through our Iditarod/Alaska unit.  The kids are so excited about this unit. 

Last week, I introduced The Wild One to dictation, and it is sooooo not his favorite thing.  This week I will continue this with him.  We are currently using passages from The Year of Miss Agnes.  The Princess is going to take a break from copywork to finish the last few pages from her handwriting workbook (purchased before I decided to do copywork). 

For science, we will be visiting Pluto.  While there, we will discuss freezing, and we'll make ziploc ice-cream.  I'll be sure to post pics (and kid reviews) of this activity! 

We're in Canada this week for Geography.  This week we will be finishing some workbook pages we started last week and doing a salmon lapbook.  Friday, we will head to the USA as we continue our study of North America.  We will start our study with learning about our flag, Betsy Ross, and reviewing the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Last week we started a new spelling program in our quest to make it "click" for The Wild One.  We started using All About Spelling.  I am really impressed so far with how they start out the program teaching ALL sounds that each letter makes.  It's been great.  I think it's really clicking, finally.  This week, we will continue working through level one.  The Princess is at step 5 and The Wild One's at step 9. 

The Wild One is working on a 3 paragraph memory selection from Intermediate Language Lessons this week.  We'll also work on abbreviations and letter writing.

The Princess has asked to lapbook Lentil this week.  I've still got to look at the FIAR lesson book for plans.  The Wild One will contine reading The Year of Miss Agnes (a book set in Alaska - like the Iditarod).

Posted in Delight Directed Learning

Well, we are ready to embark on our Iditarod study.  This is a unit The Wild One has been asking to do since last year (after the Iditarod was run).  This is the first "big" unit I have prepared on my own.  I did use a few lapbook pieces from Homeschool Share which I will link below.  I also used an outline prepared and posted at Homeschool in the Woods.  I will post pics at the end of each week as we go along.

Here's our general outline...

Lesson 1:  Origins of the Iditarod

I will read MUSH!.  I will then read some online info about the Iditarod. Afterward, we will complete lapbook pieces about race details (how long is it, how many trails, etc).  We will work on coloring our wall map and labeling checkpoint on that map.  The Wild One will read chapters 1-3 in Balto and the Great Race.  The Princess will read pages 1-15 in The True Story of Balto.  

Lesson2:  The 1925 Serum Run to Nome

We will discuss diphtheria.  Then, I will read The Great Serum Run.  I will also read the chapter about Balto in Five True Dog Stories.  We will lapbook the pieces about Balto from HSS.  On these pieces we will discuss the purpose of the mission, the danger of crossing the frozen river and how Balto acccomplished that, how long Balto's run was, and we will trace the route.  The Wild One will read chapters 4-7 in Balto and the Great Race.  The Princess will read pages 16-29 in The True Story of Balto.

Lesson 3:  History of the Iditarod and Records

We will discuss the history of the Iditarod.  We will lapbook some Iditarod records found on the internet.  I will read Storm Run.  The Wild One will read chapters 8-10 in Balto and the Great Race.  The Princess will read pages 30-40 in The True Story of Balto.

Lesson 4:  Traditions

Today is a short lesson.  I will read Togo.  We will discuss and lapbook the Widow's Lamp and the Red Lantern.  Both kids will finish their Balto books.

Lesson 5:  Mushers

Today we will each pick our mushers.  We will read some online bios and print out pitures of "our" mushers.  We will attach these to our wall map.  Once the race starts, we will track our mushers through each checkpoint to see how they do daily.  After choosing our mushers, the kids will fill out a biography sheet for their mushers.  We will then play "musher".  After discussing some common musher commands, the kids will try to follow the commands I (the musher) call out. They will also do the drawing portion of the Arctic People page in our Draw Write Now book.  I will read Akiak.  The Wild One will read Susan Butcher:  Sled Dog Racer.  The Princess will read Arctic Fives Arrive (1/2 the book).

Lesson 6:  Mushing Basics

Today we'll talk about dog sleds.  We'll discuss the difference between basket sleds and toboggan sleds (info from a Sled Dogs lapbook for purchase at Currclick.com).  We will compare these sleds on a Venn diagram.  We will look at pictures of dog sleds and discuss the parts of a dog sled.  We will also have a short discussion (and complete a Venn diagram) comparing the Iditarod to the Jr. Iditarod.  After these discussions, the kids will create their own dog sleds out of craft sticks.  I will read Iditarod Dream.  The Wild One will read chapters 4-6 about Susan Butcher, and The Princess will finish Arctic Fives Arrive.

Lesson 7:  Cold Weather

We'll complete a lapbook piece about Alaska's climate.  We'll talk about how insulation keeps polar animals warm.  Then we will do a "blubber" experiment.  We'll talk about how mushers would survive in Alaska's climate.  What would they have to wear?  What would they sleep in?  They'll do the drawing/coloring portion of the Polar Bear in our Draw Write Now books.  I will read Animals in Winter, Recess at 20 Below, and pages 8-11 in Arctic Expedition. The Wild One will read Ookpik (about a snowy owl), and The Princess will read Snowy Owl at Home on the Tundra.

Lesson 8:  Arctic Animals

Isaac has chosen to do an animal report on the Arctic fox, and Emma has chosen to learn about arctic animals and their babies.  The kids will do the copywork portion of the Draw Write Now lesson.  Mom will read Ice Bear and Little Fox.  The Wild One will read Arctic Fox and p. 11 in Arctic Alphabet.  The Princess will read Who Grows Up in the Snow.

Lesson 9:  Sled Dogs

We will discuss sled dogs.  We'll talk about what kinds of dogs are used and how they are trained for racing.  We will make felt booties and cook some "dog biscuits" (cookies).  We will also talk about the anatomy of a dog team.  I will read Kiana's Iditarod.  The Wild One will read Sled Dogs, and The Princess will read Dog Team.

Lesson 10:  Alaska

We'll now focus on the state of Alaska.  We will learn about when/how Alaska became a state.  We'll learn about Alaska's geography and why it's called "The Land of the Midnight Sun".  Mom will read pages 110-111 in Quilt of States and Under Alaska's Midnight Sun.  The Wild One will read pages 1-23 in A Child's Alaska.  The Princess will read Hello, Arctic.

Lesson 11:  Native Alaskans

Inuits and igloos are the topics of the day today.  We will do the igloo Draw Write Now lesson.  We will also make igloos out of mini-marshmallows.  I will read Igloo, pages 24-27 in Arctic Expedition, and page 14 in Arctic Alphabet.  The Wild One will finish A Child's Alaska, and The Princess will read Carry Me, Mama.

Lesson 12:  Aurora Borealis

What Alaska study is complete with a discussion of the aurora borealis?  Not ours.  We will talk about what it is, how it is formed, and where you can find it.  The kids will then paint their own aurora borealis.  I will read Northern LIghts and page 6 in Arctic Alphabet.  The Wild One will read pages 1-28 in The Bite of the Gold Bug, and The Princess will read Mama Do You Love Me?

Lesson 13:  Gold Rush and Black Gold

We'll discuss the Gold Rush and the Alaska Pipeline oil spill.  Not sure what I will read yet.  The Wild One will finish reading The Bite of the Gold Bug, and The Princess will read Aunt Lulu. 

 

Once we have completed each of these activities, we will contine to track our mushers until the race is finished. 

 

 

 

Posted in Family

     We had some painting to do around the house this past weekend, and The Princess REALLY wanted to help.  Well, ya know 5yo + carpet + REAL paint= disaster.  USUALLY!  Daddy had the great idea to let her "help".  We pulled the drop cloth out of the school room, handed her a foam paint brush, and let her "have at it".  After all, as Daddy said, when else can you ever paint pictures on a wall without getting in trouble!

Posted in Lapbooking

We absolutely LOVED this unit!!  We read a chapter a day, and we lapbooked each chapter.  During the course of this unit we learned about:

• the differences between the Arctic and Antarctica
• there are 17 species of penguins, and they all live in the southern hemisphere
• adjectives, alliteration, alphabetical order, compound words, and contractions
• calculated bus fare and bail for Mr. Popper and his 12 penguins
• an artist's use of contrast
• seals, krill, polar bears, and penguins

We had so much fun.  The kids looked forward to this unit every day.

Here are the pics of The Princess's notebook:

 

Here is The Wild One's notebook...

 

We used the lapbook components from Homeschool Share and the Easy Make and Learn: Penguins book from Scholastic. 

 

Posted in Family

While in TN over the holidays, we had a nite out.  We left all the kids with my parents and headed to Chili's for dinner and a drink.  It was so nice.  We were so glad that our lovely college cousin wanted to come hang out with all the "old people"!

Brother and Brother-in-Law

That crazy college cousin of ours...

My sweetie and I

My Tennessee sister and her hubby

Ahhh...The Sisters!!!

That TN sister again... Isn't she lovely?

 

 

Posted in Family

We spent New Year's Eve in Missouri with my inlaws.  Hubby and the brother-in-law went to hang out with some friends.  Mother-in-law and I tried to have a New Year's Eve party with the kids.  We started the night having the kids decorate party hats.  They each picked out their own hat - even The Wild One.  The Princess and the Alabama Niece were asleep by 10:30.  The Wild One made it till 11:30.  He fell asleep watching a poker tournament waiting for the ball to drop.  When the kids got up the next morning, they decorated the gingerbread men they were supposed to do on NYE.  I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!

The Wild One was so proud of his "hat".   He's such a goof ball!! 

 

The first one asleep...

The sleepy niece was #2

And, they're all gone...

The next morning the girls decorated their gingerbread cookies...

All in all, it was a pretty good evening. 

Posted in Homeschool

After posting about our schedule, I thought I would explain a bit about what our subject matter looks like. 

Warm-up:  The Princess adds the calendar number to our wall calendar.  Then we work on our Bible memory things.  I am working my way through Charlotte Mason's suggested Bible memory list.  For our read-aloud/unit study I choose a book to read-aloud to the kids.  Every other book I read has a lapbook/unit study to go along with it.  I choose our books from Sonlight's read-aloud schedule.

Handwriting ~ The Wild One is using A Reason for Handwriting.  He has a short handwriting lesson 3 days a week.  On the fourth day, he writes his handwriting passage on bordered paper.  This will be his last year for a traditional handwriting program.     The Princess is also using A Reason for Handwriting.  She practices writing a different letter each day.  Then on the back side of the page is a color sheet.  Next year we will be switching to Draw Write Now.

Math ~ The Wild One is using Saxon 65.  I absolutely love this math curriculum.  Each day (excluding test day), he does a bit of memory work, a timed test, writes notes in his notebook, and then completes his lesson.       The Princess is using Alpha Omega Horizon Math.  She also does a math journal.  In her journal, she fills in the date, updates her weather graph, does tally marks for the days in the month, and counts how many days we've been in school.  Then she adds a journal entry (for example, I see two apples and 3 bananas.  How many pieces of fruit do I see?)  Then, I help her complete her math workbook page. 

Science ~ We just started using the elementary Apologia books this year.  We love them.  This year we are doing Astronomy.  I am amazed with how much the kids have been able to retain.  I do a read-aloud each day pertaining to the topic.  These books are anything from Magic School Bus to Seymour Simon books.  Whatever I can find at the library.  Then I read the lesson from our text aloud to the kids.  After I read the lesson, the kids fill in their lapbook pieces.  At the end of each unit, there are a few activities/projects that we do together.  The Wild One can't wait for the Anatomy book to be written and released in time for next year!

Geography - We are Galloping the Globe.  We study roughly one country per week.  I read-aloud each day here, too.  I try to have a "pattern" to how we study the country.  Day One is fact day.  We map it, talk about the flag, and do some lapbook pieces from www.homeschoolshare.com.  Day Two we study a famous person.  It may be a scientist (like Louis Pasteur/France) or an artist (like Michelangelo) or a king/queen/explorer, etc.  Day Three is our animal study day.  Each of the children is assigned an animal to study.  They will complete lapbook pieces or a short animal report.  Then they will add an animal card to the animal classification board.  Day Four is a miscellaneous day.  We study another famous person, if necessary.  If there is a picture book with a lapbook that goes with it for the country we are studying, we may do part of that on this day.  We then add that person to our timeline.  On Day Five, we finish up any facts we didn't cover on Day One.  We review what we have learned.  And, I try to cook something from that country. 

English ~ The Wild One is working his way through Bob Jones English.  I like that writing is incorporated into this curriculum.  Every other chapter is grammar, and the others are writing. 

Phonics ~ The Princess is working quickly through Saxon Phonics K.  She is a good reader, but I want her to have the phonics foundation to be able to sound out bigger words and spell them.  We are also using online sight words lessons (carl's corner).  In these activities, she is learning to use words in context with fill-in-the-blank activities.  She also reads a little paragraph and answers comprehension questions.  She enjoys these.

Spelling ~ The Wild One is using A Reason for...  In addition to the daily worksheet/activity, he writes his spelling words 5x each.  He really struggles with spelling so we are trying the 5x each thing for a while.  I want to see if he is able to retain the spelling of these words after the review lessons.  The Princess has asked to do spelling like her brother, so she has 5 words each week.  I figure this just gets her in the routine for later on.

Reading ~ I require my kids to read silently in their rooms for 30 minutes most days.  These are books that they choose themselves.  They do not have to be "theme"-related.  In addition to this, I also teach reading.  The Wild One is reading chapter books that have lapbooking/notebooking pages that go along with them.  This allows me to check his reading comprehenison.  The Princess uses a combination of Five in a Row and Homeschool Shares units.  Her books either relate to the country we are studying in Geography or to the season. 

Posted in Homeschool

Olympus Mons... homeschool style!!  The kids had SO much fun making this volcano today.  We just finished up our unit on Mars.  While studying Mars, we learned that Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the entire solar system.  With a combination of salt dough, baking soda, and vinegar we erupted a volcano right in the kitchen.  They couldn't wait until Dad got home so they could show him, as well. 

 

Posted in Homeschool

The kids had so much fun today.  We decided to go on a walk and gather nature items.  You'll see that we don't have much variety in the neighborhood so next time we'll go to the park.  However, the kids were able to gather up enough items to have fun.  They brought their nature things home and used them to make faces on the driveway.  The princess (ever the perfectionist) made one, while The Wild One made the rest.  I was so surprised that HE was the one who got into the project. 

Afterwards, The Wild One decided to make an "all-natural" robot with his leftovers.  Then, the Princess had to make a "Princess" with hers.  Would you expect any less? 

Here are some pics of their creations...