Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Math for the year...




This year we're continuing to use Math U See for our main math curriculum. Princess enjoyed it last year, but it seems we were missing a bit. This year I've linked MUS Beta with various living books and fun activities. I also added extended units on measurement, geometry, and the calendar. Living Math has an extensive list of books for almost every math subject. This was a tremendous help to me. And I don't know if this happens to just me, but I have all these fabulous manipulatives, games, and Montessori cards, but never use them quite as much. This year I linked it all together in one place. Here's the word document that links it all together. And then there's my Big Boy who loves to do what big sissy is doing. I did order the MUS primer, but will use it loosely and link a lot of living books with it. I'm finishing up the word documents and will upload when done.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

2011-2012 Curriculum





Princess/2nd Grade









Phonics: Explode the Code
books 5 and 6


Spelling: CHC



Writing: CHC









Unit Study: Around the World













Big Boy Preschool/Kindergarten




Math: Various Math Games, Montessori, and living math books. Although he's wanted to do Math U See for a while. I will probably use the Primer loosely with him.



Phonics: Continue with Starfall, Before the Code A,B,C, and Montessori movable alphabet.




Writing: He really wants to learn how to write this year--huge, huge goal of his. How can I deny a kid so eager to learn? We'll introduce each letter corresponding with what letter we're on with Bible ABC's book. We'll use play dough letter mats, Handwriting without tears manipulative, and Little Folks Letter Practice and Little Folks Number Practice.


Science: Wonders of the Animal Kingdom with Princess.



Unit Study: Around the World



Religion: Celebrating the Liturgical Year, While Princess is preparing for first Communion I linked up with Who Am I series. Years ago when Princess used this book series, I created lapbooks for each chapter. I've added to them over the years to include various other materials.


Foreign Language: De Colores CD and Songbook.



Little Bear/ Tot School



Seriously, I'm finding I need to have a few things for her to do as well. She gets extremely upset if she is not included in our studies. Did I mention she thinks she's turning 5 on her next birthday. Let me remind you she just turned two! Along with the usual tot type of activities we're going to try a few tot packs and create sensory bins to go with each theme.

First Communion Preparation

This year Princess is preparing for her first Holy Communion in the spring. Inspired by Sara at Amongst Lovely Things, I organized a few things together for a Communion Scrapbook for Princess to complete. I hope it will be a treasured piece for her.

Here are the documents organizing all sources:





The Wonders of the Animal Kingdom

The Kratt Brothers have invaded my house! If you're not familiar with them yet, they are two brothers who believe they are creature teachers. Truly, this show has opened up a floodgate of curiosity about animals with the kids. Why not learn more about the wonders of animals this year for science? As a spine we'll be using the Childcraft About Animals Book. This book is not dry as most encyclopedias tend to be, but instead is written in a conversational manner geared for kids. It is quite a gem in my own opinion. Along with the animals book, we'll round out our studies using other books to further our study. I've included a document that individually lists each book. And lastly, we'll create a simple notebook using various lapbook components from Homeschool Share.

North America

Culture







Folktales














Animal/Habitat

Polar Bears HSS Polar Animals Lapbook

History







South America

Culture




Folktales




Animal/Habitat


Homeschool Share Lapbook






Austrailia

Culture



Folktales


Homeschool Share Lapbook



Animal/Habitat

Coral Reefs






Homeschool Share Lapbook

Animal/Habitat





Homeschool Share Lapbook

Monday, August 22, 2011

Second Grade Grammar

How in the world do letters turn into words, words into sentences, and sentences into stories? This year we're going on a grammar adventure using a few different sources to guide us along the way.



Book Basket






Language of God (supplement as needed)



Brian Cleary Books (fun series of books to extend our study)



Ruth Heller Books (another fun series of books to extend our study)



Various Montessori Activities


Google Document that organizes all sources.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Destination Asia

Africa

Grab Your Passport

Book Basket









Around the World

This school year we will travel the world over and visit many places. Inspired by the gals from Serendipity, I've compiled booklists to help our world travels.



We will focus on one continent at a time. While visiting that continent we will learn about the culture, read folktales, learn about a certain habitat and/or animal, and lastly history will have a focus on ancient civilizations. We're off to grab our passports and pack our bags for an amazing year of exploration and travel.










Main Book Basket

































Wednesday, May 4, 2011

It's a Chick Party!!!

To celebrate the chicks going to their new home, a friend's micro farm, the kids decided to have a chick party to send the wee ones on their way.
On the Menu
No chicken!!! (Ha)
The kids enjoyed building their own chicks with various food items.
PB&J Chick Sandwiches
(We used potato bread for the yellow color)
Pineapple & Mandarin Orange Chicks
Lemonade garnished with orange slices
Trail mix served in chick cupcake holders
A simple chick cake





Before dropping the chicks off, the kids enjoyed playing with the chicks one last time.

And lastly, here is our chicks new home with a few dozen of their newest friends!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Pictures of Lent and Easter


Our Jesus Tree Stations of the Cross



Resurrection Rolls


Easter Baskets and Sacrifice Beans

Annual Easter Egg Hunt



Coloring East Eggs

Happy Easter



Thursday, April 28, 2011

Robin's nest day #2



As if life is not complicated enough with the chicks, we have this brave robin that decided to make a nest outside my bedroom window. I thinks she's become quite familiar with all our faces peering at her behind the glass.

Today's latest count

Chick #7...Did you know brown chicks come out of brown eggs. The kiddos were so excited to see what color chick would finally emerge from the brown egg.
Chick #8...I'm amazed at how tired they are when they hatch. They sleep on and off, but within 24 hours are fluffy and playfully with one another. As seen by the brood below.


Now we incubated 12 eggs total. 8 hatched and seem to be thriving. The other four eggs are a bit questionable. One chick pipped through, but there has been no movement in a day and a half. The other three eggs appear to not even have a pip in them. We shall see what happens. My sister in-law read that it could take up to 25-26 days for some to hatch. I'm hoping this is the case.

First batch out of the incubator

And into the brooder box.


We opted for a simple, see through brooder box so the kiddos could view them. We must have it up high on a counter top to keep our dog from getting too curious! The heat lamp is clamped to cabinets above the counter in our laundry/mudroom. The chicks seem to like their new home, but man they are messy buggers. I need to change the paper towels 4 times a day. Otherwise their feet and not to mention their fluffy down feathers would become encased in their excrement. Yucko!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Chick Number 6

Right after number six was hatched, the oldest chick kept kicking him. It was as if he was saying, "Get up man! Stop being a wimp!"

And look what's on my window sill

Yes, that would be a robin's nest. Now I need to research a robin's hatching process.