Thursday, October 27, 2011
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
Math: Math U See Beta
Spelling: CHC
Writing: CHC
Grammar: Grammar Adventure
Science: Wonders of the Animal Kingdom
Unit Study: Around the World
Bible: Bible ABC's
Foreign Language: De Colores CD and songbook
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.
Austrailia
CultureFolktales
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
The Words Book (Spine)
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.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Europe
Culture
Italy
Ireland
Germany
Folktales
Italy
Italy
Ireland
Germany
History
Ancient Greece
History
Ancient Rome
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Destination Asia
Culture
Middle East
Snow in Jerusalem
Sitti's Secrets
Silent Music
Three Cups of Tea
China
Bringing in the New Year
My First Chinese New Year
Usborne China
India
Monsoon
Elephant Dance
My Mother's Sari
Japan
K is for Kabuki
Folktales
Middle East
One City Two Brothers
Tunjur Tunjur
The Enchanted Stork
The Persian Cinderella
China
Story About Ping
Round is Mooncake
The Emperor and the Kite
Daisy Comes Home
Yeh-Shen
India
One Grain of Rice
Anklet for a Princess
Once a Mouse
Japan
Grandfather's Journey
A Red Pair of Clogs
Animal/Habitat
DK Eyewitness Desert
Camels
The Camel's Lament
Homeschool Share Camel Lapbook
Pandas
Giant Pandas
Homeschool Share Panda Lapbook
Africa
Culture
Kente Colors
Elizabeti's Doll
Galimoto
A Southern African Night
My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, And Me
Shanti to Zulu
Lost My Tooth in Africa
Mama Panya's Pancakes
For You are a Kenyan Child
Bringing Rain to Kapiti Plain
Beatrice's Goat
Folktales
Beat the Drum Pum-Pum
Anansi the Spider
Zomo the Rabbit
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
Animal/Habitat
The Waterhole
Honey, Honey Lion
African Critters
We All Went on a Safari
Here is the African Safari
History
Usborne Egyptians
See Inside Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt Sightseers
Miss Frizzle's Adventure
Bill And Pete Go Down the Nile
We're Sailing Down the Nile
How the Sphinx Got to the Museum
Mummies, Pyramids, and Pharaohs
Pharaohs Foot Soldiers
The Scarab's Secret
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 MenuNo 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
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.
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