December 3

I've seen this on some homeschool blogs and decided to keep a little list this week so I can make myself feel like we've accomplished something. Heh.

Language Arts

• Robin read through chapter 3 of American Tall Tales and did applicable unit work per Lesson Pathways. Scott Foresman Grammar and Writing chapter 1. Spelling Workout Lesson 3. Dance Mat typing. Read aloud and then attempted to explain the poem Barter by Sara Teasdale from Silver Pennies. Daily journaling.
• Wren read chapters 4-6 of Pippi Longstocking and did applicable unit work per Lesson Pathways. Scott Foresman Grammar and Writing Chapter 1. Spelling Workout Lessons 2-3. Read aloud and then explained Some One by Walter de la Mare from Silver Pennies. Daily journaling.
• Finch read BOB Books and worked from Explode the Code book 1. He did a little handwriting practice but we are mainly focusing on reading.
• They all read countless other books that I don't keep track of but I know for sure I saw Copper and the Madeline series strewn about. And everyone read aloud to baby sister.

Math

• Robin & Wren both worked a bit from Math Mammoth and played some strategy games.
• Finch worked from his Kumon books. We also played Uno and some other games from Family Math.

Science

• We are still keeping it quite simple. After learning about the winter habits of honeybees, we did a variation of the listed project (birdfeeder with honey) which we took from this book.  We watched the backyard all week to see who showed up to eat our treats.
• Wren wondered about the origins of man in her daily journaling, so we did some research about that together. We also remembered and sang My Brother the Ape, lol.
• This led to Finch asking questions about the size of dinosaurs, so of course, we had to look that up. 
• We made tin can telephones and talked about why we could or couldn't hear one another through our "phones"

Social Studies

two years ago

• Dec 1 marked the 55th anniversary of Montgomery Bus Boycott. We discussed passive resistance, racism, segregation and did an activity from Teaching Tolerance.
• Dec 1st was also World Aids Day. We talked in simple terms about HIV/AIDS.
• Even though we know a bit about Hanukkah having an immediate member of the family who celebrates, we read a little more about its history.
• We played listening games b/c when no one is listening, things can get nuts pretty fast. We played a "hot potato" type game where I counted out musical and they passed the "potato" on different beats. I think I read about it in Trust the Children. We also played Simon Says (I bet I could get them all out...and I did eventually!).

Notes for the week:

1. Despite saying that I was opting out of all activities this spring, it looks like we're joining a small co-op. Open mouth, insert foot. Story of my life.
2. I am considering switching Wren's math program to something requiring more instructor input and less mental math. I'm surprised to see she needs so much guidance when I thought Robin was the one who would need the help!
3. My printer had a fit and decided to reject an ink cartridge that was already in use. Seriously? Maybe it just couldn't handle the now daily usage that comes from us being homeschoolers. I'm in the market for a laser printer anyway.
4. I planned on buying a large world map...until I found one in my closet!
5. I'm also in the market for some "all-in-one" language arts and I think Writing Tales will fit the bill!