Week 19

Gibran

I learned about buoyancy.  I learned about how if something is floating in water, in order to sink to the bottom it has to weigh more than what it displaces in the water.  I did some puzzlers.  The first one was pretty easy.  It was about how you have to sink a sub in a tub of water.  It weighs one pound, but it displaces two pounds of water.  The second has man in a boat with a rock.  He throws it in the water.  You have to figure out if the water goes,  up, down or stays the same.  It goes down lower because the rock weighs ten pounds.  The last was a helium car. I learned about Prime numbers and how they only have two factors.  So, I have to find if they are prime and their factors.  I, also, learned about least common multiples.  And, how in order to find the least common multiples in two numbers is to multiply the numbers until you find the least common multiple.  For example, with 4 and 6 the least common multiple is 12.  I read my final chapters of the Water Seeker.  It was a really good book.  It was based in the West of the US.  It was 1850's.  It detailed the life of the fictional character Amos Kincaid and how he grew up.  His mom died and his guardian died.  Then his Dad, Jake, married an Indian named Blue Owl.  His Dad lost his leg in the story.  For History I learned about wagon trains and how people met and formed them when they were going West.  In Health, I learned how to deal with stress, diseases, drug abuse and how to find help.  

Porter

I did Math.  I learned subtraction world problems.  I did typing this week.  I just played mini-games to help improve my typing speed.  I am still reading the BFG.  They went hunting for dreams.  They caught a really good dream and a really bad dream.  Now they are going to give a bad dream to one of the other giants.  I did science.  We put baking soda and vinegar into a balloon and shook it up.  All the gas from the baking soda and vinegar made the balloon puff up.  We, also, did baking powder and vinegar.  It puffed up a lot more.  It puffed up from the carbon dioxide made for the baking powder and vinegar.  In First Language Lessons, I diagrammed sentences.  

Escher

Mom read to me from The Education of Little Tree.  Little Tree's parent's died.  So, he needs to live with his Grandpa and Grandma.  He moved to their house.  It's all the way up on the mountains.  They took the bus.  Then they walked in the dark up the mountains.  When they got at the house the hound dogs met them. The house was a log house with a long porch.  I added doubles like 5 + 5 = 10.  We put baking powder in a yellow ballon.  Then we added vinegar.  The we put baking soda in a orange balloon.  Then we added vinegar.  It puffed up a little bit.  They yellow was the biggest.  They puffed up because the  vinegar turned to gas.  

Week 18

I realize we haven't been putting our weekly reports on here this year.  So, I thought I would share this weeks report.  Maybe I will remember next week.

The Prophet-Grade 8

I learned about how I can use factors to do division problems.  I learned about density and about upthrust. When something pushes into water it comes back at it.  That thing can't float unless it's density is higher or the same as the water.  I finished my introductory paragraph for my Jump-in Writing assignment.  I worked on my cursive handwriting.  I did copywork on paragraphs about animal kingdoms and subgroups.  I answered questions about a picture in my Language Lessons book.  They were questions about what the people were doing.  Then I did a quick story about one of the characters from the picture.  I chose the boy in the picture because he seemed to be the most interesting to me.  I went on a walk.  It made my day start better.  

The Peacemaker-Grade 5

I did my Fizz Wizard and Jammin Jelly reaction kit for Science.  I did a soda pop reaction.  I put magic coloring crystals in water and it turned light purple.  I added baking soda and it bubbled.  I tasted it.  It was ok in the beginning, but the aftertaste was bad.  I, also, did a lemon juice reaction.  I did the same thing as the first experiment, but I added lemon juice.  It fizzed and turned the light purple liquid pink.  It tasted better than the first one.  In Math, I did long addition.  I added 84 + 45 + 60 + 25.  In the BFG, the little girl Sophie was hungry and the only thing she could eat was Snozzcumbers.  I read about the Mexican Revolution.

The Warrior-Grade 2

The first electric kitchen had a dishwasher.  It looked like a trash can with a lid.  People used the icebox refrigerator.  It had a giant block of ice in it.  The ice kept your food cold.  Then they started using the electric refrigerator instead.  I did some addition this week.  We read about Chief Crazy Horse.  They are making a giant mountain.  They are blowing up with dynamite.  Then a design is there.  There is his face.  They put the design of the horse on the side of the mountain.  I did some science.  I took a little plant pot. Then I put it in a plastic bowl.  I put some water in the little round weird looking bowl.  It soaked up the water.  It is clay and it doesn't have any paint on it.  So, it soaked it up because it had little tiny holes in it.

This is the new language program our oldest is using for the rest of the year.

Spelling Power

I just wrote this up on a message board I visit often.  So, I thought I could share here as well.  I use Spelling Power with my older two.  I personally won't do spelling with a child that isn't reading chapter books regularly and write really well. I have boys and I think they may be a bit different than girls in that area.  It has different levels.  You start with the A level.  Each small test will tests under one of those spelling "rules".  When you get to B you start over again.  I'm not fancy about it. My kids get a spiral notebook.  They do one test per page. They do one list at a time at their level.  I write the rule at the top of the page. Then they correct any missed words in their own handwriting.  They used to copy it three times. But, they are doing well enough that I don't require that anymore.  I like that I won't have to purchase another spelling book every again.  I just buy a new notebook when this one fills up.  

Sale at A Little Garden Flower ends November 30!

I really enjoyed our Grade 1 year with them last year.  If you are waiting for a deal on their curriculum please stop by before the end of November.  The guides are awesome.  They give you something to do everyday.  You get all the stories and instructions you need in a very easy to use format.  I love their curriculum!  Their prices are amazing for all that you get.  With a few simple supplies you can be up and running or um...homeschooling for a new year in no time flat.  Plus, you will find more time in your day for reading library books, playing outside, crafting or homeschooling the older children.

The sale is 15% off everything in the store.

A Peek into...the kitchen table.

We have an eat-in kitchen.  Since, it has a washable floor, that is where I make Science happen. Well, I don't make it. But, I do allow science things to happen in there.



One kid had stuffed piled up that was non-messy.  Messy stuff was on the uncovered side.  Not sure if that would have helped in case of a spill.  If you click over to flickr you can see notes and stuff.

Peek into...the desks.

I thought I would share.  I'm not sure why.  But, I've spent a good part of this Saturday cleaning our main living areas.  In this house, it is all one great open space.  Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room, and Homeschool Central.  I used to think open was nice. But, I really wish every room was smaller with a nice door I could close.



I admit to not cleaning my desk often.



The kids usually get a cleaning once a week.  I have been aiming for a once daily clean-up.  But, it did not happen this week.  And, honestly probably won't happen this next week either.

How our Year is going so far....October 2010.

I realize now that we have not participated in the weekly updates at The Well Trained Mind Forums.  I think we are just so busy this year.  We are doing pretty well and getting school work done.  But, organization in some areas is really lacking.  So, how about a nice what we did in October post...

The Warrior is in Grade 2 this year....

He is working through Oak Meadow 2 for most of his curriculum.  I am really happy I finally purchased this for one of my students.  I am thrilled with this curriculum and could really kick myself for not using it sooner.  It is flexible and yet concrete.  I don't think you need the extras I have included.  But, my student needs extra work in Phonics and Math.  We through in some Science Kits because I knew he would be jealous of his brothers kits.  We tried to do kits together last year and it wasn't as much fun.  He was really happy to get his own this year.  

He is using Hooked on Phonics to work on his reading skills.  He is still struggling, but there is some promise to learning to read on his own this year.  We just need to be consistent.  

He is working on Math U See Alpha because I just don't see OM math to be a good fit yet. 

He has finished up The Magic School Bus Human Body Kit.   

 

And, will be starting The Stepping into Science Kit soon.

The Peacemaker is in Grade 5 this year...

He is still in a more classical style.  I think I might move towards Oak Meadow for his for the next year, though.  I think it would fit better.  But, I just couldn't fit him into a grade for this year, plus he really wanted to finish up The Story of the World with is older brother.  

He is doing Teaching Textbooks 4 for Math.

First Language Lessons 3, Writing with Ease 2, and Italics Handwriting Book C for Language Arts.

He is studying Chemistry this year with The Elements by McHenry, plus a whole lot of kits we got from Home Science Tools.  

The Prophet is in Grade 8 this year...

We are a bit nervous about the upcoming start of High School.  I am trying not to push him to hard. I am trying to be a good homeschooling mom and realize I need to meet him where he is.  He isn't behind.  He is right where he needs to be and that is why we homeschool.  

He is working on Teaching Textbooks 6, Jump-In Writing Program, Italics Handwriting, The Elements by McHenry, Story of the World 4.