Gilgamesh the King
This week we read a few exciting books. Since we are now finished with the Frances Study Guide, I used The Raft, by Jim LaMarche as Anastasia's book for this week. This is a beautifully illustrated story about a young boy discovering his love of nature and art. It captures the river habitat perfectly, and allows the reader to explore the river with Nicky (the story's main character). 
We did a scaled down Five in a Row style unit. She made a character map, narrated the story to me and learned about muskrats. Every morning for the past two weeks we've worked on identifying pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and making patterns using the coins. She still struggles to get them all straight.
The Raft, was one of Tristan's books for science class. He learned about rivers this week as we continued our Earth science unit. This story worked well for both children. Tristan also enjoyed a few other books exploring rivers and their habitats (see book list below). We also enjoyed making a volcano for our science project. The ingredients are: 1/2 tbsp. active dry yeast and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide. When these two are mixed in a small jar they bubble profusely creating an exothermic reaction- touch the spoon used to stir the concoction-. We put a heavy paper cone over the cup, and the bubbles poured out the top and made a great volcano. The kids loved it! (Last week we learned about Volcanoes).
I noticed that Tristan needed a little help with his pattern solving skills - thank you Saxon Math for including a pattern each day on the Meeting strip. Anyway, I decided to explore patterns and solve a few each morning. We even got Gwendolyn involved in the pattern play as she's attempting to learn her alphabet and colors and shapes. While keeping it light, I am seeing improvement. I used the book Pattern Play, by Brian P. Cleary as a jumping off point. (The older two kids have enjoyed the addition and subtraction games on-line at: brianpcleary.com.)
We fininshed Adam and His Kin, by Ruth Beechick and read Wil Mara's book about Mesopotamia, as well as a book about the Sumerians, by Odijk. Tristan began disliking history lessons. Understandable, however, one book we read this week was actually interesting! Gilgamesh the King, by Ludmila Zeman.
When I pre-read this one, I thought, "I don't think this is a good story for my children." Then I read the afterward, which informs the reader that this is the oldest written story in history, written by the Sumerians in cuneiform on clay tablets. Some of the tablets we still have today! I realized that I had to read this story to my children. They had a difficult time keeping the story straight when I asked them to narrate back to me, but I asked a few comprehension questions as prompters and that helped. The illustrations in this book are really nice. It is apparent that Zeman did her homework on this one.
In language this week we learned about adjectives. Fun!
We also really enjoy our Latin lessons in Song School Latin 2 and Prima Latina. I appreciate the content provided by Prima Latina, however, the lessons are dry. The two curriculums work well in conjunction with one another. We are learning so much!
Our art projects this week were fun water art projects. Water color quickly on paper and then add salt for a fun effect. Water color and while wet cover with Saran wrap for a cool effect. This lady http://artfulparent.com/2009/10/watercolors-leaves-and-saran-wrap-a-new-way-to-make-leaf-prints.html used leaves, this is something I will have to try in the next few weeks!
Resources enjoyed this week and since my last post:
The First Drawing, Mordecai Gerstein
The Librarian on the Roof, Mirriam Grace King
Let's Explore a River, Jane R. McCauley
The Water's Journey, Eleanor Schmid
The Floating House, Scott Russell Sanders
All the Water in the World, George Ella Lyon
We did a scaled down Five in a Row style unit. She made a character map, narrated the story to me and learned about muskrats. Every morning for the past two weeks we've worked on identifying pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and making patterns using the coins. She still struggles to get them all straight.
The Raft, was one of Tristan's books for science class. He learned about rivers this week as we continued our Earth science unit. This story worked well for both children. Tristan also enjoyed a few other books exploring rivers and their habitats (see book list below). We also enjoyed making a volcano for our science project. The ingredients are: 1/2 tbsp. active dry yeast and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide. When these two are mixed in a small jar they bubble profusely creating an exothermic reaction- touch the spoon used to stir the concoction-. We put a heavy paper cone over the cup, and the bubbles poured out the top and made a great volcano. The kids loved it! (Last week we learned about Volcanoes).
I noticed that Tristan needed a little help with his pattern solving skills - thank you Saxon Math for including a pattern each day on the Meeting strip. Anyway, I decided to explore patterns and solve a few each morning. We even got Gwendolyn involved in the pattern play as she's attempting to learn her alphabet and colors and shapes. While keeping it light, I am seeing improvement. I used the book Pattern Play, by Brian P. Cleary as a jumping off point. (The older two kids have enjoyed the addition and subtraction games on-line at: brianpcleary.com.)
We fininshed Adam and His Kin, by Ruth Beechick and read Wil Mara's book about Mesopotamia, as well as a book about the Sumerians, by Odijk. Tristan began disliking history lessons. Understandable, however, one book we read this week was actually interesting! Gilgamesh the King, by Ludmila Zeman.
When I pre-read this one, I thought, "I don't think this is a good story for my children." Then I read the afterward, which informs the reader that this is the oldest written story in history, written by the Sumerians in cuneiform on clay tablets. Some of the tablets we still have today! I realized that I had to read this story to my children. They had a difficult time keeping the story straight when I asked them to narrate back to me, but I asked a few comprehension questions as prompters and that helped. The illustrations in this book are really nice. It is apparent that Zeman did her homework on this one.
In language this week we learned about adjectives. Fun!
We also really enjoy our Latin lessons in Song School Latin 2 and Prima Latina. I appreciate the content provided by Prima Latina, however, the lessons are dry. The two curriculums work well in conjunction with one another. We are learning so much!
Our art projects this week were fun water art projects. Water color quickly on paper and then add salt for a fun effect. Water color and while wet cover with Saran wrap for a cool effect. This lady http://artfulparent.com/2009/10/watercolors-leaves-and-saran-wrap-a-new-way-to-make-leaf-prints.html used leaves, this is something I will have to try in the next few weeks!
Salt effect
Saran Wrap Effect
Resources enjoyed this week and since my last post:
The First Drawing, Mordecai Gerstein
The Librarian on the Roof, Mirriam Grace King
Let's Explore a River, Jane R. McCauley
The Water's Journey, Eleanor Schmid
The Floating House, Scott Russell Sanders
All the Water in the World, George Ella Lyon
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