We used a paper folded in half (the equator) to draw our continent blobs on. The girls looked at the blob maps while doing their drawings. We ended up with several happy continents as the girls added their own smiley faces to each blob as embellishments. Have I ever told you how much I love working with young girls?!? Next, we located our map points in China using skittles. We traced the two rivers with our skittles before enjoying them. One the thing that I emphasized with the moms in attendance in the class on Friday, you do not have to worry about the precise pronunciation of the Chinese map points at this stage. I did pronounce the location according to what it says on the CD, however, there is debate as to other pronunciations that differ from what is spoken on there. When completing memory masters Julie has stated that her concern is that she can tell that the students know the difference between the three and that she can tell that they are close. Precision is up to your own desire as their teacher. I mostly focused on explaining the English interpretation (yellow and long) of the rivers after introducing the Chinese names first.
History
I provided 8 different pictures that represented key points to our history sentence. As we got to each girl's picture they raised it into the air so that each time we read or sang the history sentence the girls were moving in a wave pattern. I did briefly tell about some of the pictures such as Gandhi (the girls were not excited to be the one holding to old man) Queen Victoria (everyone wanted to be a queen) I also explained why I had a picture of kites flying for India's Independence (one way that they celebrate this day annually).
Science
We sang the History Sentence to O Christmas Tree.
What are some types of seed plants?
monocot, dicot, conifer. (x2)
After practicing this a couple of times we looked at an example of each. Monocot (popcorn kernel), Dicot (pea pod), Conifer (pine cone).
Latin
Same as last week. We studied the pictures to better understand the pronunciations and then sang the song along with the CD. We did notice a discrepancy between the pictures pronunciation and the CD. As I stated in the geography lesson the pronunciation in up to you as the teacher. I choose to teach my daughter what the CD says. As she gets older I will mostly focus on her spelling. Again, Julie has stated that there are multiple thoughts on precise pronunciation and that it is up to the mom as the teacher to make that judgment call on what direction to take with the teaching of this.
English
We practiced the motions for this week to go along with the video as well as all previous weeks.
Math
We had a great time practicing skip counting the 14s while having fun with a parachute. We sang the 14s as we walked in circles, raised and lowered and shook the parachute as a team. This was a great way to get everyone moving, to practice teamwork and to practice this week's memory work several times. Parachutes are great tools for gross motor activities when stuck inside or when enjoying school outside. They can be inexpensive (I found mine on clearance at Target). You can also borrow one for free from area lending libraries. I am a member of Partnership for Children of Johnston County (I do live in Wake County) where you can check out several materials such as this for an annual fee of $20.
Timeline
We practiced this weeks hand motions as seen in this video.
Tine Whistle
The Girls continue to do very well with this lesson. We practiced patience and self control as we put our tin whistles to sleep in the "sleeping bags". Next, we learned more about the staff, lines names, space names, and note names and values (eight note, quarter note, half note, whole note) while using a large staff made out of a shower curtain. Notes and line/space labels were all made using small black paper plates. We reviewed the parts of the tin whistle and then woke our tin whistles up. The girls did well as we practiced our left hand positions and played the beginning of Mary Had a Little Lamb.
Experiment
We had a blast dissecting two owl pellets. We discovered 5 rodent skeletons and talked about some of the different bones. The girls really enjoyed helping out with the process and discussing the bones and their purposes. I loved being a part of their discovery as we sifted through fur and bones together. They were exceptional scientist regardless of the role they took on in the process. I explained how owl pellets were created and what animals owls often ate. I emphasized God's amazing work in creating each animal on Earth and how special each creation was in their workings. It truly is amazing to focus on an individual animal such as the Owl and learn more about the detail and thought that God put into each of His creations. It would be an amazing extension project to focus on an animal each week and look at it from the perspective of God's provision in their life, bodies and environment.
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