lower case learning

Week in Review 10.30.11

2011-11-01T12:04:00.001-07:00

LANGUAGE ARTS

GRAMMAR- memorizing 50 most common prepositions (Avery)

COMPOSITION- outlines while reading nonfiction (Avery)

VOCABULARY- mono-, unus- (Avery)

READING- Peak; Trumpeter of Krakow (Avery) Dick and Jane (Miles)

HANDWRITING- lesson 1 (Avery) lesson 1 &2 (Miles)

SHAKESPEARE- act 1, scene 1 The Tempest with paper dolls

MATH

MATH LAB- corn ethanol investigation (Avery) pattern blocks/hexagons (Miles)

MAIN LESSON- quiz roots, rationalizing denominator 100%; radicals; extraneous answers; irrational numbers; imaginary numbers (Avery) Miquon 1&2 (Miles)

ORAL MATH-3 times tables (Avery) Plus 2 tables (Miles)

SCIENCE

DAYBOOK- National Geographic meltdown proof nuclear reactors (Avery)

NATURE- Tree leaves/keys

SOCIAL STUDIES

HISTORY- Religion in the Middle Ages; Charlemagne (Avery) Anglo-Saxons (Miles)

GEOGRAPHY- Israel; World Map ID

COUNTRY STUDY- Israel geography/changing boundaries (Avery)

COMMUNITY STUDY- overnight, hike to American Ridge (Avery); funeral

CURRENT EVENTS- Fat Bikes/local; Gilad/Israel; troop draw down Pakistan/international (Avery)

PE/HEALTH

PE- American Ridge hike 10 miles; climbing class 2 hrs; climbing workout book (Avery) soccer practice 3 hrs; soccer game 1 hr (Miles)

HEALTH- Nutrition made reusable chart for family

FINE ARTS

ART APPRECIATION-Marc Chagall

ART TECHNIQUE- "stained glass" windows

MUSIC APPRECIATION-The Story of the Unicorn/Medieval

MUSIC TECHNIQUE-finding the missing note/handbells

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

SPANISH- visual link lesson 1 (Avery) Muzzy lesson 1 (Miles)

Weekly Schedule 2011-2012

2011-10-25T22:46:00.001-07:00

TIME	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
7:00
7:15
7:30	CHARACTER WALK	CHARACTER WALK	CHARACTER WALK	CHARACTER WALK	CHARACTER WALK
7:45
8:00	CIRCLE	CIRCLE	CIRCLE	CIRCLE	CIRCLE
8:15
8:30
8:45
9:00	MATH LAB	PUZZLER	PUZZLER	PUZZLER	FORM DRAWING
9:15		GRAMMAR	GRAMMAR	GRAMMAR
9:30		MATH	MATH	MATH	MATH
9:45
10:00	SNACK	SNACK	SNACK	SNACK	SNACK
10:15	PE SKILLS	PE SKILLS	PE SKILLS	PE SKILLS	PE SKILLS
10:30	COUNTRY STUDY	COMPOSITION/ READING	COMPOSITION/ READING	COMPOSITION/ READING	COUNTRY STUDY
10:45
11:00	HANDWRITING	HANDWRITING	HANDWRITING	HANDWRITING	HANDWRITING
11:15	HISTORY ODYSSEY	VOCABULARY	VOCABULARY	VOCABULARY	HISTORY ODYSSEY
11:30		HISTORY ODYSSEY	HISTORY ODYSSEY	HISTORY ODYSSEY
11:45
12:00	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH
12:15
12:30
12:45
1:00	ART APPRECIATION AND TECHNIQUE	PE	SCIENCE DAYBOOK	COMMUNITY STUDY	SCIENCE FREE CHOICE LAB
1:15
1:30
1:45
2:00	MATH		HEALTH	GEOGRAPHY	MATH
2:15
2:30	SPANISH	SPANISH	SPANISH	SPANISH	SPANISH
2:45
3:00	NATURE STUDY	HANDWORK		HANDWORK
3:15
3:30
3:45
4:00					PLAYDATE
4:15
4:30
4:45
5:00 AND ON					ROCK CLIMBING

Block Schedule 2011-2012

2011-10-25T22:40:00.001-07:00

	SHAKESPEARE	PAINTER	COMPOSER	A. POET	M. POET	NATURE	HANDWORK	COUNTRY	HOLIDAY
AUG
15-19	ASTRONOMY BLOCK
22-26
29-2
SEP	THE TEMPEST	GIOTTO	MEDIEVAL	SANDBERG	STEVENSON	TREES	SEWING	BANGLADESH
6-9	VACATION
12-16
19-23
26-30
OCT								ISRAEL	SUKKOT
3-7
10-14
17-21
24-28
NOV								UZBEKISTAN
31-4
7-11
14-18
21-23
28-2	GEOLOGY BLOCK
DEC								HUNGARY	CHRISTMAS
5-9	MINEROLOGY BLOCK
12-16	MINEROLOGY BLOCK
19-23	VACATION
26-30	VACATION
JAN	MUCH ADO	ZANG DUAN	MOZART	FROST	MILNE	FISH	KNITTING	NETHERLANDS
2-6
9-13
17-20
23-27
30-3
FEB								BRAZIL	CARNIVAL
6-10
13-17
20-24
27-2
MAR								PANAMA
5-9								PANAMA
12-16	PHYSICS BLOCK
19-23
26-30
APR	MERCHANT	PICASSO	COPELAND	CUMMINGS	DE LA MARE	INSECTS		CANADA
2-7	VACATION
9-13
16-20
23-27
MAY								NIGER
30-4
7-11
14-18
21-25
JUN								ZAMBIA
29-1
4-8
11-15

October Circle

2011-10-25T22:09:00.001-07:00

Rise Up O Flame, by thy light shining, Bring to us beauty, vision, and joy.

There's the firm earth under me, the blue sky over me,
So I stride, so I stand,
And I see you too,
With the blue sky over you, and the firm earth under you.

The leaves be green, the nuts be brown,
They hang so high, they will not come down.

The rain is raining all around, it falls on field and tree.
It rains on the umbrellas here, and on the ships at sea.- Robert Louis Stevenson

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(three verses more, with each boy choosing an action)

The fog comes on little cat feet,
It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches
And then moves on.- Carl Sandberg

Uno, dos, tres, cho
Uno, dos, tres, co
Uno, dos, tres, late
Chocolate, chocolate, bate, bate, chocolate!

Spanish vocabulary

I'm gonna shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
I'm gonna shake, shake, shake my sillies out,
I'm gonna shake, shake, shake my sillies out, and wiggle my waggles away.

Reading from "The Story of God"

For the seed of love within us,
For the beauty all around us,
For the strength of truth before us,
Praises sing to God!

Current events (MWF) Spelling (TR)

Old Rogers is dead and is laid in his grave,
Laid in his grave, Laid in his grave;
Old Rogers is dead and is laid in his grave, tarularulalay.
There grew an old apple tree over his head,
Over his head, Over his head;
There grew an old apple tree over his head, tarularulalay.
The apples grew ripe, and they all fell off,
They all fell off, They all fell off;
The apples grew ripe, and they all fell off, tarularulalay.
There came an old woman a-picking them up,
Picking them up, Picking them up;
There came an old woman a-picking them up, tarularulalay.
Old Roger got up and grabbed at her legs,
Grabbed at her legs, grabbed at her legs;
Old Roger got up and grabbed at her legs, tarularulalay.
The old woman she jumped and ran away,
Jumped and ran away, jumped and ran away;
The old woman she jumped and ran away, tarularulalay.

Oral math

Zum gali gali gali, zum gali gali
Zum gali gali gali zum gali gali
Hechalutz lema'an avodah
Avodah lema'an hechalutz
Hechalutz lema'an avodah
Avodah lema'an hechalutz
Zum gali gali gali zum gali gali
Zum gali gali gali zum gali gali
Pioneers all work as one,
Work as one all pioneers.
Pioneers all work as one,
work as one all pioneers.
Zum gali gali gali, zum gali gali
Zum gali gali gali, zum gali gali zum

The Tempest

Handbells

Brave and true, I will be.
Each good deed sets me free,
Each kind word makes me strong,
I will fight for the right,
I will conquer the wrong.

I can turn myself and turn myself, and curl up as I will.
I can stand on tiptoe, reaching, high,
I can hold myself quite still.
I can be as small as a small, small seed,
I can be as tall as a tall tall tree,
I can be as wide as the wide wide world,
I can just be me.

September 2011 Circle

2011-10-25T18:10:00.001-07:00

Rise up O Flame, by thy light shining, bring to us beauty, vision, and joy!

There's the firm earth under me, the blue skies over me. So I stride, so I stand, And I see you too
With the blue sky over you, The firm earth under you.

Smile awhile and give your face a rest, stretch awhile, and ease your manly chest,
Reach your fingers to the sky, while you watch them with your eye,
Jump awhile, shake a leg there sir, Now step forward, backward, as you were,
Then reach out to someone near, Shake his hand and smile.

Come with me and dance with me, in the cool of autumn.
All the trees are golden now, all the bells are ringing.
Ring, ring, ring-a, ding, ding, dong, dance and sing together.
Ring, ring, ring-a, ding, ding, dong, in your shoes of leather!)

A birdie with a yellow bill Hopped upon my window sill,
Cocked his shining eye and said: "Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy-head!"
Time to Rise RL Stevenson

I'm in the mood for singing, hey how about you? I'm in the mood for singing, singing along with you.
Hey, hey, what do you say, I'm in the mood for that today,
Hey, hey, what do you say, I'm in the mood for that.

SPEAK, sir, and be wise.
Speak choosing your words, sir, like an old woman over a bushel of apples.
Basket by Carl Sandburg

De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera.
De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera.
De colores, de colores es el arcoiris que vemos lucir.
(Painted in colors, the fields are dressed in colors in the spring.
Painted in colors, painted in colors are the little birds which come from outside.
Painted with colors, painted with colors is the rainbow that we see shining brilliantly above.)

Los pescaditos andan en el agua, nadan, nadan, nadan. (swimming fish motions)
Los pajaritos andan en el aire, vuelan, vuelan,vuelan. (flying bird motions)
Son chiquititos, chiquititos. (tiny hand motion)
Vuelan, vuelan, vuelan. (flying again)
Nadan, nadan, nadan. (swimming)

Spanish language vocabulary from above.

I am an acorn, the packet, the seed.
God is within me, and God is the tree.
I am unfolding the way I should be,
Carved in the palm of his hand.

The Story of God

Right hand, left foot, meet in the middle,Left hand, right foot, meet in the middle,
Right arm over left arm, play the fiddle! Left hand, right foot, meet down low,
Right hand, left foot, meet down low, Left arm over right arm, pull the bow!
Reach to the right, reach to the left, Stretch in front, stretch behind,
Look down below, what do you find? Right hand reach out to a friend,
Left hand reach out to a friend, Make a circle without end.
Circle to the left, in a ring, Circle to the right, we will bring,
Our circle to the center, step inside, Then back out again, like the tide,
Our circle to the center step inside, Then back out again, like the tide.

Current events or spelling

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, jack jump over the candlestick.

Oral math

All around the mulberry bush (or cobbler's bench)The monkey chased the weasel;
The monkey thought 'twas all in fun, Pop! goes the weasel.
A penny for a spool of thread, A penny for a needle—
That's the way the money goes , Pop! goes the weasel.
Jimmy's got the whooping cough, And Timmy's got the measles
That's the way the doctor goes Pop! goes the weasel.
Every night when I get home The monkey's on the table,
Take a stick and knock it off , Pop! goes the weasel.[1]

Medieval cd

The Tempest

Hand bells

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Brave and true I will be, Each good deed sets me free, Each kind word makes me strong, I will fight for the right, I will conquer the wrong.

I can turn myself and turn myself and curl up as I will. I can stand on tiptoe reaching high, I can hold myself quite still. I can be as small as a small seed, I can be as tall as a tall tall tree. I can be as wide as the wide wide world, I can just be me.

Country Study Chart

2011-10-25T16:23:00.001-07:00

NAME
GOVERNMENT TYPE
LEADERSHIP
CAPITAL
MONETARY UNIT
VALUE TO DOLLAR
GDP
AGRICULTURE %
INDUSTRY %
SERVICES %
GDP PER CAPITA
UNEMPLOYMENT
YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT
AGRICULTURE % EMPLOYED
INDUSTRY % EMPLOYED
SERVICES % EMPLOYED
TELEVISIONS/100
RADIOS/100
MOBILE PHONES/100
COMPUTERS/100
INTERNET HOSTS/1000
MOTOR VEHICLES/100
POPULATION
DENSITY
% URBAN
% under 15
% over 65
LIFE EXPECTANCY MALE
LIFE EXPECTANCY FEMALE
FERTILITY RATE
INFANT MORTALITY/1000
DOCTORS/1000
HEALTH SPENDING % GDP
% IMPROVED WATER
COMPULSARY EDUCATION
LITERACY (MALE/FEMALE)
ED. SPENDING %GDP
ECONOMY
INDUSTRIES
CROPS
NATURAL RESOURCES
ARABLE LAND
NOTABLE FEATURES

Country Study Printable Chart

2011-10-25T15:41:00.001-07:00

Here's the link the printable country study chart. Avery fills out one of these for every one of our month-long country studies.

Month 1 Review

2010-09-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

ART
Two lessons from our art curriculum completed, some modeling work, three art appreciation lessons (appreciating background), an introduction to the life, personality, and work of Beethoven has been fairly simple and perhaps not a big part of the school day, but impactful all the same. If one is to groan about the classical music station being on yet again, one ought to at least be able to groan out the proper names of the composers. And so, the first three weeks of school are a success!
PE/HEALTH
Completed Presidential Fitness Test, charted own results against "healthy range" averages.
Completed summer quarter rock climbing class, several hikes, runs, and informal team sports events (kick ball, sword fighting). Spent an entire day climbing Smith Rocks in Oregon with a climbing guide, starting at 5.4 climbs and finishing with 5.9 climbing and practice rappelling.
Swam and practiced diving.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Reviewed nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, the articles, and pronouns.
Completed one formal writing lesson as well as several smaller writing assignments.
Work on cursive is progressing.
Reading: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1080L) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, funny and interesting; Flush (830L) Carl Hiassen, hilarious; A Wrinkle in Time (740 L) A Wind in the Door (790L) Madeleine L'Engle, first was great and a fast read, second was boring; The Mysterious Benedict Society (840 L) Trenton Lee Stewart, awesome, really good; The Cay (860L) by Theodore Taylor, easy to read, good to talk about; The Book of Three (770L) by Lloyd Alexander, scary (good scary) and exciting; Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransomme, calm and nice to read; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (880L) JK Rowling, exciting and scary to read by yourself; The Breadwinner (lexile 630), Parvana's Journey (lexile 640), Mud City (lexile 740) all by Deborah Ellis, really good, wish there were more.
MATH
A review of material covered last year in beginning algebra is progressing, with factoring, PI, infinite and finite numbers, ratios, and the integers covered so far.
Review of fractions (multiplying and dividing), and percents is ongoing as an extra math lesson.
Practice with logic and story problems is a daily and enjoyable part of the school schedule. A weekly hands on math lab (one involving 30 feet of butcher paper, crayons, and a series of rectangles to divide with various numbers of straight lines) has been quite fun.
SCIENCE
Science thus far has been limited to simple nature observation and a weekly class learning about scientists, scientific current events, and studies. Articles about insect eggs and the dangers of and ways of dealing with space trash were read and reported on, both verbally and in writing.
Several trees and a couple of types of mushrooms were identified. Ecosystems of the high desert and the coastal wetlands and forests were explored.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Reading, narration, and illustrating of the beginning of civilizations was completed. Experiments with simple tools and possible evolution of tool making were spontaneously devised and carried through.
Geography study included a review of the world- oceans and continents, basic geographic terms, map reading- then narrowed in focus to North America.
A mini study about Uruguay was completed, including making dulce de leche candy-sauce.

September Circle

2010-09-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Rise up O Flame, By thy light shining, Bring to us vision, beauty and joy. (sung, from the floor to rising, slowly)

There's the firm earth under me, The blue sky above me,
Here I stride, Here I stand, And I see you too.
With the blue sky above you, The firm earth under you. (marching in place, arms swinging, then raised high, swinging again. Stand still, arms out to friends, then up to sky, swinging again as we march again.)

I'm in the mood for singing, hey how about you?
I'm in the mood for singing, singing along with you.
Hey, hey, what do you say, I'm in the mood for that today,
Hey, hey, what do you say, I'm in the mood for that.
(singing, clapping, snapping, stomping, smiling, winking, spinning, etc.)

Right hand, left foot, meet in the middle,
Left hand, right foot, meet in the middle,
Right arm over left arm, play the fiddle!
Left hand, right foot, meet down low,
Right hand, left foot, meet down low,
Left arm over right arm, pull the bow!
Reach to the right, reach to the left,
Stretch in front, stretch behind,
Look down below, what do you find?
Right hand reach out to a friend,
Left hand reach out to a friend,
Make a circle without end.
Circle to the left, in a ring,
Circle to the right, we will bring,
Our circle to the center, step inside,
Then back out again, like the tide,
Our circle to the center step inside,
Then back out again, like the tide.

Here is an apple tree with leaves so green, Here are the apples that hang in between.
When the wind blows the apples will fall, Here is a basket to catch them all.

"apple" tossing game (beanbags, toss around the circle while we chant our times tables for Avery or count for Miles)

Come with me and dance with me, in the cool of autumn.
All the trees are golden now, all the bells are ringing.
Ring, ring, ring-a, ding, ding, dong, dance and sing together.
Ring, ring, ring-a, ding, ding, dong, in your shoes of leather! (dancing in a ring, holding hands)

Red and yellow, golden brown, all the leaves come falling down, all the leaves come falling down.
(start fast, then slow down as the children sink to the floor)

footwork (tracing geometric shapes with our feet, first circle, then triangle, square, pentagon, as the month goes on, first a taped line, then no guide, then with a crayon in our toes to draw the shape)

Los pescaditos andan en el agua, nadan, nadan, nadan. (swimming fish motions)
Los pajaritos andan en el aire, vuelan, vuelan, vuelan. (flying bird motions)
Son chiquititos, chiquititos. (tiny hand motion)
Vuelan, vuelan, vuelan. (flying again)
Nadan, nadan, nadan. (swimming)

Come ye Thankful People, come, raise a song of harvest home:
Fruit and crops are gathered in, safe before the storms begin;
God our Maker will provide, for our needs to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come, raise a song of harvest home.
All the world is but a field, given for a fruitful yield;
Wheat and tares together sown, here for joy or sorrow grown;
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
God of harvest, grant that we, wholesome grain and pure may be.

Brave and true I will be, Each good deed sets me free.
Each kind word makes me strong, I will fight for the right, I will conquer the wrong.

I can turn myself and turn myself, and curl up as I will.
I can stand on tiptoe, reaching high, I can hold myself quite still.
I can be as small as a small, small seed,
I can be as tall as a tall, tall tree.
I can be as wide as the wide, wide world,
I can just be me.

Vikings Resources

2010-09-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

Nordic Heritage Museum (Seattle)
NOVA Vikings
BBC Vikings Lessons
Viking Lesson Plans Ireland
Baldwin Project Viking Tales
Baldwin Project Stories of the Vikings
Baldwin Project Rolf and the Viking's Bow
Baldwin Project East o' The Sun West o' the Moon

Fifth Grade Curriculum & Syllabus

2010-09-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

Circle
one folk song, one hymn, one multi-verse poem to memorize over the month, 1-2 Spanish language rhymes or songs, at least two different kinds of movement skills (jumping, balancing, footwork, catching, etc.), mix of sitting and standing, moving and still, finger verses and whole body movement.
Language Arts
grammar-
spelling- We're using Spelling Demons because it's a year long overview of all the spelling rules, which is just what Avery needs.
composition- I've got Writing Strands 3 & 4 for inspiration.
copy work
narration
Social Studies
ancient world history- History Odyssey, A Child's History of the World (Avery reads to Miles), The Story of Mankind (lovely!), lots of books and crafts and projects!
world geography- Trail Guide to World Geography
month long country study- culminating in a supper with another family, celebrating the food and culture of the country we've been studying, and a chance for the children to present their projects before a (small) crowd
community study- monthly service project, monthly field trip, current events & history
Math
puzzlers/logic/diagramming/paper folding/etc.- daily
math lab- weekly- Calculus by and for Young People, the Book of Think, The I Hate Mathematics Book, PI in the Sky, etc.
algebra- 4 times weekly- Life of Fred Algebra (beginning review 3-4 mo, advanced for the rest of the year)
math practice- 2 times weekly- Key To workbooks, etc.
Science
botany- ecosystems, medicinal herbs, plant life
chemistry- Thames and Kosmos Chemc1000 kit
general science- weekly- read/research various topics, write review/synopsis
nature- weekly- nature observation/collection/drawing
Music
hand bells
music appreciation- Beethoven, Chopin, Vivaldi
Art
art appreciation
form drawing
technique- Artistic Pursuits Level 2, Book 1, watercolor incorporated in history/other lessons
Handwork
embroidery, knitting, sewing, woodwork, modeling
Health/PE
health-nutrition, diseases, first aid, survival, hygiene
gymnastics, rock climbing, skiing
general PE skills- Physical Fitness for the Homeschool Family
Foreign Language
Spanish- La Clase Divertida 1 (again, for Miles' sake)

Late Summer Circle

2010-08-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

light the candle...

Rise up O Flame, by thy light shining, bring to us beauty, vision, and joy! (sung as we rise, from curled on the floor to standing, arms stretched up and out, then crossed on chest, then hands over eyes, then stretched back up and out)

There's the firm earth under me, the blue skies over me. So I stride, so I stand, And I see you too
With the blue sky over you, The firm earth under you. (marching in place, hands down, then to the sky. Standing still, hands to eyes then out to our brothers, then up, then marching in place again)

Smile awhile and give your face a rest, stretch awhile, and ease your manly chest,
Reach your fingers to the sky, while you watch them with your eye,
Jump awhile, shake a leg there sir, Now step forward, backward, as you were,
Then reach out to someone near, Shake his hand and smile. (sung cheerfully!)

When I was a young man, a young man, a young man,
When I was a young man a young man was I.
And I walked this way and that way and this way, and that way.
When I was a young man, a young man was I.
(sung several times, as different characters and animals "when I was a rabbit" etc. and always ending with "when I was a student I sat very still, and everyone sitting down in circle)

~Teach us O Lord, To serve as you deserve, To give and not to count the cost, To fight and not to heed the wounds, To toil and not to seek for rest, To labour and not to ask for any reward, Save that of knowing that we do your will~ (prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola)

One potato, two potato, three potato, four. Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more. Eight potato, nine potato, ten potato, hot! (standing, tossing a ball or beanbag to self, then quickly to a friend at hot!)

We're following the leader, the leader, the leader. We're following the leader, wherever he may go. (following the leader, along a rope on the floor, walking different ways- heels, toes, etc.)

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, jack jump over the candlestick. (our rope on the floor turns into a jump rope waving back and forth, and we take turns jumping over it at different heights/speeds)

Dulce, dulce, dulce Mama, dulce, dulce, dulce, Papa, dulce, dulce, dulce Cheeky-cha, cheeky-cha.
(drum-tempo)

Uno, dos, tres, CHO, uno, dos, tres, CO, uno dos, tres, LATE (la-tay), chocolate, chocolate, bate, bate, chocolate! (drum-tempo)

Week 1) Who saw the petals drop from the rose?
I said the spider, but nobody knows.
Who saw the sunset flash on a bird?
I said the fish, but nobody heard.
Week 2) Who saw the fog come over the sea?
I said the sea pigeon, only me.
Who saw the first green light of the sun?
I said the night owl, the only one.
Week 3) Who saw the moss creep over the stone?
I said the grey fox, all alone.
(The Secret Song by Margaret Wise Brown)

The lone wild bird in lofty flight Is still with Thee, nor leaves thy sight.
And I am Thine! I rest in Thee. Holy Spirit come rest in me.
The ends of earth are in Thy hand, The seas dark deep and far off land.
And I am Thine! I rest in Thee. Holy Spirit come rest in me. (sung with simple motions)

Brave and true I will be, Each good deed sets me free, Each kind word makes me strong, I will fight for the right, I will conquer the wrong. (again, marching in place)

I can turn myself and turn myself and curl up as I will. I can stand on tiptoe reaching high, I can hold myself quite still. I can be as small as a small seed, I can be as tall as a tall tall tree. I can be as wide as the wide wide world, I can just be me. (spinning, curl up, stretch up tall, stand still. curl up small, stretch up tall, stretch out wide, stand still arms at sides. We do this regular tempo, fast, faster, faster, regular.)

Blow out the candle.

-Three days a week we do hand bells, and don't blow out the candle til after that.

Every year I try to switch out our closing verse to something else and am faced with anguish and tears. They love this verse. So, it stays. Maybe I'll be saying it as Avery goes off to college.

Algebra

2010-03-02T11:13:00.000-08:00

Avery has officially started algebra, although he's been quite excited to discover that he's already been doing algebra, for years now, without even knowing it. Anyway, Life of Fred is still interesting and exciting, funny and smart, and the combination of LoF and the Key To... workbooks for practice in all the other stuff is working really, really well.
So, we're moving along.
So many things have been of schedule for us this year, with big sicknesses and lots of adventures, that we're sort of just hanging on the basics. No foreign language this year, the big intricate blocks planned for Nordic Myths, with great crafts and a beautiful lesson book- not happening. We've been reading the myths, retelling them at bedsides and in between hospital visits, but that's about it. We're just starting Pilgrims right now, and all of the science stuff I'd planned that wasn't in a kit, all the real meaty good stuff (zoology and anatomy) we've barely scratched the surface. Avery's learned to ski, cross country and downhill, and rock climbing at a gym an hour away every week. This school year has been lots of work Avery can do on his own or nearly so- the Thames and Kosmos history of science kit has been wonderful, even the Home Science Adventures kits have been fun and good, and the boys have been working those together. None of those things are out of the realm of what I could and have in the past put together, but sometimes you just need to be able to open a box and have everything ready to go. And sometimes you just have to be okay with it. They're having fun, they're getting outside, they're reading and playing and learning and doing and that's pretty good.
And pretty good is sometimes, just sometimes, good enough.

Still Here

2009-12-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

We're here. Plodding along. Well, maybe not so much plodding, as racing along, in between breaks of every kind imaginable. I think there's been ONE week since the start of school where we've had a full, normal week, without vacations, illnesses, field trips, floodings, computers dying with all the school plans on them (why oh why don't I learn to back things up?) or catastrophes of one kind or another.

And still- though I feel like so many things are falling through the cracks- we're making progress. Learning is happening. We're not stuck to a school calendar (Oh! Imagine all those abscences!) with mountains of busy work to make up. We're a little pared down, but here we are.

Avery finished Life of Fred Fractions today, and Key to Geometry 1 yesterday (Because we're homeschoolers math can look like that- fractions, geometry, algebra, calculus all at once). He's done four of the lessons in Writing Strands 3, and a bunch of grammar work. He's doing some embroidery work for the baby. History of US is great, and he's been poring over the National Geographic Exploration Experience. Love those old maps!

There's more, but it's all unschooly- child directed stuff, and isn't getting anything crossed off on MY plan for the year. Why is it hard for me to count that mountain of learning as "school"? Is it just because I'm not in charge of it?

Miles is busy writing all day long, taping little pieces of paper all over the house with funny little notes written on them. He's beyond pleased when he writes something that sounds like a real word, but sometimes gets the funniest look on his face, like "Hmmm. I wonder why I wrote that. What does DOT TAP NAP really mean?"

I am also searching for these answers. That and "I AM APPI LAM 7".

I'm not sure if it counts as preschool, but it's more fun than worksheets. And so, we hop and skip along. Merry, merry homeschool!

Stick Figures

2009-10-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

According to the Norse Myths we've been studying the first man and first woman were made from trees. Alder and Ash, specifically. Personally I kind of like the image. And it does put an interesting spin on the evolution vs. creation debate, don't you think? We made figures from sticks, our own "first boys". They didn't come out as I'd intended, exactly, but I think they're awfully cute anyway. And Miles spent the rest of the day making stick figures all on his own and planting them all around the house. Hopefully they don't ALL grow into people- our house is kind of small already!

Two Little Mice

2009-10-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

Man and Animals inspired handwork: wool felt mice made from an old sweater, felted thick and sturdy in the washing machine, cut, stuffed and sewn into cute little mice for the ~~cat~~ baby to play with.

Loving, Liking, Liking Not A Bit

2009-10-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

Loving
Life of Fred- Fractions. Still.
Thames and Kosmos- Milestones of Science Kit. Very cool, good quality, varied and interesting. Would be better if it had ideas for further exploration, though....
Embroidery.
Autumn. Isn't it just the best season for starting new projects and getting reinvigorated? We love schoolwork in the fall.
School Baskets. The boys each have their own school basket, and each night I make sure their baskets have what they need for the next day's work. It's simple, keeps the clutter down, keeps them focused, and the baskets can move anywhere we need them- dining room table, downstairs, kitchen, even outside, I suppose.
A focused character study time.
A History of US by Joy Hakim. They're great. Really, really great. Much better than I was expecting. Totally worth the price.
Writing Strands 3. Funny, smart, short lessons each day, and Avery's favorite- breaks between lessons! The book is written directly to the child, not to the parent, and that little thing makes a big difference. Avery does the work on his own because he knows that the author expects him to. And you know, he does very well.
Liking
Simply Grammar. I think it would have been really nice two years ago. For us, for fourth grade, it's pretty simple. But the lessons only take a couple minutes and review is good. It's nice that it's oral work- I think if it were intended to be written it would feel too much like busy work.
Word Play. More at Avery's level, and it pushes him along. He insists lately he has no imagination, no creativity, so a little prodding in that direction is good.
Liking Not A Bit
Anatomy. Or rather, the fact we haven't studied this at all in weeks. For some reason this is too easy to push aside in exchange for other, ANY other activities. Hmm.
Guitar. Practice. Or at least the fuss about whether, in deed, Avery is supposed to practice today, whether or not he's really supposed to practice for 30 minutes or 3, whether the time spent setting up his music stand and getting his guitar out counts as practice, and so on and on and on. Nope. Not liking that one bit.

New Supplies, No School

2009-10-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

We were sick. Some schoolwork got done, but not much, really.
The best part of the whole week was getting a giant box of new school supplies- the whole entire set of Key Curriculum math workbooks and answer keys, Writing Strands 3, Home Science Adventures science kits (birds, magnetism, light, micropscopy, insects, astronomy) and the Thames and Kosmos Milestones in Science Kit, which looks WONDERFUL.
Monday we'll be healthy and ready to dig in.

Weather Tree

2009-09-25T09:21:00.001-07:00

We've done weather trees before, but this one was inspired by Ann Druitt, Christine Fynes-Clinton, and Marije Rowling's book "All Year Round" which is chock-full of verses, recipes, craft ideas and games. I drew the tree on bigger paper, though- 18x24", and I discarded their suggestion of different leaf colors for different types of weather, and stuck with temperatures instead. Because we live in a place without weather. Seriously. It is sunny nearly every day. I thought temperatures would show the transitions of the year better- we'll see. In any case, the boys like it, and keep careful track of whose turn it is to color in the leaves. Miles, after being excluded for making some little angry scribbles, now takes great care and even colors inside the lines of the tiny leaves!

Weeks 2 and 3: After

2009-09-25T00:51:00.000-07:00

Week 3 is in the bag, as they say. Yeah, I know, this should be the end of week 4, but who is counting, exactly? And, um, yeah, Friday hasn't happened yet, but we're going to the Fair, which is at least as important as fractions, cursive, and American History. Actually, I planned for this to happen well in advance-I knew we'd be going on vacation and hectic and started school two weeks before the regular school kids, just to compensate. 'Cause Lord knows homeschoolers can't fall behind public school kids, even in attendance, right?
So...Avery is speeding through Life of Fred~Fractions. Loves it. I'm waiting still for the whole entire set of Key Curriculum Press workbooks to arrive, then we'll start adding in those. We haven't done any Calculus by and for Young People yet, but we did check out the Mathematics Made Meaningful Cuisenaire rod kit, Miles and Avery both. I'm not sure how much we'll use the cards, frankly- they seem a little... ahem... boring... but we do love our cuisenaire rods, and Miles sorted out a bunch by color, and enjoyed being able to "do school" with Avery.
All last week was nature study, at Glacier and the Bison Range. The boys saw turtles sunning themselves and poking their heads out of the water like mucky little sticks, dragonflies mating, elk bugling, antelope, bison, bears, deer, fish, birds, slugs, all kinds of creatures.
Avery zoomed through a ton of the Earthsearch book on the trip, plus a lot of map reading, compass work, and general geography of the inland Northwest and Rocky Mountain region. He straddled the Continental Divide and learned to identify U-shaped glacier-made valleys, and V-shaped river made valleys.
He had a guitar lesson and his teacher finally let him move past The Blue Danube, which has been driving him from even wanting to look at his guitar for weeks now. On to more fun stuff. Whew!
The boys love circle, and love taking a walk first thing- if only I could get Papa out of the house at 7:30, so that we could have a decent walk AND not start school so late. He's been leaving at 8, and we're out the door before him, but the boys hate to leave while he's still home. We've been walking for an hour, then starting circle at 9, then oral reading, math puzzler, main lesson, Life of Fred, spelling, and just trying to stuff as much in as possible.
We attempted some wet felting, making octopus figures, but it didn't work out. I'm not so good at wet felting, except snakes and balls, which is all the octopus was supposed to be, just felted together, but it didn't work. At all.
We haven't started embroidery yet, even though he's been asking for weeks.
We haven't really started Latin yet, Artistic Pursuits, and a whole bunch of ther stuff, too, probably. Gotta get out the door just a little earlier, and take shorter walks in the morning, I guess.
The good news, though, is that Miles loves having his own school basket, and eagerly works through his activites and stories every day, so he's not begging to watch TV or bugging Avery. Ansel is exactly the Buddha baby I KNEW I was going to have- he watches his brothers and chuckles, and sucks his fingers, nurses, sleeps, and tries to figure out how to crawl all with equal delight. Avery is cheerful and good about school this year, and likes having shorter lessons, a clear plan to the day, boxes to check off, and interesting work to do. So all's good, if not quite on schedule yet. Which, you know, is pretty darn good!

Lessons Learned on Vacation

2009-09-19T23:38:00.000-07:00

1) When your Mom says "Don't lean over the railing" she actually means "Don't go anywhere near the steep side of the road, no matter what." In fact, don't even undo your seat belt. Let's just get down the mountain, really, really slowly. 'Cause, you know, she's trying to be cool, and let everyone enjoy this amazing adventure, but really, she keeps having flashes of children falling off cliffs and being devoured by wild animals.... Well, at least she's trying, right?
2) Mountain goats, big horn sheep, black bears, black back woodpeckers, deer, elk, even the antelope and bison, bears, turtles, and elk at the National Bison Refuge, are all really interesting and fun to watch. But getting to hold a little slug, watch it for hours, and take pictures of it close up? Well, that, apparently, is worth going on vacation and camping out for.

3)This is close enough to a black bear for your mother's comfort. Especially since there were three, and we can only see two. And there might be rustling in those bushes right behind us....

4)Bison don't care about the rules of the road as they apply to automobiles. And we're not arguing with them. We don't mind sitting still, right here. No sir.

5) A carousel ride (or maybe three) is a great way to end a vacation. Riding with your brother is even nicer.

6) We love going on vacation. We love each other, and we love visiting our friends. We love camping, but maybe we can love a newer, bigger, more weather-proof tent next time. We love being away, seeing new things and having adventures, but we really love coming home again.

The Rhythm of Our Days

2009-09-11T09:42:00.001-07:00

Inspired by the topic ORGANIZATION discussed at my homeschool meeting last night: a copy of our official family schedule. Wake up time is 7am for the boys, and bedtime is 8pm. Everything else is sandwiched between!

For us the schedule is a rhythm, a guide, not a strict task master. We are not slaves to the schedule- we are opposed to slavery in all it's forms!

Here are the rules:

Everyone works during chore times. A child who doesn't want to help has to sit in the room with everyone else, not reading or playing. Once usually is enough to remind them that working together is more fun than sitting alone.

No TV/videos/long phone calls/play dates til school work is done. Period. Miles has his own "school" basket, with special activities and projects to work on during school time.

School is not more or less important than chores, chores are not more or less important than having fun and relaxing, fun is not more or less important than school. If we miss a scheduled period for whatever reason, we just get back on rhythm wherever we should be, not where we skipped out. If we're missing the same periods frequently, or continually off-schedule, that's a clue we need to revise either the schedule or our choices.

Don't sacrifice an unexpected adventure for dishes and laundry, neither sacrifice a calm and happy home life for wild adventures!

If a task isn't done as well as I might do it, oh well. I can't do it all myself, neither do I want to. It's good for everyone to learn all the jobs of the household, eventually, so we rotate. Miles may be in charge of scrubbing the table on Monday, but Avery will do it Tuesday and I'll do it Wednesday. It won't kill us if it's a little crusty once in awhile, and it will eventually get clean, and certainly will get dirtier again, too! Besides, a few germs are good for everyone, right? Builds immune systems and all that....

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Morning: Wash, teeth, dress, make beds, empty hamper, sort and start laundry, make breakfast, set table, unload dishwasher, clear table	Morning: Wash, teeth, dress, make beds, empty hamper, sort and start laundry, make breakfast, set table, unload dishwasher, clear table	Morning: Wash, teeth, dress, make beds, empty hamper, sort and start laundry, make breakfast, set table, unload dishwasher, clear table	Morning: Wash, teeth, dress, make beds, empty hamper, sort and start laundry, make breakfast, set table, unload dishwasher, clear table	Morning: Wash, teeth, dress, make beds, empty hamper, sort and start laundry, make breakfast, set table, unload dishwasher, clear table	Morning: Wash, teeth, dress, make beds, empty hamper, sort and start laundry, make breakfast, set table, unload dishwasher, clear table	Morning: Wash, teeth, dress, make beds, empty hamper, sort and start laundry, make breakfast, set table, unload dishwasher, clear table
Walk: 30 minutes	Walk: 30 minutes	Walk: 30 minutes	Walk: 30 minutes	Walk: 30 minutes
School time: May start supper during break	School time: May start supper during break	School time: May start supper during break	School time: May start supper during break	School time: May start supper during break		church, sunday school, social hour
Make & eat lunch	Make & eat lunch	Make & eat lunch	Make & eat lunch	Make & eat lunch	Make & eat lunch	Make & eat lunch
Story, nap	Story, nap	Story, nap	Story, nap	Story, nap
Quiet activities while little ones sleep: Handwork, reading, other projects	Quiet activities while little ones sleep: Handwork, reading, other projects	Quiet activities while little ones sleep: Handwork, reading, other projects	Quiet activities while little ones sleep: Handwork, reading, other projects	Quiet activities while little ones sleep: Handwork, reading, other projects
Afternoon chore time: General quick pick up, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, table scrub, laundry fold and put away	Afternoon chore time: General quick pick up, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, table scrub, laundry fold and put away	Afternoon chore time: General quick pick up, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, table scrub, laundry fold and put away	Afternoon chore time: General quick pick up, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, table scrub, laundry fold and put away	Afternoon chore time: General quick pick up, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, table scrub, laundry fold and put away	Afternoon chore time: General quick pick up, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, table scrub, laundry fold and put away	Afternoon chore time: General quick pick up, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, table scrub, laundry fold and put away
Focus Area: Kitchen	Focus Area: Bathrooms	Focus Area: Living/Dining	Focus Area: Bedrooms	Focus Area: Family Room	Focus Area: Yard, recycling	Focus Area: Groceries
Walk/Play	Walk/Play	Walk/Play	Walk/Play	Walk/Play
Make and eat Supper, set and clear table, dishes	Make and eat Supper, set and clear table, dishes	Make and eat Supper, set and clear table, dishes	Make and eat Supper, set and clear table, dishes	Make and eat Supper, set and clear table, dishes	Make and eat Supper, set and clear table, dishes	Make and eat Supper, set and clear table, dishes
Bath and story, pjs, teeth, 5 minute pick up	Bath and story, pjs, teeth, 5 minute pick up	Bath and story, pjs, teeth, 5 minute pick up	Bath and story, pjs, teeth, 5 minute pick up	Bath and story, pjs, teeth, 5 minute pick up	Bath and story, pjs, teeth, 5 minute pick up	Bath and story, pjs, teeth, 5 minute pick up
Boys to bed	Boys to bed	Boys to bed	Boys to bed	Boys to bed	Boys to bed	Boys to bed
Prep next day, read, relax	Prep next day, read, relax	Prep next day, read, relax	Prep next day, read, relax	Prep next day, read, relax	Prep next day, read, relax	Prep next day, read, relax

Week 1: After

2009-09-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

Luckily I'm considering these first two weeks our gear-up weeks, or else I would probably be feeling pretty badly about how our week went, school-wise. We were still in summer-mode, mostly, and still working on fruit, still meeting at the park for homeschool playdate, still lazing around. Plus I had two migraines (two! and I've only had ever had migraines when I'm pregnant, which I'm not, so what is that about? threw us all off sides, anyway!). So, there are the excuses, make of them what you will.
Circle is a resounding success. Smart enough for Avery, silly enough for Miles, wholesome enough for me. I think two hymns in a row almost is a little much, but the boys look forward to "Circle Game" as Miles calls it, and even baby Ansel sits in his Bumbo chair in the middle and smiles and coos and laughs.
Stickeen was a good story for oral reading. Short enough to easily finish in a week, exciting and descriptive. We have a good sense of what glaciers are like, and we're suckers for heartwarming stories about dogs. The reading was easy enough that it was fun for Avery, with still the challenge some new words (mostly Alaskan Native words). I had planned on modeling, and making Stickeen figures, but that didn't happen.
Cursive is fine. Well, the amount of time practicing takes right now is good. Shortish sentences for awhile, building up. We've got a copywork/Character lesson book started, with "Honor thy Father and thy Mother." Character Training is going well so far, too. Simple- a story, tied in with the quote or verse for cursive practice that week, talking about the trait, a project.
Grammar is simple and easy with Simply Grammar, but I'm glad I also bought Word Play, though we skipped that this week. Between the two I think there'll be enough variety to be interesting and educational instead of just review. Maybe. I think next year we'll need a more formal, more challenging approach to grammar.
Spelling was simple. I like the system, but the words I chose for him, expecting them to be not-too-hard were way-too-easy. Still, he's never had spelling as a subject before, so I don't want to go too hard. I think we'll do a bunch orally at the beginning of the week, more than 20, so we work through this part of the book at an accelerated pace, without actually skipping anything, until we get 20 challenging words or definitions for the week. The McGuffey Speller is so old fashioned that a lot of the words aren't in common usage any more, so I anticipate a good amount of easy to spell words will end up in the spelling list just because of their novelty, vocabulary-wise.
Latin was barely started. Rather than try to start where we flailed about and stopped last year, I decided to start again fresh this year. I think I'll actually wait til after our vacation, coming up here. I do like Lively Latin, but you do need to work it every day, and we're still a little too summery and every-which-way yet to settle in.
Math Puzzlers. Mathmania is a dud. They're too silly, too babyish. For some reason I always expect Highlights to come through for me, but they always fall short, one way or another. I need to find some good, cheap books of logic puzzles and diagramming puzzles.
Life of Fred is our favorite Math thing so far. So funny and sweet, and it's a clever lesson in English and Math all at once. Short chapters, few questions, lots of humor. He loves it and so do I! He's working through Fractions right now. Actually, this is more read aloud time, because, as it turns out, even though I already know how to deal with fractions, the story is so engaging and sweet we all (even Miles) want to hear what happens next! He finished the first section, but didn't try crossing the bridge yet.
Avery worked on the "twos" for oral math. Review, speed, review, memorize. Over and over.
Calculus by and for Young People is okay. Not so gentle as I thought it would be, it's more of a mouthful than I thought. But good stuff, great to work with on Math Lab day, if we're going to do it together. We worked on the first lesson but didn't finish it- I wasn't anticipating his nerves and didn't set aside enough time to be there with him, paying attention. An older kid or one more comfortable with reading mathematical notation would maybe not be intimidated and have more fun just jumping in, but all those numbers and notations are a little off-putting to Avery right now. I am glad we lucked out and somehow got the actual worktext instead of the CD-Rom set- I have a feeling we'd never get to them if we had to go on the computer and print stuff off.
Man and Animals Main Lesson Block was simple, not muddied with trying to stuff other subjects into the theme. Just pure and calm. I'm really glad I put all that time getting comfortable with the lesson before we started! It would have been a disaster if I weren't comfortable with it. Not one you can fake, I think.
History's great. I really like Joy Hakim's A History of US. Highly recommend it. I imagine we'll use it again, in a few years, when we study US History again. I'll probably buy the middle school lesson books to go with them, then. For fourth grade the reading is not hard, and is interesting and comprehensive enough that I don't feel the need to add in a ton of other historical text reading, so far anyway. We are just sort of skimming along this year. We didn't get to watercolor painting, which I had planned to tie in to the Inuit lesson, but Avery did write a nice paragraph in the US History lesson book, and paste in a map of the Arctic regions.
Science. Dud week. No Nature story, no nature hike, no nature journals. No science lab. Avery did read a lot about cells, and watch a couple short video things online, and do a little activity, we talked about cells. We ran out of time, with screaming babies, before he had a chance to draw a cell in his Anatomy lesson book.
Art. Double dud. We have the Artistic Pursuits Modern Artists book to use this year, but we were so short of time, and he so didn't want to do it, that we just skipped it. He did the first lesson last year, anyway. Does that count? Even Handwork, embroidery, which Avery was asking for everyday this past week, didn't ever quite happen. Ergh!
Form drawing was a success. It was, really for the first time, FUN and not just tolerable for Avery. I didn't belabor a story, but kept that quite simple and open-ended. He took the form along himself, and made lovely work out of it. Pretty cool for a kid who "hates art" right now.
Guitar. A lesson. A few practices, and lots and lots of struggles about practicing. Seems there's always something more pressing, more interesting, more important than practicing. Anybody have any tips about that?
PE. Lots of running and playing, working and climbing around. No lessons yet, no soccer yet. Still summer. Avery did research bicycle safety, and explain some things to me. A Dad in the homeschool community hear was killed last weekend in a mountain biking accident, and while we didn't know him personally we are still touched by the tragedy of the loss for that family, and a little research about bike safety seemed in order.

Form Drawing 4.1

2009-09-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here is our first form of the fourth year.
Avery has resisted writing, form drawing, especially the symmetrical and crossing-line forms. With this in mind I started this year easy, with a very simple image of a traveler, a wanderer, a hunter, walking to the north, east, west, south, coming up behind his prey, circling, continuing on. This simple story fits well with the rest of our work- we are studying US History this year, starting this week with Beringia the land-bridge, and the Inuit.
He liked it, and actually spent a long time working on it, getting it right on the chalkboard, then in his lesson book, even adding smaller and bigger versions of the hunter's path, in different colors, overlapping, and coloring it all in. It looks great, and most important, he was proud of his work and happy with the result.
Resounding success!

Construction 5: Ready for Play!

2009-09-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

It was determined that bracing on the long sides was needed. Much better, now! The rope ladder from the tree was moved to the fort, though it is less than satisfactory. The contractor is now thinking that creating a permanent ladder on the end would be best, with a thick knotted rope to climb at the trap-door entrance.
I thought this might be the sort of project that would be completed at some point. I see now that I was quite wrong. Apparently the beauty of building a rather simple, open-ended play structure in your own backyard is that construction is not meant to ever be entirely done. There are infinite improvements, additions, re-builds, and de-structions to ponder and pursue.
Ah, well... as long as I don't lose my laundry-line hook, it's all good with me!

Spelling

2009-08-24T23:15:00.000-07:00

The adapted plan for spelling, thanks to Marsha Johnson at waldorf home educators yahoo group:
Monday- I will present the words, one at a time, and let Avery try to orally spell them. We will also define words, looking in the dictionary for words we don't know.
Tuesday- He will write out each word 3 times
Wednesday- Quiz 1- write any misspelled words 3 times
Thursday- Quiz 2 (previously misspelled words)- write any misspelled words 3 times
Friday- Quiz 3 (previously misspelled words)
The spelling list for each week with definitions will go in a notebook, and old spelling words will pop up in quizzes here and there.
We will be using McGuffey's Eclectic Speller, with some words from our reading added in.

Weekly Schedule Template 4th Grade

2009-08-24T23:01:00.001-07:00

I'm still having problems with formatting, but here's the blank template for our school days. In real life this is a full size sheet of paper, with space to write pages or tasks. This is the first year I'm not scheduling everything into 15 minute increments- I'm trying to be a little more mellow, and I plan to let Avery choose the order of at least some of his work.

My plan is to stack the books and supplies that each boy will need in their own baskets each night, so that in the morning we can just smoothly proceed without anyone having to run downstairs to find a book and end up getting lost somewhere on the way back up. Miles will have a basket too, with stories, craft supplies, games, his own projects to work on during school time.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
PUZZLER	PUZZLER	PUZZLER	PUZZLER	PUZZLER
ORAL READING	ORAL READING	ORAL READING	ORAL READING	ORAL READING
ORAL MATH	ORAL MATH	ORAL MATH	ORAL MATH	ORAL MATH
SPELLING	SPELLING	SPELLING	SPELLING	SPELLING
LIVELY LATIN	LIVELY LATIN	LIVELY LATIN	LIVELY LATIN	LIVELY LATIN
CURSIVE PRACTICE	CURSIVE PRACTICE	CURSIVE PRACTICE	CURSIVE PRACTICE	COPYWORK
GUITAR	GUITAR	GUITAR	GUITAR	GUITAR
MATH LAB	MATH LESSON	MATH LESSON	MATH LESSON	MATH LESSON
NATURE STORY & WALK	MAIN LESSON	MAIN LESSON	MAIN LESSON	ARTISTIC PURSUITS
NATURE JOURNAL		ANATOMY		LAB SCIENCE
GRAMMAR	GEOGRAPHY	CHARACTER STUDY	GEOGRAPHY	GRAMMAR
WRITING	WRITING	WRITING	WRITING	WRITING
FORM DRAWING	WATERCOLOR	HANDWORK	MODELING	HANDWORK
PHYSICAL EDUCATION	PHYSICAL EDUCATION	PHYSICAL EDUCATION	PHYSICAL EDUCATION	PHYSICAL EDUCATION
UNITED STATES HISTORY	UNITED STATES HISTORY	UNITED STATES HISTORY	UNITED STATES HISTORY	UNITED STATES HISTORY

Geography

2009-08-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

Geography has always just been something I've integrated into our day- we have maps on the walls, a globe or three and atlases, we go on hikes and use compasses, we plot our trips, we've made maps of our street and looked up places we've heard and read about. We've made land and water forms out of play dough, we've climbed mountains and surveyed the land from on high.
But....
I've been feeling a need for a little more.
Next year we'll start with ancient civilizations, and I plan on working through historical maps of the world and the regions we study, but this year calls for an over view, something fun and light, some review of basic knowledge, and some interesting ways to use that knowledge.
So:
We will, of course, be locating the areas we learn about on the map. And we're going all over this year- First Peoples of North America, Vikings, Marco Polo, the New World Explorers, Manifest Destiny.
I also bought this cool book "Earthsearch" and Avery will work through that- it's a Klutz book, so it'll be fun and not too serious, but there's some good stuff in there about garbage and population, resource allotment, exploration, and the interconnectedness of humanity.
Here's the 36 week plan, with fingers sort of crossed that Avery really likes this book and goes ahead of schedule, stopping here and there to try out the suggested activities and games and make up his own:
1-2: review oceans and continents
review compass & map skills, plot journey, lead group hike
3: Earthsearch intro- page 6
4: 7-12 Lives of a Pop Can
5: 13-14 Garbage- make a chart with pictures of what is recyclable here, how long things take to break down, etc.
6: 15-21 Paper- set up a paper reduce-reuse-recycle program for our home
7: 22-23 Germs
8: 24-26 enlist others in creating a "dot map" of our own to study germ movements
9: 27-30 "lines" on the globe
10: 33-37 play "Get Lost" game
11: 38-41 make a tennis ball earth (round-flat distortion)
12: 43-46 make contour map of hand
13: 47-50 inclinometer
14: 51-54 earth's axis
15: 56-58 how did the earth get started?
16: 59-61 solar system model- outside
17: 62-64 earth's shell
18-19: review land & water forms
20: 65-67 earthquakes
21: 68-71 land formation
22: 72-75 land formation
23: 76 arable land-apple model
24: 77-79 human evolution
25: 80-83 population growth
26: 84-85 counting millions
27: 86-87 calorie allotment
28: 88-89 group game- m&ms/wealth/food
29: 90-92 skin color
30: 93-95 shared air
31: 96-97 we're all related
32: 98-99 ocean currents
33: 100-101 world market
34: 102-103 Geobear activity- come up with something similar
35-36: review basic themes, terminologies, facts

The Norse Mythology Blocks

2009-08-17T23:45:00.001-07:00

BLOCK 1

To prepare for future lessons: carve apples into faces (one with only one eye), set aside to dry and wrinkle up.

Week 1

1.1 The First Gods and Goddesses; The Creation of the World p 9-20 The Creation of Man p 26-30 Carve, tie, glue, and otherwise create the first man and first woman out of branches, twigs, leaves.
1.2 Yggdrasil, the World Tree p 31-35 make a weaving of the strands of life, with an old embroidery hoop, several grey threads, some brightly colored ones, and one shining gold thread, with a cutout of watercolor painted tree of life woven into the center

1.3 make the runes with sticks, then woodburn them into a wooden plaque, and write them in the lesson book

Week 2
2.1 Asgard and the Aesir Gods; Odin the All-Father p 36-39 Start creating a "family album" of the Gods and Goddesses, with a drawing, name in runes, intricate border-frames, a sentence or two about each one, maybe symbols of their natures; make a model of Asgard with silver and gold buildings

2.2 Thor the Thundergod p 40 A page about types of lightning might be nice.
2.3 Loki the God of the Jotun race; Sif's Golden Hair; Loki's Brood p 42-53 Create a moving picture of Loki, with flames, and his different appearances dancing out of the flames.

Week 3
3.1 Balder the God of Light; Heimdall the Watchman of Asgard p 54-57 Try making trumpets out of different recycled materials- plastic, tubing, cardboard. Which would be the best watchman's trumpet?
3.2 Njord, Frey and Freya p 58-63 Decorate Njord's portrait with wind, sails; Frey's with a golden boat and golden grains; Freya's with hearts and golden tears.
3.3 Bragi God of Poetry; Odin's Eight legged Steed p 64-71 Build a stone wall around the model of Asgard.

Week 4
4.1 The Valkyries and Valhalla p 72-79 Make a supper of pork, honey soda, potatoes, have a sword fight.
4.2 Frigg and the Goddesses p 80-83 Look on the map to find Copenhagen.
4.3 Freya's Wonderful Necklace p 84-86 Make a necklace for one of the Grandmas with red jewels (garnet?) and gold teardrops.

BLOCK 2

Plant wheat berries in soil, cover with ice cubes, and put away. Water when Children are not in sight. Also make a papier mache hammer like Thor's to decorate later.

Week 1

1.1 Idunn's Apples of Youth p 87-90 Make baked apples or apple dumplings, decorate the previously dried carved apples as the Gods.
1.2 Skade the Ski-Goddess p 91-95 Buy & eat ski-queen cheese, make a "moving picture" of Skade skiiing, with the aurora borealis, animals, etc..
1.3 Frey and Gerd the Jotun Maiden p 96-99 Bring out the wheat-grass planted a week ago. Decorate with figures of Frey and Gerd.

Week 2
2.1 The theft of Thor's Hammer; Thor and the Jotun Geirrod p 100-107 Decorate Thor's hammer; think of the three magic things that helped him with the Jotun Geirrod- if you could have any three magic things to help you on a perilous journey, what would you choose?
2.2 Thor and the Jotun Utgardsloki p 108-116 Copy in lesson book " No man can eat as much as wild fire, run so fast as a single thought, nor beat old age."
2.3 Thor and the Jotun Rungnir; Thor and the Jotun Aegir p 117-127 Make a water globe from a little jar, with a tiny boat, gold glitter and beads, maybe little fish.

Week 3
3.1 The Death of Balder p 128-136 Make a gold paper boat, set it afloat and afire.
3.2 Loki's Punishment;Ragnarokk the Destiny of the Gods p 137-150 Macrame a small fish net. Paint a page of the lesson book black or grey, with a muted green field, and write "Ax-time, sword-time, ere the world fall; wind-time, wolf-time! Do you know more now or not?"
3.3 A New World p 151-154 Create a diorama of the first man and woman, of the new world.

D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths for story and image inspiration

In the Days of Giants for interpretations of the stories

Children of Odin for interpretations of the stories

October Circle

2009-08-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

Merrily, merrily greet the morn, cheerily, cheerily sound the horn, hark the echoes, hear them play, o'er the hills and far away.

(light the candle) Rise up o flame, by thy light glowing, bring to us beauty, vision, and joy.

There's the firm earth under me, The blue sky above me, So I stride, So I stand, And I see you too, With the blue sky above you, And the firm earth below you.

I'm in the mood for singing, hey how about you? I'm in the mood for singing, singing along with you. Hey, hey, what do you say? I'm in the mood for that today! Hey, hey, what do you say? I'm in the mood for that! (clapping, stomping, jumping....) -Raffi

The world is full of colour!/ 'Tis Autumn once again/ And leaves of gold and crimson/ Are lying in the lane. (Week 1)
There are brown and yellow acorns/ Berries and scarlet haws/ Amber gorse and heather/ Purple across the moors! (Week 2)
Green apples in the orchard/ Flushed by a glowing sun;/ Mellow pears and brambles/ Where coloured pheasants run! (Week 3)
Yellow, blue and orange,/ Russet, rose and red-/A gaily-coloured pageant-/An Autumn Flower bed. (Week 4)

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness/Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve
Waiting for the harvest and the time of reaping/ We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves/We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows/ Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze
By and by the harvest and the labor ended/ We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves/We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Uncover a pile of bean bag "potatoes" and fill the basket with our "harvest" tossing one by one to each other then into the basket.

Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not,

Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot,

We'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not!

Dump a little basket of acorns, chestnuts, walnuts (all previously gathered from the neighborhood) and lets pick them all up with our toes, quick, quick and lively!

Something told the wild geese/ It was time to go./ Though the fields lay golden/ Something whispered "snow"./ Leaves were green and stirring/ Berries, luster-glossed/ But beneath warm feathers/ Something whispered "frost"./ All the sagging orchards/ Steamed with amber spices/ but each wild breast stiffened/ With remembered ice./Something told the wild geese/ It was time to fly-/ Summer sun was on their wings/ Winter in their cry. -Rachel Field

The lone wild bird in lofty flight/Is still with thee nor leaves thy sight
And I am thine, I rest in thee/ Holy spirit come rest in me.
The ends of the earth are in thy hands/ The sea's dark deep and no man's land,
And I am thine, I rest in thee/ Holy spirit come rest in me.

(Jumping over a still jumprope) The sea is calm, the morn is too. We sail today, for world anew.
(Jumping over a fast rope) The sea is wild, our ship is tossed. The skies are dark, all hope is lost!
(Jumping calm) The storm is gone, as is the night. Our ship sails on, Land is in sight!

Tho my sails be torn and tattered and the mast be turned about
Let the night wind chill me to my very soul
Tho the spray might sting my eyes and the stars no light provide
Give me just another morning light to hold.
And I will not lie me down this rain a-raging
I will not lie me down in such a storm
And if this night be unblessed I shall not take my rest
Til I reach another shore.
Tho the only water left is but salt to wound my thirst
I will drink the rain that falls so steady down
And tho night's blindness be my gift and there be thieves upon my drift
I will praise this fog that shelters me along.
And I will not lie me down....
And tho my mates be drained and weary and believe their hopes are lost
There's no need for their bones on that blackened bottom
And tho death waits just off the bow, they shall not answer to him now
He shall stand to face the morning without us. -Rod McDonald

Brave and true I will be, Each good deed sets me free. I will strive for the right, I will conquer the wrong. I will speak only truth, I will stand tall and bold. I will take another's hand, my heart will shine like gold.

I can turn myself and turn myself, and curl up as I will. I can stand on tiptoe, reaching high, I can hold myself quite still. I can be as small as a small, small seed, I can be as tall as a tall, tall tree. I can be as wide as the wide, wide world, I can just be me!

Holidays::Martinmas

2009-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

The holiday celebrating St. Martin of Tours falls on November 11 each year.

There's a story of St. Martin, who, as a Roman soldier, stopped to take pity on an old (some say drunken) beggar, cut his warm red woolen cloak in half, and gave half to the poor man. He had a vision the next day of Christ, wearing the red wool wrapped around him, and when Martin asked where he'd gotten the cloak, Jesus asked if he didn't remember giving it to him the previous day, for "Whatever you did for the least among my brothers you also did for me."

On this day we remember St. Martin by retelling his story and gathering coats and other warm things we no longer need to donate to the homeless mission and the domestic violence shelter.

In some places in Europe children carry lanterns and sing songs as the go door to door begging treats. Last year we made lovely papier mache lanterns with tissue paper, to use on our own version of those walks, though we planned to GIVE treats to our neighbors, rather than beg for them, since this seemed more in line with the sentiment of the saint himself, and more practical, since we live here, not Europe, and no one would be expecting to have little beggars with lanterns on their doorstep! But I think we all had colds and couldn't brave the temperatures near zero that night. We'll also resurrect our red felt cape with velcro down the center, for reenacting the famous cape-cutting.

We'll try again this year. My plan is make little loaves of bread, or little cakes, with the boys, and wrap them in bits of red flannel, (with copies of the story maybe?), and deliver them to our neighbors as we take a lantern lit walk.

We'll have a supper of navy bean soup, bread, sausages. I read an idea somewhere, to split rolls in half, and have everyone give half their food to the person sitting next to them. That seems sweet, and simple. Just what I like!

I think our little nature table will sport a red cloth cover, and a mini tissue lantern, a picture of St. Martin and the bible quote, written in gold on watercolored paper. A simple vase with a bare branch, decorated with tiny gold stars hanging, maybe? A little basket with those red flannel cloths waiting to wrap the loaves on Martinmas.

Holidays::Michaelmas

2009-08-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Michaelmas is the first Saint's festival we celebrate after school starts. It comes September 29th, after the Autumn Equinox, and just as the weather is on the verge of turning bitter and cold.

Archangel Michael fought against Satan, and was victorious, and cast the "dragon" out. The Irish say the devil landed in a blackberry patch, and blackberries shouldn't be eaten after this date! Most pictures of St. Michael show him with a spear and the dragon under foot, some, of course, are gorier than others. Sometimes he is holding a balance, weighing good and evil. Sometimes he is holding a globe, for he is the protector of Israel and the New World.

We celebrate St.Michael as a symbol of good prevailing over evil, of new beginnings, of faith and trust in the goodness of the world.

We have in the past added this holiday into our family life in a pretty simple way- blackberries for dessert, reading our story of St. Michael and the dragon. It always comes so fast, just as we're getting into the swing of a new school year's routine, and I am always caught unprepared for any really thoughtful celebration.

This year I will be prepared. On the 21st of September we will prepare our Michaelmas table- an autumn table, with a picture of St. Michael, a dragon of some kind, our lovely wooden scale, with some dark, "evil" stones in one side, a dish of jewels to choose from as the children add one each day, til "good" overcomes "evil". Also a branch or two with some pressed leaves hanging, a little vase of Michaelmas Daisies (asters) from our garden, our school candle, a neatly printed poem or verse on watercolor paper.

On the 29th we will read our St.Michael story, and as much fun as it would be to cook a goose, as the tradition suggests, I just don't know if that will really happen. We'll see. I'm hoping- it seems like roast goose with apples, carrots on the side, would be perfect. After all "He who eats goose on Michaelmas Day shan't money lack nor have debts to pay"! We will make a dragon out of bread dough, and have blackberry pie for dessert. Because, um, vanquishing the devil is as good a reason as I can think of to eat blackberries. Thank you St.Michael!

Fourth Grade Schedule Week 1

2009-08-13T14:12:00.001-07:00

In preparation- read together pgs 9-23 of A History of US Book 1

MONDAY 8/31
walk, circle
cursive practice "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" tracing 3 times
reading aloud The Story of Stickeen by John Muir

reading silently w/narration A History of US Book 1 Pages 24-28
writing strands 3 Lesson 1
math lab Calculus by and for Young People Lesson 1, Life of Fred Fractions Chapter 6
math puzzler Mathmania selection
oral math 10 minutes
nature science
Outdoor Hour Challenge #4 "seedpods"; hike Cowiche Canyon; gather sage & make bundles to burn later)
US history choose characters, dates (Inuit) to add to timeline, Smithsonian Education lesson 1
form drawing similar to this
geography review continents and oceans
guitar practice 30 minutes
PE Skills bike safety
Lively Latin Lesson 1
spelling present 20 + words to work out orally

TUESDAY 9/1
walk, circle
reading aloud The Story of Stickeen
main lesson Man and Animal 1.1
cursive practice "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" tracing two times, writing once
reading silently w/narration
writing strands 3 Lesson 1
math puzzler Mathmania
oral math 10 minutes
math practice Life of Fred Fractions Chapter 7, Key Curriculum Measurement Book 3
US History Smithsonian Education Inuit Lesson 2, timeline
grammar Simply Grammar Lesson 1
guitar practice 30 minutes
homeschool gymnastics 1 hour + 3 mile walk
handwork start embroidery- simple stitches
watercolor painting aurora borealis
Lively Latin Lesson 1
spelling write words 3 times each

WEDNESDAY 9/2
walk, circle
reading aloud The Story of Stickeen
main lesson Man and Animal 1.2
reading silently w/narration
cursive practice "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" tracing once, writing twice
writing strands 3 Lesson 1
math puzzler Mathmania
math practice Life of Fred Fractions Chapter 8, Key Curriculum any book 1
Anatomy Lesson 1
US History Smithsonian Education Inuit Lesson 3, timeline
geography locate Arctic regions, mark map with regions from readings
guitar practice 30 minutes
Character Study RESPECT First People respect story, talk about respect, activity 1
modeling Stickeen the dog and John Muir
Lively Latin Lesson 1
spelling test, practice writing incorrect words 3 times each

THURSDAY 9/3
walk, circle
reading aloud The Story of Stickeen
main lesson Man and Animal 1.3
cursive practice "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" writing three times
reading silently w/narration
writing strands 3 Lesson 1
math puzzler Mathmania
math practice Life of Fred Fractions Chapter 9, Key Curriculum any book 1
oral math 10 minutes
US History Museum of Man Inuit Lesson Geography and Ecology, timeline
grammar Word Play pg 6 "Humorous Modifications"
guitar lesson
PE Skills bicycle skills
handwork embroidery stitches
Lively Latin Lesson 1
spelling test of words incorrect yesterday, practice writing incorrect words 3 times each

FRIDAY 9/4
walk, circle
copy work "Honor thy Father and thy Mother" with illustration
reading aloud The Story of Stickeen
reading silently w/narration history reading- Inuit
pen pal letter or journal writing
math puzzler
math practice Life of Fred Fractions Chapter 10, Key Curriculum any book 1
oral math 10 minutes
lab science The Milestones of Science kit
US History write paragraph about Inuit, draw picture in main lesson book
art appreciation and technique Artistic Pursuits Lesson 1
swimming 2 hours
Lively Latin Lesson 1
spelling test of words incorrect yesterday, practice writing incorrect words 3 times each

September Circle

2009-08-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Merrily, merrily greet the morn, Cheerily, cheerily sound the horn! Hark the echoes, hear them play, over the hills and far away.

(Light the candle.) Rise up o flame, by thy light glowing, bring to us beauty, vision and joy.

There's the firm earth under me, the blue sky above me, so I stride, so I stand, and I see you too, with the blue sky above you, and the firm earth under you.

Smile awhile and give your face a rest (smile), stretch awhile and ease your manly chest (arms out-stretched), reach your hands up to the sky (reach up), while you watch them with your eyes (look up), jump awhile, shake a leg there sir, (jump around), now step forward, backward, as you were, then reach out to someone near (hold hands with your neighbor), shake his hand, and smile!

I have a fawn from Aden's land, On leafy buds and berries nurst; And you shall feed him from your hand, Though he may start with fear at first. And I will lead you where he lies For shelter in the noontide heat; And you may touch his sleeping eyes, And feel his little silv'ry feet.-Thomas Moore

Can you soar like an eagle, flying through the sky, the sky, can you soar through the sky?
Are you silent like a salmon, swimming to the sea, the sea, can you swim to the sea?
Can you walk like a bison, heavy on the earth, the earth, can you walk like a bison?

(Rod jumping game- lay out two rods, close together, and gradually farther and farther apart, and have the kids jump over, farther and farther, one foot, the other, etc. Don't jump in the river! Finish by moving them fairly close together, and everyone sitting between them, canoe-style)

My paddle's keen and bright, flashing with silver, follow the wild goose flight, dip, dip, and swing. Dip, dip, and bring her back, flashing with silver, swift as a wild goose flight, dip, dip, and swing. Dip, dip, and swing.

All things bright and beautiful, All creature, great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. (Week 1)
Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. (Week 2)
The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows where we play, The rushes by the water We gather everyday- (Week 3)
He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things so well! (Week 4)-Cecil Frances Alexander

The world stands out on either side, No wider than the heart is wide. Above the world is stretched the sky, no higher than the soul is high. The heart can push the sea and land, So far away on either hand; The soul can split the sky in two, And let the face of God shine through.- Edna St. Vincent Millay

(put aside the rods) Right hand, left foot, meet in the middle, Left hand, right foot, meet in the middle. Right hand, left foot, meet down low, Left hand, right foot meet down low. Right arm over left arm, play the fiddle, Left arm over right arm, pull the bow. Reach to the right, stretch to the left, reach in front, stretch behind. Look down below, what do you find? (the kids always like shouting out the first thing they see!) Right hand reach out to a friend, left hand reach out to friend, form a circle without end. Moving to the right, in a ring, moving to the left, we will bring, our circle to the center, in a ring, then back out again, like the tide. Our circle to the center, in a ring, then back out again, like the tide.

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour, Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all, to thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild, Lord of all, to thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.
For each perfect gift of thine, To our race so freely given, Graces, human and divine, Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n, Lord of all, to thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise. -Conrad Kocher

I can turn myself, and turn myself, and curl up as I will. I can stand on tiptoe, reaching high, I can hold myself quite still. I can be as small as a small, small seed, I can be as tall as a tall, tall tree. I can be as wide as the wide, wide world, I can just be me.

italics=songs to be sung

What We're Not Doing

2009-08-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

In the interest of cutting out the stressful and unnecessary, the complicating factors of our busy life, and making our school days a simple, easy rhythm, here are the things we're cutting out:
Homeschool Gym & Swim- too much time trying to keep two little ones still and at my side. Instead we will have weekly hikes, weekly gymnastics (Avery and Miles can both go to the homeschool class), and drop-in on the homeschool swim sessions- I think they are still Mon, Wed, Fri from 1-3, and again, both boys will be able to go. There's a possibility that there will be a little kickball league organized too, which would be wonderful. Soccer in the fall and spring, and skiing this winter, no matter what! I'm determined.
Spanish- The Papa and I would like to get Rosetta Stone for all of us to work with, but it is just too expensive right now. Maybe this winter, probably not til tax return time. I was having a really hard time with this decision, but I'm actually okay about it now. This will give us some time to really work on Latin, with the Lively Latin program we bought last year and let fall by the wayside. And a good long break from Spanish will be fine with Avery, who was more than a little tired of trying to slog it out alone. Then when we do get Rosetta Stone we'll all be doing it together, which will be better for everyone.
Taking phone calls in the morning. No matter what. Unless it's an emergency. And you call twice!
Separate cooking lessons. Avery and Miles both like to help, and both are interested in cooking. But adding in a special cooking "class" means it never happens. So no more- they'll just help with the regular cooking times, I'll make an effort to plan in foods correspondent to our studies, and it'll be fine. Better than fine. It'll be doable.

Main Lesson Schedule Fourth Grade

2009-08-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Man and Animal
1)Head, torso, limbs
2)Head Animals-Octopus
Vacation- 1 Week
3)Torso Animals-Mouse
4)Head, heart, hands/eagle, lion, bull
Norse Mythology
1)12 Gods of Asgard, the runes (woodburn tablet?)
2)12 Gods (nordic patterns/celtic knots)
3)Adventures of the Gods
4)Aesir, the end of Asgard
Zoology 1
Mammals- 2 Weeks
Mollusks- 2 Weeks (1 short- Thanksgiving week)
Nordic Tales- 3 Weeks
Winter Holiday- 2 Weeks
Vikings- 3 Weeks
Zoology 2
Reptiles- 2 Weeks
Amphibians- 2 Weeks
Poetry- 4 Weeks
Spring Break- 1 Week
Zoology 3
Insects- 2 Weeks
Spiders- 2 Weeks
Beowulf
1)How Grendel the Ogre Warred with the Dane Folk
How Beowulf the Goth came to Daneland
2)Beowulf telleth how he warred with the seafolk
How Beowulf overcame Grendel the Ogre
How the Water Witch warred with the Danefolk
3)How Beowulf overcame the Water-Witch
How Beowulf returned to his own land
4)How the fire dragon warred with the Goth folk
How Beowulf overcame the dragon
Beowulf's last rest
Zoology 4
Fish- 2 Weeks
Birds- 2 Weeks

Man and Animal Main Lesson Block

2009-08-10T16:30:00.001-07:00

It seems that the typical Waldorf schedule would have two "Man and Animal" blocks this year, but there is variation, and in that variation I find my hope. We will do one good block, and 4 more main stream Zoology blocks, though even these will be Waldorf flavored, if not straight from the Steiner shelves.
This lesson finally made sense to me when I stopped thinking about animal science, and started thinking of it as a deeper understanding of the human. The animals are really in the lesson to illustrate our characteristics, with Man alone standing and the animals falling away from this ideal in stages, closer and more bound to the earth as they go. There is an understanding that for the other animals their existence, their body, is the total scope of their being, the reason for their work, but that for humans the body is but a shell, a vehicle, or a tool, and it is our thoughts, our soul, our will, that is our real presence, our important work, and the way in which we best honor God.

Week 1
This week we are guided by this idea: Man is the Living Word, the one created in God's image, the culmination and central idea. We talk about this in various ways, but the important aspect is this idea that Man's ability to reason is what pulls him upward, above the rest of the animals, who show different aspects of the divine, but in a one-sided way. It is Man alone who stands tall and free, with a balance of these aspects.
And so: We have conversations about the senses- eyes to see, ears to hear, tongues to taste, noses to smell, skin to feel. Without the senses nothing would make sense, we wouldn't know anything about the world. We would be in chaos, as everything was before the creation of the world. With our heads we are able to make sense of the world around us, with our senses. We are able to think, to imagine, and it is as if God were shining a light down for us, illuminating our understanding, lighting the world for us.
So the head is like the sun, lighting up everything it sees. Both are round, and high, and help everyone around. With our heads, our thoughts, we can understand and brighten the world around us. Also like the sun, which is not bright just for itself, but in service to the whole earth, making things beautiful and warm, helping them grow and be strong, our heads take in food, water, air, not so the head can grow bigger, but for the body to grow big and strong. The understanding we gain about the world is passed down, too, to the body and limbs, so we can take action, go about the world, and love the world.
We talk about the trunk- always changing, breathing in and out, notice how the shape changes, like the moon, waxing round and full, waning to the thinnest crescent, like waves coming in and going out. Did you know the tides are pulled by the moon? Sailors and farmers keep a close eye on the moon, to know the tides and the rains, when to sail, when to plant. The moon helps everything grow in its time, as our trunk, our lungs and heart, help us grow as we should.
And then those limbs- Legs that crouch, leap, hold us up, feet that move us, dance, and hold us to the ground, arms that stretch and reach, fingers that grasp and spread. Look! Like a star, overhead. We are earthbound, reaching always for heaven. Our legs and feet move us, help us go from place to place, the carry our bodies, our trunks, everywhere on the earth we want to go, but it is really our arms and hands that are free to do what they want. We need them not to move around, but to do the things we imagine- painting, writing, playing music, growing food, swimming, swinging, even, reaching up to heaven, even praying we move our hands in certain ways. What about holding hands? Reaching out to one another? Our legs and feet are meant to serve us, to carry us around, our arms and hands are meant to serve others.
1.1 The threefold human being- head (draw a full, glowing sun near the top left-ish part of a big watercolor sheet of paper) Write out, nicely "The Sun shines and makes the world brighter; I shine and make the world better."
1.2 The threefold human being–trunk (draw a crescent moon in the center right-ish of the paper) "My breath flows in and out, guided by the Moon."
1.3 The threefold human being-limbs (draw stars all around, four biggish ones, some tiny ones, and draw a correspnding person) "My feet hold me to the firm earth; my hands reach for the stars, and yours."

Week 2
This week we begin talking about animals that represent some aspect of the human being. We will start with the Octopus, because we have access to view a live octopus at the aquarium, and I think it will be more interest-grabbing than the cuttlefish, which is often used for this section in Waldorf curriculum.
And so we start a conversation: In the sea, at the bottom of the sea, in dark little caves with only the tiniest entrance, lives an animal with a rounded body, like a head, round and empty, with a sharp beak at one end, the mouth, which takes in food and also water, to breathe. When we eat the food goes down into our stomach, and when we breathe the air goes to our lungs, blood carries the nutrients and oxygen up, up to our brains. In an octopus this is all much simpler, everything is right there in one place. Stomach, hearts (3!), gills. There is no separate body, no trunk, just this great head with no bones, and these long limbs, reaching out for food and climbing around on all those rocks, suction cups to hold it where it wants to be, and to pry open shells. Yes, it's an octopus! It has eyes to see, and a brain to think, but its brain cannot understand what its own arms are doing, or where they are, or even the whole shape or the thing it is holding. Imagine if your arms and legs moved around of their own accord, going up and down and grabbing things your brain didn't intend to grab! When an octopus is attacked it can shoot out ink, to make a big sort of cloud to sneak away in, and if someone hungry grabs hold of one of his arms, he can detach it, just let that arm go, with no pain, no problem. His limbs are useful only to keep that head- that is important part of the octopus, so important he will gladly lose his arms to keep the head safe!
Down in the ocean, under the sea, the octopus lives a kind of dreamy, floaty life, crawling around, swimming, shooting off here and there when it gets spooked. Holding on tight to things it wants. We are like that octopus, sometimes, taking in everything we need and sending all that information to the head, but sometimes our heads float off on a gentle current when we might be attending to our lessons, or we create diversions when we want to escape some task we don't want to do, just as the octopus creates a diversion with all that ink.
What other head animals can we think of? Cuttlefish, of course, really are nothing but a head, hard outside and soft inside, jellyfish, crab, mussel. What about snail?
2.1 The Octopus as head animal, (make a wet felted octopus figure)
2.2 The Octopus, drawing, writing
2.3 The Octopus final writing, other head animals

Week 3
Now we talk about the trunk animals.
Let's start with the Mouse, as Steiner suggests. A mouse does not seem to have a head separate from its body- there are not shoulders and neck like we have. It looks like the head is part of the body, just one end of the trunk happens to have a face, and is then the head, narrowing down to that little pointy, sniffy nose, sniffing and smelling and pointing the way. What about those whiskers, long and shivering, trembling, telling the mouse if danger is near. Sharp, pointy little teeth, always wanting to nibble, nibble, eating up food, carrying food back to its cozy little den, nibbling holes into packages, and holes in walls, even tunnels for the whole mouse-trunk to crawl through. Tiny little eyes that don't see very well, and big ears, standing guard, always alert. A mouse's head is like a little toolbox, full of all kind of equipment to help the trunk get around. Even the mouse's tail, long, and made in rings, is a wonderful tool for the trunk, made so that mouse can stand on its own tail and reach up to climb. Its short little legs can scurry fast, but they are there just to move the mouse along. It is really the trunk that is important to a mouse, and everything else serves that main body.
What other animals are trunk animals?
Fish, for sure. Those fins just move the trunk along, and the mouth seems to open right in to the stomach!
What about the pig? It is hard to tell where the body ends and the head begins on a pig. Like mousey his body tapers down to a nose- for him, though, nothing pointy, but a long, hard, blunt snout, always digging, rooting around, sniffling around for something to eat. It snorts and grunts, swallowing and digging, pushing and chomping. A pigs eyes are small, and deep in all the heavy weight it carries. His ears hang down lazy, not much needed. It's that snout and mouth that do the work, finding food for that massive trunk, with short little legs to help move that heavy body around.
Now what about the horse? Might he be a trunk animal too? Those long, strong, graceful legs are nothing like a pig, short and heavy or a mouse's, quick, but so small and limited in their movement. A horse can walk, trot, gallop, leap, even dance! Maybe it is a limb animal? Horses can see and hear and learn their own way home, even. Maybe they are head animals? But no. Horses may be proud, but just like their awkward and humble cousins, the donkey, they are trunk animals, for their legs, no matter how graceful, are just for moving their bodies around, and their minds, no matter how keen at remembering, are easily broken, and mostly concerned with remembering their task. Even in a horse everything serves the trunk.
3.1 The Mouse (felted wool sewing project)
3.2 The Mouse, drawing and writing
3.3 The Mouse, writing, and other trunk animals

Week 4
Many Waldorf teachings would concentrate this week on "Limb" animals, but we will not. This is something I've spent a lot of time thinking about, reading and trying to take in. I don't believe there to be really Limb animals, where everything goes to the glory of the limbs. The human is the only creature with limbs that are used for anything other than glorifying the body, as our limbs, our hands in particular, enable us to glorify others as well as ourselves and God, and to do all the work our souls demand. Nothing else in the world has hands as useful and wonderful as ours. No one else has hands so perfectly matched to spirits yearning to do good work. And we are balanced- our hands may be much more capable than other animals', but our legs, our feet, are bound to the earth, able to jump and leap, run, and dance, but not so fast or strong as other animals, not so protected or such good weapons as some animals. But we are not disadvantaged, indeed, we have minds and hands to clothe and protect us, better than furry, clawed or hoofed legs would. We will be concentrating this week on the three-fold aspects of the human being again. Head, heart, hands, using animals again to illustrate the lesson.
And so: We speak first of the eagle, the King of the birds, high in his rocky, barren mountain top aerie, carefully surveying the world below. Maybe he his soaring through the sky, graceful and silent, when suddenly he streaks down, like a bullet, a fighter jet, and that beak, sharp and iron strong, opens and immediately clamps hold of some unsuspecting prey. The talons, immense and dagger sharp and strong grab hold and don't let go. Back he flies, fast and furious, to his home, to eat alone, without distraction.
Aren't we like that eagle, casually floating about the lovely day, swooping down and catching hold of some idea that can transform us, help us grow and learn, at least give us something to think about when we are in our nest and quiet? Don't our thoughts flit and fly, soar to the heavens and streak this way and that, chasing ideas, morsels of truth? Doesn't our head sit above the commotion of our working bodies, in the heights like that eagle keenly observing the world's events. Even the eagle's shrill shrieking sounds like it comes from his head. When we make that eagle sound where does it seem to come from? Deep in our abdomen, or way up high?
The eagle's shrill sounds seem to come from the head, but what of the cow in the field, mooing about the grass or her full udders ready to be milked? What about the bull, bellowing his strength and power to the world? That sound, when we make it, we can feel it down low, in our gut. It is a torso sound, not a head sound, don't you think?
How even do the cows and bulls move about getting their food? Do they swoop and leap and chase nuggets down? Not at all. They lay or stand to graze, moving slowly throughout the day about the field, nibbling the green soft grass and chewing their cud. Their heavy bodies are slow and cumbersome, their mouths encased in soft thick lips and no eagle- beaks, sharp and hard, they have soft, wet noses and big brown, mournful eyes. All day they chew grass and make milk, which they don't keep for themselves, but make just to give, to their little babies, and to us. We can learn from the cow, though, of course, to be patient and gentle, to chew our thoughts over and over and over again, to take everything in and change it into something useful for others, to share what we have and to be gentle despite our strength.
Who else might be in that field with all those gentle, timid cows? The bull, of course. He is not gentle, but fierce and angry, storming across the field, charging full force, head first at whatever is bothering him? Where is the power of the bull? Not in his head, he uses that merely as the tip of the weapon. His might is in his torso, all that muscle and strength moving forward on legs meant only propel. Without those legs he is nothing, though. His strength is manifest in those pounding, sod-breaking, dirt-flying, legs, powerful enough to move that great body forward, fearlessly forward. A bull is most wonderful and terrible to watch when he is charging, those legs going a mile a minute. How are we like that bull? When we are working hard, at something physically demanding and hard, like digging a ditch or moving logs, when we say "He is as strong as a bull". When we move forcefully and obstinately, when we dig in our heels and stick with our work until we're done, no matter how hard, no matter how sore our arms and weak our legs, when we keep going forward until we've pounded our way through our task.
But who is the King of the Beasts, strong and sleek? The Lion of course. How is his roar? Not from the head, or the gut. Lion's roar fills our chest, surrounds our heart, makes the blood flow fast and strong. Lion rules the forest with that roar. How does he move? Low and silent, crouching and waiting, then pouncing, deadly fast and sure. He is strong; all muscle, silent on the earth and in his leaps, between the earthbound heaviness of the bull and the windswept heavens of the eagle. Lion is most beautiful and frightening, most himself, in his leap, his pounce, all muscle and spring, grace and strength. When the lion leaps we feel our own hearts leap, it is such a powerful thing. It is so akin to our own hearts, all muscle and strength, unnoticed until death, though the very movement of the heart, clasping in and bursting forth, is so like the crouch and pounce of a lion. That is why we are called lion-hearted when we are fearless and brave, observant and decisive.
We can see all these things- an eagle in our thoughts, the strength and determination of a bull in our limbs, a lion in our hearts, and it is all of these together combined with the grace of God, the spark of the divine, that make us who we are- humans.
4.1 The functions of the human: head- eagle (create an eagle mobile figure)
4.2 The functions of the human: hands/limbs- bull (create a bull mobile figure)
4.3 The functions of the human: heart- lion (create a lion mobile figure, and a self-figure, and hang them appropriately)

US History

2009-08-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

This will be a daily lesson for us this year. We will be using Joy Hakim's A History of US as our spine, with various other books, both fiction and non-fiction, added in as we go.
I'll also be adding in links, books, plans, and the actual lessons we do.

Weeks 1-6 Indigenous Peoples
The Indian How Book
Between Earth and Sky by Joseph Bruchac and Thomas Locker
Read A History of US Book 1 pgs 9-23.
1)Inuit
A History of US Book 1 pgs 24-28.
Stickeen the Story of a Dog by John Muir
Smithsonian Education Eskimo Collection
Smithsonian Education 3 Eskimo Lessons
Museum of Man Inuit Lesson Plan
Caribou Girl by Claire Russell Murphy
The Inuit Thought of It by Alootook Ipellie
Dogsong by Gary Paulsen
2)Pacific Northwest
A History of US Book 1 pgs 33-41
Raven: A Trickster Tale From the Pacific Northwest
Map of NW Coastal Tribes
Totem Poles and Tattoos Lesson Plan
NW Coast Longhouse and totem pole model
The Rain Game (circle time?)
Basket Weaving video and lesson
3)Great Plains
A History of US Book 1 pgs 42-49
Daily Life in a Plains Indian Village 1868 by Michael Terry
Knife River Lesson Plan (1&2)
Ojibwa Art Project
Importance of the Buffalo
Great Plains Tipi Model
4)Southwest and Southeast
A History of US Book 1 pgs 29-32
Thinkquest 2000 Navajo information
PBS Navajo Story "Five Sacred Medicines" collect and burn sage
Navajo Thunderbird crossstitch pattern
Orchard School SW Indians Information
Seminole Tribe Website
Seminole Patchwork
5)Northeast
A History of US, Book 1 pgs 52-59
Iroquois Oral Traditions
An Algonquin Year by Michael McCurdy
New York State Museum Iroquois longhouses, village life
Iroquois Longhouse Model
Hiawatha by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow
America First Building a Canoe
6)Aztec, Inca
A History of US Book 1 pgs 107-110
The Aztecs
Mexicolore Aztec Resources
National Geographic Inca Lesson Plan
NOVA Suspension Bridge Activity
Llama Sounds

Weeks 7-12 Explorers
National Geographic Exploration Experience
Smithsonian Education To The Ends of The Earth and Beyond
Explorers Tombstones Wrap-up Project (not planned this year, but cute)
Our wrap-up project will be an Explorer's Travel Pillow: I'll transfer a map of the world onto fabric, and Avery can stitch the different explorers' paths in different colors, and at the end of the unit we will stuff it and make a pillow perfect for his own explorations!
Vikings- study during "Viking" block lesson

7) Marco Polo to Columbus
A History of US Book 1 pgs 66-86
National Geographic Exploration Experience (NGEE)p4-5
Marco Polo
National Geographic Xpeditions Lesson
Make a Compass
Vasco de Gama
NGEE p8-9
Columbus lesson plan
NGEE p6-7
The Columbian Exchange Rhyme
The Columbian Exchange Worksheet
8) Cabot to Balboa
A History of US Book 1 pg 86-87
John Cabot 1497
Matthew of Bristol Cabot's ship reproduction website
NGEE p 14-15
Pedro Alvarez Cabral 1500
NGEE p 8-9
Amerigo Vespucci 1502
A History of Us Book 1 pgs 93-96
Juan Ponce De Leon 1513
A History of US Book 1 pgs 111-112
NGEE p 10-11
Vasco Nunez Balboa 1513
NGEE p 12-13
9) Cortez to Cartier
PBS Cortez and the Aztecs Lesson Plan 1519
A History of US Book 1 pgs 97-106
NGEE p 10-11
Ferdinand Magellan 1521
A History of Us Book 1 pgs 88-92
NGEE p 8-9
PBS Cabeza de Vaca and the Exploration of North America Lesson Plan 1528
A History of US Book 1 pgs 116-119
NGEE p 10-11
PBS Pizarro and the Incas Lesson Plan 1531
A History of Us Book 1 pgs 112-115
NGEE p12-13
Jacques Cartier 1534
NGEE p10-11
Historica Minute Lesson Plan
10) De Soto to Drake
Hernando de Soto 1539
A History of Us Book 1 pgs125-128
NGEE p 10-11
Juan Vasquez de Coronado1540
A History of US Book 1 pgs 120-123
NGEE p 10-11
PBS Orellana and the Amazon Lesson Plan 1541
NGEE p 12-13
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo1542
Sir Francis Drake 1577
NGEE p 8-9
A History of US Book 1 pgs 162-163
11) Champlain to Hudson & Review
Juan de Onate 1598
A History of US Book 1 pgs 129-130
Samuel de Champlain 1599
NGEE p 10-11
Henry Hudson 1607
NGEE p 14-15

Weeks 13-18 The Colonies
13) The Earliest Colonies
The Huguenots & Charlesport 1562
A History of US Book 1 pgs 140-143
St. Augustine1565
A History of US Book 1 pgs 144-146
Quebec 1608
A History of US Book 1 pgs 147-149
Sir Walter Raleigh 1584
Roanoke
A History of US Book 1 pgs 154-161; 164-166
Smithsonian Education Pigs, Weeds, and Other Players
Library of Congress Tinker, Tailor, Farmer, Sailor 3 Lessons about the 3 Colonial regions
14) New England
Mayflower Website
Thunder From The Clear Sky by Marcia Sewall
15) Middle Colonies
You be the Historian Lesson Plan Delaware Colony
16) Southern Colonies
Jamestown Interactive
17) Major Events- Witch Trial, etc.
The Antimonian Controversy
18) Major Events- French and Indian War

Weeks 19-22Independence
Movie: 1776
19) A Growing Movement
Smithsonian Education Revolutionary Money and Money Pictures Telling Stories
We The People History Lesson
Betsy Ross Flag Lesson
PBS American Flag Lesson
20) Revolutionary War
Boston Tea Party Poem
21) A New Country
Dicovery Education Characteristics of Leaders
Movie: Ben and Me
22) The Constitution
Make and Write with a Feather Quill

Weeks 23-30 Manifest Destiny
NGEE p 18-19
23) Lewis & Clark
NGEE p 16-17
PBS Inside the Corps
PBS Lewis & Clark Resources
Smithsonian Education Establishing Borders Lesson 1
Smithsonian Education Lewis & Clark Animal Encounters
Smithsonian Education Mapping the Unmapped
National Geographic Lewis & Clark Diorama Lesson Plan

24) War of 1812
25) Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears Lesson Plan 4 Days
Original Source Lesson Plan Trail of Tears
26) Technological Wonders
Smithsonian Education The Camera 1846 Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Educaiton Home Sweet Home Lesson Plan
27) Texas Revolution
Smithsonian Education Establishing Borders Lesson 2
Cowboys and Brands Lesson
28) Oregon!
PBS Free Land Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Education Establishing Borders Lesson 3
Smithsonian Education Blacks in the Westward Movement
29) Gold
30) Handcart Pioneers
PBS Sweet Betsy from Pike Lesson Plan

Weeks 31- 36 To the Millennium

31) Slavery
PBS Slavery Lesson Plan
Original Source Lesson Plan
32) Civil War
Smithsonian Education The Face of War
movie: Abraham and Mary Lincoln- A House Divided
33) Civil War
Yale-New Haven Lesson Plan
What do You See? Civil War Through Photographs Lesson Plan
34) Reconstruction
35) Industrialization
PBS Political Cartoon Lesson Plan
The Chinese Must Go Lesson Plan
36) US-Spanish War to 1899
PBS Learning About Location- the George W. Elder
PBS Statue of Liberty Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Education Great Grandmother's Dress Lesson Plan
Philippines Lesson Plan
General Links:
Archaeolink Lesson Plans
Library of Congress America's Library
Baldwin Project America First:100 Stories From Our History
U Penn Digital Library This Country of Ours

Construction 4: Almost Done!

2009-08-06T13:07:00.001-07:00

Avery's third grade culminating project- build a structure- is nearly done. He's done every aspect of the construction, from drawing to sawing, measuring to tightening screws.

Our wonderful friend Bob took this project on himself- perhaps Avery's parents were moving too slowly?- from showing up with a truckload of posts and a post hole digger, to buying supplies and making sure Avery learns each step. It's been a tremendous blessing, for I'm sure if it were left up to us, we'd still be in the making excuses for not starting the project phase. Having a friend with the time and generosity to make sure this project happens has been wonderful.

Here's the last little bit they need to finish- the railings in the one back section, and trap door. But they can play up there, now. I think we'll attach the rope ladder for now.

Character Study

2009-08-01T02:16:00.000-07:00

Whew! I finally finished the character study schedule for next year! I am having a hard time getting posts to stay formatted, as well as some other irritating but not life threatening technical issues, so it looks a little shabby, but the info is there and in one place so at least I have something to work with.
The plan is right here, or you can just scroll down or search for it.
Anyway, I included quotes and bible verses to use for general learning or copy work, as well as stories and activities.
And now, on to actual ordering and re-budgeting and scheming and planning. How to fit my lovely $1200 plans into a much smaller budget? We'll figure it out somehow, and soon!

Weekly Schedule (Preschool)

2009-07-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

While preschool at our house is mostly just living, learning, and doing what we do, and there certainly aren't the pressures of benchmarks and things, in an effort to be as organized with Miles as I am with Avery (perhaps with the goal of easing up on my firstborn-shh!) here's my weekly plan for Miles:

MONDAY
walk
circle
math lab (puzzles, counting games, cuisenaire rods, etc.)
nature story, walk, nature journal/project
form drawing (tracing, mazes, crayon rubbing, etc.)
PE Skills
Spanish

TUESDAY
walk
circle
story of the week
gymnastics
handwork
watercolor
Spanish

WEDNESDAY
walk
circle
story of the week-retell, act out, play
human body/health & safety
character study
swimming?
modeling
Spanish

THURSDAY
walk
circle
story of the week-project
Language Lab (making up stories, reading, cut and paste)
handwork
Spanish

FRIDAY
walk
circle
art appreciation
swimming?
Mom and me music class?
letter writing
Spanish

Weekly Schedule (Fourth Grade)

2009-07-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of trying (trying REALLY REALLY hard) not to over schedule our school times- instead of our usual broken-into-15-minute-periods school schedule, this weekly plan, knowing it will change a bit depending on what is actually happening on the ground at any given time:

MONDAY
walk, circle
cursive practice- character verse
reading aloud
reading silently w/narration- history
writing strands 3
Math Lab- hands on work period, new concepts introduced
Math puzzler- logic problem, diagramming, patterning, etc.
Oral Math
Nature story, nature walk, nature journal
US History reading, timeline, project
Form Drawing
Geography-
guitar practice
PE Skills
latin
speling

TUESDAY
walk, circle
main lesson block*
cursive practice
reading aloud
reading silently w/narration
writing strands 3
math puzzler
math practice work
oral math
US History reading, timeline, project
Grammar
guitar practice
homeschool gymnastics
handwork
watercolor painting
latin
spelling

WEDNESDAY
walk, circle
main lesson block*
cursive practice
reading aloud
reading silently w/narration
writing strands 3
math puzzler
math practice
oral math
The Human Body- health
US History reading, timeline, project
Geography- from history studies
Character Study
Swimming?
modeling
latin
spelling

THURSDAY
walk, circle
main lesson block*
cursive practice
reading aloud
reading silently w/narration
writing strands 3
math puzzler
math practice
oral math
US History reading, timeline, project
Grammar
Guitar lesson
PE Skills
handwork
latin
spelling

FRIDAY
walk, circle
copywork Character Verse & illustration
reading aloud
reading silently w/narration
penpal letter/journal writing
math puzzler
math practice
oral math
Lab Science
US History reading, timeline, project
Geography
Art Appreciation and Technique
homeschool swimming?
latin
spelling

*The main lesson blocks, lasting a month each (approximately) will be: poetry, 4 zoology, one "Man and Animal", 1 Nordic Myths, 1 Vikings, 1 Beowulf

also, I'm considering adding in a formal spelling lesson, but I am unsure still about that....

edited: We ARE doing spelling, are NOT doing spanish, NOT doing homeschool PE.

Handwork Schedule (Preschool)

2009-07-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Schedule? Not so much....
Ideas, anyway:

Lacing
Stringing beads
Weaving- make little bird nests to weave things into, like this, those
Adorable bird feeders, too, for that matter!
Wet felting- "beads", balls, bars of soap, little pieces of artwork (hot pads, coasters?)
cookie cutter ornaments
Stringing felt beads
Nature weaving
Papier mache
Fabric painting (maybe t-shirts for presents?)
Hammer and nail pounding
Modeling clay
Simple sewing (felt coasters?)

Handwork Schedule (Fourth Grade)

2009-07-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Summer:
Braid strings to attach to bunk beds for hanging name banners on

Fall:
Learn simple embroidery stitches-
running stitch, whipped running stitch, cross stitch, french knot, and chain stitch
Transfer drawing to embroidery and create wall art or pillow
Sew and embroider toy for Ansel for Christmas

Winter:
Build treasure chest, decorated with wood burning, for Miles for Christmas
Knit mouse toy (square, with bell inside) for Ansel's birthday
Knit (hat) or felt play mat for Miles' birthday
Create a project of choice

Spring:
Learn simple crochet-chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet(?)
Crochet a potholder
Crochet granny squares to make a chair cushion
Build a spice rack for the kitchen or work bench for the garage

Flash Cards

2009-07-26T22:19:00.001-07:00

Avery decided he really does want to learn the math tables after all, and that he would rather do it with flash cards than games and things like I've been trying to entice him with. Sometimes broccoli is best just plain, huh? I made some real quick, some that he can practice with himself.
Each number is circled at the top, telling us which table we're working on, and the numbers 1-12 below are reminders to practice adding, subtracting, and multiplying those numbers.

Here's the back of one of the cards, for practicing those pesky division problems. These cards aren't meant to be tricky, but rather easy for Avery to self check and just sort of zip through he tables. We're going to carve out a few minutes each day to work on this, and hopefully it won't take too long to memorize it all, now that he's interested.
His math understanding is great, and he really hasn't had a problem with plodding through complex problems, counting it all out to find the answers, but he does get frustrated sometimes when he can't answer problems without a pencil and paper. I've been letting that frustration build, occasionally reminding him that memorizing would make it a lot easier to work through these problems, but not forcing the issue. Finally he's stepped forward, ready to tackle all those long lists of numbers!

Character Study

2009-07-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

Home Life Ministries Character Journal

Golden Rules by Wayne Dosick
The Children's Story Hour
Character Education Links
Wing Clips
Brainy Quotes

Each lesson: evening before- tell lesson story before bed, draw the picture for the next day's lesson. Have child narrate story told the evening before. Retell the story with details. Talk about the verse/quote, what the trait means and think of ideas about how to enact it. Have child draw the picture (either to illustrate the story or the verse), and copy the moral/verse/quote, or just do the project for that week.
I WILL- ideas to draw out about each trait. Possibly used for discipline (copy appropriate I will with trait in response to bad acts)
ACTIVITIES- ideas to help bring the trait to life.

Weeks 1&2 Respect
to regard as worthy of special attention, to honor, to give special attention to, to hold in esteem
~Honor thy Father and they Mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12
~Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:32

"If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow-citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem." Abraham Lincoln
"Humans are ambitious and rational and proud. And we don't fall in line with people who don't respect us and who we don't believe have our best interests at heart. We are willing to follow leaders, but only to the extent that we believe they call on our best, not our worst." Rachel Maddow

"As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect the uniqueness of others." Robert Schuller
Golden Rules p 23-25 The Rice Field
First Peoples Respect story

I Will-Listen and make eye contact when you're talking with people.
-Speak to others kindly.
-Value people's privacy.
-Treat things (mine and others) nicely
-Ask before borrowing, and put things away so they don't get ruined.
-Ask before helping.
-Use people's names when I'm speaking with them.
-Remember that others are just as worthy as I am.
-Offer my seat to elders
-Hold the door and help people when ever I can.
-Wait my turn to speak, to play, etc..
Activities- 1)Think of some of the people you respect the most, and make a list of all of the reasons you respect them. Next think about yourself, and traits you carry that allow people to respect you. 2)Respect the Flag- make a poster about how to treat the US flag.

Weeks 3&4 Honesty
truthfulness, being straightforward, having sincerity and integrity

~Psalm 15:1-2 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteously, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
~Proverbs 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart.
~Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
~And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32

"How many legs does a dog have if we call his tail a leg? Four; calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg." Abraham Lincoln
"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." Galileo
"The only way to tell the truth is to speak with kindness. Only the words of a loving man can be heard." Henry David Thoreau
"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain
Aesop's Fables "The Mouse and the Frog" "The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf"
Parables from Nature "The Light of Truth"
"The Blind Men and the Elephant"
Golden Rules p41-42 The Collector
I will-clear my conscience to God and my parents
-never try to hide my actions from God or my parents
-not keep secrets from my parents
-have my parents permission about the people I spend time with
-ask my parents for help when I am having a hard time being as good as I can be
-be punctual and follow through when I make commitments
-always keep my promises
-not exxagerate
-not cheat
-admit when I make a mistake or am wrong
-tell the truth
Activities-1) Play truth or dare with your children. 2)Play Red Light/Green Light, with red light meaning untrue or pretend, green light meaning true, and the leader shouting out scenarios demonstrating one or the other (or have the kids come up with answers and you tell them red light or green light).

Weeks 5&6 Humility
humbleness, realizing one's imperfection, freedom from pride and arrogance
~Proverbs 16:20 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly than divide the spoil with the proud.
~Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low, but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. ~Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction; a haughty spirit before a fall.

"Do you wish people to speak well of you? Then don't speak well of yourself." Blaise Pascal
"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err." Mohandas K. Gandhi
Aesop's Fables "The Oak Tree and the Reed" "The War horse and the Mule"
Parables from Nature "The Light of Life"

Activity- 1) Talk about humility, and how to properly accept a compliment, deflecting the praise back to God and whomever also deserves the praise. 2) Choose something you're good at, and trace back to figure out who has helped you with that skill, etc. Who deserves the praise? Make thank you cards for those people.
I will-praise my parents, teachers, friends, and team mates
-remember those who helped me when I receive praise
-try my best, even if I'm unsure of how I'll do

Weeks 7&8 Gratitude
thankfulness, a feeling of warmth and kindness after receiving a favor
~In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you. 1Thessalonians 5:18
~I give thanks unto thee, O lord, and sing praises unto thy name. Psalms 18:49
~Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned whatever state I am in, to be content. Philippians 4:11

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'Thank you" that would suffice." Meister Eckhart
"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary." Margaret Cousins
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we did get sick, at least we didn't die, so let us all be thankful." Buddha

Golden Rules p112-115 "Seeking Good Fortune" p112-115
Parables of Nature "Daily Bread"

I Will-Try to find the goodness in every person and situation
-Recognize the effort that others put into my benefit
-Voice my thankfulness for what I have
-Be thankful for the wonders of creation, and the Creator
-Voice my gratitude for all my blessings
-Thank god even when I don't understand the blessing
-work to take care of the world
-not complain about things not being good enough, new enough, or cool enough
Activities-1)Create a "Gratitude Garden"or "Thankfulness Tree" with lots of blank flowers/leaves for everyone to write their blessings on each day. 2) Make a thank you card and send it to someone who has helped you in the past, or whom you are thankful to have as a friend or teacher

Weeks 9&10 Compassion
pity, to commiserate, to feel sorrow when others are in distress, to suffer on an other's behalf
~And of some, have compassion, making a difference. Jude 1:22
~Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Romans 12:15

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." The Dalai Lama
"A religious man is one who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair." Abraham Joshua Heschel
The Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37
Golden Rules p94-97 The Warm Fuzzies
I Will-Realize that sometimes when people are being irritating it is because they need some positive attention.
-Notice when people seem to feel overwhelmed, and try to lighten their load rather than adding to it.
-Not use rude words that are hurtful
-Say hi to those who seem lonely or timid.
-Listen with my whole self when others are talking.
-pay close attention to my own tone of voice, so that others can hear the words I say as I intend.
-Put myself in others' shoes
-Pay attention to others' facial expressions and tone of voice.
-Use my hands to reach out to and help others
Activities-1)Think of someone who is having a hard time and do something special- make cookies, send a card, etc. 2) Figure out the "Touchpoints of Love" for each family member. Scroll down to the activity.

Weeks 11&12 Patience
calmly or contentedly waiting for something, uncomplaining endurance, suffering with endurance, forbearance
~And to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness. 2Peter1:6
~For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;A time to kill, and a time to heal;A time to break down, and a time to build up;A time to weep, and a time to laugh;A time to mourn, and a time to dance;A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;A time to seek, and a time to lose;A time to keep, and a time to throw away;A time to tear, and a time to sew;A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;A time for love, and a time to hate;A time for peace, and a time for war. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
~But the spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. Galatians 5:22

"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world." Helen Keller
"He that can have patience can have what he will." Benjamin Franklin

Parables From Nature "Waiting"
"The Boy and the Gem Master"
I Will-Continue doing what is right even of I don't get recognition for it
-Choose the right actions even if they are slower and I think no one will know.
-Put the good I can do ahead of my own plans
-Be happy to assist rather than being the leader
-Not talk about other's shortcomings, and remember that I have many shortcomings too, and God is always patient with me.
-Accept the things I can't change.
-Keep trying if I don't succeed at first.
-Not complain if I don't get my own way.
-Not interrupt when others are talking.
-Wait for my turn
-Allow others to enjoy their turns without feeling rushed
Activities-1)Make a "talking stick" and practice using it during a family meeting. One person speaks at a time. 2) Decorate a big jar to collect change in, and designate it for something special for the whole family- a trip, a particular board game, something fun and "worth waiting for". 3)play a board game or a card game, and discuss taking turns and being patient

Weeks 13&14 Faith
belief in a higher power, belief that there is a bigger picture than what we can see from where we are, trust in God
~We walk by faith, not by sight." 1Corinthians 13:13
~If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believeth. Mark 9:23
~Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
"Without faith nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible."Mary Mcleod Bethune
"Have faith in God; God has faith in you." Edwin Louis Cole
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." Martin Luther King Jr.
"Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime, therefore we are saved by hope. Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history, therefore we are saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can ever be accomplished alone, therefore we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own, therefore we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness." Reinhold Niebhur
"My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have, to try to make a difference." Jimmy Carter
Parables of Nature "A Lesson of Faith"
Children's Story Garden "The White Feather"
I Will-See the opportunities instead of becoming stuck worrying about the problems
-trust God and my parents to take care of me
-know that even if I'm having a hard time right now things will improve
-know that God is good
-know that God is everywhere
-know that God is leading us to be like Him, and to live a sacred life
Activities-1)Have your child walk in a straight line outside, across the yard or to a distant tree. Next do it blindfolded. How quickly before they get off track? How far off track did they get? God is always there, showing us the way, if we will only keep our blinders off, and if we should get off track, he is still there, waiting!2) Go for a short bike ride, stopping occasionally to get off the bike, walk around it, and look at it, then get back on and ride. How do you know you'll be able to ride it when you get back on? What about tomorrow? What about if you fall? Will you still be able to ride your bike? Yes- just like God is always there, even if we can't see him, even if we make mistakes, supporting us. 3)watch The Lilies of the Field with Sidney Poitier

Weeks 15&16 Courage
boldness, valor, resolution, doing what is right even if you are scared, the will
~He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So that we may say boldly, the Lord is my helper, and I will fear not what Man shall do to me. Hebrews 13:6 Matthew 10:28
~Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith; be men of courage, be strong. Corinthians 16:13
"If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right." Henry Ford
"Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave let him follow his conscience." James Freeman Clarke
"Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit." Baltasar Gracian
"Moral excellence comes about by habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts." Aristotle
"It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees." Dolores Ibarruri

Aesop's Fables "The Mice in Council"
The Children's Story Hour "The Courageous Visitor"
I will-Stand up for what is right, even if no one else is
-Say hi to children you don't know
-Look people in the eye when I talk to them
-Say no to doing things that aren't right, even if everyone else is doing it
-Do the right thing even if it isn't the easiest
-Try new things even if I might not do very well
-Express myself even if I'm embarrassed
-Admit when I am wrong
Activities-1) Play "The Face of Courage" Take pictures of your children, cover them with card stock cut in pieces, place before each child. Think up a bunch of scenarios when one could choose to be courageous (talking to a new kid, standing up to a bully, telling the truth even if you'll have punishment, etc.) and let kids choose how they'd handle the situation. Every time they choose the courageous action they can take away another piece of the puzzle, every time they choose the cowardly action they must take a piece back, until their own "face of courage" is completely free and shining up at them. 2)Research a courageous person and create an art project about that person, using key words

Weeks 17&18 Perseverance
persistence, follow-through, determination to accomplish what one sets out to do
~What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. Isaiah 46:11
~Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalms 37:24
"By perseverance the snail reached the ark." Charles Spurgeon
"Making your mark on the owrld is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. It's whether you let it harden and shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere." Barack Obama
"The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight
But they, while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world." Jane Addams
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Everett Hale
Aesop's Fables "The Crow and the Pitcher" "The Hare and the Tortoise"
Noah and the Ark
I will- set goals and work til they are accomplished
-ignore distractions that keep me from my goals
-not let others discourage me from my goals
-keep my focus on what is good for me and my family, not what others choose
-work to complete tasks as efficiently as I can
-not allow difficulties and problems keep me from following my purpose
Activities-1)Research people who have persevered- Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, etc. How many tries is enough? How many difficulties are too many? 2)Watch "The Astronaut Farmer" or "Fly Away Home" 3)super-ball/raw egg activity 4)What do I want to do when I'm a grown-up? What does it take to be what I want to be?

Weeks 19&20 Friendship

affection arising from mutual goodwill, affinity, mutual esteem

~An honest answer is the sign of true friendship. Proverbs 24:26

~Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to lift him up. Ecclesiastes

~Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6

"The only way to ahve a friend is to be one" Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The bird a nest, the spider a web, the human friendship." William Blake

"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist." Indira Ghandi

"The Horse and his Rider" "The Bear and the Two Travelers"
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Golden Rules p 135-137 "Two Friends"
I Will-honor my friends by holding their confidences
-share my hopes and dreams with my friends, and hold theirs as well
-be truthful and kind to my friends
-make sure everyone gets a turn
-not exclude others and make them feel bad
-help my friends when they are in need
-stand by my friends even when they are being opposed by others
Activities-1)Think of three of your friends, and then think of character traits that you particularly appreciate about each person. Make a Venn diagram illustrating their good traits 2)Make heart shaped cookies and decorate them with the trait you most admire, and give one to each friend

Weeks 21&22 Justice

righteousness, equity, being fair

~The path of the just is as a shining light, that shine more and more until the perfect day

~It is better that ten guilty escape than one innocent suffer

~Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy Proverbs 31:9

"You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free." Clarence Darrow

"True peace is not merely the abscence of tension: it is the presence of justice."Martin Luther King Jr.

"Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Aesop's Fables "The Woodman and the Trees"
Parables from Nature "The General Thaw"
Golden Rules p 60-61 "In Your Hands"
I Will-do what is fair and just
-be a champion for justice and fairness
-remember that all people are equal in God's eye
-not judge people by appearances
-look for the good in everyone
-share equally
-stand up for those who are being embarrassed or put down
-judge each situation and person individually rather than before hand
Activities- 1)Fair does not mean equal. Make outlines of different sizes of people- a baby, a small child, an older child, a grownup, each with a porportionately sized pail, on cardstock, with little stands of cardstock. Think of different tasks, resposibilities, rewards, and print them four times on slips of paper. Divide them all equally, first, so that it is clear that the grown up has lots of empty space and the smaller figures are overfilled. Have the characters make "trips" to deliver all of their tasks and rewards. Rearrange so that everyone has what they can handle in one trip. That is fair, but certainly not equal. 2)Think of an unfair situation in your community and some possible solutions. Write a letter to the editor about it.

Weeks 23&24 Service
labor performed for the benefit of another
~There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded to your brothers and to the poor and needy in the land. Deuteronomy 15:11
~He raises the poor from the dust and the needy from the ash heap Psalm 113:7
~I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes and you gave me something to wear. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me. Then the good people will answer "Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and take care of you?" Then the King will answer "I tell you the truth, Anything you did for the least of my people you also did for me." Matthew 24:35-45

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank
"If I can stop one heart from breaking/I shall not live in vain./If I can ease one life from aching/Or cool one pain/Or help one fainting robin/unto his nest again/I shall not live in vain." Emily Dickinson
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." John F. Kennedy

Aesop's Fables "The Blind Man and the Lame Man"
Parables of Nature "The Circle Blessing"
I Will-Work to help others whenever I can
-Offer my talents to make the world a better place
-Share my wealth with the needy
-offer my abilities to be of assistance to those around me
Activities-1) Find a crafthope activity, one through another organization, or create your own, to make something to fill a need- dolls for orphans, hats for the homeless, etc. 2) volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank, take a dog from the Humane Society out for a walk, figure out what sort of service calls to you, and do it!

Weeks 25&26 Kindness

being kind, a kind or helpful act, goodness, consideration

~Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

~An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25

~ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21

"Three things in life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind." Henry James

"Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver." Barbara de Angelis

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." James M. Barrie

"The Old Man Who Made Trees Blossom"
Aesop's Fables "The Lion and the Mouse"

I Will- look for opportunities to give people sincere compliments
-say please, thank you, no thank you, excuse me
-help people in simple ways, like holding the door, or picking up dropped items
-not talk badly about people
-offer to help whenever I can
-smile
-listen attentively when others are talking to me

Activities-1)learn and sing The Golden Rule song. 2)Plant seeds of kindness- cut out seed shapes from paper, decorate a bulletin board or large piece of paper green, with a strip of brown at the bottom. As each child does a kindness, write it on a "seed", and have them plant it on the paper with glue. Secretly glue on a flower, so that you quickly grow a garden of beauty from all those seeds of kindness. Maybe a different color flower for each child, or have them decorate the flowers ahead of time?

Weeks 27&28 Responsibility

being accountable, knowing and doing what is expected (by God)
~For God shall bring every work into judgement, every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14
~But if any not provide for his own, and specifically for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1Timothy5:8
~Do all things without murmerings and disputing. Philippians 2:14

"Few things help a person more than to place responsibilty upon him, and to let him know that you trust him." Booker T. Washington
"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." Voltaire
St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I Will-do my chores without complaining
-take care of my things and my space
-follow through on my promises
-prove my apologies with action
-not make excuses
-understand and do what I am supposed to do

Activities-1)Character Ed Net interactive lesson 2)Choose a hero and list the reasons why they are a hero, and think of as many of their character traits as you can. Is your hero responsible? 3)Watch the movie The Little Prince

Weeks 29&33 Forgiveness
to stop feeling anger or resentment towards someone, excusing, pardoning
~For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14
~The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a trangession. Proverbs 19:11
"It is easier to forgive an enemy than it is to forgive a friend." William Blake
"Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Mohandas K. Gandhi
Parable of "The Prodigal Son" Christian and Buddhist versions
Parables of the "Unmerciful Servant"
"No Future Without Forgiveness" by Desmond Tutu
I Will-forgive those who mistreat me
-know that others are trying their best, too
-know that even if I don't like someone I can still forgive them
-forgive myself for my mistakes
-forgive myself when I don't do as well as I think I could have
-know that God knows we are not perfect, and forgives us, but expects us to keep trying to be better
Activities-1)forgiveness lesson/pencils 2)How many times must I forgive? Take a piece of construction paper, folded in half, and on the top side write"I forgive you for that" and glue 7 seeds. Have the child count out 70 seeds, and measure an approximate amount 6 more times. Glue all of those seeds inside. 3)set up a bean bag challenge, letting the children work out how many tries they get before it is someone else's turn. After awhile ask what they decided, then ask how many chances God gives us to get it right. How many times can we keep trying before we give up trying to do the right thing?

Weeks 31&32 Hopefulness

to feel that something desired may happen, to have confidence, to trust, to expect

~Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
~But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Psalms 39:7

"The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." Allan K. Chalmers
"Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, it comes into existence." Lin Yutang
"Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope." Kalidasa

Parables From Nature "A Lesson of Hope" "Red Snow" "Purring When You're Pleased"
I Will-believe in myself
-believe in the goodness of others
-be flexible and know that everything will work out
-always look for the silver lining, the good in every situation
-not be stubborn, grumpy, and rude
-not give up on myself or others
-not try to take hope away from others
Activities-1) Make a "Tree of Hope" draw a tree, with roots. Label the roots with the names of the people and ideas, places, that teach and sustain you. Label the branches with your hopes, dreams, aspirations. Here is a guide to sketching trees. 2)
Make a family list- things we each hope for ourselves, for each other, for our family unit, for our town, our world

Weeks 33&34 Obedience
submission to authority, respect, obeying
~Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:20
~If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:19
~Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:1-3

"Force does not constitute right, obedience is due only to legitimate powers." Jean Jacques Rousseau
"A great work is made out of a combination of obedience and liberty."Nadia Boulanger
"Justice is the insurance which we have on our lives and property. Obedience is the premium we pay for it." William Penn
Parables From Nature "The Law of Authority and Obedience"
The Children's Story Garden "The Water Barrel"
The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack
I Will-accept "No" as the final answer
-do what my parents tell me when they tell me
-be cheerful as I fulfill my duties
-not give excuses to get out of my duties
-perform my tasks completely and whole-heartedly
-obey the rules of God first (I won't do something I know to be wrong just because I was told to.)

Activities-1) Who is in charge of me? Identify people who have authority over you, and when they have authority. 2)Hide a little present or treat somewhere, and give the children very explicit directions, breaking the clues and the path into segments. When they finally get the prize let them enjoy the reward of their obedience.

The Human Body

2009-07-20T11:17:00.001-07:00

Anatomy, Health, and Safety

Week 1- Cells

NOVA movie- Lab Meat

Biology4Kids- Cells Cell Parts and Functions Movie

Science Online Game

Cells Are Us online book

Virtual Cell

The Human Body (THB) Hormones, Growth, and Development p 49-51

The Way We Work (TWWW) p 50-55

Wonders of Science The Human Body (WOSTHB) Unit 1-What Are Bodies Made Of?

Week 2- DNA

NOVA Create DNA Fingerprint & Solve a Crime

DNA to Protein Interactive Zoom in to DNA

Bones & Skeleton Game Book (B&S) p 81

THB p 47-48

TWWW p 32-35

Week 3- Genes

NOVA Epigenetics Movie

Discovery Education Life Cycles Movie

American Museum of Natural History genetics activities Gene Games

Only Human (OH) p29-37
THB Hormones, Growth, and Development p 47-48
B&S p 78-79

Weeks 4 & 5- Skeleton & Bones
Bones Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/SSmovie.html
Bones & Broken Bones Movie http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1033
Label the Bones Print http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=54384&cat_id=20607
Bone Games http://www.childrensmuseum.org/special_exhibits/bones/kids_mazeGame.htm
Dragonfly TV Bone Regrowth http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/bodybrain.html
Muscles & Bones Lessons http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/files/TG_muscles.pdf
WOSTHB p 12-21, 66-69
THB p 31-35
TWWW p 254-259, 267-289
B&S p 10-16
The House We Live In pdf book (THWLI) p 7-17/58, 23-28/58

Weeks 6 & 7- Muscles
Newton's Apple Knuckle Crack Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video_only.php?id=3062
Muscles & Bones Lessons http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/files/TG_muscles.pdf
Kids Health Muscles http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
THB p 35-36
TWWW p 261-265
B&S p 18-22
WOSTHB p 32-39, 74
THWLI p 29-32/58

Weeks 8-9- First Aid

A Sigh of Relief first aid book

Grossology p 12, 42

WOSTHB p 114-124

Weeks 10 &11- Brain & Nervous System

Brain & Nervous Sytem Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/NSmovie.html

Newton's Apple Brain Movie http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1283

Label the brain http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?ic=1&article_set=54391&cat_id=20607 -Ectomy printable brain parts game http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/id90.html
NOVA Sleep video http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3410/01.html
Make NS Models http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html
Reflex Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chreflex.html
THB Nervous System p 3-9, 12-14
TWWW p 150-165, 188-207
B&S p 56-58
WOSTHB p 40-43, 75, 82
THWLI p17-20/58, 51-58/58

Week 12- Sight
The Miracle Worker/ Helen Keller
Louis Braille
Vision Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chvision.html
Vision packet http://www.nei.nih.gov/education/visionschool/schintro/VISIONSchoolProgram.pdf
Vision Experiment http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsplic=1&article_set=44831&cat_id=20574
Depth Perception http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsplic=1&article_set=44827&cat_id=20574
Optical Illusions http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/flash/nill.html
Braille Translator http://pbskids.org/arthur/print/braille/index.html
THB p 10
TWWW p 174-187
B&S p 46-50, 86
WOSTHB p 88-89
THWLI p 20-21/58

Week 13- Hearing
Newton's Apple Hearing http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1414
PBS Movie- Through Deaf Eyes
Hearing Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chhearing.html
Mr. Holland's Opus
Ear Drum Experiment http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=44861&cat_id=20574
Sound and Fury DVD
Grossology p 32
B&S p 42-44
THB p 10
TWWW p 166-173
WOSTHB p 86-87
THWLI p 21-22/58

Week 14- Touch/Skin
Newton's Apple Wrinkling Skin Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video_only.php?id=3099
Touch Lesson Plan http://sln.fi.edu/qa97/me10/me10.html
Touch Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chtouch.html
Kidshealth http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
Grossology p 10, 34, 38, 46
THB Nervous System p 11
TWWW 219-224, 246-247
B&S p 36-37, p 40
WOSTHB p 90-91
THWLI p 33-36/58

Week 15- Smell
Newton's Apple Taste & Smell http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1176
UW Smell Lesson Plans http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chsmell.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
THB Nervous System p 9
TWWW p 102-103
B&S p 51-53
WOSTHB p 83

Week 16- Taste Taste Experiments http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chtaste.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
B&S p 54
THB Nervous System p 11
TWWW p 104-105
WOSTHB p 84-85
THWLI p 22-23/58

Week 17-18- Digestive System
Digestive System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/DSmovie.html
Newton's Apple The Liver http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1419
Urinary System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/USmovie.html
Grossology p 8, 14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 30, 36, 40
THB Digestive System p 23-30
TWWW p 111-147
B&S p 62-64, 68-69
WOSTHB p 50-59, 76-81
THWLI p 45-50/58

Week 19- Teeth and Oral Health
Magic School Bus Teeth http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/colgate/print.htm
Oral Health Lesson Plan http://www.thesolutionsite.com/lpnew/lesson/10303/overview.html
Tooth Care http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.35080/t.35080/pr.3.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
Grossology p 44, 50
THB Musculoskeletal p 34
TWWW p 106-107
B&S p 65-67

Weeks 20 & 21- Nutrition
Nutrition Tracker http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/pdf/kids/nutritiontracker.pdf
Monster Nutrition Game http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/activities/monster.asp
My Pyramid Blast Off Game http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/kids_game.html
Fueled For Fun Game http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/activities/fueledforfun.asp
Nutrition Café Games http://exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition/nutrition_cafe.html
Food & Fitness Lesson Plans http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/nsbri.cfm
WOSTHB p 98-101

Weeks 22-25- Immune System
NOVA Pandemic Flu Video http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3302/04.html
NOVA 1918 Flu Video http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3318/02.html
Immune System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/ISmovie.html
Newton's Apple Antibiotics http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1279
Types of immune Cells http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=59042&cat_id=20607
Grossology p 20
THB Immune System p 37-44
TWWW p 224-2553
B&S p 82-83
WOSTHB p 102-105

Week 26- Respiratory System

Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/RSmovie.html Asthma movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/closet/movies/asthma_movie.html
Newton's Apple Asthma http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1655
Grossology p 48
THB Respiratory system 21-22
TWWW p57-69, 92-94
WOSTHB p 44-49, 72-73, 92-97
THWLI p 4/58, 41-45/58

Week 27- Circulatory System
Newton's Apple Heart Attack Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1164
Heart & Circulatory System Video http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/CSmovie.html
THB Circulatory System p 15-19
TWWW p 76-91
WOSTHB p 22-31, 70-71
THWLI p 4-6/58, 36-41/58

Week 28- Blood
Newton's Apple Blood Typing Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1032
Bloody Bits http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/bbits.htm
Blood Drop Games http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/games.html
Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/htbw_main_page.html
Grossology p 18
THB p 19-20
TWWW p 69-75

Week 29- Hormones, Growth, Development Endocrine System Movie http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/ESmovie.html Newton's Apple Diabetes Video http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1036
Hair Hygrometer Experiment http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/hair/hair_activity.html
B&S p 38-39, 84-85
THB Hormones, Growth, and Development p 45-46
TWWW p 207-217

Week 30- Reproduction
THB Hormones, Growth, and Reproduction p 52-54
TWWW p 290-318
WOSTHB p 60-65

Week 31- Safety- Drugs
Newton's Nicotine http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=59042&cat_id=20607
Just Think Twice http://www.justthinktwice.com/ (for older kids, parents)
Grade Level pdf books (g5) http://www.aadac.com/552_595.asp
Discovery Ed video http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/deadlyhighs/
WOSTHB p 106-113

Week 32- Safety- Fire
Fire Prevention http://students.resa.net/stoutcomputerclass/3fire.htm
USFA games http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/flash.shtm
Plan trip to fire station

Week 33- Safety- Touch/Strangers
McGruff Safety Info http://www.mcgruff.org/
Plan visit/trip to police station

Week 34- Safety-Internet
Internet Safety http://www.safesurfingkids.com/lesson_plans_grades_3_12.htm
Internet Safety g4 http://www.kenton.k12.ky.us/internet_safety/Gr4_Personal%20Safety.pdf

Week 35- Survival
Survival Preparedness Natural Disasters http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d229a5f06620c6052b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=354c2aebdaadb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1

Week 36- Wilderness Survival
Newton's Apple Arctic Survival http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=1282
Wilderness Survival Lesson Plan http://csam.montclair.edu/njsoc/sessions/survival.pdf
15 survival videos http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_4538_hiking-survival-techniques.html

Special thanks for the wonderful resources at Guest Hollow. They have a great 4-day a week Elementary Anatomy lesson plan, with book pages, games, worksheets, movies, everything all laid out. I pretty much copied their curriculum plan, then substituted the books we already had, added in some different online resources, and tweaked the schedule and subjects just a bit. I will be working on curriculum as we go, of course- adding in library books and resources as they fit, and deciding on exactly which games, etc. we'll use.

But this is our plan- not Waldorfy, not taught in blocks, Health/Anatomy will be a one day a week extra lesson this coming year.

Nature Study 1B Wasps

2009-07-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

Following up on our first Handbook of Nature Study lesson, we learned a little bit about wasps this week. Wasps are related to bees, but are not hairy like bees are. Wasps are solitary or social- those are the ones that build those paper pulp nests, like the one we saw on the slide the other day. Only the females have stingers. Some live on nectar, but others are omnivores, and eat carrion along with their sweets. Some wasps are parasitic, and they lay their eggs inside caterpillars, then when the eggs hatch, they eat the caterpillar from the inside out. Totally awesome, apparently. We did all agree that using parasitic wasps for pest control was way cooler than using toxic pesticides. Though I guess we don't want close encounters with either form of insect control!

Nature Study 1A Cottonwood

2009-07-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Cottonwood Seeds. Photo from Land Arts in an Electronic Age.

We learned a little bit about Cottonwood Trees this week, after seeing a little farm COVERED in the fluffy cottony spiderwebby seeds, and seeing them at the Ahtanum Mission. Avery was interested to find out that Cottonwoods have light, flexible wood, often used to make those round cheese boxes, matches, paper, cheap plywood, snowboard cores, and perhaps most excitingly, the "bones" of Buster, the crash test dummy on the TV show Mythbusters! Apparently cottonwood breaks under the same pressure as human bones. Good to know, good to know. Another interesting thing about cottonwoods is that they can sprout roots from buried limbs and trunk (and vice versa) making them good at holding sand dunes, and one of the few trees able to survive a sand dune existence.

Also, cottonwoods are Poplar type trees, and like to grow in wet areas. Around here they are found down in the little valleys and canyons along stream banks.

Nature Study 1

2009-07-06T22:48:00.000-07:00

We started our new Nature Study program today. We're using Anna Botsford Comstock's The Handbook of Nature Study, and the guidance and some of the ideas from The One Hour Challenges at this website, plus our regular nature science stories, like these, and these, as well as made up ones and Native American stories.
Avery's drawing of a Clover flower. It doesn't show up well in the picture, but in his book it is sweet. Diminutive, but isn't clover, really?

We had a picnic under this tree. What a great way to start a nature study outing!

One of the original old apple trees still growing and producing on the Mission grounds.

I think this is the seedpod of an American Sycamore tree. There are several at the Mission, providing beauty and shade to the park grounds.

Wasp nest under the slide ramp. The boys watched closely for some time.

Miles' nature book drawing. He finished pretty quickly then spent some time moving piles of dirt around and poking them with his apple wood stick.

My page. We were sitting directly under one of those ancient apple trees, so it seemed natural to draw that. Ummm... not that I'm a fabulous artist or anything, but it's fun to all sit and draw together. And we were using these cool Lyra Aquacolor crayons, which draw nicely like rich, soft crayons, then magically turn into a watercolor painting when you brush with water!

Our two topics for further study are wasps and cottonwoods. We'll spend a bit of time this week finding out about those things.

Waldorf 4th Grade: Man and Animals

2009-07-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

I am in the midst of preparing for the upcoming school year- we'll have a Fourth Grader and a Preschooler, plus the baby, so I want to be as organized and prepared as possible. This summer I'm reading the Norse Myths, researching curriculum choices for the workbook type things we'll use, and trying to get my head around the 4th grade lesson blocks usually called "Man and Animals" or something similar. Sometimes it's called zoology, which is what I've been calling it.

Teaching science has always been my biggest worry point- Avery LOVES doing experiments and lab work, I don't, so much. I love going outside and watching bugs and flowers, but don't really care what they're called or why, he can barely watch for a moment without the desire to KNOW burning him up and into a book. And here we are. Fourth grade. The start of real science, not just nature stories, for Waldorf kids. The unfolding of the child's sense of inner and outer selves, of objectivity, and the BIGNESS of the world. I don't want to mess that up! And I am completely at a loss. What to do?
The Waldorf curriculum tells us that animals are specialized, one-sided. Really perfectly adapted to their task, but only made for that one thing. Animals fall into one of three categories, or embody one of the threefold human traits- they are either thinking, feeling, or willing. Humans, in contrast, are imperfect, but embody all of these traits, plus one other: we are created upright, with hands and arms that are not needed to move us, like animals, but free to turn to service for God and humanity. It doesn't sound too bad (or maybe it does, depending on your perspective) but I am having a problem taking it all in. I just don't really GET it, I guess, and I'm worried that in my attempt to teach something I don't deeply understand and believe that I will not do justice to the task, or my child. I can see a glimmer of how it might be beautiful and true taught by a real Waldorf teacher, someone trained in and understanding of this material. Unfortunately I keep getting stuck with it all feeling forced, like poor science, mixing of holy and earthly things I have no business messing with.
I feel comfortable teaching the animals in tidy groups: you know, mammals, reptiles, mollusks, birds.... I feel comfortable with the idea that humans are upright and special, able to think and feel and do, and that we have a responsibility to care for the world we've been given (or given to, maybe?). I feel comfortable saying animals embody the willing aspect of humans, but the feeling and thinking? I guess dolphins are thinkers, but aren't they still more will-full? Does the octopus, with that huge head, really think more that follow instinct? Surely the jellyfish is more instinctual, yet it is sometimes taught with the "thinkers".... I don't know, and I'm having a hard time getting comfortable with this lesson, I guess because of exactly what I don't know.

The Octopus: a classic Waldorf embodiment of the "thinking" characteristic of the human.

The Eagle: who soars like our thoughts, who attacks prey as we "attack" an idea.

The Lion: embodies "feeling" with strong use of all the senses and that powerful heart.

The Snake: no limbs, all digestive and torso- another "feeling" animal.

The Sea Star: looks like our hand, a clear manifestation of "will".

A Steer: like oxen or a bull, strong and made for work, exercising one's will.

Construction 3

2009-06-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

Here is the structure now. Phase three- floor attached with hole for trap door.

Looking up through the trap door from below.

Construction

2009-06-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

One of Avery's scale drawings, showing phase one of the construction project. In Waldorf schools the 3rd grade class often culminates in a building project- a house or shed, something like that. Throughout this year Avery's learned about the history of shelter and geographical considerations in construction, the process of designing and building. Friends of ours had a house built, and Avery's watched the process with great interest and even helped with some hammering and things.
When we were looking for a house to buy he REALLY wanted one with a tree house, but that didn't work out. And while we have several trees, none of them are really suitable for a tree house. Next best option: a raised platform, a simple structure that will be adaptable and expandable.

This corner of the yard held a trampoline before we moved in, and there hasn't been grass there for years. Perfect for a fort. The top part will be a platform, with a railing around. Avery would like a ladder and trap door, a zip line, Miles wants a slide and a steering wheel. I'd like to enclose the bottom for a little play house, or make a giant metal-pipe-banging-chime thing. We'll see. That's the beauty of a simple structure- it can become what we want it to be. First things first, though- Concrete footings, a floor up there, a railing and a ladder.

Farmgirl's ABCs

2009-04-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

I just saw the cutest idea for making the alphabet personal and real- it's beautiful and a great way to encourage your kids (and yourself) to pay atention to the world around. We're going to get started on our own version right now. Take a look here: http://localfoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/farmgirls-abcs.html
Only we don't have a farm or any girls, so ours will just be called "ABCs All Over the Place" or something like that. Enjoy!