Our Charlotte Mason group is hosting monthly handi-craft gatherings. This month, I hosted a leaf rubbing activity, based on a leaf book the kids and I created two autumns ago in Texas.
It was a really simple activity to coordinate, and the kids really enjoyed it (I did too). We began by practicing rubbing crayons over the leaves on scrap paper to see what kind of leaves worked best. We walked around the yard and collected (tons of) leaves. We returned inside, chaos ensued, and many leaves were rubbed using all colors of crayons and techniques. We then bound the books with a twig and some twine.
I overheard one of the moms suggest doing this on a road trip - bringing crayons and paper, and taking samples of different places you visit. I really love this idea. We are going to Florida in a few weeks, and it'll be one of the activities we do as we experience a totally new climate and location.
For those wondering about the power of a Charlotte Mason style education and her emphasis on nature walk, I share a comment Siena made as we were collected leaves prior to everyone arriving: "Mom, now that we are collecting leaves, it seems like I am seeing leaves everywhere. There are tons of them! They are all so pretty. I'm so glad we do things like this."
Me too.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Notes from the SchoolHouse :: Glider Experiment
Starting School each fall is a work in progress; it takes us at least a full month, sometimes two, before every subject we want to cover has been folded into the schedule. I have been working on science (we are using an amazing textbook called Exploring Creation: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day) since the first days, but just this week we managed to hit a bit of a groove with it.
Today we did a glider experiment to demonstrate the principles of lift and drag. The kids were game - experiments are much more fun than simply reading the material, and anything with a glider (and straws) perks up interest. We created two gliders each, learned about controlling variables, made a hypothesis, and then threw our gliders over and over again. We measured distances, calculated averages, and had a pretty good time.
Our only flaw? Sterling's gliders behaved in a way so as to prove the opposite of what we were going for ... so we had to have some serious dad-help debriefing how that could be possible. I'm glad we are only in lower elementary, and these concepts will come up again and again!
Today we did a glider experiment to demonstrate the principles of lift and drag. The kids were game - experiments are much more fun than simply reading the material, and anything with a glider (and straws) perks up interest. We created two gliders each, learned about controlling variables, made a hypothesis, and then threw our gliders over and over again. We measured distances, calculated averages, and had a pretty good time.
Our only flaw? Sterling's gliders behaved in a way so as to prove the opposite of what we were going for ... so we had to have some serious dad-help debriefing how that could be possible. I'm glad we are only in lower elementary, and these concepts will come up again and again!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Composer Study
The kids and I together have begun our exposure to Ralph Vaughan Williams this month. So far we've learned a bit of his biography, located him on a time line and map, and listened to both the Fantasia's. I listened to his Sea Symphony, but it seemed rather complex for our ears, so I am leaving that for another year!
With Greensleeves we've been able to watch a concert on YouTube, identify a few of the instruments by sound, and listened to several variations of the "original" piece with lyrics (both as Greensleeves, and as What Child is This?). Sterling is fascinated by the dates and times - a 500 year old tune, a variation written so long ago, and then he will randomly point out that Vaughan Williams was such an age when he wrote the piece. Siena just smiles and makes comments about all the emotions. Sage talks through most of it at this point (no surprise there!).
We plan to stick with these two pieces for another few weeks, and then we'll transition to Elgar and the pieces collected to represent his career. When that time comes, Vaughan Williams timeline photo will be moved onto the timeline permanently, and a photo of Elgar and his dates will go up on our "fine arts board." We'll learn about Elgar the man, and listen to all the pieces. We'll find his birthplace on the map, and write his dates on our moveable timeline. Then we'll spend a week or two or three on each of the pieces individually. Sometimes I'm able to find worksheets written by those who know and love classical music, and we'll spend some time answering questions or finding out more about the artist and/or the work.
Next month we will also be beginning a very slow project on composers and the orchestra. Thought you might like to just see a glimpse of it: http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/AP/Composers.htm
It is called a lap book (made with folders and paper to fit on a kids lap), and full of information. We are doing it with a few friends, once per month, so we anticipate it'll take a LONG time to put it together, but it's nice to have a hands on way to present all the material. Not sure what we are starting with, but I'm hoping it is the orchestra, since I know so little about it!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Siena's To Do Chart 2009-10
A close up of this years to-do chart. I opted for a much smaller (about half) size compared with last year, as that became cumbersome by the end of the year. This chart has three parts, one for household chores (the butterfly), one for daily activities (the tree covered with oranges), and the field of flowers for each days academic subjects. This way she can see at a glance what needs to be done in each area of her life. I watercolored the background, and then did the rest with colored paper and the laminating machine. Certain things (namely the oranges) will be consistent day to day. Many of the flowers will be consistent too, though there are certain subjects that happen only once or twice a week. The butterflies will change daily - each of us will be "learning" a specific chore for each day of the week, one which we will all work on together as we learn how to do it independently.
Sterling, on the other hand, has a very simple paper chart to use each week. I really like the format I stumbled up on this year, and am looking forward to his having a bit more independence as he charts his accomplishments each day.
Sage has a little chart that is hers, full of fish and stars, and each day she asks me what she can take down as we go through the day.
I have a master chart, six weeks showing at a time, so that I can mark our work and track our progress. I used a version of this last year, and this year just changed the set up and the time frame (only 6 weeks at a time instead of 12). We'll see how it works out!
Sterling, on the other hand, has a very simple paper chart to use each week. I really like the format I stumbled up on this year, and am looking forward to his having a bit more independence as he charts his accomplishments each day.
Sage has a little chart that is hers, full of fish and stars, and each day she asks me what she can take down as we go through the day.
I have a master chart, six weeks showing at a time, so that I can mark our work and track our progress. I used a version of this last year, and this year just changed the set up and the time frame (only 6 weeks at a time instead of 12). We'll see how it works out!
The SchoolHouse Room
A quick tour. The first photo is as we enter the SchoolHouse Room, with our new map of the US. Then we've got the World Map and our book case filled with lovely books, art supplies, globes... Then our white board, writing basket, mom's shelves and such. Finally, we've got our to-do charts - Siena's and Sage's only, as Sterling has opted for a simple weekly to-do lists on paper (he's growing up, third grade now, you know). I really like the chart we came up with this year - it's pretty, not too large, and I think it will last through the year for her. Welcome!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
First Day of School 2009
Today we embarked on a wonderful new school year! After some delays, this morning I surprised the kids with fresh crepes, and these lovely "schultute" (German for "school bags," they are traditional first day of school - generally first grade, but still - treats for kids). Y'all know by now how much I love traditions, even the first time we do them. I explored these a bit last Valentine's Day, but even sick, I couldn't let this chance for the first day to go by. I made each a special cone, and then filled it with school supplies (glue, scissors and pencils), and treats (gum, gummy bears and such). What fun to start the day with a perfectly clean room (pictures of that to come), and such cheerful cones at your seat?
We are beginning slowly. We explored our new space (I close off the classroom each year a week before school starts so that it is fresh and clean when they enter), flipped through our new books, continued to work on the summer workbooks (math, reading and writing), and generally remembered what it was like to sit at the table for part of the morning. My breathing is still labored, so reading aloud had to be short and sweet, but ah, how good it feels to get back into the saddle again! How I've missed our learning together and reading together and seeing the lights of realization on their faces!
Now I'm exhausted, and sleep is the order of the evening!
We are beginning slowly. We explored our new space (I close off the classroom each year a week before school starts so that it is fresh and clean when they enter), flipped through our new books, continued to work on the summer workbooks (math, reading and writing), and generally remembered what it was like to sit at the table for part of the morning. My breathing is still labored, so reading aloud had to be short and sweet, but ah, how good it feels to get back into the saddle again! How I've missed our learning together and reading together and seeing the lights of realization on their faces!
Now I'm exhausted, and sleep is the order of the evening!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Organization :: Finishing up the School Year
Okay, she says gleefully, rubbing her hands together... we just finished this process! I have two stages of the going through process. First, I kept all their workbooks, etc, from the year - these were obvious (Singapore math, MFW workbook/notebook, reader, etc). I also have one (or at most two) folders for each of their school papers that weren't bound - handwriting pages, art class, etc. I put all these on a high shelf in the schoolroom closet. Then I have plastic file folder envelopes (you know, the kind with the two cool circles and the string to secure it). Into that went anything more of a personal nature from the year - special letters they received, things they drew, stuff I'm not sure what to do with, but which I'm sure happened in the last 12 months (even tickets from events, maps from the zoo, whatever might remind us of 08-09).
My goal was to get it all down to those few things. I have a large folder - a poster board folded in half and taped up the edges - which holds any large art that they did in art class, or anything else big.
With "just" that - it's all together and easy to locate. Fairly easy to store. If I find a stray paper now, I know right where it is meant to go. I have decided that at the end of the next school year, I'll do the same - just gather everything, and unless its really trash, keep it in this system... and then I look at the stuff from a year prior and be able to throw more of it away (like the Singapore math workbooks) with a bit of distance and the kids on to know accomplishments in their own eyes.
My goal was to get it all down to those few things. I have a large folder - a poster board folded in half and taped up the edges - which holds any large art that they did in art class, or anything else big.
With "just" that - it's all together and easy to locate. Fairly easy to store. If I find a stray paper now, I know right where it is meant to go. I have decided that at the end of the next school year, I'll do the same - just gather everything, and unless its really trash, keep it in this system... and then I look at the stuff from a year prior and be able to throw more of it away (like the Singapore math workbooks) with a bit of distance and the kids on to know accomplishments in their own eyes.
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