'14/15 Week 13 Day 6

Today, we caught up with some of the things we were not able to do this week. Like science experiments. Saara moved from learning about magnets on to the chapters about water. We looked at some characteristics that water has and had lots of fun in the process, plus a few wet puddles.

Science. Saara 'shaping' the water.

Saara learning about the top of the water staying level ...

... no matter which way you turn the bottle ...

... or where the water is in.

'14/15 Week 13 Day 5

Our whole morning was dedicated to the ancient Egypt. Saara finished her studies of this time and place, and before moving on to the next chapter, we decided to celebrate the accomplishment with some cake. In addition to the cake, Saara did a craft, a demonstration, completed a quiz, and played a game on the computer. Both kids enjoyed it so much!

We are ready to begin!

First, the double crown. Saara explained to me the history behind it, and she told me also about the other crowns the pharaoh used.

Saara demonstrating the flooding of the Nile River. She also told me about the importance of the river in the lives of the ancient Egyptians.

One of the internet activities Saara did. It was a quiz about the mummification process.

After mummifying a general and playing Howard Carter discovering Tut's tomb on-line, we finished our class eating a pyramid.

 

'14/15 Week 13 Day 4

Oh, the kids were doing so well! They were super motivated and worked hard because our goal was to finish the school work before we left for the Park Day. We all were looking forward to it.

As I was grabbing my car keys, a nice little downpour stopped us in our tracks. It did not get any better from there. One shower followed another. 
Well. We were disappointed. 
To cheer us up, we started to decorate the kids' Christmas trees. It did not quite compare with playing with friends in the park, but it did help us restore our joy.

'14/15 Week 13 Day 3

We woke up to a frosty world outside. The fields were white and glistened in the sunrise so beautifully that I ordered the kids outside the minute they woke up. I did not stay in either. We walked through the wonderland outside and were mesmerized at the changes the frost had brought along.

Andrew watching his breath in the frosty air.

Making tracks.

Everything glistened.

A surprise of the morning: a black-eyed susan. Summer is not dead yet!

A frozen spider web.

I am glad, we had a chance to wander and wonder about the frosty world before our constant companions from neighboring properties showed up. :)

'14/15 Week 13 Day 2

A slow morning. New spelling words and new Bible verses. Everything else was a continuation of subjects we are currently covering. 

When Saara and I finished reading today's portion from a book about Tutankhamen, Andrew remembered a movie clip we watched two years ago. I found the same clip, and we watched it again. Amazing - the things they remember!

'14/15 Week 13 Day 1

Andrew trying to figure out if the verb is regular or irregular.

At the end of the school day we played a fun little game. The kids had to sort out regular and irregular verbs. They picked a word from a bowl, and then, acted out the word across the room to the appropriate sign. The other kid had to guess what the word was. Sort of a charades with a linguistic twist.

Andrew acting out the word creep (like an animal, I guess). We had to move the couch to make more space for all this exercising.

One end of the room was labeled Regular verbs, the other Irregular verbs.

Ballet Brazos "Nutcracker"

Every Christmas, the kids and I have watched "Nutcracker" on TV. This year, we managed to secure tickets to a local production of the ballet. For Andrew and Saara, it was their first true theater experience, and they loved it! They were so excited and joyful throughout the whole performance, and they did not want it to end.

We have the tickets!

Getting acquainted with the program.

Before the performance started.

A surprise bonus: meeting friends after the performance.

'14/15 Week 12 Day 4

The children were motivated to get their school work done. So was I. I had a couple of craft activities to go with both children's history lessons, but considering time, I decided to do those tomorrow. 
I also borrowed a number of books on the 13 colonies from the library. I would so like to have time to, if not read, at least, look at them before we have to return them. 

We do love reading. Even my reluctant reader, Andrew, is coming round to it. He surely enjoys listening to books. Today, he asked me several times when I would read the read-alouds. I told him, if we have any time left over, we will. 

So, what's the big rush?
Tonight is the big ballet night for Saara. Her (and Andrew's) first time ever watching a ballet performance with professional dancers on a big stage. She has been looking forward to it all week! 

Science. Saara checking out her internet links while Andrew is answering review questions.

'14/15 Week 12 Day 3

We started our day off with home-ec. class. Sort of. Under my supervision, the kids were making their own breakfast. It pushed back the school time a little, but it was worth it. 

'14/15 Week 12 Day 2

The weather has been cold, but sunny. To escape the biting wind, we went adventuring in the woods this afternoon. The snakes and other creatures are hiding in this cold, and the unpleasant vegetation, like poison ivy, is wilting away, so we did not wait any longer. Besides, we had like four dogs to check out the trails before us. 

That was the fun part of the school day. The sad part was that Saara's ballet was cancelled. 

'14/15 Week 12 Day 1

Tomorrow is Veterans' Day, and Dad will be home. Today, we tried to do as much schoolwork as possible. And we did get a big chunk done. 

Andrew and Saara took their third math test. Both did well. 
In history, I was impressed with Andrew's memory as he retold me the humble beginnings of the Georgia colony. 

Yesterday, Andrew got over his writer's block, and wrote a sweet letter to his friend which he mailed this morning. 

So, we will take a little break and come back on Wednesday.

'14/15 Week 11 Day 5

Andrew's LA assignment took a good portion of our afternoon today. He had to write a story based on a given picture. Going through the whole writing process before the actual writing began made the assignment a long one. We drew the story map with the beginning and ending ideas, plus little (idea web) stations in-between. The map looked really, really good. The story was good as well, although, I have to admit, Andrew has written better pieces. Oh, well. It was not a very inspirational day for him. 

The choir this afternoon,however, was very inspiring. I have been helping with the kids in the bells, and they are doing so well. For many of the children, it is their first time being in the bells ensemble. They all, old and new kids, are doing really well. I am getting excited about their Christmas concert!

'14/15 Week 11 Day 4

Park Day! Because of the busy baseball season we had not been part of the homeschool park days. Until now. The Thursday games are over, and we have time to go and play! It was a lot of fun for the kids, and for me, meeting other homeschooling moms is always a treat.

Science. After reading and watching about the deep sea creatures, Andrew drew and painted his own deep sea monster.

'14/15 Week 11 Day 3

I was thankful for the kids being focused all morning long. We finished our lessons before lunch and took off for Saara's ballet class. Because it has been a rainy day, going to her class Saara looked rather cute in her rubber boots and ballet tutu.

'14/15 Week 11 Day 2

It was an industrious day. We worked hard and I had some time left over to play ball outside with the kids. I am so glad we did because the weather forecast is not looking good for tomorrow. 

For the kids, the highlight of the school day was a short typing lesson. All of us learned some basic rules of writing titles. As we finished our study, Andrew and Saara sat behind the computer and typed up a few sentences that included the titles of their favorite books. Then, they learned how to highlight the title and change it into italics. They had lots of fun doing it.

'14/15 Week 11 Day 1

The fall baseball season and field trips are over. It surely was a busy October. 

Now, in the month of November, we will endeavor to be out-of-doors as much as possible. Both kids need to build up endurance and arm strength for the spring ball season. This has motivated the whole family to dust off our running shoes. Weather permitting, we will start our training sessions this week.

The school day was awesome. Before I sat down with Andrew to look at some animals that work together, I and the kids discussed how we as a family work together, how we help each other, and how we would like others to help us. It was a beautiful time of sharing, one of those moments that will stay with you for a long time. 

Science. The other day we did not have time to build our crane which magnet worked with electricity. So, today, we collected the necessary tools and assembled the crane. It actually worked.