'15/16 Week 2 Days 4 and 5

Friday. 
In our last grammar class, we ran into a challenge. It was hard for the kids to name adjectives and abstract nouns apart. Like, 'pride, and 'proud', or 'awe' and 'awesome'. Which one is the noun, which one the adjective? So, I put together a little matching game, where they had to find the partners. Once they matched up 'kind' and 'kindness', for instance, they had to explain which was which, and come up with simple sentence to illustrate it. It was a bit long, but it was fun, and it became more enjoyable once the kids started to really understand the difference. It was worth taking the time.

Today, the kids took their first math tests. Andrew got a B and Saara an A+. Not too bad. 

In Science, Andrew continued his experiments with electricity. For a while, he was scratching his head for the tasks in front of him grew a bit complicated. It was easy to figure out how to get the light bulb light up when you had only one wire and one battery. But when a second wire and a second battery were introduced, it was quite a challenge. 
Working through the problems and drawing diagrams helped a lot. By the time he was supposed to guess if a hook-up would light up or not, he was able to give accurate predictions.

Our art class at the end of the day was also rather challenging, although, I think, the kids did not  even notice how many different art questions they answered just by having fun with colors. 
This time, they had to paint another still life. This one, however, had more lines and also a shadow to consider. All the different warm colors made them compare the tones to each other and mix them accordingly. They had to make the basic colors lighter and darker, they had to follow the grading and line of the shadow. Also, the painting had large areas and small areas to cover with paint. They had to choose the right brushes to get the job done well. 
To award their hard work, both kids ate their models. That put a sweet end to our second school week.  

LA. A matching game to learn the difference between adjectives and abstract nouns.

History. Andrew finished his first history book this year. Among other things, we learned a lot about the British Parliament.

Science. Andrew continued his experiments with electricity. He had to find out many different ways to light a bulb.

Things got more complicated when another 'wire' was introduced. Or two batteries. 

Art. Another still life for the kids to try to paint. This time, I added a shadow. We found more lines to draw, and there were more colors to mix.

All the warm red, yellow, and orange hues were different. The children had to pay good attention to what they saw in front of them.

One unexpected and not-so-pleasant surprise was that the paints we bought in spring had somewhat aged over summer. But they still worked for this art project. 

Of course, the cupcakes were there not just for looking at.

Andrew's effort.

'15/16 Week 2 Day 3

I (and, I think, the kids, too) loved our LA lesson today. Besides spelling, phonics, and grammar, we had some fun with putting together simple sentences. I provided the kids with three columns of words - subject, noun; verb; object, noun. The kids chose their words and made up the craziest sentences. We have not laughed this much in a LA class in a long time. 

LA. Practicing cursive and abstract nouns.

Sentence construction. I asked the kids to make up funny sentences, and they had a blast with it.

Science. Saara's map animals is getting busier every day.

Geography. Memorizing the countries of Middle East with the hep of a song.

After school, the kids found a long snake skin. We took a closer look at the scales.

The skin was longer than Andrew. Must be careful.

'15/16 Week 2 Day 1 and 2

Nothing starts the week off better than a green frog. Andrew spotted one and asked me if I could snap a picture of it.

On our first day of school this week, we tried to do as much as possible and some because we knew that on Wednesday we would go to the library for a special event. The children worked hard; they completed their essay about their favorite memory from Estonia. This composition is, by far, their longest and most detailed. Even my reluctant writer Andrew did a superb job. 
As usual on the first day, we started a number of new things, like new spelling words to practice, new Bible verse to memorize, new patriotic song about America to sing, etc. In Saara's geography class, she started learning the names and locations of the countries in the Middle East. One of them was Turkey, and the kids were very proud of their mugs that their Aunt brought to them from that country. 
Today, we spent part of the morning at the library listening to a talk and demonstration of the kind of life farmers (and their kids) led 150 years ago in Texas. Our family had visited the Barrington Living History Farm in spring, so a lot what was presented the kids already had tired and experienced, except for the butter making. Some jars with cream were passed around and the audience was asked to shake the jars for the butter to form. At the end of the presentation all kids who wanted to could taste the butter on crackers. 

Geography. Saara started learning the countries in the Middle East. 

History. Saara watching a water hauling demonstration at the library.

"Who likes to eat vegetables?"

A model of a typical farm house in Texas 150 years ago.

After the presentation, it was fun for the kids to play together with friends.

I believe, I have found the formula that works for us this year. I hope, I do not have to change it too much once ballet, choir, and baseball start up.

'15/16 Week 1 Days 4 and 5

These past two days have been a flurry of activities in and out of school. We had a good day on Friday. Our last class was music appreciation, and we took up our book about orchestra again. Last year, we finished reading about the different composers, and this year we will read about (and listen to) the different instruments in the orchestra. On Friday, we learned what are string instruments, and where they are positioned in the orchestra. 

Today, was a shorter school day, but it was definitely 'more' fun. Andrew literally conducted his first science experiment this year, and both children learned about still life in art. They tried their hand at a simple still life themselves.

LA. Identifying common and proper nouns in their own magazines.

Science. Andrew preparing tools for his first experiment this year.

Looking for the right way to light up a bulb with just a battery and a foil ribbon.

And let there be light.

Things are a lot more serious this year. Besides having fun doing the experiments, Andrew has to document them as well.

Art. Andrew finding out the actual dimensions of Jan van Os's painting in  our art book.

Saara looking for lines.

She found her lines!

Both kids were super engaged in matching the colors they saw on apples to the ones they mixed up.

Andrew's and Saara's first attempts to paint a still life. They loved it!

'15/16 Week 1 Day 3

It was a very Estonian and American day. Estonia celebrated the Restoration of Independence Day - the day the country declared independence again, this time from the USSR. We had a special fancy breakfast with Estonian oat pancakes and chamomile tea. It was delicious.

The American part of our school day consisted of reading a whole book about the history of the US national anthem (The Story of the Star Spangled Banner. By the Dawn's Early Light by Steven Kroll). Both kids have almost memorized the first stanza by heart. Along with singing the anthem, we have also been reciting the Pledge of Allegiance - words that we should never forget.

'15/16 Week 1 Day 2

Our first lesson, after our Bible reading this morning, was Science. Saara's lessons are a lot of fun - they talk about different kinds of animals. Today, we looked at apes. We found out where they live and watched a few wildlife videos online. 

Both kids thought their grammar lesson fun as well. We are reviewing common and proper nouns, and today, we played a little sorting game they loved and wanted to do over and over again.

Last year, Andrew picked up a free pocket dictionary at the library. Saara got my old one when we were in Estonia this summer. Today, we put both of them into a good use. While reading their story books, the children wrote out new words, and we learned how to find out their meaning in the dictionary. Language Arts has been quite a riot so far.

Science. Labeling the places apes live.

LA. Kids loving a grammar sorting game.

Saara learning to use her dictionary.

'15/16 Week 1 Day 1

And the first day of school finally arrived! I think, the kids were as excited to start as I was. At first, Andrew was a little reluctant to submit himself under school discipline again. He has been enjoying the freedom summer brought along. But very soon, he adjusted his focus, and surprised me how task oriented he was.
As usual, the first week will show us how much we can accomplish, what works, what doesn't, etc. And that just for a little while. Very soon, the ballet classes, Fall Ball, the choir will start up again, and we have to readjust our schedule once again. Thankful for the flexibility homeschooling offers.

I asked the kids,what did they like most about our first day of school? They answered, it was the trip to the pool in town after the classes were over! 

Math. After our morning Bible study this morning, we tackled math.

Geography. It Saara's turn now to learn the geography song. We started chanting off all the continents and oceans of the world.

Civics. This year, Andrew and Saara will have a book full of  patriotic songs to learn.

Box Day 2015

The materials arrived this week! As usual, we spent a lot of time just looking through all the new stuff. Now, a few days later, all the books have been neatly put onto shelves ready for the new school year, the schedule has been divided into weeks, and first six weeks are ready to be used. I am getting excited! Very excited!