Look at that concentration! It can be difficult to cut cukes.
He is so happy when he can help make dinner and he definitely loves those cucumbers.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Tot Tuesday
I admit that I have been somewhat lax lately with my tot schooling. It is bothering me to no end. I truly want to spend the time I know he needs to work with him. It has been so difficult with all of the moving around that we have done this year but I am hoping that at the beginning of the year, I can change that and we can get back on track with our Wheel School which I know he absolutely loves and misses. But for now, I have resorted to practical life skills. This week, he practiced cutting. I gave him a butter knife and a cucumber and let him have at it.
Look at that concentration! It can be difficult to cut cukes.
He is so happy when he can help make dinner and he definitely loves those cucumbers.
Look at that concentration! It can be difficult to cut cukes.
He is so happy when he can help make dinner and he definitely loves those cucumbers.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Christmas Around the World - Africa & Sweden
We are still learning about different holidays around the world. We recently learned about Christmas in Africa.
J read about the different customs of celebrating in Africa using the QR code on the sheet.
J then colored an African mask to fit into her bag book. This was not one of the included crafts of the unit. I added it myself.
She worked on a silhouette picture of a hippo to fit in her bag book pocket. I chose a hippo because the was the animal we read about, it seemed fitting to create a craft for it.
She mapped how to say Merry Christmas in Afrikaans on the country of Africa.
J's Africa pages completed in her bag book.
After using the QR reader, we read all about St. Lucia's Day in Sweden. We read about how a new girl is chosen each year to play St. Lucia. She became a saint because she would feed the persecuted Christians in Rome.
St. Lucia usually wears a crown of leaves and candles. So J created one with construction paper.
According to the website, the children leave a sandwich for St. Lucia and her donkey to eat while she drops off her presents. So, it seemed fitting to have ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch.
For her bag book, she created a small version of the crown, which we will flatten, and a Swedish paper doll. I feel like I am breezing through the countries and am worried it is too fast for her to learn. But she is learning, she surprised me by explaining that she heard how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish on Handy Manny the other day. So, even though this is not an in depth study of the countries, just some of the holiday customs, she is learning quite a bit. Yay!
Prudent Baby - watercolor silhouette project idea that I used for the hippo picture
Scholastic - has some information on St. Lucia's Day
YouTube - we watched a video of a girl choir singing in Swedish
Education.Com - has the printable Swedish paper doll
J read about the different customs of celebrating in Africa using the QR code on the sheet.
J then colored an African mask to fit into her bag book. This was not one of the included crafts of the unit. I added it myself.
She worked on a silhouette picture of a hippo to fit in her bag book pocket. I chose a hippo because the was the animal we read about, it seemed fitting to create a craft for it.
She mapped how to say Merry Christmas in Afrikaans on the country of Africa.
J's Africa pages completed in her bag book.
After using the QR reader, we read all about St. Lucia's Day in Sweden. We read about how a new girl is chosen each year to play St. Lucia. She became a saint because she would feed the persecuted Christians in Rome.
St. Lucia usually wears a crown of leaves and candles. So J created one with construction paper.
According to the website, the children leave a sandwich for St. Lucia and her donkey to eat while she drops off her presents. So, it seemed fitting to have ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch.
For her bag book, she created a small version of the crown, which we will flatten, and a Swedish paper doll. I feel like I am breezing through the countries and am worried it is too fast for her to learn. But she is learning, she surprised me by explaining that she heard how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish on Handy Manny the other day. So, even though this is not an in depth study of the countries, just some of the holiday customs, she is learning quite a bit. Yay!
Links
Prudent Baby - watercolor silhouette project idea that I used for the hippo picture
Scholastic - has some information on St. Lucia's Day
YouTube - we watched a video of a girl choir singing in Swedish
Education.Com - has the printable Swedish paper doll
Friday, December 13, 2013
Winter Promise Week 15
We are still learning about the African Savannah and our focus animal was the zebra. We practiced money and subtraction in Math. J loved listening to Poppy on CD that I will be looking for more books to listen to. We began reading the Magic Tree House chapter books starting with number one. I thought she might be ready for these and, just as I figured, she loved them and kept asking for one more chapter.
Although the Elf on the Shelf is a lot of work, I love that J is writing about his antics every day. She writes what he has done and draws a picture. When the month is done and Jingle is back in the North Pole, we will put all of the pages together so she can remember the funny things he did.
Her story of the week was My Buddy Stan. It was a cute story written in the pet dog's perspective. She read it every day for fluency practice.
She is just about finished with her handwriting practice book. She is now writing numbers at the end of the book. I will have to think of some other way for her to practice her handwriting everyday.
She practiced counting coins this week for Math. She is getting better at it although she still sometimes mistakes some of the coin values.
J and I played a doubles game. She rolled a die, doubled it, and then covered it with a goldfish cracker. I found this game at Teachers Pay Teachers. I can't find the original file but I found another free game that looks like fun.
J read about hippos this week and as a fun project, I found a cute hippo book that she colored.
It turned out so cute and she will put it into her animal notebook.
The focus animal was zebras. J is reading about zebras and working on her notebook page.
Every day, I have J work on her fluency. Here she is working on Big Bubble Boxes, boxes that have several sight words for her to practice. One more week of school before the holidays. I am trying to keep it strong until the end. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the holidays and just want to "do" that. So, we will have school next week even though it will be around the older siblings(and hubby) home from college and getting ready for Christmas. Wish me luck :)
Although the Elf on the Shelf is a lot of work, I love that J is writing about his antics every day. She writes what he has done and draws a picture. When the month is done and Jingle is back in the North Pole, we will put all of the pages together so she can remember the funny things he did.
Her story of the week was My Buddy Stan. It was a cute story written in the pet dog's perspective. She read it every day for fluency practice.
She is just about finished with her handwriting practice book. She is now writing numbers at the end of the book. I will have to think of some other way for her to practice her handwriting everyday.
She practiced counting coins this week for Math. She is getting better at it although she still sometimes mistakes some of the coin values.
J and I played a doubles game. She rolled a die, doubled it, and then covered it with a goldfish cracker. I found this game at Teachers Pay Teachers. I can't find the original file but I found another free game that looks like fun.
J read about hippos this week and as a fun project, I found a cute hippo book that she colored.
It turned out so cute and she will put it into her animal notebook.
The focus animal was zebras. J is reading about zebras and working on her notebook page.
She worked on drawing a horse which she turned into a zebra by adding black and white stripes.
Every day, I have J work on her fluency. Here she is working on Big Bubble Boxes, boxes that have several sight words for her to practice. One more week of school before the holidays. I am trying to keep it strong until the end. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the holidays and just want to "do" that. So, we will have school next week even though it will be around the older siblings(and hubby) home from college and getting ready for Christmas. Wish me luck :)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Christmas is About Jesus
We are enjoying our daily advent reading from the book Christmas is About Jesus by Mukkove Johnson. Each day a new item from the holidays is discussed and how it can be applied to our lives as believers. Because we are also doing a Christmas Around the World unit study, I am trying to keep our activities simple (ha,ha). The key here is NOT to get stressed. We have a small Christmas tree where we are schooling and each day, the kids make an ornament with a bible verse for it.
Snowflakes are unique just like we are.
The kids made glitter popsicle snowflakes as their first ornament for the tree. Super simple and what kid doesn't like glitter?
J then made a picture for Grandma using a snowflake punch.
They also took turns creating a snowfall jar. We added 2 bottles of clear school glue, water, glitter, and a tons of snowflakes. When you shake it, you can watch it "snow."
They made cross ornaments for the tree. These are also from a kit that I found.
We read a neat book that I found in a thrift store - Trim the Tree for Christmas! by William Boniface. The book includes small ornaments that fit into slots in the book. The kids had fun finding where each one went.
Jesus is the Rock.
With some beads and pipe cleaners, the kids made simple candy canes to hang on the tree. We attached the bible verse for the day as well.
Jesus is the King of Kings
I found some foam crown shapes at the Dollar Store and gave the kids a variety of items to glue to them to make crown ornaments for our school tree. They glued buttons, sequins, snowflakes, and stars.
Jesus is The Life.
Kaleb made a simple Christmas tree ornament from foam and glue.
J made a tree ornament from a pine cone that we found in our travels. She painted it green, sprayed it with glitter, and added sequins for decorations.
Day 1 - snowflakes
Snowflakes are unique just like we are.
The kids made glitter popsicle snowflakes as their first ornament for the tree. Super simple and what kid doesn't like glitter?
J then made a picture for Grandma using a snowflake punch.
They also took turns creating a snowfall jar. We added 2 bottles of clear school glue, water, glitter, and a tons of snowflakes. When you shake it, you can watch it "snow."
Day 2 - snow
Jesus' blood washed me white as snow.
They made snowmen ornaments from a kit that I found. Kaleb's snowman was fashioned after Picasso.
They also decorated the windows of the school room with clings.
Day 3 - ornaments
Show people Jesus.
They made cross ornaments for the tree. These are also from a kit that I found.
We read a neat book that I found in a thrift store - Trim the Tree for Christmas! by William Boniface. The book includes small ornaments that fit into slots in the book. The kids had fun finding where each one went.
Day 4 - candy canes
Jesus is the Rock.
With some beads and pipe cleaners, the kids made simple candy canes to hang on the tree. We attached the bible verse for the day as well.
Day 6 - Hats
Jesus is the King of Kings
I found some foam crown shapes at the Dollar Store and gave the kids a variety of items to glue to them to make crown ornaments for our school tree. They glued buttons, sequins, snowflakes, and stars.
Day 7 - Christmas Trees
Jesus is The Life.
Kaleb made a simple Christmas tree ornament from foam and glue.
J made a tree ornament from a pine cone that we found in our travels. She painted it green, sprayed it with glitter, and added sequins for decorations.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Christmas Around the World - Mexico & Germany
We are still working through our Christmas Around the World unit. The next countries that we visited were Mexico and Germany. We learned about LosPosadas and gingerbread.
J found Mexico and Germany on the world map and colored it in.
She used the QR scanner and scanned the code to read about Christmas in Mexico. After we read about it, she filled out her bag book page with some facts.
I found a youtube video explaining the custom of Los Posadas. It was short and sweet. Then we listened to Feliz Navidad on youtube.
After we read The Legend of the Poinsettia, she sponge painted poinsettias and add sequin centers.
Then she made a mini piñata using tissue paper and card stock. She wanted to add some candy but I wanted it to fit in the bag book.
For lunch, J made cheese quesadillas for her and her brother. Not necessarily a Christmas dish but a dish from Mexico.
For Germany, Kaleb made some paper gingerbread men that I found in a kit. It included stickers and bows. He chose one for his bag book and the rest went to make a garland for our tree.
J had a ball making hers. Since the kit only came with a few choice stickers, she decided to add to her gingerbread by making dresses, pants, and mittens. I love her creativity.
She also painted a gingerbread ornament for the tree. We have visited four countries in our Christmas Around the World study and we will be working through more. I am sure we will not study all the countries that are available in the unit but we will get through as many as we can. Hope this has been held to you.
Deep Space Sparkle - art project using sponges to make poinsettia pictures
Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom - art project using a paper bag and tissue paper to make a piñata
Honest Cooking - Mexican wedding cakes recipe
Party Pinching - mini pepper piñata craft idea
Inspired by Family Mag - a plastic cup piñata craft idea
J found Mexico and Germany on the world map and colored it in.
She used the QR scanner and scanned the code to read about Christmas in Mexico. After we read about it, she filled out her bag book page with some facts.
I found a youtube video explaining the custom of Los Posadas. It was short and sweet. Then we listened to Feliz Navidad on youtube.
After we read The Legend of the Poinsettia, she sponge painted poinsettias and add sequin centers.
Then she made a mini piñata using tissue paper and card stock. She wanted to add some candy but I wanted it to fit in the bag book.
We will add the poinsettia and the mini piñata to the Mexico pocket of the bag book.
For lunch, J made cheese quesadillas for her and her brother. Not necessarily a Christmas dish but a dish from Mexico.
For Germany, Kaleb made some paper gingerbread men that I found in a kit. It included stickers and bows. He chose one for his bag book and the rest went to make a garland for our tree.
J had a ball making hers. Since the kit only came with a few choice stickers, she decided to add to her gingerbread by making dresses, pants, and mittens. I love her creativity.
She also painted a gingerbread ornament for the tree. We have visited four countries in our Christmas Around the World study and we will be working through more. I am sure we will not study all the countries that are available in the unit but we will get through as many as we can. Hope this has been held to you.
Links
Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom - art project using a paper bag and tissue paper to make a piñata
Honest Cooking - Mexican wedding cakes recipe
Party Pinching - mini pepper piñata craft idea
Inspired by Family Mag - a plastic cup piñata craft idea
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