Year 4, Week 4: Stonehenge

     Our history studies brought us to Stonehenge this week and the kids tried to come up with different ways of how the megalith could have been built.  I can't remember everything they said but I know they said something about slides and ropes.  I probably should have written it down!  This is their model of Stonehenge, complete with a tourist snapping pictures:

     We began our Latin studies this week.  As I said in my first post for this year, we're easing into things and I didn't want to start everything from the get-go.  We're using Latina Christiana which they enjoy but find a bit tedious right now.  I reminded them that it's just the beginning and it will progressively get challenging as the weeks pass.  I happened to look ahead a few pages and it's even a bit challenging for me to teach!

     My Little Toughie seems to be enjoying her science and created this masterpiece depicting the different ocean layers.  My favorite is the deceased whale lying at the bottom of the ocean.  She read that in the book and felt badly about it.

     That's all for now.

   

Year 4, Week 3: Ziggurat

     We're studying the Sumerians this week!  The kiddos got to build their own ziggurat out of Legos:

     They wanted to make it our of sugar cubes but that would just be wasteful, especially in our Paleo house.

     We've also begun our looping schedule.  If you're not familiar with looping please check out Sarah Mackenzie on Amongst Lovely Things or read one of her posts about looping here.  Anyway, our loop so far looks like this:

• Draw Africa
• Art
• Geography Game
• Music

     We began drawing Africa this week:

     They did great!  I didn't get to draw with them as this was our first time using the book so I was in charge of reading the directions to them.  We had so much geography last year and we all loved it.  This year since the focus is history, there isn't a whole lot of geography so between this, our Classical Conversations map and the Geography Game (from My Father's World) I think we'll have geography covered.

     With that, I'll catch you next week!

Year 4, Week 2: The Ice Age

     This week our history study brought us to the Ice Age and Noah and The Flood.  They marveled at a sea fossil being found atop a mountain and that there were once land bridges between continents.  Oh, the love of learning and discovery!

     Also, in keeping with adding things in slowly we began science this week:

     I let each child pick their own science subject this year.  Little Toughie opted for sea animals while my son chose Earth Science.  This is our first time using Apologia.  I'm hoping they enjoy it.

     At the end of our Ice Age study the kids were challenged to put an ice cube on their belly to see who could let it sit there the longest.  Neither one lasted long enough for me to take a picture but I can tell you there was a lot on squirming and squealing in the short 30 seconds my daughter lasted.  My son didn't last more than 5 seconds and shrieked for about that long!

     That's about it for now.  Nothing too exciting...yet.

Year 4, Week 1: Creation

     I wasn't sure what to title this year since we're not using an all-in-one curriculum.  Last year I was able to use the country we were studying.  This year it's different.  We have a buffet of books to choose from, though our main subject is history.  Or language arts.  All of our reading is around those subjects but I don't think it would make for a good title.  For now, I'll just pick something that peaked their interest that week and we'll go from there.

     This year will be the year of outings too.  Last year we didn't get to do much because I kept dropping the ball on putting trips on the calendar or missing sign up dates.  I'm keeping a better eye out for things this year.  We already have 3 outings planned!

     This was our first week, obviously.  I read somewhere (I'm sure from another homeschooling blog) that it's best to ease into the school year.  While I may be excited to crack open each and every book and dive in, my kids may not share the same enthusiasm and I don't want to scare them off on day one.  Perhaps day 5.  Ha!  Thus, we are only starting with a few things this week, adding a bit more as the weeks pass.  This week I'm introducing them to their new history, grammar and math books.  Later we'll be adding spelling, science and Latin.

     I will say how apropos it is that as we make our way through Ancient History that on our first day we took it way back...way back to Creation!  The kids made cards representing each day:

     We also began reading Dr. Doolittle.  I actually read this aloud to my daughter when I first began homeschooling her.  She was only 5 then.  She doesn't quite remember the whole story.  Nonetheless, everyone is enjoying it so far.

     That's pretty much it for our first week.  Like I said we're taking it nice and slow.  Oh, wait!  Did I mention that I created a very official looking document that laid out what the Principal and I expect from the our kids this school year?  At the very top it has Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Then it starts out listing their major accomplishments last year and then moves on to their goals for this year, both on an academic and personal level.  Here they are reading it before they sign it.  Bwahahaha!

     Now I bid you adieu!