For several months Annabelle and I just stuck to the basics (reading, Math, Spelling, Bible). The beginning of January we dove back into Sonlight and our geography fun. The last 2 weeks we added Astronomy back into the mix. Finally this last week we came back to our 'full' load and added our first week of Music and Art Appreciation from Harmony Fine Arts Academy. We've been having such a good time!
While finishing up our S. American studies we made Animalitos. These are usually woven on looms...we made ours with paper. :)
We moved into Europe. We discussed some history. Annabelle finds the clothing particularly interesting. We made 'ruffs' which people used to wear around their necks (sometimes they were so big they needed extra long spoons to reach their mouths!)
In astronomy we picked up where we left of with the sun and learned about eclipses. This was a fun little activity we did to learn what an eclipse is.
We also watched this YouTube video that she really enjoyed and wanted to watch several times that week (which I found surprising. lol)
We also did the chapter on Mercury. This activity was used to demonstrate how craters on the surface of a planet are formed. She used different sized 'asteroids'....the clementine was the biggest one....and made a mess. :)
This is an extra book that we read. I picked up this series of planet books at a preschool's going out of business sale for ten cents a book. They are really colorful and simple.
Our first week of Music Appreciation our composer is Antonio Vivaldi. We used this site to listen to the Spring section of his Four Seasons piece. I really like the site because it tells you what to think about during each movement, helpful when trying to explain it to a first grader. We will listen to one movement for the next few weeks.
In Art Appreciation we started learning about Renoir. Annabelle did a picture study of the Girl With a Watering Can.
We also used the Oxford First Book of Art and looked at the section of Mother and Child art pieces. In particular we looked at The Child's Bath by Mary Cassatt. Afterward we did the suggested activity. Annabelle painted a splashy watery picture.....
.....then we put a picture in of her as a baby splashing in the bath.
Such a fun filled week with tons of learning. So glad that we are finally in the groove and getting to do all the basics and the icing stuff too! Happy blogging!
So I really liked this little outfit. At 4 months Eliza was starting to get too big for it. This little stinker wouldn't smile for anything in the world. Sweet little face though.
Not impressed by all my attempts for a smile.
She was much more interested in her hands and feet.....
.....and sucking her lower lip.....
.....And looking at me like I'm crazy town for taking all these pictures and talking goofy.....
FINALLY a profile smile......not at me, at her big sister Annabelle.
Here it is.....the long over due letter D! This was actually completed in November before the holidays (and before I had to stop schooling with the boys to keep my sanity whilst adjusting to the 4th one). :) We read two books for the letter D. The first was about dogs.
You will have to forgive me because I have had these printouts for so long that I have forgotten where they came from. The top one was for Silas......
.....and this one was for Asa.
Working hard on their worksheets.
File folder game that I had previously made for Annabelle's preschool. (LOVE it when I get to re-use things I already made)
Pattern block letters. You can get this print out (and one for every other letter) at Confessions of a Homeschooler.
Asa making dog food for his letter D craft page. This is part of the All About Reading Pre-Level 1 that we LOVE so much.
The above and the next two pictures were a fun sensory activity. I made all our 'D' items 'dirty' by placing them in chocolate pudding. The boys had so much fun cleaning them up with water and toothbrushes. This kept their interest for well over an hour!
They also painted duck feet (spatulas) on paper and had a good time with it.
Anyway, that is it! Simple, efficient, and fun.....that is my goal for school and this blog. Sorry for my absence. :) Like I said I plan to be here a little more often (hopefully once a week or so). Happy blogging!
