This week we are focusing on pumpkins/bats/spiders in honor of Halloween. The book for the week is Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell. I am LOOSELY using this unit from one of my favorite resources, Homeschool Share.
It will take us more than one week to get through everything, simply because of all the other things we have scheduled this week. We didn't really start it until yesterday, because I didn't pick the book up from the library until Tuesday. The book is adorable. Kiddo loved it, and already has plans for planting his own pumpkin seeds and sharing the pumpkins with others when they are ready. He doesn't know my poor history with gardening....
Today we will focus on the applied math activities as well as the language activity of description, mostly because we need to get the pumpkins carved and those activities will be trickier once that happens.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Pumpkin Festivities
Our week long celebration of Pumpkins (and Halloween) has begun! By the end of this week, I suspect I will not want to see another pumpkin for a long while.
We started the week (on Saturday) by going to pick out our pumpkins. A friend of ours has a farm and they have been progressively adding things to their fall offerings. This year they had hayrides, a puzzle maze (which was VERY tricky), and a pick your own pumpkin patch in addition to the corn box (picture a sandbox filled with corn kernels), straw bale maze, and prepicked pumpkins they had last year. We had a great time, and got to do everything but the hayride in the short time we were there. We opted out of the hayride since my family's hayride was later that night. The same friends bring a hay rack and we go after dark. It was a perfect night for it!
The rest of the week is filled with parties (2 of them), a trip to the local nursery for their fall fun, and of course trick-or-treating (at the zoo!) In amongst that, I hope to get some lessons in. Most of them will circle around pumpkins. I am thinking about doing a science piece on decay, we'll have to see how brave I am!
What are you doing for Halloween?
We started the week (on Saturday) by going to pick out our pumpkins. A friend of ours has a farm and they have been progressively adding things to their fall offerings. This year they had hayrides, a puzzle maze (which was VERY tricky), and a pick your own pumpkin patch in addition to the corn box (picture a sandbox filled with corn kernels), straw bale maze, and prepicked pumpkins they had last year. We had a great time, and got to do everything but the hayride in the short time we were there. We opted out of the hayride since my family's hayride was later that night. The same friends bring a hay rack and we go after dark. It was a perfect night for it!
The rest of the week is filled with parties (2 of them), a trip to the local nursery for their fall fun, and of course trick-or-treating (at the zoo!) In amongst that, I hope to get some lessons in. Most of them will circle around pumpkins. I am thinking about doing a science piece on decay, we'll have to see how brave I am!
What are you doing for Halloween?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Teaching reading
When I started thinking about homeschooling, I started doing web searches. Lots of web searches. I knew only a few people in real life who homeschooled. So I was looking for what others did, how they did things, and what "curriculum" they used. The one homeschooler I knew well recommended Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, so I figured I would use that. After all, she used it with her kids and they were fully able to read! I looked into a number of other methods, but returned to "Teach" because, well, I really had no way of knowing what the other methods would be like! That said, I have been perfectly happy with "Teach." We are just over half way done with the lessons, and I am pleased with the progress Kiddo has made. He can sound out words, he has a good handle on quite a few sight words, and he actually enjoys the stories. I know some reviewers think the stories are corny. I have a kid who likes corny, so the stories work for us.
I needed something to supplement, however. I needed books Kiddo could read without struggling. I needed books he could be successful with, to encourage him to read. After a bit of searching, and having Bob Books appear regularly, I decided to try them. At first glance, I thought no way. The stories are too simple, the pictures are too simple, there is no way Kiddo will like these. But I had them from the library for 3 weeks, so why not, right? Right. So I tired them. And what do you know, he likes them! He has finished set one. I have been trying to convince him to go back and read them again, and perhaps again, until they become books he can read without sounding out ANY words. He can do that for some, but not all. I would love for him to be able to read them "the fast way."
I have yet to spend a dime on these things. I have checked them out of the library. That has freed up some of the homeschool budget for things like field trips, which we have been doing with regularity! Gotta love the library!
I needed something to supplement, however. I needed books Kiddo could read without struggling. I needed books he could be successful with, to encourage him to read. After a bit of searching, and having Bob Books appear regularly, I decided to try them. At first glance, I thought no way. The stories are too simple, the pictures are too simple, there is no way Kiddo will like these. But I had them from the library for 3 weeks, so why not, right? Right. So I tired them. And what do you know, he likes them! He has finished set one. I have been trying to convince him to go back and read them again, and perhaps again, until they become books he can read without sounding out ANY words. He can do that for some, but not all. I would love for him to be able to read them "the fast way."
I have yet to spend a dime on these things. I have checked them out of the library. That has freed up some of the homeschool budget for things like field trips, which we have been doing with regularity! Gotta love the library!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Works
The Works is a great little treasure in our area. It is a hands-on science center, where kids can learn about all sorts of science topics through interactive exhibits. It isn't huge, but that makes it manageable with kids. We have been there twice now, for their homeschool days, and have yet to cover the whole thing. And it really isn't very big! The kids just get very into one thing or another and that is all they want to do. Today we explored simple machines--gears, pulleys, levers--and then focused our attention, and time, on the marble track pieces.
They also have experiements you can go and do. This week it was mixture madness. So much fun. Kiddo learned about density of liquids and chemical reactions (namely baking soda and vinegar). It was fun. When I get a few minutes, I'll write up the experiment and post it, because it is one you can do in your very own kitchen! And it was easy enough for Kutey to do, with just a bit of help!
They also have experiements you can go and do. This week it was mixture madness. So much fun. Kiddo learned about density of liquids and chemical reactions (namely baking soda and vinegar). It was fun. When I get a few minutes, I'll write up the experiment and post it, because it is one you can do in your very own kitchen! And it was easy enough for Kutey to do, with just a bit of help!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Too many resources
I like to "shop" online. I rarely actually buy, but I like to look. I am a SUCKER for the word "SALE." Now that I am homeschooling, I find that I have even more shops to look at! I am finding that I could easily get overwhelmed with resources. They are abundant in the online stores. But this is kindergarten, do I really NEED an Organic Structure Modeling Kit, even if it is almost half off? Probably not. And if I get the Daily Math Reinforcers, how do I know they are worth it? There are so many things out there that seem great, but until I see them, how am I going to know? If I bought everything I thought might be good, or neat, or cool, I wouldn't have room in my house to move! Not to mention we would never get around to using even half of it. So I shop, fill my cart, and never purchase. It hasn't hurt me so far!
Monday, October 6, 2008
The week in review
Again, I am finding how easy it would be to never be home as a homeschooler. We have been keeping ourselves quite busy.
Monday we went to the Como Planetaruim for "The Sky." Mr. Brinkman was FANTASTIC! He kept the kids involved and active. There was movement (which is great for kiddo, who likes to move while he is learning!) and he threw in a good deal of humor. I can't wait to go back.
Thursday we participated in a Read for the Record event. Afterward we went to the park and played for well over an hour, then went for our daily walk.
Friday we went to Cedar Summit Dairy with a homeschool group, followed by nearly 3 hours at the park playing and having a picnic.
Saturday we were lucky enough to have access to The NASA Vision for Space Exploration Experience, which was deemed worthy of the 45 minute wait in line by Kiddo. We also saw a bald eagle, peregrine falcon, and great horned owl from the Raptor Center, and watched Physics Force explain better toilet papering through physics, among other things.
Sunday saw us picking apples at the orchard, after the rain had passed.
In amongst all of that, there was all of the regularly scheduled stuff to do! I am beginning to think we should call it "School on the road!"
Monday we went to the Como Planetaruim for "The Sky." Mr. Brinkman was FANTASTIC! He kept the kids involved and active. There was movement (which is great for kiddo, who likes to move while he is learning!) and he threw in a good deal of humor. I can't wait to go back.
Thursday we participated in a Read for the Record event. Afterward we went to the park and played for well over an hour, then went for our daily walk.
Friday we went to Cedar Summit Dairy with a homeschool group, followed by nearly 3 hours at the park playing and having a picnic.
Saturday we were lucky enough to have access to The NASA Vision for Space Exploration Experience, which was deemed worthy of the 45 minute wait in line by Kiddo. We also saw a bald eagle, peregrine falcon, and great horned owl from the Raptor Center, and watched Physics Force explain better toilet papering through physics, among other things.
Sunday saw us picking apples at the orchard, after the rain had passed.
In amongst all of that, there was all of the regularly scheduled stuff to do! I am beginning to think we should call it "School on the road!"
Apple Orchard
It is that time of year again! Apple season. I love going to the orchard and picking my own apples. Thankfully, the kids enjoy it, too, and we have made it a yearly outing the last three years.
Last year I did quite a bit of apple themed study around the time of our trip to the orchard. This year I am not quite as prepared. I should pull out the apples I laminated last year and use them for math, I suppose. I also think we will do some apple painting, because it was a huge hit last year.
This year, however, Kiddo is looking forward to all the things we can make with apples. He wants to help make apple pie and apple crisp. He has also requested that we make apple sauce (Sid the Science Kid did it, so now we need to!)
But here's the great thing: Kutey thinks the apples are a treat! It isn't like we don't buy apples, but we haven't had them for a bit. She keeps asking to eat them. There are much worse things she could want. I just hope 13 pounds of apples is enough!
Last year I did quite a bit of apple themed study around the time of our trip to the orchard. This year I am not quite as prepared. I should pull out the apples I laminated last year and use them for math, I suppose. I also think we will do some apple painting, because it was a huge hit last year.
This year, however, Kiddo is looking forward to all the things we can make with apples. He wants to help make apple pie and apple crisp. He has also requested that we make apple sauce (Sid the Science Kid did it, so now we need to!)
But here's the great thing: Kutey thinks the apples are a treat! It isn't like we don't buy apples, but we haven't had them for a bit. She keeps asking to eat them. There are much worse things she could want. I just hope 13 pounds of apples is enough!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
One Month In
We have officially made it through the first month. Whew. The fear I had about doing this whole homeschooling thing has largely subsided. I have met a great group of homeschoolers with whom we have spent many happy mornings in the park. Two hours flies by in the company of those families! Kiddo also attended his first homeschool art class, a fabulous success in his eyes (I believe the first thing he asked when we were driving away was "Mommy, did you sign me up for the REST of the classes they have?"). We attended the first homeschool day at The Works, where we made a bridge out of various types of pasta. Following that, there was a request to purchase said pasta so we could make more bridges. I know he is learning from these outings. He can still tell me why they use triangles in bridges, why that tunnel looks like a half circle, why that was the shape they chose, and on and on.
We also got to spend a week on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Math was done on the beach with rocks. Physics was done on the beach with rocks. History, Science, Social Studies, and Art (among other things!) were covered with trips to Split Rock Lighthouse and Grand Portage National Monument, and on the beach with rocks. Reading lessons took place snuggled together under the quilt on the couch. Or once outside on the campfire chairs listening to the roar of the lake. Learning was everywhere.
One thing I rediscovered about this kid, he loves to go to the places like Split Rock and Grand Portage, but he doesn't really enjoy the tours. He tolerates them and is never rude, but what he really enjoys is being able to watch someone doing things they would have done back then and asking a million and a half questions. Grand Portage last year was a place we spent at least 4 hours. They had people in every building telling about the space and talking about what they were doing. We watched a man process wild rice in the Native American village for a long, LONG, time. We watched the cook make bread, test the oven, and then move on to cooking other items. The living history model is best for him. Split Rock was that way this year, Grand Portage had gone to the tour only mode already. We were fortunate that there was a gentleman finishing work on a birch bark canoe, and Kiddo was full of questions there. He was VERY patient with Kiddo, who was tired and didn't ask his questions very, well, he didn't use words much. But the canoe builder stuck around for a very long time to let Kiddo watch what he was doing and answer his questions. I have made a mental note to check on the status of the living history programming before we go places like that.
Finally, in the month that we have been working on it, Kiddo is reading! Granted, they are small words, and small books, but he can read, and he does so spontaneously. I am realizing, however, that the English language is a most confusing one. He will read words, and I will realize he is following the rules he has been taught, but that the word he is reading doesn't follow the rules. Sigh. We will get there. I am sure. I have a new respect for those who come to this country and try to learn English. UCK!
We also got to spend a week on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Math was done on the beach with rocks. Physics was done on the beach with rocks. History, Science, Social Studies, and Art (among other things!) were covered with trips to Split Rock Lighthouse and Grand Portage National Monument, and on the beach with rocks. Reading lessons took place snuggled together under the quilt on the couch. Or once outside on the campfire chairs listening to the roar of the lake. Learning was everywhere.
One thing I rediscovered about this kid, he loves to go to the places like Split Rock and Grand Portage, but he doesn't really enjoy the tours. He tolerates them and is never rude, but what he really enjoys is being able to watch someone doing things they would have done back then and asking a million and a half questions. Grand Portage last year was a place we spent at least 4 hours. They had people in every building telling about the space and talking about what they were doing. We watched a man process wild rice in the Native American village for a long, LONG, time. We watched the cook make bread, test the oven, and then move on to cooking other items. The living history model is best for him. Split Rock was that way this year, Grand Portage had gone to the tour only mode already. We were fortunate that there was a gentleman finishing work on a birch bark canoe, and Kiddo was full of questions there. He was VERY patient with Kiddo, who was tired and didn't ask his questions very, well, he didn't use words much. But the canoe builder stuck around for a very long time to let Kiddo watch what he was doing and answer his questions. I have made a mental note to check on the status of the living history programming before we go places like that.
Finally, in the month that we have been working on it, Kiddo is reading! Granted, they are small words, and small books, but he can read, and he does so spontaneously. I am realizing, however, that the English language is a most confusing one. He will read words, and I will realize he is following the rules he has been taught, but that the word he is reading doesn't follow the rules. Sigh. We will get there. I am sure. I have a new respect for those who come to this country and try to learn English. UCK!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)