April 2011 School

Devotional

We are still  reading the New Testament Storied Scriptures but we skipped ahead the week before Easter to read the final week of the Savior's life.  Unfortunately, most of us were sick that week and we ended up not doing our traditional pre-Easter activities that help us focus on the Savior.  We focused on the Value of Work this month, reading from The Book of Virtues, which included one of our family favorites: The Elves and the Shoemaker.

Math

We spent an extra week on Chapter 21, and then flew through chapters 22-25.  I love how we can take as little or as much time as A and N need to understand concepts before we move on.  The Math-U-See newsletter was wonderful this month - Beware of Being Behind. So helpful for me!

Literature

We are nearing the end of Little Pilgrim's Progress: Christiana's Journey.  I am always amazed by the understanding my kids show with this book - SO SMART! We have also been reading from A Child's Treasury of Poems edited by Mark Daniel. 

A and N both finished up their reading for their book clubs and had their final meetings for this semester.  I'm glad its over and we can read other books! We won't be continuing these clubs next year. 

N and I are reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane together - we take turns reading paragraphs.  Its helped me realize she is a much stronger reader than she lets on.  If you ask her, "Can you read this-that?" she will still say she can't - how to get her out of that mentality? 

A is reading The Hobbit and the first book in the Warriors series, Into the Wild. 

Books they listened to this month (unabridged):

Robinson Crusoe

Black Beauty

The Incredible Journey

Pollyana

 History

We read chapters 6-9 in the Story of the World: Ancient Times, making maps and adding figures to our timeline as we went along.  Next month I'll make sure I take pictures of those. The kids have read a variety of library books - fiction and nonfiction - about Egypt.  We watched National Geographic: Secrets of the Pharaohs - this was a lot more graphic than we were prepared for - modern scientists turning a cadaver into a mummy- yikes! We also watched Riddles of the Sphinx: Nova and Building Pharaoh's Ship: Nova. We also watched The Story of India: Spice Routes and Silk Road to go along with the chapter about India.  I love how we can (usually) find documentaries about any subject to watch instantly on Netflix. 

Art

We are reading from Ancient Egypt (we have an older edition) and drawing some of the pictured items - statues, jewelry, symbols, etc.  We are also doing projects from Ralph Masiello's Ancient Egypt Drawing Book.  The Harmony Fine Arts program we are using also has some coloring pages for each week. 

A & N attended one of their art classes this month - we were sick the week of the other one.  They studied Van Gogh's Bedroom and drew/painted pictures of their own bedrooms. 

Music

We continued with Harmony Fine Arts plans on the Orchestra - finishing up our study of keyboard instruments and moving on to woodwind instruments.  We read about several instruments in The Story of the Orchestra, also listening to the corresponding selections on the CD.  Then we learn more through the resources suggested in the HFA plans or find other resources online. 

Science

Finished up Chapter 11 & 12 in Exploring Creation with Astronomy. We watched a couple episodes on the Planets series: Different Worls and Giants.  We also watched Hubble's Amazing Rescue: Nova and The Universe: Outer Planets.   

We watched NASA-TV in anticipation of the Endeavor launch . . . and then the launch was postponed.  Next week!!! 

Nature Study

We still have cold weather.  We had a little snow this morning! We did a couple nature studies this month - spring flower, tree, and bird - but they definitely lacked enthusiasm.  Come on Mother Nature- tomorrow is May!! Let's have some sunshine!

 PreK

I am trying to come up with a more consistent plan, but "consistent" is an oxymoron when used to describe a 3 and 4 year old.  Usually whatever I have planned only takes 2 minutes or is vetoed and other, less desirable activities are chosen - emptying closets of clothes, pulling all the bedding off beds, pulling all the books off shelves, writing all over the walls (although they have started to make pictures instead of random scribbling).  Each day we read together and do an art project or activity. 

Right now we are also trying to have more structured times during the day: table time where they work at the table with us - coloring or printing readiness; blanket time where they sit on their blankets playing quietly with a toy or activity set aside specifically for school time (I have a whole closetful); and play time where they pick toys from our basement playroom and play upstairs where I can see them.  That's the important part these days- keeping them where I can see them.