More Ideas for Curriculum, But This Time 6th & 5th Grade

I've never done this before. I'm planning for 6th and 5th grade homeschool curriculum and I don't have a clue if it'll work.  Yes, SWB says that it will work (the Well Trained Mind), but will it really.  Last year I had grand visions for foreign language study, which didn't happen here. I was going to try to implement a literature approach to history, um, nope, didn't swing that one either. See last year's plan here:  http://expeditionswithg3.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-this-too-much-to-ask-from-5th-grader.html
So, after considering the general direction laid out in previous school years per this list: 

2010-11 Curriculum (with Well Trained Mind recommendations) 3^rd and 4^th Grade

Artistic Pursuits K-3 bk 3, Awana -- TandT, Physics for the Grammar Stage, Rod and Staff Grammar 5, First Language Lessons 3, Flags around the World: Latin America , Delta and Epsilon MathUSee, Handwriting w/ Donna Young Helps, Ocean Habitat with Swimming Things, First Start French at Memoria Press, Latina Christiana, Saxon 5/4 2nd ed., Spelling Workout DandE, Mango for Libraries, Story of the World 4, CBS- Daniel, Colossians and 1-2 Peter 

2009-10 Curriculum for 2^nd and 3^rd Grade

Artistic Pursuits, AWANA, Chemistry for the Grammar Stage, Explode the Code 7&8, First Language Lessons, Flags Around the World: Africa, Gamma & Delta MathUSee, Handwriting for a Reason, Kids 4 Truth Devotionals, Ocean Habitat, Prima Latina, Saxon2and3, Spelling Workout CandD, Story of The World 3

I've come to the conclusion that I can only wrangle so much out of my 3Gs.  For 5th and 6th Grade around here we will pursue the Medieval stage of history by a visit to sources from Gombrich, Synge, SWB, Marshall and Hillyer.  Those authors don't cover everything, so sometimes we won't visit them all each week.  I haven't decided if there will be a series of historical fiction that ties well into our needs as The Roman Mysteries did in the ancient stage.  The red Kingfisher will be consulted on a regular basis and Usborne History Encyclopedia will be used for the Internet links to graphics for our notebook pages.  Haaren and Poland's Famous Men of the Middle Ages  is very easy to use in car school as we travel from here to there. 

Math is delving into the Saxon realm deeply.  I was given the Math-U-See Epsilon book and will finish that with each G, but after that, the Daddy takes over the Math train around here.  Grammar is planted in Rod and Staff camp until the end of year 6, then we dive deep into Latin from Memoria Press.  Spelling is almost over for this 6th grader. He will spend more time each day on Spelling Workout H.  It will definitely stretch him.  The twins will work through level F for their year and maybe even attempt a bit of Level G if they wish to excel there.

Science for this year is anchored by the Elemental Science Astronomy and Earth Science materials for the Logic Stage.  I'm adding in Charles Kingsley's Madam How and Lady Why just because we didn't do many read alouds four years ago when "divide and conquer the mommy" worked so well to end science time.  There are also pieces of Dinah Zike's Big Book of Science Middle School that will be handy (kinesthetically speaking).  I was an earth science teacher and look forward to sharing some time with hand lens out wandering rock piles.

We'll continue with Community Bible Study for the books of Mark, Galatians and Ephesians.  AWANA will continue to be a part of our week too.  I look forward to how home school band participation works out.  There will be a percussionist and clarinetist, but maybe not a flute.  We still have our swim passes at the indoor pool a village over and we'll do all kinds of other activities including soccer.  Our art book from several years ago will be recycled and more mature artist will try again at the different projects.  I also plan to use DK's Medieval Life for 5 pages a week examination of various subjects that will involve sketches in our history notebooks. 

Finally, we will have a summer look into the human geography of Oceania per our study of flags around the world.  I hope to develop a second swing through all the flags we've studied, but add something more analytical about flag vexillology to each in order to develop our knowledge further.  The final habitats to study are grasslands and mountains per the Hands of a Child materials we've used in the past.  So much to do and yet a bit more realistic than ever before.  The schedule and checklist that we've come up with over the past few weeks is working well and I hope to continue that too.  It'll be another adventure with field trips that require passports, and maybe the last, but always together teaching to the moment.

Science & History Field Trip

To Westminster Abbey with the sun shining in London.

There was a BRILLIANT children's activity.  Four pages of well designed questions that didn't necessarily have to have a correct answer!  AND, a 3" diameter chocolate coin when you turned in the clipboard at the end.  SCORE!
BONUS: We visited Isaac Newton's burial place in the second picture near the end of the visit. We were feeling pretty snarky by then to have done all the work on the first day off the plane without a nap.

Queen Elizabeth and Shakespeare!

Finally, we're almost done with SOTW2!  I've taken 2.5 school years to get my rhythm for history and I'm finally ready to begin SOTW3. So much amazing stuff wrapped up in all this! Slow and steady is so much better than non-existent and halting.  You see, there are usually 2 or 3 segments to each chapter. We are now taking one segment, it's narration and it's activity guide questions along with a coloring page/ map page/ cut-paste memory cards as the first group activity each day (right after breakfix and Bible study).  I review each chapter with them on the 4th or 5th day from the SOTW test booklet.  I haven't done very well nailing art the past two weeks. We had such an awesome visit to Rome and looked at Michelangelo’s work that I just haven't done he and da Vinci justice.  I also realized that I may not be addressing enough of the music in history segments we cover.  So I googled Elizabethan composers. I will suggest more work on Medieval music and da Vinci science tomorrow because it looks like a light school day. 

Science was a hit with the introduction of NON-METALS! My kids are getting used to the notebook format from Elemental Science for Chemistry. They also enjoyed the experiement this week with yeast, sugar and a balloon-ed bottle to demonstrate Carbon's presence.  We showed the Daddy a video about Carbon and giggled through another about Helium.  Otherwise, it was a good week of Christmas preparations and Advent observations. G2 finished Math-U-See Beta and will move onto Gamma multiplication with her brothers.  G3 is reading Swiss Family Robinson and enjoying all the construction taking place on their island.  G1 is beginning the final book for our adventures through Explode the Code. And we're all getting used to Heelys which arrived from one of the grandmothers yesterday.

Take the Kids to Rome!

Yes, take the kids to Rome and do it during the off-season. While everyone else is rushing around in their black, gray or brown, you have a light sweater on and there are NO CROWDS! We walked right into the Colosseum and Forum with our Roma Pass (one adult per child under 11 years old for most things, but we did have to buy 3 kid passes in the Ancient area) and didn't elbow a soul to get around. The Pantheon was a bit more crowded (free). As was Trevi Fountain (free) and the Spanish Steps (free), but that's where everyone shops. We scooted right through the VATICAN (small cost) and SISTINE CHAPEL (NO LINES, NO SWEATING, CROWDED passageways!) and the guards weren't shushing to us under Michelangelo's masterpiece because my kids had free Rick Steves mp3 guides in their earbuds. St. Peter's was gigantic and we were HUNGRY, but we got there. Quirinal hill where the old Pope/new president's residence sits was interesting and Piazza del Popolo was fun to watch people. Found as many of the 7 hills that Rome is built on as possible with short legs and un-gelatoed brains. The Sant Angelo's castle was build for kids and we romped all over that place. By the way, the ROMA PASS covered our Metro and city bus travel too. No taxis for us in ROMA. The Catacombs were a necessity for the Daddy and we got a wonderful neighborhood tour on the city bus to get to the Apian Way. We saw flocks (do you call them flocks?) of bats at dusk just as I'd seen in Austin Texas years ago. We ate gelato and pizza and one expensive pasta meal with Chianti. We took the express train to and from the airport and got out on the first planes we tried. Take the kids, and the gramma for that matter. It was a blast for Thanksgiving abroad this year!

Kids at St. Peters in the Vatican

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First week of 2009-10 complete!

Well, most of it. I need to finish the painting activity with the kids from Artistic Pursuits about Cimabue and Gothic art craftsman's guilds, but we can do that on the floor with water colors in the morning while Dad makes donuts. We actually got to art which is more than last year. I didn't get to include Chemistry study this past week though. I'm bummed about that. I loved high school Chemistry probably because of my teacher. My husband loved high school chemistry too. We'll get to it next week. And desert habitat and more information on Disneyland for G#1.

The kids did their Bible study on their own and prayed through the entire thing individually both Thursday and Friday. They are doing more tasks on their checklists on their own. I was able to have the web pages ready for them to use in finding the African country of the day and the information about Ontario this week. But with 3 computers, and each one ready with one page that is used on some task, each child is able to accomplish what they are "willing" from their checklist. My goal is to have independent learners by the time they are in 4th and 5th grades. While they worked independently, I made wheat bread with freshly ground rosemary. Everyone appreciated it :-)

Reading

These kids are reading a chapter a day of Paddle-to-the-Sea. Yes, by themselves! And, better yet, they're narrating in 2 or 3 sentences what is done in each chapter, each day. By themselves! The first graders are doing it and it's becoming no big deal! Do I sound amazed? Well, OK. Why you ask are they just starting this endeavor, it's because they finished Handwriting for a Reason before the 2nd grader (even though he is narrating each chapter a day too). They are also doing a Draw and Write animal/item a day. (Shark is G#3 and Swan is G#2) It's magnificent to see them kick this assignment into the net like it was nothing.

My second grader was having trouble with the later chapters of Math U See Beta and I just said that he could write/copy 5 chapters a day of Saxon 1 that I had laying around. He did this for 10 days and worked his way through the second half of the kindergarten book. He also, along with his siblings, is practicing his addition and subtraction tables each day on the Math U See online practice tool. So, we've gone back to Beta chapter 26, to be exact, and now he's not vexed by subtracting 4 digit numbers. And he doesn't know where the calculator is, so I win!

Lastly, I'm reading A String in the Harp from the Juvenile Fiction section of the library. It's a long story but I'm definitely enjoying it. It takes me back to my love for things medieval and European. I am a quarter Welsh and do recognize place names from the book that are used as place names where I grew up. But for now, I'm trying to get everything wrapped up for the year, including the end of Flying Things as a huge study on Bats. My kids have planted radish, morning glory and carrot seeds. My husband has a trip into Ankara and out of Istanbul in the works for late June (a short month from now) and I'm looking forward to a fascinating summer.

Planning for next year - Yep, truly I am!

First Language Lessons, Spelling Work Out, Explode The Code, Rosetta French, Prima Latina I, Handwriting for a Reason, Artistic Pursuits 2, World Flags- Africa and S. America, Saxon Math 3 and Math U See Beta, Singapore Word Problems, SOTW2, Adventures with atoms and molecules, DK Chemistry, HOAC Chemistry lapbook, Kids4Truth Devotions, Piano/ Violin practice, AWANA

How much does this cost and is it overkill? Well, less than a thousand dollars AND maybe.

Back into the History program today

It helped to read Caedmon's Song today and listen to the Medieval podcast about monks and the parameters of the Middle Age time period. The podcast included a Gregorian chant which helped establish the differences that existed in musical styles of monks and bards. So, we'll listen to Chapter 16 of Story of the World II about the English language, Serfs and Noblemen, and Stone Castles per the Jim Weiss recordings. But the children know so much more about castles after reading through the MacCauley books "Castles" and "Cathedrals." We've enjoyed the videos from the library about serfs and noblemen, doctors and others in a series called "Life in the Middle Ages."

After my visit to Boston last week, I'm anxious to get them to American history and explore so much right here in the USA. I'd have to admit though that my favorite time period of fiction reading is medieval mystery like Cadfeal and Maidservant's Tale, plus many more that I treasure. But, we live in today and here in the great nation of the United States of America and that is concrete for my grammar stage learners.

History Links

We are reading about Medieval Times in History and I've found interesting links that I don't want to loose. One is a study of characters in the Middle Ages http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/. Another is similar at http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/. I'm interested in sharing the family heraldry our piano teacher constructed for us, but it doesn't fit here well. Also, the alphabet art from Dover is fascinating. This timeline is interesting too.

Mapwork builds character and maps

We've finished using the Dover State Birds book to identify each state bird in order to admission to the Union. We noticed that the Cardinal lives mostly in the upper midwest to east coast because there were seven states which claimed it as their state bird. We'll keep mapping similar birds as we move west and states are added on the timeline. We've established where each of the 44 presidents of the United States were born and mapped that information. Noting in that exercise that the highest number of presidents were born in Virginia and Ohio. We also observed that as states from the west and south entered into the Union later in time and presidents were born further west and south.

We were also able to finish work on the history chapter about the Franks and Clovis. We get to talk about the Moors next. The work on Jupiter is done and we'll talk about Saturn next. But that's enough about school stuff, let's talk about warmer weather and snow! No, let's go play!

Phenomenon...

The children have been rising with the Daddy at 6AM for breakfix ever since G#1 was 3 years old. There is a consistent attempt made every work day that they rise and eat a serving of cereal while the Daddy reads morning devotions for them aloud and for himself silently. Then there is prayer time and generally they quietly return to their rooms to play until I go downstairs to begin my morning routine. I am far less consistent than their father however.

All this is to say that, for the last 2 mornings, I've left Bible study sheets on the counter with the Bible open to the reference for that study. I've left the binders where the sheets go once completed and the weather collecting calendar also. There has been no reason for them not to start at their school checklist before I'm there to "wrangle" them.

So, with the cooperation of the Daddy, as he leaves for work a little before 7AM he encourages our reader to lead in the Bible study and weather recording of the day. I've found the children working at the next things on their checklist, whether it be math, explode the code, state bird study or handwriting for a reason.

Yesterday was a big day because we had so much to do in catching up with a few things on the checklist that weren't thoroughly accomplished last week during a loosely organized 4 days of school. There was also the introduction and completion of chapter 10 in Story of the World 2 about the "Bottom of the world." That chapter discusses aborigines and the maori. But all was completed in addition to math test and G#3 final tests from Math-U-See Alpha level.

Today, I was able to go through the entire checklist with the children, mind you less intense because spelling can be done more independently on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, before 10AM. That also included all three reading/listening to their books on tape. Those are The Magician's Nephew for G#1, Through the Looking Glass for G#2 and Julie of the Wolves for G#3. We reviewed SOTW2 chapters 8-10 and now are ready to attack Jupiter during the remainder of this week. Next week we continue with Jupiter and move onto history chapter 11 about the "Kingdom of the Franks."

So, obviously I have diligent children who are thrilled to serve, but I'm no newbie here. Nothing lasts forever except for God's eternal love for us. And, I did only have my own classroom for a year and those were 7th, 8th and 9th graders in rural Iowa, and my experience substitute teaching for sport is very different. What I do know is that we are weak and heavy laden most often and we all need a Savior. I'm praising God for making the last two days a blessing to homeschool my kids. And I'm grateful to be able to teach my kids about the Creator and his Son each and every day by example all day, 24/7 is the job. I just keep trying to enjoy what I've seen them do here and remember that "Mommy is my name - praying is my aim."

a new year and a new look

I just got the next ten lessons of SOTW2 copied last night after mexican at a new place. I'm trying to print out the Jupiter lapbooks from notebooking2learn, but the printer cartridge is a bust (no more canon printers thank you very much!). I'm also trying not to let my new hobby of Facebook.com take over my sewing goals which, by the way, includes the use of my serger (it was a Christmas present from '07 - a power tool that intimidated me). But right now, I'm planning for a field trip before the end of the month.

Where should we go?

Christmas Markets / Christkindlmarket

The Daddy had taken 3Gs down to Daley plaza last year for his first Christmas market, but I skipped it in favor of a quiet, warm Saturday on my own. This year, however, we visited many Christmas markets all over Munchen and Salzburg. My favorite was the Medieval market near Odeonsplatz in Munchen. There were fire breathers at the top of a high platform which my youngest G drew for us the next day.

The tea towel calendar is from the markets in Salzburg. It is for German, Italian and English speakers and is arranged differently than most calendars. I liked the German costumes and my green colors. The ornaments are for souvenirs. I saw them in each market and the tags say that they were made in Germany.

I could have spent so much more time in the Berchtesgadener Christmas market, but it's all good. I sure don't regret skipping the cuckoo clock purchase, because I may get a new bathroom sink instead. Trade-offs are ok.

I did purchase several single figure play mobil pieces that my Gs played with on the 10.5 hour flight home. The little girl, her gramma and I enjoyed shopping for those at Karstadts and Spiels toy sections. The children definitely enjoyed the chocolate covered eggs filled with small toys to put together inside (Kinder candies).

Color changes...

Ok, black background indicates a down time for our h-s household. We accomplished the Mars chapter and finished a talk about the spread of Islam. We read another story about Sindbad and received a new book to cover the Narnia chronicles from Veritas press. Boy #1 has lost 3 winter hats and it's not even December!

Technically yes, we'll continue to teach to the moment while trying to get to Munich Germany and Salzburg Austria for the Thanksgiving holiday with the paternal grandparents, but no insight into the h-s workings from here. Besides, they live not 100 yards from a propane truck wreck in SLC and were forced to evacuate their home for 12 hours yesterday, so won't be into ORD until tomorrow. I'll post to the facebook place if I actually get a seat on the outbound plane, but otherwise we're signing off for a hiatus.

But, before I do, here is a question. DO YOU RECYCLE? Why? Why not? Is it a way of living or just a hindrance to your successes? Are you easy to it or does the company that collects it make life difficult?

Also, if you were allowed by all the members of your household, would you hang your clothes out on the line to dry? Why/ why not?

Lastly, do you or have you ever bought turkey on sale during this time of the year to freeze for later servings or are you disgusted by the thought?

Love to all ;- )

Not so easy...

As the holidays approach, I'm seeing a trend towards non-work attitudes. We are finishing Mars and chapter seven of SOTW2 about the spread of islam before we attempt to take off next week. But it is like cutting teeth here. It got cold too.

The highlight is that I received a new album for me. It's a mix of styles, that is southern blues and New Orleans blues, because, well, it is done by Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. Two men with the Blues is fun today and is a welcome break for my children from Opera and Classical music while they work. That is not to say that the K-Love isn't still playing somewhere in the house too.

We started listening to the Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis too.

Rambling...

G#1 and G#2 got well-kid checkups and immunization shots Thursday. It was the first time they had seen a doctor since leaving Kansas 2 years ago. I can't help that they are very good at eating right, drinking plenty of water and escaping peril at every turn. That's God's job to keep them safe. They enjoyed the introduction to our family doctor that I've seen and Daddy has seen since in Illinois. The daddy was actually working from home Thursday and Friday after returning from his business travel to SFO with a sinus infection. G#3 got to stay home with Daddy while the other 2 got shots.

I returned from the doctor's office to find that the blue bathroom toilet was dead and it was removed later that night. Actually, it almost took my left index finger with it when I extracted the toilet tank from the 30 year old bolts that barely grasped it. So, now I've finished painting that wall and we've purchased a new white toilet to update that bathroom a little.

On the h-s news, everyone enjoyed sand art several times more this week. We learned about islam and how the story goes that Muhammad was visited by an angel with what he was supposed to recite. We've worked a ways through the study of Mars and all three children are subtracting and adding without great pain.

I took them to the grocery store to buy food pantry items for their AWANA assignment. Each gave 2 or 3 dollars so that we could take in food, but I made them add up the totals of each item in order not to go over their budget. I actually made them use cash at the drug store and hardware store for things that Daddy needed. I've fallen into the trap of demonstrating that all things can be paid for by some credit card Jeannie.

We'll continue to dress warmly and prepare for the attempt to get to Munich for Thanksgiving. We're practicing our common German phrases and I'm trying to get familiar with the geography of Bavaria. It'll be quite a trip to get all five of us and the two grands on stand-by, but it'll be worth it if we can accomplish the mission.

Triumphant Friday!

Legoland Chicago is conquered. Leads me to dream of other lego sites... Cold weather is here. Flurries even. I'm in the mood to plan my listening entertainment while preparing for the holiday season. The possibility of my kids listening to the Door in the Wall by de Angeli and me for The world is flat by Friedman exists. I've read From Beirut to Jerusalem by Friedman once upon a time, that is in another life stage, but never forgot how it struck a chord in me. So, for the children, Door in the Wall or the Narnia Chronicles to listen and follow along in the unabridged text. I've got my zen back from the shop where they replaced the motherboard because I administered too much electricity while plugging it into a usb jack for charging. OOPS. Won't do that again ;- )

We're on to CASTLES!

Check out the new link to a site which teaches about the Romans in Britain. We hope to prepare the 3Gs for a 2010 visit to Scotland for the Daddy's momentous birthday. There are all kinds of opportunities to see castles and learn about Romans in Bavaria later this month. But for today, we've finished study about the moon and are listening to a chapter from history about medieval India. I can't wait to see how the kids react to a sand art activity suggested in the SOTW2 activity book. The sand art is actually from OTC and is pictures of the Nativity Story, but it's still sand art.

Pray for G#3 today please. He gets his shots updated at the doctor's office this afternoon. I hope to keep him focused on the trip to Legoland at Woodfield Mall tomorrow with the Daddy. HOPE

[Update on the bravest boy in the world today who got 4 shots! He is still the bravest boy today and enjoys the new lego magazine and a little playdoh right before the Rescue heros movie starts shortly]

Moving on to the Moon

WOW, it seems like a million years or miles - however you want to look at it. We've introduced the Moon, read about it and now completing Notebooking2Learn's mini books about the only natural satellite of the Earth. So, I've added the moon phase calendar. Hope it works so we can track the phases of the moon.

I was able to wax rapsodic about the Hagia Sophia this past week too. Our history chapter discussed Byzantine emporor Justinian. It made me almost homesick for a different place anyway. I've also finished reading book 14 of the Roman Mysteries series and now have to wait for the libraries in this area to buy book 16. Yes, they don't intend to by book 15 for some reason. I really do love reading about the time period of the Early Church.

Everyone survived spelling, reading and math for the week. Our familiarity with German phrases and outline map is growing. The 3 Gs start quickstart tennis this morning and are off to do the Home Depot kid project first before the lesson. Lastly, halloween was fun for the kids as they got to t or t in the neighborhood with friends from church then got to take neighborhood kids to New Church for the Trunk or Treat event where Daddy decorated his car trunk like a shark and wore his poopy suit and submarine attire.