Weekly Wrap-Up - Week 6

We started off our Week 6 with a trip to our town festival.  The kids had a great time and the day ended in face painting.

On Sunday Michael scored his first goal of the season in soccer and did an excellent job as goalie, stopping at least one shot from being scored.

Our school week started with a review and then Unit Test in History on Egypt.  I was very impressed with the information that the kids retained and extremely proud of Megan's 99.5% and Michael's 100%!  This was huge for me because it made me realize that I can do this and do it well.  The kids are learning and retaining so many new things, what an exciting time for us!  

After our test we moved on and learned about the first Sumerian dictator, Sargon, and Hammurabi and the Babylonians.

In Science I did decide to switch things up and shelve Exploration Education for now.  So this week we began learning about cells.  Michael's favorite part of a cell is the Golgi Bodies, because of their silly name.  The kids were surprised to learn that the size of a cell in a whale is about the same size as the cell in a mouse, there are just many more of them!

In Geography we started to learn a little about the places MamMom and Granddaddy are going on their cruise and colored the flags for Spain and France.  We will be following their trip on our map and are looking forward to hearing all about and seeing all the wonderful pictures of their adventures in the Mediterranean.

In Grammar we continued learning about prepositions (this is one they had some trouble with) and did a bunch more sentence diagramming on the blackboard.

Shawn continued reading to them from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.  Michael and I also read Vikings Don't Wear Wrestling Belt's, Megan read The Moffett's, and Allie and I enjoyed Go Dog, Go!  :)

For Home Ec we learned how to make chocolate chip cookies.  Unfortunately we had to to scrap the first batch due to Red Flour Beetles.   Guess it was a good lesson in things don't always go the way you plan!

"Mom this is sooo much better than sitting at a desk all day!"

Not only was week 6 a good week for learning but it was also a good week for playing.  All 3 kids spent the week working together to build Lego buildings and set up train cities.

Check out others weeks here and enjoy this first weekend of Fall!!

Wordless Wednesday

Weekly Wrap Up - Week 5

Week 5 turned into another short week for us.

Michael & I spent Sunday night/Monday morning in the ER with him doubled over in pain.  After 8 hours, lots of tests that all came back normal, 4 CC's of Morphine, and 30 mins of sleep for Mom the pain had subsided and we were sent home with no diagnosis.  Followed up with the pediatrician on Monday who, within 5 mins of pulling the hospitals reports, was able to say "I know what he has."  Mesenteric Lymphadenitis, a virus also known as the appendicitis mimicker.  I was so relieved to know that it was nothing serious but very frustrated that the ER docs had no clue.  I'm sure the bill I get will not reflect their lack of knowledge.  Needless to say I was not able to teach on 30 mins of sleep Monday so our school week began on Tuesday.  I'm really enjoying this flexibility!

In math we continued to learn adding/subtracting 4 digit numbers with carrying/borrowing, beginning algebra, and fractions.  Both kids got 100% on their tests.

I am however starting to wonder why Michael's 3rd grade work seems to be more difficult than Megan's 4th grade work.  I am also getting frustrated that 30+ lessons in and we haven't seen any multiplication and am contemplating supplementing with Math Mammoth for multiplication & division.

In Language Arts we learned that we can use the acronym FANBOYS to remember the conjunctions.  For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so   We also started learning about prepositions and continued to diagram sentences.  Both kids got 100% on their spelling tests.  We have dropped Writing With Ease for writing (but are using it for reading comprehension) so I am on the prowl for how to teach creative writing.  We have also started reading time, at least 30 mins a day.  I made up book baskets for each of them and one  that everyone can choose from.  

Pink = Megan   Green = Michael

Everybody bins

We didn't do much for science this week.  The more we get into Exploration Education the more I think it's above the kids heads and I'm not a big fan of how superficially it teaches some deep topics.  I found Otter's Science that Guest Hollow was nice enough to share for free.  Our library has most of the books needed so the outlay wouldn't be too much.  I'm going to really look at it this weekend and may give it a try.  Check next weeks update for my decision.  :)

In Geography we focused on learning how to use an Atlas.

Megan had her 2nd week of art class and Michael had his 1st.  They both really enjoyed it, I'm so glad I stumbled on Ms. Molly and her art classes.  

In History we began our review of Egypt by starting our lap books.  The kids really had fun with this and I can't wait to see the finished product at the end of the year.  Big thanks to Run of the Mill Family for making her hard work on this wonderful lap book available for free!

We also made Egyptian death masks...

Day 1

Day 2 we added eyes, noses, and mouths

Day 3 we added another layer of paper

Finished products

We also flooded the Nile for the last time today.  The kids are excited to see how much the grass has grown.

Tonight we will be feasting on Mummy dogs (hot dogs wrapped in biscuits) for dinner and Monday will be our unit test.  Today Michael told me that we needed to take a vacation to Egypt so I feel like I've done my job.  :)

Mummy Dogs  :)

Check out others weekly reviews here.