Weekly Wrap Up 2014 Week 7

Before I start, I just wanted to thank you for stopping by!  I love having visitors :).

Secondly, something I read this week made me think about the fact that some people think blogs are used to brag about that person's life.  I just wanted say that I only blog to share what we do each week to show that average moms CAN do this homeschool thing, and give ideas to those who are looking for them.  Well, that and to keep us accountable!!

If you are new to this homeschooling thing, just know that if I can do this, anyone can!!  Good luck on your journey!!

With that....we had a so, so, week.  We actually learned a lot, but MAN those late nights watching the Olympics really put a wrench in my routine!  We ended up staying up later, getting up later, starting school later, getting done later....you see the trend, right??  We don't usually watch the TV at night and now I am sure that won't start!!  That's also why my post is 2 days later then I try to post, and school is being trimmed back this next week-I am behind in my school planning!

The Olympics were, once again, our major theme for the week.  Just one more day and we will be moving on.  It's been a great series of lessons, though!

We finished up our A Journey Through Learning Olympics lapbook.  I LOVE how each day there was a little bit of information to read, and then Mustang would have just a few questions or thoughts to write about.  We also finished up Hour of the Olympics.  I'll be honest that *I* found it a little dull, but my 6 year old LOVED it.  He has now determined that he is going to read every Magic Treehouse book ever, so it was well worth the little time we spent reading it each day.  

Each day we went through the medal standings.  This took a LOT of time, but was well worth it.  I had Mustang and Charger take turns finding the country by flag and on the globe.  I am quite sure they really remembered some of these!!  I know I couldn't find the Ukraine when *I* was 6 years old...oh wait, it didn't exist.  Oh well.  We got the medal standing book (Free) from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom.

Our lapbook lesson mentioned that this year's Olympics were being held in Russia for the very first time.  Before, it was held in the USSR.  Me, being the pack rat I am, I still had this book (that's actually very cool and useful) that showed USSR as one country.  So, we were able to compare the current globe and the map from 1990 in my book.  We also looked at the old Yugoslavia.  Turns out, the book was very helpful!

Thanks to an awesome (FREE) printable pack from Every Star is Different, we were able to take our Olympics theme into other areas of our learning.  I present each activity to both of them, together, and then add the work to their workplans.  The one on the left is matching time.  On the right is labeling grammar in sentences. 

Once again, we have continued with our daily dose of Black History month.  These calendar cards are from 1+1+1=1 and I can't say enough about them.  This week we talked about Mary McLeod Bethune, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Garrett Morgan, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson and Shirley Chisholm.  Yes, that's more then 5, but we covered some weekend people.  

We also read about Harriet Tubman.

We discussed President James Polk this week, and Mustang chose to work on her booklet about him.  

They both finished their first subtraction strip board books.  I appreciate that, while they may already understand the concept, the boards allow them to 'play' while memorizing the facts.

Charger chose to complete lesson 16 in his All About Spelling book.  He learned about choosing letter k or c at the beginning of a word.

And, like I mentioned before, we watched LOTS AND LOTS of Olympics!!  

This next week will probably be a slower week, finishing up our Olympic medal books, and Black History month. I am looking forward to spending more time with the Montessori materials and less on 'themes' :).

I hope you all have a great week!!!

God Bless, 

Lisa

BTW, I have 2 giveaways going right now if you like to enter that sort of thing.  My Warner Bros. DVD giveaway ends tonight.  (2/23) and my Del Monte Prize pack (coupons and $25 Walmart Card) ends Wed 2/26.

Telling Time 3: Digital Numbers & Writing the Time

Moving forward with our lessons on time, we did a short lesson on digital numbers.  This was really easy.  I just printed a set of regular numbers and digital numbers.  Even Mini Cooper could figure them out.  I am following our curriculum, though and I am not skipping-just to be sure I dont miss anything.

On to harder things...

Out came the little clocks again, this time with a laminated copy of a clock face without hands. I printed the clock from ABCTeach.com.

I explained how the blue hand on the little clock was the minute hand and pointed to the blue numbers or minutes.  I then pointed out that their clock also had minutes, just in black.  Then I explained how the red hand was the hour hand and pointed to the red numbers or hours-the same as the big numbers on their pages.

I set the clock to various times, and then Mustang and Charger drew then time on their clocks.  Mini Cooper got a clock to draw on-but she mostly just drew circles.

Charger was REALLY GOOD at drawing the time, but I am still not sure if he got the minute hand.  We will be doing this lesson again to see if he got it.  Mustang seemed to really grasp it and even tried a few 1/2 hour  and other times.  I'm pleased to see the kids beginning to understand this concept-I hope-instead of just memorizing the time.

Have a great weekend!  God Bless!

Telling Time 2: Clocks and Hours

So next up in telling time was the obvious-clocks!  

We received this box of 6 small geared clocks last year as part of a review last year and I am so glad I went with a set of small clocks instead of a large one.  

Everyone enjoyed having their own clock to explore.  We checked out the different parts of the clock-the face, the hands, and the minutes.  

Then we started talking about hours of time.  Turns out, both Mustang and Charger had a good grasp of the hours of time. So, we took turns calling out a time and all setting our clocks.  

For review the next day, I set out this tray.  It contains 2 copies of  a worksheet I found on The Teacher's Guide.

I laminated one copy and filled in the answers, then I set a worksheet, clock and pencil for Mustang to do this work.

The object was to set the clock and write the time on her worksheet to match the worksheet.  Mustang would show me her clock so I could check her work before moving on.  This was not hard for her, but was a great way to begin learning to write time in addition to telling time.

I am linking up to:

God Bless and GO CARDS!!!

Telling Time Lesson 1: Day and Night

Our recent lessons have been an introduction to telling time.  The first lesson was to determine between day and night.  

I gathered pictures of day activities and night activities.

We took turns putting them on night and day.

Even Mini Cooper got a turn.

The day and night sorting cards can be downloaded here.

Then, Mustang and Charger completed a cut and paste page from Education.com.

A very simple lesson, but I think it got the point across!

We are linked up at:

God Bless!!