I will be posting games for the summer to do with your children. I will post by the week. They will be things you have around the house
June 30- July 4
Water Day-Bubble play. - make 1 part dish soup to 5 parts water. Use pipe
cleaners to make different shapes.
Paint the fence with water
Have a water balloon throw
Nature Day-
Scavenger Hunt- go to the park and let the children find things like jagged edge leaf
4 petal flower
yellow flower
purple flower
clustered flower
compound leaf
heart shaped leaf
Get creative and maybe just focus on nature items so kids can really focus on
the different kind of leaves or petals of flowers.
Make daisy chains or dandelion chains- slit a hole an inch from the flower on the stem and slide a 2nd stem and flower into it. On the 2nd stem and flower slit another hole and add a 3rd flower to the 2nd flower. Then add a 4rth flower to the 3rd flower ect.
Game Day
Leap Frog- Stand in a line an let the first person make a back and the 2nd peson hope over. The
second person also make a back and the third person jumps over 2 people. The
forth person jumps over 3 people and you keep going until there are no more
standing. Then the boys who makes the first back starts again and leaps each
of the backs and makes another back at the end, the next player does the same and
thus a continual advancing line of bacsks is formed
Hopscotch- Use chalk to draw the game on pavement and a stone to play the game. If there
is no chalk use stone to draw on pavement
use a stone to try to draw the game on pavement
Canada Day
Make a cake with whip cream icing and use strawberries to make a Canada flag design on the cake.
Have a picnic on the beach
Hiking Day
Go on a long hike and look for animals, flowers and nature. Pack snacks and when you come back make bookmarks with the flowers and hard paper and contact paper.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Quote of the Week
This was my grandmothers favorite verse, that she embroidered, that struck me as precious.
My daily prayer is that I may to others do,
as I would they,
should do to me.
And guard my thoughts,
my words,
my deeds,
and know that LOVE
meets all my needs
My daily prayer is that I may to others do,
as I would they,
should do to me.
And guard my thoughts,
my words,
my deeds,
and know that LOVE
meets all my needs
Monday, June 23, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
My Philosophy.
I don't like to follow one way of one philosophy. My goal is to raise Christ centred children and to love one another. I like Charlotte Mason because she seems to fit the mold of following God. I have used unit studies alot as well. I follow my children on how they learn.
I don't believe children under 7 should do alot of formal school work. They learn best when they play. That is why I don't use grammer till they are 9. It is hard on the mom to do everything and the child as well .
I don't like work books so we do alot of narration orally and written. When the child is 10 they have to write one sentence for each paragraph they read from history or science and usually draw a picture with it. When a child is 11 they make and outline like this:
I. First point
A. First supporting point
B. Second supporting point
II. Second point
A. First supporting point
B. Second supporting point.
C. Third supporting point.
When a child is 12 and 13 they will do a 3 level outline:
I. First main pont
A. First supporting point.
1. First subpoint
2. Second subpoint.
B. Second supporting point.
1. First sub point.
2. Second subpoint
II.Second main point.
A. First supporting point
B. Second supporting point.
C. Third supporting point
For example when we study the human body they will have a nice book with illistrations and written work of theier study. Their illustrations will be of the body systems. We try to sing a song to learn the body systems each day as well. That is what is nice about unit study is that you can everyday sing your learning song and focus on it only.
I just love to teach my children about how God has fearfully and wonderfully made us all.
I don't believe children under 7 should do alot of formal school work. They learn best when they play. That is why I don't use grammer till they are 9. It is hard on the mom to do everything and the child as well .
I don't like work books so we do alot of narration orally and written. When the child is 10 they have to write one sentence for each paragraph they read from history or science and usually draw a picture with it. When a child is 11 they make and outline like this:
I. First point
A. First supporting point
B. Second supporting point
II. Second point
A. First supporting point
B. Second supporting point.
C. Third supporting point.
When a child is 12 and 13 they will do a 3 level outline:
I. First main pont
A. First supporting point.
1. First subpoint
2. Second subpoint.
B. Second supporting point.
1. First sub point.
2. Second subpoint
II.Second main point.
A. First supporting point
B. Second supporting point.
C. Third supporting point
For example when we study the human body they will have a nice book with illistrations and written work of theier study. Their illustrations will be of the body systems. We try to sing a song to learn the body systems each day as well. That is what is nice about unit study is that you can everyday sing your learning song and focus on it only.
I just love to teach my children about how God has fearfully and wonderfully made us all.
My Typical Day
My day starts usually with God while I am still in bed. I try to read His word and apply it to life. I run a daycare so I usually stagger breakfast and get children on the bus. We then start school with phonics, and math and grammer and recite poems and grammer is only given to the grade 3/4 and up. We then read from history or science and the children write or draw what they learned. We then go on a nature walk In the woods across from us and come back to draw what they saw. We then have lunch Bible reading and hymn singing. We then have reading literature and listen to classical music. Then we have picture study with tea.
That is the basic run down. So daily we have math, phonics, grammer, reading , copy work, poem and bible with hymns. We love to draw everyday.
Weekly we have history, science, artist study and music/composer study and nature study. The odd time I read a Shakespeare play from Lamb version. I try to do 2 art projects a week based on nature or science and follow the seasons and Christian holidays. On the Christian holidays we usually just focus on that for the day.
I hope this gives you a clear picture of our day.
That is the basic run down. So daily we have math, phonics, grammer, reading , copy work, poem and bible with hymns. We love to draw everyday.
Weekly we have history, science, artist study and music/composer study and nature study. The odd time I read a Shakespeare play from Lamb version. I try to do 2 art projects a week based on nature or science and follow the seasons and Christian holidays. On the Christian holidays we usually just focus on that for the day.
I hope this gives you a clear picture of our day.
Explaining "Good" Art
Amanda's version of "the man in the turban hat"
We have been studying Jan Van Eyck this past term. We look at a picture a week and after 6 weeks of 6 pictures we draw out favorite.
When we look at a picture we use the following 6 guidelines:
1. Subject. All of the art has a message to tell. In most cases of earlier works it is a bible story or a myth or legend from Greek or Roman times. Today we have lost the knowledge of these stories so rediscovering these stories is the most pleasurable part of artist study.
2. Technique. Some are oil paintings. Some drawing. Some fresco (painting on a wall). Some fabric painting.
3. Symbolism. The objects sometimes symbolize deeper meaning. For instant the dog in the Arnolgini Marraige by Jan Van Eyck symbolizes loyalty.
4 Space and Light. Artists need to create light and space in flat surfaces. For instance in the Man in Red Turban the light on his face is created to show what is important.
5. Historical style. Each historical period has a character in the arts. For instance the impressionist art had less detail but lots of colour.
6.Personal interpretation. You decide what you get out of the painting. Your own personality will come out and don't let anyone tell you different. That is the way to use your own words and feelings
What makes a masterpiece?
1. Virtuosity. An artist need to master physical skills plus knowledge and imagination. It brings it to new light and wisdom.
2.Innovation. Each artist needs to challenge to bounderies of art and be brave to extend his knowledge.
3. Artist Vision. Artist need to express and idea of belief that will produce workd worthy of God himself.
4. Role of the artist. They have to be able to stand out with courage and individuality to create masterpieces that stand the test of time.
God's Gift and Calling of Homeschooling
Homeschooling is calling. We mothers have chosen to home grow our children. Why? It is a matter of the heart where we feel compelled to school our children. It is God's calling. Not many people understand it and rightfully so. Do we understand mothers who have chosen to work or send their children off to school. We each are called to task of this calling. We can not let it bother us when we feel attacked, since it is in God's hands for each of us to follow our calling.
Homeschooling is a great task of character building. This is the most important task of homeschooling.Discipline is the foremost importance. We can teach it through chores and just obeying simple orders. We need to be home to train our children. If we don't who will? It takes time and effort. If we can give them character homeschooling is not as hard when it comes to school work. Someone said once that school work is a privilege. First chores then school. They were right. God calls us to first run a household and then the other blessings follow. The children are from God to us. We have a huge responsibility!
Homeschooling is life from God . We can learn through His world. We use alot of nature study and enjoying good art and music. God's gifts are everwhere. We can see God's order in math and science. We see God's hand in history how His Word has been proclaimed throughout the ages. We teach handwork to feel good about an end product. God gave us many talents.
Finally homeschooling is enlightening. Watching your children grow into adults is so neat. Watching the stages of development is rewarding. You may not see it right away but if we are patient it does come. God is there in bad days and good. It is like a caterpillar coming out of a cacoon. God is there every step of the way.
We are blessed beyond any thing on this earth. God is with us every step of our journey.
Brott Music Concert
We just arrived home from a Beethoven Legacy Concert at Christopher Anglican Church in Burlington. Susanne Hou was solo on the violin. My favorite piece was Symphony No.6 in F Major, Op68 "Pastorale" It descibed Beethovens feeling of being in the country, With 5 sections.The family had a , peaceful, fullfillful, wonderful, engageful night.
Families have to make it part of their schooling. It seems to be a dying art with not alot of young people there. It described God's countryside so well through music that it brings you back to God's gifts given to people and hearing music put to God's creation.
Check out the site on the web and plan and evening with family or friends
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Bee Unit -Reading
Our books we are reading is the Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco; Winnie the Pooh and some Bees adaoted by Steven Krensky.
Amanda is reading the the Nature Reader number 2 by Christian Liberty Press. She is reading the section on bees.
We used The Bear and the Bee from Aseops Fable for narrating
.
The Bear and the Bees:
A bear roaming the woods in searc of berries happened on a fallen tree in which a swarm of bees had stored their honey. The bear began to nose around the log very carefully to find out if the bees were at home. Just then one of the swarm came home from the clover field with a load of sweets. Guessing what the bear was after, the bee flew at him, stung him sharply and then disappeared into the hollow log.
The bear lost his temper in and instant, and sprang upon the log tooth and claw, to destroy the nest. But this only brought out thewhole swarm. The poor bear had to take to his heels, and he was able to save himself only by diving into a pool of water
.
Moral: It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage
Bee unit -math
This is Amanda's Drawing
We talked about the shape Hexagon. The bee hive looks like the shape hexagon, so we tryed to draw the hexagon. With much determination we did finally have an end product. This is Victoria's drawing.
June Unit on bees
We are doing a unit on bees. For the summer it is good to become knowlegeable on the bees so the children won't be so afraid and how ot deal with the bees. When we know what to do to avoid bees and what to do when we are stung and know what flowers attract them then we will respond better outside and love God's outdoors.
Bee Unit- Home Arts in the Kitchen
Shake:
1/2 cup vanilla icecream
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp honey
1 cup strawberries or bananas or peaches
Blend all ingredients and serve
Makes 2 glasses
1/2 cup vanilla icecream
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp honey
1 cup strawberries or bananas or peaches
Blend all ingredients and serve
Makes 2 glasses
Bee Unit- Poems
Our Poem for the unit is:
I am busy, busy, busy said the bee,
I shan't be home for dinner or tea,
It takes hours and hours to
To visit all the flowers.
Little bees work very hard,
Making golden honey,
Taking nectar from the flowers,
When days are sunny.
Here is the little beehive.
Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Soon they come creeping out of the hive.
One, two three, for, five
I am busy, busy, busy said the bee,
I shan't be home for dinner or tea,
It takes hours and hours to
To visit all the flowers.
Little bees work very hard,
Making golden honey,
Taking nectar from the flowers,
When days are sunny.
Here is the little beehive.
Where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Soon they come creeping out of the hive.
One, two three, for, five
Monday, June 16, 2008
African unit- meal
Ginger Cooler
Soak 3 pieces of 4-inch ginger root in water 20-30 min. then scrape off outer peeling. Cut ginger root into 1/2 inch pieces. Combine 1 cup ginger root pieces with 1 cup water in a blender. Liquefy and pour int a 1 gallon container. Repeat process until all ginger root is liquefied. Add enough water to make 1 full gallon,1 1/2 cup sugat, and the juice of 1 lemon (optional). Refrigerate at least a half day or overnight. Before serving strain with cheesecloth or fine strainer. Dilute with water or adjust sugar according to taste. Serve over ice.
Ginger Pudding,
Combine 2 cups boiling water, 1/2 cup sugat, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 tbsp. vinegar in a 9 inch square baking dish. Stir until sugar dissolves. Set aside. Combine 1/3 cup melted margarine,1/3 cup melted shortning, 2 cups flour, 2 tbsp jam. 1 tsp baking soda and 1 1/2 tsp ground ginge in a separate bowl. Mix well, adding a bit of milk if batter is to dry. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drop cake mixture by small spoonfuls into syrop. Cover tightly with lid or foil and bake 55 min Serve with whip cream.
Cabbage Tomatoe Sauce
Brown 1 chopped onion in 1 tbsp of oil. Add 3 peeled and sliced tomatoes. Stir, cover and simmer 3 min. Add 1/4 medium cabbage cut into small pieces. Cover and cook on low for 5 min. Add salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 cup water . Cover cook 15 minl until cabbage is tender.
Serve with rice.
Chicken Garlic and Ginger
Cut 3 lbs. of chicken int serving pieces. Prepare a 2 inch piece of grated ginger root and 6 cloves of minced or crushed garlic. Rub ginger and garlic into chicken. Sprinkle with a little salt. Place a small amount of oil in a large frypan, and gently cook chicke on low heat until done for 40 min. Serve with rice
Soak 3 pieces of 4-inch ginger root in water 20-30 min. then scrape off outer peeling. Cut ginger root into 1/2 inch pieces. Combine 1 cup ginger root pieces with 1 cup water in a blender. Liquefy and pour int a 1 gallon container. Repeat process until all ginger root is liquefied. Add enough water to make 1 full gallon,1 1/2 cup sugat, and the juice of 1 lemon (optional). Refrigerate at least a half day or overnight. Before serving strain with cheesecloth or fine strainer. Dilute with water or adjust sugar according to taste. Serve over ice.
Ginger Pudding,
Combine 2 cups boiling water, 1/2 cup sugat, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 tbsp. vinegar in a 9 inch square baking dish. Stir until sugar dissolves. Set aside. Combine 1/3 cup melted margarine,1/3 cup melted shortning, 2 cups flour, 2 tbsp jam. 1 tsp baking soda and 1 1/2 tsp ground ginge in a separate bowl. Mix well, adding a bit of milk if batter is to dry. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drop cake mixture by small spoonfuls into syrop. Cover tightly with lid or foil and bake 55 min Serve with whip cream.
Cabbage Tomatoe Sauce
Brown 1 chopped onion in 1 tbsp of oil. Add 3 peeled and sliced tomatoes. Stir, cover and simmer 3 min. Add 1/4 medium cabbage cut into small pieces. Cover and cook on low for 5 min. Add salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 cup water . Cover cook 15 minl until cabbage is tender.
Serve with rice.
Chicken Garlic and Ginger
Cut 3 lbs. of chicken int serving pieces. Prepare a 2 inch piece of grated ginger root and 6 cloves of minced or crushed garlic. Rub ginger and garlic into chicken. Sprinkle with a little salt. Place a small amount of oil in a large frypan, and gently cook chicke on low heat until done for 40 min. Serve with rice
African Unit- Songs
Kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord Kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord Kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord Kumbaya
O Lord Kumbaya
Verses:
Someones crying Lord Kumbaya......
Someones praying....
Someones singing....
Someones laughing
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home...
A band of angels coming after me,
coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Kumbaya my Lord Kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord Kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord Kumbaya
O Lord Kumbaya
Verses:
Someones crying Lord Kumbaya......
Someones praying....
Someones singing....
Someones laughing
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home...
A band of angels coming after me,
coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
African Unit-Poem-Harriet Tubman
Harriot Tubman
Harriot Tubman didn't take no snuff
Wasn't scared of nothing neither
Didn't come in this world to be no slave
And wasn't going to stay one either
Farewell! she sang to her friends one night
She was mighty sad to her friends one night
But she ran away that dark hot night
Ran looking for her freedom
She ran to the woods and she ran through the woods
With the slave catchers right behind her
And she kept on going till she got to the north
Where those mean man couldn't find her
Nineteen times she went back South
To get three hundred others
She ran for her freedom nineteen times
To save black sisteres and brothers
Harriet Tubman didn't take no snuff
Wasn't scared of nothing neither
Didn't come in this world to be not slave
And didn't stay one either
And didn't stay one either.
Harriot Tubman didn't take no snuff
Wasn't scared of nothing neither
Didn't come in this world to be no slave
And wasn't going to stay one either
Farewell! she sang to her friends one night
She was mighty sad to her friends one night
But she ran away that dark hot night
Ran looking for her freedom
She ran to the woods and she ran through the woods
With the slave catchers right behind her
And she kept on going till she got to the north
Where those mean man couldn't find her
Nineteen times she went back South
To get three hundred others
She ran for her freedom nineteen times
To save black sisteres and brothers
Harriet Tubman didn't take no snuff
Wasn't scared of nothing neither
Didn't come in this world to be not slave
And didn't stay one either
And didn't stay one either.
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