Week two went much more smoothly than the first, praise the Lord! The big kids are beginning to understand what is expected of them and are generally happy to get to work. But just like Ana, I’m still pretty frazzled about TJ’s “involvement” and his frequent two-year-old trouble making. Hands down, the hardest part of homeschooling.
Notes and highlights:
HISTORY
+ After their begging last week, we upped our history to every day. The Beautiful Feet guide is so gentle at this age that it really doesn’t feel like that much more work. While I read from Leif the Lucky or d’Aulaire’s Book of Norwegian Folktales, the boys (and sometimes Sophie) drew and colored pictures I found on the Internet.
+ For M’s history, he finished Across Five Aprils. In terms of pace, the book is much different than what he usually likes to read (Action! Mystery! Fast, fast, fast!), so it took some prodding to get him through. He really enjoyed watching the animated battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. He also did his first project from Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself: a lean-to shelter.
K-3 SCIENCE: ZOOLOGY
+ We’re really enjoying Sassafras Science! This week, we read the chapter on the African grasslands and our first two animals there: the lion and the cheetah. We investigated both animals in our DK Animal Encyclopedia and then made art! I love that we can take the time to connect the two subjects. We also watched the first two episodes of Africa’s Deadliest on Netflix.
AFRICAN STUDIES
+ This was probably the highlight of our week! Our first country was Nigeria. We found and colored it on our huge wall map, read Master Man: A Tall Tale from Nigeria (BIG hit with the kids!), played a Nigerian strategy game called Dara and had a Nigerian feast! Our menu consisted of peanut chicken kabobs, jollof rice, virgin Chapman cocktails and pineapple ice cream for dessert. We even listened to groovy 70’s Nigerian music during dinner, which cracked me up. So random, so awesome.
MATH
+ D (3rd grade) began a section on line segments and angles. He had some trouble so we played Line Segment Simon Says to reinforce the concept.
Current 1000 Books Project Total: 27/1000
Poetry Teatime Treat: Blueberry Cake
Poetry Teatime Treat: Blueberry Cake
MOTHER CULTURE & SELF-CARE
+ Exercise: Back to running three days a week! After a week off, I’m realizing how crucial it is for me if I’m going to do this whole homeschooling thing. I need that time to be in my own head a bit.
+ Reading: Still working on a few chapters of Anne of Green Gables before bed
+ Fun: Closing Big White Farmhouse on such a high note! We raised over $500 to donate to the Houston Food Bank.
I would love to know if you find some great ideas for your two year old. Mine is "very involved" in our home school time too. 😉