Montessori Culture (History): Family Tree

We only did: child, mom and dad, paternal parents and maternal parents.

We talked about our genealogy and how the tree can keep going and going, getting bigger and bigger both ways (ancestors and descendants).

 

Homeschooling Journal: March 2014 Part 3

In art today we used collage a bit more to decorate a letter. Each kid got their first initial. We focused on filling the white space, mixing colors and adding buttons for dimension.

Mardi Gras Party on our street

Montessori Culture (History): The Four Seasons

We read this book (it is bilingual, so we learned several Spanish vocabulary words).

Then we opened each folder dedicated to each season. I simply found images from the internet that depicted the gist of that season. I printed them out and glued them onto colored cards that match the season's folder. These are for personal, in-home use, and that is why I am not linking to the images. This is an easy diy project and it doesn't take too long either.

Montessori Culture (History): The Calendar

I had this printable with all the months of the year and it was fun for him to place the numbers in the right squares. 

We discussed how months may begin on different days. 
We also talked about how January ended on a Friday this year, so February began on a Saturday (the day after the last day in January). 
I mentioned the first day of the week and how it can be different in different countries. In the United States, for example, the first day of the week is Sunday, but in Mexico, it is Monday.
He put the days of the week in the correct order.
During the entire process, we consulted our calendar on the wall.

Montessori Culture and Science: Land, Air, Water Lessons

It was fun learning today. Today was Science and Culture day! We had Circle Time (I know, I still have to list all of the stuff we do during this time. I'll do it another time because it is a lot of great stuff), we sang and danced, we had Bible class, did a little bit of handwriting, and we reviewed Chinese and Spanish, too.  

After that, we had a snack and then got ready for Culture (Geography) class.  Today, K learned about Land, Water, and Air. We talked about these three concepts and then made a craft with the animals that live in each of these places.  He did really well.  Then we did the same, but instead of animals, it was modes of transportation.  It was really fun for him, since he loves cars, trains, airplanes, and boats.

I gave him a little break in between classes, so I let him practice his cutting skills.  I gave him a magazine.  He especially liked cutting the boys in superhero costumes.  He's getting better at holding the scissors and cutting.

    

In Science class, he learned about Living and Non-living Things.  We talked about how living things breathe (need air), get hungry (need food from the land), get thirsty (need water), and need a home.  Then we made a craft that we will briefly revisit weekly until he grasps the concept completely.

Montessori Science (Geography): Land, Water, Air

We sorted several pictures of animals and insects depending on where
they "live."  I know birds and butterflies technically don't LIVE in AIR,
but they fly and it's easier to explain to him that they can fly
and they spend time up in the air, whereas other animals can't.

Land, Water and Air lesson, but with means of transportation.

English: Land, Water, Air
Spanish: Tierra, Agua, Aire
Chinese: Di, Shui, Qi

Montessori Culture (Geography): Land, Air, and Water

First, we reviewed the differences between land, water and air. 

We talk about why they are all important for life. 

Then, I open the envelope with living things and K sorts them out (animals that are in air, water and land).

After that, we clean up and I open the envelope with methods of transportation and K sorts them out (airplanes, helicopters, etc go by Air, boats, ships, canoes, etc go by Water, cars, trains, trucks, etc go by Land).

Homeschooling November 2013 Part 4

Something to think about...

Homeschooling November 2013 Part 3

This year, my father will be celebrating 40 years of working for the same company (he's moved around in different division within the company, but he has had the tenacity, diligence and discipline to work with the same company for that long. What an accomplishment! We are so proud of him! We couldn't be there for his celebration/ceremony, but we sent this video to him. :)

Homeschooling October 2013 Part 4

A cute video to begin the post with... She is saying "you're welcome" after I said "thank you" to her. Sweetness!

Art: Fall Beauty in a Frame

These are stick frames with contact paper and fake Fall-colored leaves (real leaves can be used, but we live in the desert, so no Fall colors for us).

More videos for you!

History Sentence: Week 1

Tell me about Commandments one through five:

Science: Week 1

What are the classifications of living things?

Math: Skip Count the 2s

We also learned about: 1) The Fertile Crescent.  Mediterranean Sea Mesopotamia Euphrates River Tigris River Sumer. 2) Timeline: Age of Ancient Empires (Week 1) Creation and the Fall The Flood and the Tower of Babel Mesopotamia and Sumer Egiptians 3000BC Indus River Valley Civilization Minoans and Mycenaeans If you are interested in learning more about Classical Education, feel free to check this wonderful resource by clicking here. Baby girl is getting bigger and looking less like a baby. Can't believe it!

                   

Montessori Practical Life: Folding Dish Rags

Step 1: Extend the rag.

Step 2: Fold it in half Step 3: Place your hand in the middle.

                         

Step 4: Fold on side over your hand. 

Step 5: Remove your hand.

Step 6: Fold the other side.

All done. 

Look at these beautiful Fall colors on this corn! So intricate. So special. God is such an amazing Creator!

                

Spanish: Las Figuras (The Shapes)

In Spanish, we reviewed the shapes we had learned (círculo, cuadrado, triángulo) and expanded the lesson to five more shapes (rectángulo, ovalo, diamante, octágono, estrella). For our activity, I would tell them the name of a shape in Spanish and they would draw it. I drew the shapes for those who were having a hard time, especially octagons and stars. They all did really, really well.

 

                    

Classical Education: Lapbook

From Wisdom and Righteousness. Please click here to see more details on the lapbooks she offers and to purchase. Worth every penny and very relevant to what we are studying. These photos are purposely posted small and are NOT for copying or for printing. These are merely to explain what the kids and I are learning. She did a great job! If you are interested, please purchase these from this website.

This section contains the verses on the Ten Commandments 
and Math (skip counting from 1s through 15s)

This section includes the life of Moses, Latin Cases, The Ten Commandments, English Grammar (prepositions), and Geography (The Ancient Empires).

                                 

In this section, as we talk about the topics mentioned, we 
can write things inside that are important or that stood out.

This section has History on Ancient Empires, Art and Latin.

I am sorry that the pictures are blurry. It was past 1 am when I took 
them and I thought that they looked blurry because I was so tired!

This section has Poetry and a place where they can 
draw something from the lessons that they liked.

In this section, the kids draw the events that happened 
in the ancient empire of their choice in sequence.

In this section, we have a lot of Science topics, including vertebrates, invertebrates, the classifications of living things, the kingdoms 
of living things, animal and plant cell parts, experiments 
and questions about cells and experiments.

                      

This is a timeline to be filled out as we learn of the different events in history.

                      

Bible Study: Women's Conference

This was beyond fun!

Fall treats... Acorn squash rolls! You can also make them with pumpkin, sweet potato, or any winter squash you like. Check out the recipe here.

Montessori Culture (Geography): Penpal and Postcard Exchange

K and I went to the Book Fair to buy his penpal buddy a birthday gift to mail all the way to England. He picked a cute Jack and the Beanstalk story. It was just K and me. It was just like a mom and son date. And the weather was perfect, too.

                  

Inspiration...

Montessori Practical Life and Sensorial: Changing Clothes

                

                

Montessori Culture (Geography): Penpal and Postcard Exchange

K finally, after a few weeks, wrote a cute letter to his penpal in England. He dressed up as the Transformer Bumblebee specifically to let H know that he loves Transformers.

We also included a birthday postcard and a gift because his birthday is 10 November.

                    

                    

MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) Clothing Swap

Yesterday, we had a full day (and even that is an understatement). We led/organized a clothing swap (where people donate stuff, we set it out and then anyone can come take what they need). Whew! It was busy and there was a lot of stuff. When the swap was over, we packed up what was left and took it to the battered women's shelter. Everything will be put to good use. Awesome!

Montessori Culture (Geography): Penpal and Postcard Exchange

We received two postcards this week: one from our dear missionary friends to the Philippines and another one from our dear friend, who recently moved to Georgia. Sweet!