Friday, February 5, 2010

Week of Feb 1st

We started the week with Co-Op. Hannah loved her Bill of Rights class. She is very interested in politics, so she enjoyed debates they had over court cases. In Bible we learned about being generous. The kids learned Luke 6:38. In music, we are learning about Beethoven. In art we looked at paintings by Valesquez because Hannah is reading "I, Juan de Pareja".

We had a poetry reading while we drank hot chocolate. I had read about someone making it a tea time, but David does not like tea. It went over so well. We have memorized some poetry this year, but they have never had a real appreciation for it. Both wanted turns reading some of the poems. It is a new tradition we will be continuing.

In history we read about the slave trade triangle. Although we are not to the time period of it's end, we watched the movie, "Amazing Grace", a personal favorite of mine. We also read "Amistad Rising" by Veronica Chambers. It was very good.

The both began studies in chemistry, so we discussed atoms, molecules, etc. They enjoyed making their own like these.
We thought this one looked more like a skier than a molecule.


Both had work to do in grammar, math, literature, and critical thinking. Hannah is reading "The Hound of the Baskervilles" for her novel club. She also went to her writing class that started back this week. David was very excited this week to do well on his speed drills and make A's on his tests in math and language arts.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Week of Jan 25th

I can't believe a month of 2010 is gone! We started our week with the first day of our Co-Op. We will be meeting for 10 weeks; however, David did not get to go the first day due to a fever and cold. The kids really enjoy these classes, so it was disappointing for him. Hannah has a Bill of Rights class, studying the bills and discussing Supreme Court cases. She has an art class, and a natural spa class, in which all the girls are making their own lip balm, bath salts, lotions, etc. David has Five In A Row class, Traditional Games, Spanish Songs and Stories, Math Games, Show and Tell, and Science for Boys (chemistry and physics).

We learned about mercy and compassion in Bible, memorizing Matt. 5:7 from the Beatitudes. We watched the Three Musketeers movie since they had read about France and the Sun King. They did notebooking pages about Handel.

Hannah finished up her chapters in Grammar and Math. She did a review of the entire Physics section of her science and will begin Chemistry next.

David was so excited because he finished a speed drill with 40 seconds remaining. He had 28 addition facts to do in 2 minutes. I covered with him at home what he would have had in science at the co-op. He learned about matter, mass, and solids, liquids, and gases.

Pinewood Derby Time

David participated in the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby this year. He actually entered a car from a derby at our church last year. The race above was the only one he actually won. He had 4 runs and took 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. He did not place in the end, and was disappointed, but I think he will want to try harder next year. His car is the one below to the left of the green skateboard. It has Captain Rex on the front.