Geography and Science combined unit

As this was our last week of Classical Conversations, the question is now entering my mind, "What will we do once Classical Conversations is over?"

CC is a 24 week program, so I did 6 weeks before it started and will now do 6 weeks after to make a 36-week school year. The first 6 weeks we just did some basic skills review and fun reading, so what will we do for the last 6 weeks? We will be focusing on some skills for each child, but I also want to review some of the work we've done in CC.

One area I'd like to review and expand on in particular, is geography. I've come up with a combined geography review and science/nature unit. Here is the basic plan:

I'll use this great little Usborne book (Living World Encyclopedia):



I'll also purchase a large, laminated, black-line map on which we'll mark each of the areas we study.

Each week we'll cover a different climate/environment and then review the geographical locations that host this type of environment.

Week 1 - Grasslands
Living World Encyclopedia (LWE) p. 38-39
Geography to review: all continents (grasslands occur on every continent, except Antarctica)

Week 2 - Deserts
LWE p. 50-57
Geography: Middle Eastern countries (Iraq, Iran, Cyprus, Syria, Turkey) and the "-stans" (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Usbekistan, Kazakhastan)

Week 3 - Temperate forests
LWE p. 58-65
Geography: continental European countries (and some features: Appenine Peninsula, Balkan Peninsula, Iberian Peninsula; and some capitals: London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona)

Week 4 - Northern evergreen forests, Polar regions
LWE p. 66-69, 72-77
Geography: Scandinavian countries and features (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands), Baltic Europe (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland),Siberia

Week 5 - Mountains, Rivers, Lakes
LWE p. 78-85, 90-93
Geography: all mountains we've learned (Ural Mountains, Carpathians, Caucasus, Alps, Pyrenees), all seas we've learned (North, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Baltic, White, Black, Caspian, Aral, Arabian, and the rivers (Seine, Rhine, Danube, Po, Elbe, Volga)

Week 6 - Tropical Rain Forests
LWE p. 96-109
Geography: SE Asia (Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Guam), Central America (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama)

Week 7 - Islands
LWE p. 34-7
Geography: Carribean (Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico), other islands (Canary Islands), oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian)

I know this is longer than my intended 6 weeks. But that is Ok, this is fun study - they will be happy doing this even after our "official" school year is over. Right? Right!

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The current CA Homeschooling case

There is a wonderfully robust argument going on at two of my favorite blogs: Principled Discobvery (this is just her most recent - she's had LOTS to say about it) and The Common Room , both in response to the recent California court ruling against homeschooling and to a certain Stephen Downes.

If you aren't already reading these blogs, you should! At the very least, check out this debate. Even if you aren't a homeschooler, the issues being discussed at a high level (parental rights vs. the State's rights) are important.

Good Friday - Way of the Cross photos

Here are the promised photos from the Way of the Cross.

This is the entrance. The branches at the bottom of the cross are thorny blackberry canes. The little basket to the left holds the last station (the Resurrection) for the children to take home for Easter morning.

I did end up making two seperate booklets - one for younger kids and one for older kids.

















Here are some of my favorite stations:

1st station - the thorns



















3rd station - falling on the road





















8th station - Christ dies; extinguishing the light of Christ.




















9th station - the tomb















And some of the families:

Sitting Shiva for Jesus

Today, I sat shiva for Jesus.

We opened our home to friends and strangers for a Stations of the Cross for children. At each station was lovely art, a short devotional, and an object lesson. (I'll share details and photos after Easter.)

Truthfully, I wasn't sure how it would be received. But, after my children and I went through the Stations just prior to our first guests, I realized the impression it all made. Truly, it was the Lord's doing.

The house was hushed with just the whispering of parents and children, and in the background thoughtful, gentle, choral music played. What a blessing to see families gathered so closely around the stations- many of them kneeling or sitting in conversation and thought. The kids were engrossed, as were the parents.

I didn't know that it would feel so much like a funeral vigil, but it did. Among Jews, it is a custom to "sit shiva" when a close family member dies. The mourners quietly recieve visitors, who come to just sit - not necessarily to socialize. After the first session ended and our family returned to our normal noise level, I realized how purposeful the earlier silence felt. It was then that it occurred to me that we were sitting shiva for Jesus.

And it felt right.

Have a Blessed Triduum!

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen

From the Book of Common Prayer, p. 220



Well, the pinnacle of the liturgical year, the Triduum, is almost upon us. My blog will be silent as my family focuses in on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday activities.

Another winner...

ME!! The day before I left I received a book I'd won from Two Square Meals. She was running a "100 favorite books" contest and chose me randomly from all the commentors. I was able to choose from any of the 100 books listed! I chose Gilead: A Novelby Marilynne Robinson.

It sounds absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to start reading it! As soon as I finish The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak, I'll start Gilead.

Thank you, Two Square Meals, for introducing me to this excellent author!

And the winner is...

My friend (in real life) - Kate Mc.! She's even been to the inn (The Claddagh) where we stayed so she knew right away that it was located in Hendersonville, North Carolina. That's a good Carolina girl for you!

Kate will be receiving some delicious Scuppernong Jelly from the Mast General Store, which is a famous old General Store that started up in the NC mountains in 1883. Scuppernongs are my favorite summertime treat. In late summer/early fall, my Dad would often take us grape picking. Then we'd gorge ourselves on Scuppernongs and Muscadines until they were all gone. YUM!

Enjoy, Kate!

A Resource for Holy Week

I want to reintroduce you to The Confessing Reader. He has great readings for holy days all through the year, as well as lots of other great material. If you are looking for a devotional for Holy Week, I recommend him highly. And be sure to bookmark or subscribe so you won't miss his wonderful Saints' days devotionals.

Way of the Cross for Children - devotions

Here are the devotions I'm using for the Good Friday "Way of the Cross for Children". I've pulled most of these from two rersources: The Story of the Cross: The Stations of the Cross for Childrenby Mary Joslin and Stations of the Cross for Children by Rita Coleman. I hesitated posting this because I did pull so much from their books, so please if you use this, only do so for your family (and consider purchasing the books).


Station 1- Jesus is condemned (Matt 27:11-16)
Jesus stands before Pilate. He is bruised and bleeding from the beatings. They have made him wear a crown of thorns. Pilate wants to please the people, so he orders that Jesus be crucified.

Oh, poor Jesus, how can they do this to you? How can you be so calm and quiet when they spread false stories about you?

Dear God, Keep me from anger and spite. Help me to love and forgive. Help me to follow Jesus.


Station 2 – Jesus takes up the cross (Matthew 27:24-31)
Now the soldiers make Jesus carry a big, heavy cross through the streets. The cross looks so big and heavy and Jesus looks so tired and weak.

Each one of us has our cross to carry; we each have our problems, big and small.

Dear God, When I feel alone, and troubles weigh me down like a heavy load, help me to know that I am walking with Jesus.


Station 3 – Jesus Falls (Isaiah 53: 1-4)
Oh, no! The cross is too heavy for Jesus—he has fallen to the ground. Look how the people taunt him! But look! He is getting back on his feet and continuing on his way.

Dear God, I try to follow Jesus, but sometimes I fail and fall. May I know in my heart that Jesus is always with me.


Station 4 – Simon of Cyrene carries the cross (Luke 23:26)
The soldiers notice that Jesus is too exhausted to go on, so they force a man called Simon to help Jesus to carry the cross.

Dear God, Thank you for those whom we do not know who help us with their greater strength when we are in need.


Station 5 – Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:26-31)
The women of Jerusalem are crying for Jesus. They love him very much. As he passes them, Jesus speaks to them, even though he is very tired and weak. He asks them not to cry for him and they seem to be comforted by his words.

Dear God, When the world is unkind and people are unfair, we weep with you; you weep for us.


Station 6 – Jesus is stripped of his clothes (John 19:23-24)
The soldiers now roughly take even the clothes from Jesus. They gamble among themselves to decide who would have his tunic. He is left with nothing.

Dear God, Help me not to worry about the things that people may take from me, but rather to seek to live in the way you want, to live in your kingdom.


Station 7 – Jesus is nailed to the cross (Luke 23:33)
Oh, the agony Jesus is in as the soldiers nail his hands and feet to the big, heavy cross. It is hard to look at the pain on Jesus. Face. But, still he asks his father in heaven to forgive the soldiers. He is compassionate and forgiving to the end.

Dear God, Teach me to love and forgive even when others hurt me. When I see violent people get their way, help me to continue to live peacefully.


Station 8 – Jesus dies (Luke 23:43-49)
After three long hours on the cross, poor Jesus dies. Darkness falls over the land, even though it is only three o’clock in the afternoon. The earth quakes and everyone is frightened. Has the end of the world come? Jesus has died.

Dear God, There is no end to Jesus’ love. He died to save me. I do not deserve all this love and yet I know that you will always love me.


Station 9 – Jesus is laid in the tomb (Matt 15:57-66)
After Jesus died, a kind man called Joseph offers a tomb to Mary for the body of Jesus. With great love and sadness, his body is wrapped in a clean cloth and laid in the tomb. His tomb is in a small garden. A big stone is rolled to block the entrance of the tomb. A soldier is ordered to stand guard over the tomb in case someone tries to steal the body of Jesus.

Dear God, When we are very sad and we have too many hours to sit and weep, be with us.


In the past couple of days a few families with older children (middle school age) have signed up, so I am going to provide them with a slightly different set of devotionals. If I have time before Thusday, I will post that set of devotionals, too.

We are home!

Thank you for all your good wishes and prayers for our "get-away" weekend. It was really relaxing and wonderful!



I wonder if you'd like to play a game and see who can guess where we went? I'm going to post the photos from our trip and the first commentor with the correct city and state will be the winner (and there is even be a prize in it for you - a real one!).



Ready to play? Ok, here's the first photo:



This is the inn. It is right on the main street - in fact it is on Main Street. You can't tell from here, but it has a distinctly Irish flair...and not just for St. Patrick's Day.





And here is the view from the porch. See that stately church just across the street? I believe that is a "St. James". Unfortunately, we are no longer members of that denomination, so we opted for a bit more distant church on Sunday morning.

And here is that church in a town about 20 minutes away. It is an "All Saints' Anglican" - Anglican Province in America. Very lovely church and sweet parishioners. They were such an encouragement to us! The APA did what we are now doing (seperating from the Episcopal Church) many years ago, so it is good to see a church further down the same road.





On our drive home we saw this odd sight - a Sod Farm: "Super Sod". This just struck us as quite funny. I know they grow sod somewhere, but you just never think of it being farmed.





Lunch after at the Black Rose Pub - Fish and Chips while watching the UNC-Clemson game. (The pig is my daughter's. She asked us to take him so we'd remember her while we where gone. We decided to include him in some of our photos.

Now, for the last photos - you might be able to figure it out from these. First, it is a house on the National Register of Historic Places.



And the name:

Need some other hints? This town is nestled in the oldest mountains in the US. It is also located quite close to Carl Sandburg's historic home. And finally, it is a short drive from the largest private residence in the US.



Got a guess, yet?

Taking a few days off...

Hubby and I are going away for a much needed R&R weekend. It has been TWO years since our last 'get away'. (We usually go once or twice a year!) Dear friends are taking our "youngins" and we are off to the mountains. I'll share where we went and maybe some photos when we get back.


Have a lovely weekend, friends!


(I am still working on my post about the Ways of the Cross devotionals. If I don't get it posted by tomorrow morning, it will be up Monday. It is a matter of cutting and pasting, so I really hope to get it done tonight. )

Homeschool Weekly Reporters: March 10-14

Still trying to decide what to do after Classical Conversations ends. I've picked up a couple of resources and I have some general thoughts, but if anyone has some ideas, I'd love ot hear them!



Here's what we've been doing in our homeschool this week:



Family Prayer - This week has been very hit or miss with Morning / Evening prayer. The time change is making getting up early very hard for Mom and Dad. :) The resources we use are Anne Kitch's The Anglican Family Prayer Book and Vos' The Child's Story Bible. Next week is Holy Week, so we'll be getting back on track for that.



Math

DD 6 - Singapore "Early Bird" 2B: learning about addition.



DS 8 - We finished his Singapore 1B. I STILL haven't decided what math curriculum to do next, but I do need to work on his math facts with him. Stopped by our homeschool used curriculum store and picked up a nice set of number family addition flash cards. I'm going to work with these and our Countdown game for a few weeks and get these facts cemented.



Does anyone have any suggestions for fun ways to teach the fact families? He's got +1s, +2s, doubles...how about the others? I love how Math-U-See does this, but I don't own the DVDs, yet. Got another resource (online would be great)?



DS 11 - Still clicking along with Saxon 7/6 and the DIVE CD. He's really quite good at Math, but sometimes makes careless mistakes. We are up to Lesson 29 now.



English

DD 6 - "Get Ready for the Code" C: She is almost sounding out words eventhough we've not even begun to do vowel sounds. This week we finished up letter "L" and started "G".



DS 8 -Handwriting Without Tears "Cursive" - He completes about 2 lines of practice each day - that is it. No MadLibs this week. We tried another lesson of "Simply Grammar", but we've decided that he really is beyoned these very introductory lessons. So, I'll save this for DD6. I've picked up a very simple workbook from McGraw-Hill: "Grammar Practice Book" for Grade 1. We'll work on this through the summer.



DS 11 - Classical Conversations "Essentials" Grammar and Writing: He did a great job working on his story critique paper - almost entirely independently! This from the kid who HATED writing of any sort back in August and was very anxious about the Essentials class. He's now started his final paper for Essentials - a creative writing assignment. He did the keyword outline for two paragraphs today. Picked up "Editor in Chief - B1". We'll start this after Classical ends.



Finished "Sherlock Holmes" - LOVED it. Not sure what I'll have him start next. I use the Ambleside Online booklists. Here are my choices: Animal Farm (we've been talking about Communism a lot in history), "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry", "Number the Stars", and "The Endless Steppe". Any votes on these? I think I'm leaning toward "Animal Farm", but I'm not sure.





Family Studies



Christian Studies - Again, nothing specific this week.



Modern - We accidentally read ahead last week, so nothing new this week.



Science - Started "Egg protectors" in Classical Conversations. You know I feel like I've been slacking on science, but my kids are such experimentors that I don't feel too much is needed here. They've been busily making a "pond" out in the side yard, which has taken planning and work. I'm thrilled to see them working so hard and as a team to do this. What more science do they need?!?!



Friday: Today was supposed to be a field trip, but we are rescheduling. Instead we are going to look at "Airsoft" supplies. The boys had their first experience playing with Airsoft this week and loved it. Dh and I are not so convinced, but we are letting them look into it.





Individual Studies



Literature -

DD6 - read "How the Finch Got Her Colors"

DS 8 - 1/2 chapter of "The Hobbit"

DS 11 - missed reading our Shakespeare this week.



Modern -

DS 11 - read "Democracy in China?" and"Communism Crumbles" from Story of the World 4.



Classics -

DD 6 - read 2 Aesop stories

DS 8 - missed reading his Norse Myths this week

DS 11 - read from D'Aulaire's Greek Myths: Perseus and the Gorgon





Classical Conversations

All: reviewed week 21 and introduced week 22 (Bible, Math facts, English Grammar, Geography, History sentence, President memory work, Science sentence)



Other

DD 6 - Ballet class; lots of drawing; made up a play

DS 8 - Made up a story and draw illustrations for a "wordless" book; PE; worked on "pond"

DS 11 - PE; Drama class; worked on "pond"

Why am I an Anglican?

Why would someone want to be an Anglican? Our family has left the Episcopal church, but we are still Anglican. Why? What is the draw for some 77 million people around the globe? What makes Anglicanism distinct from other branches of Christianity and Protestantism?

Check out Christ Church, NYC's website for an excellent discussion of the Ten Elements of Historic Anglicanism.

HT: First Things blog

Way of the Cross for Children - choosing the stations

Well, I spent the afternoon digging around a couple of websites and have found some great images for the "Way of the Cross for Children" stations.

Instead of 7 stations, I've decided to go with 9 (with 10 being the resurrection). After I chose the stations, I discovered that in biblican symbology the number "9" stands for man's imperfection and God's judgment, while 10 represents perfection. I just think that is neat!

Station 1: Jesus is condemned (Matthews 27:11)
Station 2: Jesus takes up the cross (Matthew 27:24-31)
Station 3: Jesus Falls (Isaiah 53:1-4)
Station 4: Simon of Cyrene carries the cross (Luke 23:26)
Station 5: Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:26-31)
Station 6: Jesus is stripped of his clothes (John 19:23-24)
Station 7: Jesus is nailed to the cross (Luke 23:33)
Station 8: Jesus dies (Luke 23:43-49)
Station 9: Jesus is laid in the tomb (Matthew 15:57-66)
and Station 10 (which will go home as a scroll for them to open Easter Sunday): Jesus is resurrected (Matthew 28:1-20)

The images I found for each station are below. Most of them came from the website "Art and The Bible" - from the "Way of the Cross" page. This website is a fantastic, rich resource. Those that can't be found on this website came from a general Google image or Wikipedia search on the title/artist.

I've decided to use fine art prints instead of some of the line drawings I'd found. Mostly because I'm an Art History buff - and any chance to use good art makes me happy, but I also thought this would appeal to the parents. Besides, we are always look for opportinuties to expose our kids to good art.

Here are the images I'm using:

Christ Before Pilate
Il Tintoretto 1565










Christ Leaving the Praetorium
Gustave Dore 1873







The Carrying of the Cross
Matin Schongauer circa 15th c.







Way to Calvary
Duccio di Buoninsegna 1308










Christ and Mary Magdalene
Peter Paul Reubens 1618











The Disrobing of Christ
El Greco 1583










Crucifixion
Bertram of Minden 1394

The Crucifixion
Andrea Mantegna 1457







The Entombment
Caravaggio 1602

The Resurrection
Matthias Grunewald 1510











Today I'm working on the devotions to go along with these stations. Check back tomorrow and I'll share with you what I've come up with!

The Way of the Cross for Children

The Stations of the Cross or "Way of the Cross" has been a meaningful, devotional exercise for Christians for centuries. It involves images of various events from Jesus' final day on the path to Golgotha. One walks from image to image (stained glass, wood cuts, paper or painting), meditates on the scene and prays. Often accompanying scripture is read. Traditionally there are 14 (or 15 if you include the Resurrection) of these stations, but we do not need to follow these exactly.

I've often thought that children would respond very well to this type of devotion as it involves all the modes of learning: kinesthetic, visual, auditory. This year, I'm going to give it a try. If you'd like to learn more, keep reading and I'll share with you all my plans!

This is going to be a pretty big deal for us. We've invited people from church, friends, and some local homeschool groups to join us! Am I crazy? Maybe! My basic plan is as follows:

1) We are offering two sessions: 10:00-11:30 am and then 3:30-5:00 pm. I've asked families to call and sign up for one of the two sessions (they can come anytime during these two sessions).

2) Families will go through the stations together (this not a kids do their own thing while moms chat event).

2) Each station (I'll be using an abbreviated set of 7) will consist of a print out of an image of that station, an object lesson, and a short prayer. Families will move through the stations at their own pace.

3) I'm considering having a final activity at my kitchen table (probably pinning sins to a cardboard cross).

4) Each child will go home with a scroll of the final station, the Resurrection, to be opened and colored on Easter morning. (Shhhh! Don't tell them - that is a surprise!)

5) I'll have very quiet, sombre music playing to encourage a serious, thoughtful mood.

This is my overall plan. Now it is time to start the nitty-gritty planning! Check back tomorrow as I post more of the details. I'll post my entire plan by early next week, in case you'd like to host a similar event for your family and friends.

CA Homeschool issue topic of posts at Carnival

This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is up at "At Home With Kris". As usual, a load of excellent posts from a variety of bloggers. Don't miss this edition as there is a whole section dedicated to the Homschooling issue in CA at present. Scroll down to "Hot Topic: California Homeschooling" for some good perspectives on the issues.

Spring Reading Challenge

Kathleen is hosting the Spring Reading Challenge. Want to join in?

I've not done so well with these in the past, but I'm not one to give

up. "Try, try again" - that's my motto. Here is my very modest list (I'll feel better if I accomplish a small list):

Fiction:

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

The Art Thief: A Novel by Noah Charney



Non-Fiction:

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan



I'll possibly add:

John Adams by David McCullough



I'm also slowing reading through:

Orthodoxy: The Classic Account of a Remarkable Christian Experience (The Wheaton Literary Series)by GK Chesterton

Parenting Today's Adolescent Helping Your Child Avoid The Traps Of The Pre-teen And Early Teen Years by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

What are you reading this Spring?

Just for fun...

Trying to catch up on my reading, so just for fun today I'm considering myself tagged by Palm Tree Pundit for the 4x4 Meme:

4 jobs I've had in my life
Lifeguard
Christmas season gift-wrapper
HelpDesk for college's "VAX" (intranet-system)
Analyst for TRW (helped create briefings for FAA program)

4 shows I Tivo or DVR
LOST
PBS' "Mystery!"
House
Globe Trekker

4 places I've been
California: Hubby and I have done a LOT of traveling through California (Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Big Sur, Carmel, Monterrey, up through the Redwoods, too)
Sweden & Finland
China
Greece & Turkey

4 favorite foods
Homemade popcorn with Old Bay seasoning
Chicken and Dumplings (puffy, not flat)
Thai Green Curry
Chocolate Covered Cherries (liquid-filled, not creme!)
...and anything hubby makes. :)

Want to play along? You're tagged!

Homeschool Weekly Report: March 3rd - 7th

This week has been pretty productive. We are in the home stretch of Classical Conversations - boo! We've enjoyed it so much I hate for it to end, but we do have some "elective"-type work I'd like to spend some time on once it ends.

Here's what we've been doing in our homeschool this week:



Family Prayer - Morning or Evening, and sometimes both. We use Anne Kitch's The Anglican Family Prayer Book and Vos' The Child's Story Bible. The kids are learning the Lord's Prayer and the Apostle's Creed by doing this.



Math

DD 6 - We started her Singapore "Early Bird" 2B this week. This week we worked on addition fact families.

DS 8 - Still haven't decided what to do for him for Math next. We are finishing up Singapore 1B (we are in the last unit which is money - he's a whiz at adding if money is involved!). I think once we finish this unit (and book) next week, we will just do some fact practice using a Carson-Dellosa mini-workbook and the game "Countdown".



DS 11 - Saxon 7/6 with the DIVE CD is going very well. We generally do two lessons a day, but sometimes only one. I'd say we average 7 lessons a week (we don't do math lessons on our co-op day). We are on Lesson 22 now.





English

DD 6 - "Get Ready for the Code" C is going well. We've completed the first two letters. She is starting to sound out words here and there.



DS 8 -Handwriting Without Tears "Cursive" - he's still interested and enjoying this. We are taking it VERY slowly. He completes about 2 lines of practice each day - that is it. No MadLibs this week, but we did do the first lesson of "Simply Grammar" and a few of the exercises. He seemed to enjoy that. However, I'd like to look at "First Language Lessons" to see if I like it better. Some of the old-fashioned language took some explaining. (I don't mind that for a literature selection, but in Grammar it is a hinderance for him.)

DS 11 - We are working through our weekly assignments from Classical Conversations "Essentials" Grammar and Writing classes. He completed the keyword outline for his critique paper all on his own - I'm so proud of him!! Now we've got to do the first draft and final before next week's class. He's also reading "Sherlock Holmes" and thoroughly enjoying it.

After we finish Classical Conversations, I'm not sure what I'll do with him for Grammar and Writing. I'm considering using "Editor-in-Chief" because he seems to enjoy those types of activities (we do a Punctuation sheet each week in CC Essentials along these lines). I may just use "Our Mother Tongue" (which we have used in Essentials) and continue to review what we've done in Essentials this year. Anyone have suggestions?

Family Studies



Christian Studies - we didn't do anything specific (beyond our family prayer and bible reading) this week.



Modern - Read in "The Last 500 Years": about the Soviet Union and East Germany and the fall of Communism.



Science - they continued working on their bridge projects at CC.



Friday: Field Trip Day! We are going on a tour of a downtown theatre (a BIG one).

Individual Studies



Literature -

DD6 - read "The Ugly Duckling"

DS 8 - missed the Hobbit, but he joined us for "The Ugly Duckling"

DS 11 - read first half of "King Lear"



Modern -

DS 11 - read "Soviet Invasions", "Terrorism", "Chernobyl", "End of the Cold War" from Story of the World 4



Classics -

DD 6 - read 2 Aesop stories

DS 8 - missed his readin this week

DS 11 - read from D'Aulaire's Greek Myths: The Muses and Orpheus





Classical Conversations



All: reviewed week 20 and introduced week 21 (Bible, Math facts, English Grammar, Geography, History sentence, timeline cards, Science sentence)

DS 11 - finished and gave his "President" presentation on JFK (fact gathering, collecting photos, writing notes)

Other

DD 6 - made a book (her own made up story); made a kite; "wrote" an "Aesop"-type story (she makes up the story and draws pictures); Ballet class

DS 8 - counted out our "Family Fun" change (just change we collect in a jar) - $15!; made and flew kites

DS 11 - made and flew kites; Drama class

A few odds and ends...

You may have noticed my posting has slowed down over the last week. It may get even slower. Don't abandon reading "Ye Ol' Ten O'Clock Scholar", though! I'll be back to "full steam" after Easter.

This past week the blogging has slowed down because I've been crocheting up a storm (for me): one helmet liner (photo coming!), three hats, and starting a "Pidge" (I'll share about that when I'm done, but it is sort of like a scarf).

And I finally finished a book I've been trudging through and I'm hoping to review it on the blog Saturday. And just life in general has been picking up steam a bit. All good stuff!

And now, we are in the last couple of weeks of Lent. I've put myself out there offering to host a children's stations of the cross, so I've got to get cranking on that!! (I've invited my Classical Conversations group, church, two local homeschool eloops, and some other friends ---WHAT AM I THINKING??) Seriously, I am looking forward to it, but I have a great deal of work to get done in preparation...and not too much time left. Which means, less blogging of course. If anyone is interested, I'll try to post what my plans are for that (and the resources I'm using) so that you might offer the same thing to your family (and maybe some friends).

Tomorrow is a field trip day - off to tour a local theatre (maybe even a peek backstage!), then in the evening a few friends from church are getting our families together. The men will grill out while the ladies make invitations for an upcoming women's social event (a "Twilight Garden Party"). But somewhere in there, I hope to get my Weekly Homeschool Report done.

Have a fabulous Friday, friends!

Works for Me Wednesday: Backwards Edition!

Today the Works for Me Wednesday is a "Backwards Edition". These are always fun! So, here's what I could use your help with: LUNCH!

Since we homeschool, we are home and I'd like to fix healthy, fun meals for my kids, but I'm at a loss. I often have to cook breakfast (blood sugar issues for one sone - gotta have a full meal) and of course dinner, so I hate to cook again at lunch time. I find myself resorting to Spaghettios and canned soup, which is fine *sometimes*, but I don't like making these regular fare.

Can you suggest some fun lunch ideas for my kids - that require minimal cooking....and, perhaps, that they could fix for themselves? I bet some of you moms who send your kids to school have some great lunch box ideas that would work!

Thanks for your ideas!