Week 2- Lesson Plan for Sonlight Core A & F.I.A.R.

We are heading into week 2, and I am a very visual list type person...well, actually, I need a visual list to keep me anywhere near organized and on task, because I'm actually a 'get distracted by everything' type person:)

I thought I would post my 'goals' or lesson plan for the week, and then at the end of the week post a summary of what we did as well as photos of something fun that stood out to the kids!

Here is the lesson plan for Week 2:

Circle Time: We do a circle time every morning before we technically 'start' schooling. I'm going to do a more in depth post about this, but basically, we light a candle, pray for others and our day, sing our memory verse song, and read our FIAR (Five In a Row) Book.

Then we head to our kitchen table and begin or morning activities.

FIAR: Our book for the week will be:  Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans.

We get all of our books for FIAR at the library. 

I put them on hold a week in advance and they are usually waiting for me

 whenever I can go pick them up!  

We will be learning about Paris, France by locating on our Map, 

and talking a little bit about the culture at the time of Madeline along with landmarks that make places recognizable- ie The Eiffel Tower.

We will also talk about human relationships in the story.

We will be going over our Daily Routine in the mornings, and comparing them to Madeline's...

trying to get back into a daily rhythm before the start of homeschooling.

       

Bible: Read up through the story of Jacob

We will record events on our Timeline, discuss the different stories.
 

I am also going to start a project with Lily where she finds her own  'favorite' verse this week. I want her not just to memorize verses, but realize that they have a big impact on her life, and they are God's Word that he has written for her.  I will give her a bunch of verses and have her read them to see if any stand out to her. We will then do some sort of art to create a verse card that she can keep in a frame by her bed to remind her that God speaks to her! 

History/ Geography:  

We will learn about how the Early travellers moved around, and will actually make a mini coracle!  

Coracle

We will also begin to explore the homes and clothes of early Egyptians. 

(Still working on some hands-on activites for egypt)

Read-Alouds:

We will continue reading The Boxcar Children  which my girl's love! I'm so excited that they are able to pay attention to a chapter book, be genuinely interested, and have wonderful conversations after each chapter!!! This is why Sonlight is awesome! 

We will also continue reading poetry out of 

The Llama Who Had No Pajama and The Mother Goose Book.

Math: 

Lily will continue her review of her Math Skills with the Primer book from Math-U-See.  I don't have a plan as to how far she will get because she can do about 7 lessons in one hour... once the subject matter gets a little more difficult, I will slow her down and do more daily lessons.

Handwriting: 

Continue with Handwriting Without Tears, 3 Worksheets a week.

Reading and Language Arts-   

Start All About Reading Lesson 1-3, Continue with Creative Expression-

 Summarizing stories we read, and work on story sequencing.

Science:  Work on the Seasons- Going to do this shutterstock photo I found on Pinterest...perfect for Lily!

 I'd like to do something like this using cue tips, and a tree template like this.

That's about all I have for now...I may add some things during the week, and I'll definitely share in the end of week Summary Post !!

Thanks!!

Kristen

Week 1- Sonlight and Cavemen

We just completed Week 1 or Core A from Sonlight and  I am only just now starting to catch a glimpse of how I can incorporate fun things that I know my kids will enjoy into the curriculum. Don't get me wrong, I think the base curriculum from Sonlight is awesome, my girls are just a little more 'craft' oriented and can tend to get bored just reading out of books and not using their hands.

We read through the first parts of the Bible which included Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Abraham and The Tower of Babel...pretty cool stuff. Sonlight incorporates dinosaurs into this week, and I wanted to expand on this a little more but given that it is our first week homeschooling and we were attempting to find a new rhythm, I chose to let it go for now.

In addition, this week we also learned about the Cavemen! We discussed how different things were back then...the girls were pretty amazed!

We learned all of the different skills that they had to aquire in order to live a better life at that time. I explained how there was no electricity, no washer and dryer, not even homes! My oldest couldn't believe that they lived in caves. One of the skills they used often was weaving. I decided this was a great first 'Hands On' learning experience. I think I am going to call anything that I add on that involves a craft or activity will be called 'Hands On'.

Here's how we did it:

First we gathered sticks, and palm fronds, and I cut up yarn into 2' lengths'

Then we attached the yarn to both sticks to create a loom

This was a great activity in increasing dexterity as well!

 Then we started the weaving process,

' in-out-in-out', 'front-back-front-back...'

great way to teach opposites! 

Make sure to start your weaving at the bottom because you will build going up!

 

Getting closer to the top, the pattern really starts to show!! 

 

Lily's finished product!

 She was so proud! We attached yarn at the top to hang their creations on the back patio...beautiful!

I am also going to continue teaching about Cavemen and early civilization by painting with berries, crushing them and making our own 'paint', as well as making our own 'coracle' boat as suggested in Sonlight. My kids thrive on hands on activities, so I am going to try to incorporate as much as I can!

 We also ROWED the book, 'The Story About Ping' which allowed us to look a little deeper into China using Confessions of a Homeschooler's curriculum called Expedition Earth,  and it allowed us to delve into the culture...there are also many wonderful teaching tools in the FIVE IN A ROW Curriculum which we will be using often.

Thanks!

Kindergarten Curriculum for 2012-2013

 Sinead

Summer is rolling to an end, hence...
 I have officially enrolled my daughter, Lily, into homeschool.

Over the past two years,
I haven't posted on here much because
 we have gone through much transition. 

My two girls both went to afternoon preschool last year,
and I am happy with that decision.

 But I knew that I would always homeschool the children
 as they got older and I transitioned into having more children.

I thought I would start off my new blogging journal posts
 with an overview of what we will be using for Curriculum,
along with some helpful websites that I use.

I have been very much influenced by Michelle over at
Delightful Learning. 
She is such an inspiration as a mother as well as a homeschool mom.

I am using a lot of the same curriculum that she uses with a few minor changes.
 You can find her curriculum list for this year here.

For Lily (6):

Sonlight Core A- Intro to World Cultures

All About Reading Level 1

Math-U-See w/ Manipulatives

The Berenstain Bears' Big Book of Science and Nature


For Lily and Claire (6 & 4):

Before Five in a Row: A Treasury of Creative Ideas to Inspire Learning Readiness

Five in a Row (Five in a Row): Volume 1 

 Grace Homeschool Connection: A church where homeschoolers go and take classes with other homeschooolers.  Lily will be taking Art, Latin and Memory. We started last week, She loves it!!  

That's about it, I will be journaling about our experiences an fun things we do on here... stay tuned!!

 

Week 22: Where We Live! Florida

{Source}

Our last lesson on Butterflies is actually still going on.

We just received our caterpillars and they are sitting

in our dining room in their jar eating

until they get big enough to do something...er,

get out of that jar.

(We are so excited to watch this whole process but boy,

does it take a long time!)

Updated Pictures to follow.

Our library is teaching about the Continents this summer.

I was thinking that it would be great

to do some sort of geography with the girls.

I also thought how important it is to teach

them about where they live....

hence, our lovely state of Florida.

We will also be memorizing our town,

and trying to memorize our address.

Sidenote: Lily has been reciting her phone number for a while now...

It is about 4 digits less than a real phone number.

Perhaps that is the next topic....our phone number!

As I am thinking about this topic of Florida,

I am realizing that there are so many things to talk about!

We will focus on where it is located on a map of the US,

what types of animals are 'indigenous' here,

and special facts about our state.

I also found that there are a ton of fictional children's books

that are based upon Florida which is what you will find in the list below.

I love to read books that are based on our topic

and not just informational books too.

Books:

The secret river by Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan, 1896-1953.

Felina's new home : a Florida panther story by Wlodarski, Loran.

The last egret : the adventures of Charlie Pierce by Oyer, Harvey E.

Duck, duck, moose by Horowitz, Dave, 1970-

Florida manatee by Spilsbury, Louise.

Roy makes a car by Lyons, Mary E.

Florida A to Z by Ryan, Susan Jane.

How to draw Florida's sights and symbols by Quasha, Jennifer.

S is for sunshine : a Florida alphabet by Crane, Carol, 1933-

Django by Cech, John.

Crafts and Activities:

Here is a site I found that has information about Florida

1) We have been going for a while to the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary which is has almost every native Florida animal you can think of. We will definitely be visiting this week to learn about native Floridian animals.

2) Artists Helping Children has a ton of Alligator/Crocodile Crafts

3) We'll be going to the Daggerwing Nature Center to learn about Florida!

Songs:

FYI- The Swanee River is the Official State Song of Florida!

The Swanee River
(Old Folks at Home)
Written by Stephen C. Foster

Way down upon de Swanee Ribber,
Far, far away,
Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber,
Dere's wha de old folks stay.
All up and down de whole creation
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for de old plantation,
And for de old folks at home.

Chorus

All de world am sad and dreary,
Eb-rywhere I roam;
Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home!

2nd verse

All round de little farm I wandered
When I was young,
Den many happy days I squandered,
Many de songs I sung.
When I was playing wid my brudder
Happy was I;
Oh, take me to my kind old mudder!
Dere let me live and die.

3rd Verse

One little hut among de bushes,
One dat I love
Still sadly to my memory rushes,
No matter where I rove.
When will I see de bees a-humming
All round de comb?
When will I hear de banjo strumming,
Down in my good old home?

Snacks:

Thought we could try a few recipes out of here for dinner!

The flavors of the Florida Keys by Gassenheimer, Linda.

Here is a site that has Florida Seminole Tribe recipes

Week 21: Butterflies

This week marks the beginning of a more 'laid back' schedule for us.

This gives me more time to spend

with my children having fun and learning!

We are all very intrigued by butterflies,

and with the first signs of summer upon us,

what better than to learn about butterflies!

I have ordered our caterpillars from www.insectlore.com

where we will receive 5 caterpillars + food!

Hopefully they will come soon...

the girls are getting anxious

(and by girls, I mean me).

The first part of the week will be about Caterpillars,

then we will talk about the life cycle of a butterfly.

We will be using the Eric Carle book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar

to learn about the life cycle, but also about the days of the week.

Books:

A butterfly grows by Swinburne, Stephen R.

Adios, Oscar! : a butterfly fable by Elwell, Peter

Fancy Nancy : bonjour, butterfly by O'Connor, Jane.

Velma Gratch & the way cool butterfly by Madison, Alan.

My, oh my-- a butterfly! by Rabe, Tish.

Butterfly eyes and other secrets of the meadow by Sidman, Joyce.Wings of light : the migration of the yellow butterfly by Swinburne, Stephen R.

Butterfly count by Collard, Sneed B.

Are you a butterfly? by Allen, Judy.

The butterfly jar by Moss, Jeffrey.

The butterfly alphabet by Sandved, Kjell Bloch, 1922

Crafts and Activites:

1) We will be taking care of our caterpillars by making sure they have enough food and are ready for their next phase of life!

2) Caterpillar Craft- Handprint Caterpillar ( I am such a sucker for handprint crafts)

3) Butterfly Craft- Footprint Butterfly (Why not?) This was done on Canvas from Come Together Kids!

4)Butterfly Life Cycle Craft- Plate Craft ( I love the simplicity of this )

Songs: (Source)

Flutter, Flutter, Butterfly

(Original Author unknown)

Tune of: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Flutter, flutter, butterfly.

Floating in the summer sky.

Floating by for all to see.

Floating by so merrily.

Flutter, flutter, butterfly,

Floating in the summer sky.

Pretty Butterfly

(Original Author Unknown)

tune of: "Up on the Housetop"

First comes a butterfly

Who lays an egg.

Out comes a caterpillar

With many legs.

Oh, see the caterpillar

Spin and spin.

A little chrysalis to sleep in.

Oh, oh, oh, look and see,

Oh, oh, oh, look and see.

Out of the chrysalis, my, oh, my,

Out comes a pretty butterfly!

Roly-Poly Caterpillar

(Original Author Unknown)

Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)

Into a corner crept. (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)

Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)

Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)

Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)

Wakening by and by. ("stretch" right pointer finger)

Found himself with beautiful wings

Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)

Snacks: (Source)

These look super fun!

...Salty chocolate anyone? Yes Please:)

We'll also do some butterflies with

Apples and Raisins for a little more healthy snack!

Additional Fun Things I will try to do with them:

1) When learning about the chrysallis, the girls will wrap each other in TP and imagine themselves in a cocoon turning into a beautiful butterfly.

2) Here's a link for a butterfly bookmark...always want to encourage reading!

3) You gotta love the butterfly wings they can put on to flutter around the house in!

Thanks!