We’re traveling (virtually) in Asia now, in our “Children Around the World” program from WinterPromise. The girls’ travel notebooks and passports are getting quite full! After Asia, we have Oceania/Pacific Islands, and then we are done. That will still take about seven or so more weeks.
This week in our geography study, Kathryn labeled the major landforms and bodies of water on the Asia wall map, and we’re “visiting” Saudi Arabia, which necessitates learning about Oil and Gas. We’re also learning about the persecution of Christians in other countries, with the help of these two websites: KidsOfCourage and PrisonerAlert. We’ve started reading Iqbal, the true story of a boy who became sort of a poster child against child labor.
One day this week, we babysat for a friend, and Kathryn and Lindsey did a great job at entertaining the little ones. Having a toddler and a preschooler in the house livened things up for a while! I consider that a little lesson in home sciences. 😉
Lindsey finished her Life of Fred pre-algebra book last week, and was dreading what sort of evil math I might have for her after that. She was relieved when I had her start Money Matters for Teens, and says she likes it. She’ll do about two chapters each week, which should have her finishing it up right at the end of our school year. Since she has been focused on doing odd jobs to earn money for a mission trip this summer, I think she has a keen interest in the topic of money management. Kathryn is doing about four lessons each week in Horizons 4, but there is a Money Matters for Kids book, too, and she thinks she’d like to do it. I might get it for her to work through during summer, as she loves to have a little schoolwork throughout our “off” months.
For creative writing this week, the girls’ assignment was to write instructions on how to care for a pet (in this case, Lacy) while we were gone on an imaginary trip; the point of the assignment was to be very specific.
Kathryn finished up her little handiwork project, a stamped cross-stitch monkey. Lindsey is close to being done with her butterfly cross-stitch project.
Kathryn finished reading Alice in Wonderland, which she said deemed simultaneously “cool and creepy.” She’s also been reading through the rest of the Anne of Green Gables series I don’t have a specific book assigned to Lindsey right now, but she is enjoying reading a couple of novels by Ted Dekker, who is one of Ken’s favorite fiction authors.
Although we have been greatly delinquent in nature studies, the springtime is inspiring us a bit. This week we studied one of our garden flowers, columbines. We decided we’d study songbirds next week.
Honestly, my mind is already on next year. I’m doing research, trying to decide what will work best for us. Getting through the next couple of months seems like it will take forever! There are quite a lot of things I want to change about our curriculum, our schedule, our attitudes, and our school days in general. But we’ll get there!!
Wife, mama, homeschooler, dog-wrangler. Introvert who finds joy in good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Fitness enthusiast and strength coach. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand.
Looks like you’ve all been busy! I’m already thinking about next year too. It’s weird how that happens, but it’s almost a necessity too!I’ll have to check out the geography program you use…it looks really neat! Have a blessed weekend!
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Your columbines are so pretty. I would love to sketch them in my journal too. I know we have one in the back that is getting ready to bloom so I will have to watch it.
Great week.
.-= Barb-Harmony Art Mom´s last blog ..Weekly Wrap-Up: Starting Our Home Stretch =-.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Those girls really DO look like biological sisters. Especially with their similar hair styles!
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What an amazing week you describe. Your girls’ new hair style is totally cute. I love Kathryn’s comment about Alice in Wonderland.
About next year, oh, that’s the story of a hs mom’s life, to change, the attitudes, curriculum, schedules…it’s never ending but quite exciting.
I’m also thinking about the summer (predicting hot mornings, we may do something and take our strolls later when the sun goes down) and ‘next year’.
Looks like a great week! My son is finished up LOF Pre-Algebra as well. He LOVES it.
I love the new blog and the thought process behind the name too. It is very convicting when we really stop to think about how much we have and don’t appreciate. Thanks for the reminder.
The cross stitch project turned out great…and what a cute little visitor you had this week!
.-= Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers´s last blog ..Weekly Wrap-Up: The One Where I Got a Sneak Peek =-.
It looks like you guys had a good and productive week. The little cross-stitch project is adorable.
Samantha
.-= Samantha´s last blog ..Many Weeks in Review – Short Weeks, Sectionals, Homeschool Conference, Newport Aquarium, Iowa Tests, Stomach Flu, and Winding Down =-.
I love the idea of calling studies ‘virtual travel’ 🙂 Columbines and cross stitch caught my eye!
Oooh, I love planning for next year. Except that there’s so much to choose from it’s hard to pick. LOL
.-= Giggly Girlds´s last blog ..Weekly Wrap-Up =-.
I have such a hard time keeping my mind on this year once I start planning for next year! I think I may have to steal your idea about the pet care writing assignment.
Janet W
I can’t help but think of next year too! I really like the cross stitch. I think we need a little project like that for our read aloud time.
I love the picture of the artist in action. You caught a beautiful homeschool moment.
.-= Deon´s last blog ..Weekly Wrap-Up, April 23, 2010 =-.
It is very hard for me not to think about next year also. There are some changes that we will be making also – no more daycare kids and having a 3rd and Kindergartner. I’m excited as I’m planning.
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..Weekend Wrap-up =-.
It sounds like you had a good, busy week!
Thank you for the geography links; we’ll be looking into those sometime soon.
I’m starting to think about the summer, but haven’t gotten into thinking about next year yet. Time goes WAY too quickly.
Annie Kate
.-= Annie Kate´s last blog ..This Week’s Homeschool Highlights =-.
Like you, I am thinking about next year for school. I bought a couple new books to use next year. I love the crosee-stitch pattern. I have another blog dedicated to cross-stitch, it is my main hobby. Hope you all have a great weekend.
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Had to come visit your blog after you stumbled upon mine.. Had to look up the life of fred- and OMG- i think I found our new math/biology book- Cartoons- who would’ve thought… I might actually get my kid to learn something besides putting clothes on in the morning. I guess he’s comfy in his skivies… lol Love the blog- love the photos and it would be sooo awesome to travel like ya’ll do. Lots of changes in our school day for next year- i mean I’ll have an official 6th grader- OMG!
Your Winter Promise study sounds such fun. Will you be visiting us in Oz as part of your study of Oceania and the Pacific? Let me know if I can help with that in any way!!
Jeanne
.-= Jeanne´s last blog ..The bias of history =-.