This week was really busy for me. I had a lot to do at work, closing out the books for '08 which was more difficult this year than past years as I haven't worked nearly as much as I normally do because of homeschooling. The kids spent quite a few long days/nights at the shop this week and were SO well behaved. DS brought his electric station toy that he recieved at Chirstmas and DD brought her painting supplies and they kept themselves busy. Even with all the long hours we did manage to get some school work in and to have a little fun!
LANGUAGE ARTS/ENGLISH-
DS- Book report on Narnia
DD- Workbook #1 page 76-91 (She is reading so well now! She needed very little help from me this week, and once again did not want to stop working!)
DS/DD- I read to them about New Years customs from around the world. Afterwards we discussed the traditions and talked about our favorite ones and decided what we would like to do to celebrate this year.
They both then wrote a paper that included the following: thier hopes and dreams for 2009, Things they would like to change in 2009, and How they will be better Christians in 2009. They both did well. Although DS's hopes and dreams were for more Webkinz :(
With that we completed our New Years Book that we started a couple weeks ago.
We worked on our Months Of the Year book. Adding the January page to it. DD wrote very well on her own and did great sounding out her answers to the questions.
MATH-
DD- Saxon lesson 51, Workbook # 4 page 22+23 Addition. We worked on odd and even numbers more. She is doing ok. Needs more practice though.
DS- Saxon Lesson 54+55- Assesment #10 (He did well, missing two- having a little bit of a problem with mixed fractions)
GEOGRAPHY-
We entered Africa this week. Kenya to be exact. We entered Kenya in our passports.
We exchanged our American Dollars For Kenyan Shillings (Although we did not do the full amount of $20 that we usually do as I didn't have enough money for them both! I would have needed well over 2,ooo shillings....
Studied the map to learn what hemisphere, what oceans and countries border, ect.
We added Kenya to our world map page, labled it and colored it.
We labled all the countries in Africa on a blank Africa map.
I read aloud from the Intermediate World Atlas- an introduction to Africa.
I read aloud pages 31 -32 from A Trip Around the World- Interesting facts about Africa.
We colored the Kenyan Flag and copied flag facts on the back of it.
Just a note- I have noticed DS taking an interest in cooking. looking back I guess it has always been there and I haven't payed much attention.. But he is constantly looking for recipes from the different countries and wanting to make them.
SCIENCE:
DS/DD Played with electricity set- they made numerous projects including a fan. a radio, they had a lot of fun!
We brought out our new microscope set and did a brief overview. The kids had fun looking at different objects and just getting a feel for using it.
READING-
I read aloud David Livingstone- Chapters 1-2
Fancy Nancy- Bonjour Butterfly
SPORTS/EXTRA ACTIVITIES
We attended the book club meeting. They showed the Narnia Prince of Caspian Movie and DS got the next book- "Hoot" They meet again next week.
The kids made cupcakes ALL BY THEMSELVES. I didn't help them with anything, not setting the oven, measuring, nothing. They were very excited by the project and did a wonderful job! They turned out great!
DS made German pancakes on Saturday. He wanted to surprise Dad as he wasn't here when we made them the first time. This time he made them all on his own (With the exception of me pouring the oil and turning the oven on and off) Dad was very impressed and loved his meal! I had DS cut the recipe in half as last time we made way too much going by the recipe. He did a great job figuring out the math!
He convinced Dad to take him to the store to buy the ingredients for a new recipe that he found from Kenya!
We went skating again. It was New Years Day so we went as a family (plus one, DS brought along a friend this time) We all had a lot of fun.
DS had a friend sleepover. It was nice for him as the last month he hasn't gotten to hang out with his friends much as we have been so busy and our regular social activities have been on haitus due to the holidays.
