Oct. 21-25, 2013 LOW Left Over's Week for Core F 4A

Oct. 21-25, 2013

LOW (Left Over's Week)

 Core F 4A

Some of our green peppers we picked this week from our garden.

Some of our canning this year from our garden.

Monday

Today was a tough day to start; as usually I get all my cleaning done on my 'cleaning Saturday', but not so much this weekend.  Not only that, but my Dh was also sick---so our mess was compounded and cleaning up decreased...I woke up with a drudge!  I went in with Dd to start our bible lesson and saw that I had actually put in my SL "Additional Schedule Page" that I use whenever I have a LOW (left-Over Week) and sighed relief!  I had actually pushed next week off when I planned my schedule weeks ago!!!  Just in the nick of time.  I was really going to just keep pushing forward truth be told, and tow the line, so to speak---but, when I saw that blank form, instead of an official "to-do" list--- I knew I was fine to take a real break!!!  Phew!!

So, we did a really good bible study and then had Dd do her Reader---Anne of Green Gables (she is over a week ahead of her scheduled Readers) and then we had lunch.  I had a nice extra healthy lunch; and she had a lunch more on the unhealthy side.

After lunch we totally cleaned the kitchen--counters, refrig..then we worked outside for hours.  I had two major chores that HAD to be done: 1) dog poop removed so I could mow this week.  2) crickets found--which isn't so easy in this cold weather.  I gave Dd the choice of which she would rather do--and she chose the dog poop???  How odd is that?!  I ended up doing all sorts of chores and one thing turned into another.  Our neighbor had given us 2 big bags of his cut grass that needed to be dumped in our big compost pile.  I had compost to take out too. Then we walked out in the acres of fields behind our home looking for crickets, and got 2 smaller ones.  I tried to pry some memories out of Dd of what she could remember of her childhood.  But, she really didn't have much.  Dh said I should try to write some of our days down--here and there on the blog--for our memories.  I cleaned up the garden and took the old tomato plants out to the field.  I picked more green peppers for us to eat.  Meanwhile, Dd took out her machette and hacked up things!  It was great to be outside for 3 hours just doing 'stuff' in the garden, yard, or field.  We did that some last week too--- for a minute I thought "we should be doing our lessons"; but then I thought to myself that winter is going to be here before we know it and now is the last time to be outside and enjoy what we can of what sun and warmth there is, while there is....and the guilt disappeared!  I read a brief thing in the news a few weeks ago that the average kid spends FOUR MINUTES a day outside!!!!  I just am not going to participate in that!  That is crazy.  So, today we did bible, readers, cleaning, and were outside---nature study or whatever you want to call it.

Dd used the old apple gizmo to peel a bunch of apples and then made a baked apple dessert in the oven.  To her surprise the oven started smoking!  Something had spilled in the oven the last time it had been used and not cleaned up; so we had to put in some baking soda and clean it up...then I turned up the oven and heat cleaned it for about 30-40 minutes--then I let her bake her dessert.  She seemed to like it very much.  

Oh!  I forgot to mention---we found 4 or 5 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on our Fennel!!!!  So we brought them in and put them in our bug aquarium!!!  Joy! oh Joy!  I have lots of fennel plants outside and hope they will survive our first frost tonight; so I will be able to feed those caterpillars!!!  Which is especially nice b/c our largest praying mantis (Cleopatra II) died over the weekend.   She had an abdomen injury, and stopped eating....and it just makes me so sad.  I haven't typed those words out yet.  I hate to admit it.  Even when she was laying stiff and not moving, I kept saying that "she wasn't doing well...." when in fact I knew it to be more severe than that; but didn't want to face the truth myself.

Wednesday went on a  field trip to Lone Pine Farm in Lagoda, Indiana.  I will just make a separate post about that since it was such an interesting place to visit. 

For Bible this week, we started VP Bible card #14: Jacob & Esau : Genesis 25 & 27
(I went to Grampy's Sunday School on Sunday--and guess what he was covering!!!  This section in Genesis!!  Isn't that great!  It is really interesting spending weeks really digging into studying Genesis; and getting Grampy's/Kenny's insight into this book too.) 

Math:

Math U See: Zeta: Lesson 5: A, B, C

History Add-In:

The Silk Route: 7,000 Miles of History by John S. Major and Stephen Fieser

The Silk Route: 7,000 Miles of History by John S. Major

(I had read this to her a few years ago; and then Chelle mentioned it and reminded me that this would be a good book to fit into our China section of Core F! Thanks, Chelle!)

Artist of the Week:

Mary Cassatt

History of Art for Young People (5th Edition) by Anthony F. Janson

American Painting by Francesca Castria Marchetti

Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull

I read sections on Mary Cassatt from History of Art for Young People by H.W. Janson (pg. 521-522); American Painting by Francesca Castria Marchetti (pg 118-123), Lives of the Artists by Kathleen Krull (pg 36-38) plus we found numerous online resources to look at together too.

Audio:

The Quest Begins (Seekers #1) by Erin Hunter

1: The Seekers: The Quest Begins--Completed

Seekers #2: Great Bear Lake by Erin Hunter

2: Great Bear Lake: In Process

Reader's:

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

1: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery- her official reader (She regrets picking AOGG's as her "Reader" because I have read her this book at least once before -who knows maybe twice before; and she remembers it so well that knows what is going to happen and therefore is kind of bored by this book.  I tried to suggest she read something NEW; but she wanted to read Anne "by herself"...That is why she keeps putting in the Mandie books in the middle of reading Anne.  She has also been reading Thea Stilton books....but, I'm not so excited about those!

 and movie:

Anne Of Green Gables - The Continuing Story (Sep 7, 2004) Starring Megan Follows, Jonathan Crombie, Schuyler Grant, et al.

 

Reader's continue: 

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel (Mandie, Book 1) by Lois Gladys Leppard

2: Mandy and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard---finished

Mandie and Her Missing Kin (Mandie, Book 25) by Lois Gladys Leppard

3: Mandie and her Missing Kin by Lois Gladys Leppard---finished

Art:

Felt mushrooms--one red with white dots (for herself); and one white with red dots (for friend)

Felt heart and pin

Language Arts:

Dd wrote two letters

Over the weekend - 10-26th and 10-27th, we were at the farm and Dd got to do her archery and be outside and in the woods all day; both days.  She had a great time!!!!  She just "played around" in the woods.  Plus, she got to see "Giz" and Grampy for a two meals.

Core F Book Reviews

I wanted to write reviews for the books we read with Cores in a seperate place, so they could be found in a search, but here I am on my sixth core and I still haven't done it!  I am going to try to do it with this core...and perhaps if life ever slows down I can go back over the books we read for the previous cores and do the same thing.  What I am wanting to have in my review--is what I would want to know--is there any material in this book that might be difficult for my Dd to understand or digest.  I must confess that up until now, I did NOT pre-read my SL books (I read all the Read Alouds out loud to her without pre-reading them) or read the "Readers" that my Dd read in her Cores.  But, now that she is getting into the older cores and the material is getting more serious I am trying to MAKE time.  I really should have done this last core with the Readers she was reading on issues such as slavery, civil war, and the multiple war books she read--which had big concepts for her to process.  I am trying to do better....and plan on reading all her Readers before she does now. I will refer to the books as either a "Reader" or "Read Aloud"; since Sonlight has these scheduled as either one or the other.  The "Readers" are for the students to read alone; and the "Read Alouds" are for the parents to read to the students....aloud; obviously!  Just wanted to clarify, to be clear.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

This is a Read Aloud (RA) and was really a very delightful book.  On the parent front- I didn't have any concerns with this book.  This book was so great; we couldn't put it down!  Minli learned that by putting others first, she got her wishes answered.  She met a young boy who had nothing, but a water buffalo and yet was so happy and content he wouldn't even accept any money from her.  He didn't even have living parents anymore; and he was sharing and giving her support and encouragement---and she did have parents, and her home was much better than his poor dirt floor room.  She learned so many lessons of how to be THANKFUL for what she had through her travels with dragon. 

 

 She returned home to Ba and Ma with a changed attitude.  The time without Minli actually helped Ma to learn to be more content with her life too.  Ma learned that her discontentedness had caused Minli to run away from home.  So both Ma and Minli really learned how to be thankful!

The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert DeJong

The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert Dejong--this is a Reader, and it does have some sad, graphic, "sensitive" scenes that could be difficult for children to read.  If your child is sensitive, this would be a quick and easy Read Aloud.  I'm surprised that Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a RA (Read Aloud) and yet House of Sixty Fathers is a Reader---it might be better to switch these two if your children you are concerned.  It was a very good book; but definitely difficult.  At one point; when the main character Tien Pao's boat got untethered from the shore and he was drifting away from his family without even knowing it...I had to close the book!  It was just too horrific to continue reading!  This poor  little boy, with his 3 little ducklings, and little pet pig where being whisked towards the Japanese army--that they had just narrowly escaped from--without even knowing it.  There are scenes that are highly, highly anxious like that---or where our main character is hiding from the Japanese army that are trying to find him; and if they find him they will kill him.  I could go on with the many times there are graphic scenes where people are hurt, or killed--but I think you get the idea.  BUT, it is still very much a small element of "hard" material for a lot of really good material that really describes well what it would have been like to be in that situation--in China, when the Japanese army was attacking.

The Kite Fighters by Linda Sue Park

The Kite Fighters by Linda Sue Park is a Reader, and it is a very easy, fun, quick read.  As a parent, I didn't have any issues with this book.  It was a great story about 2 brothers.  It was interesting to me to hear about Confucius and some of his rules.  I have a hard time teaching the how's and why's for authority and respect to my Dd, and wish I had something like this within our family.  Being a homeschool family; without siblings, we don't see a lot of heirarchial situations that would naturally teach my daughter respect for those older than her---she is an only child.  In this book the main charachter was the younger brother, and he had to learn how to change the way he treated his older brother who changed from being a boy to being a man during the book (he was "capped" a Chinese process where the boy changes the color of his clothes, and takes on more responsibilities within the family).  It was nice having the thread of respecting your parents, and respecting your elders as a minor role within this book---it was timely for us; and I was glad to know Dd was explosed to it.

God's Adventurer: A Story of Daring, Danger and Dependence on God by Phyllis Thompson

God's Adventurer (story on Hudson Taylor) by Phyllis Thompson: This was a really important book to read as a Christian because it really taught me a lot about growing my faith in the Lord, like Hudson Taylor did.  

As a parent: I don't see anything "dramatic" in this book.  I did cry at the end; but not because of anything besides the fact that his life really moved me.  This is not a book to worry about; but to encourage others to read.

 It starts out where he literally hands over all the money he has in the world to a very poor family; whose mother is going to die soon; leaving young children behind.  He has to trust and have faith that the Lord will provide for him, and he hands over all that he has; which was so hard for (for any of us) him to do.  Hudson Taylor has the desire to go to China to be a missionary; but first he wants to see if God will take care of him and he has to see if he can trust and have faith in Him.  He sets about living his life living so that he trusts that the Lord will provide and these "tests" are to see if he can make his trip to China.  God answers test after test, quickly and faithfully, so that Hudson does indeed go to China but the tests never do stop.  It is amazing to read his testimony about how God worked in his life.  How God really did come through time after time; when Hudson had complete faith.  Hudson really was a man that walked blindly as he trusted and obeyed God in all things. Hudson is met with challenge after challenge and he continues to respond with each strife with dedicated prayer and faithfulness to Gods will. 

The only thing negative I would say about this book is that the author didn't do a very great job with this wonderful material.  I really think the writing could be so much better; and this could be a 'can't put down' type of book; which it isn't due to the writing style.  This book makes me want to read more books; by other authors, about Hudson Taylor.  I believe we had already read about him in our

Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes by Dave Jackson and Neta Jackson

Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes  by Dave and Neta Jackson.  I recommend that series highly for younger children--K-3rd grade maybe. We really enjoyed the first book in series so much we bought the second book.  But, that isn't part of Core F reviews---so let's move on.

Li Lun, Lad of Courage (The Newbery Honor Roll) by Carolyn Treffinger and Kurt Wiese

Li Lun: Lad of Courage
This book really gives you a feel for Chinese culture and family life.  As a parent: there is a point that should be discussed: Li Lun lives in a fishing village; where ALL the males fish once they turn 10 years old; and have for decades. Li Lun (our main character; who is a 10 year old boy - who is terrified of the sea and it's "spirits" that want to pull you into the depths...) refuses to go fishing with his father.  The last person to refuse to go fishing was Li Lun's grandfather or great grandfather; who is no longer alive; so there is knowledge of this happening before; but that doesn't make his refusal much easier to accept.  This is where our talking point comes in---his father get furious and calls him a coward; fists clenched.  The other men and boys are yelling at him; calling him a coward too. It is a bad scene!  His mother rushes to his side to plead for him.  Finally the father angrilly agrees to send Li Lun up this mountain ALONE to grow 7 pieces of rice into 7x that amount (49 pieces of rice); he has to grow 7 rice plants.  His mother rushes him back to their hut and get him fed and packed; and sends him to a wise man to tell him how to grow rice; and then off he goes to spend 3 months up this mountain all by himself. He is basically disowned---and that could be hard for some readers to understand.  Shame and dishonor with the Chinese culture is a big deal and this books deals with that a lot.  

Besides that hot issue there isn't any other "dramatic" things to worry about.  It was a good book; and written okay.  The ending was very well done; and I did indeed like how it ended for the boy.  His father didn't really show much emotion when the boy did well; and responded very much as a Chinese man would--he only had a 'gleam of pride' in his eye-period- no hug, no word of praise or anything after all the months of serious toil and labor Li Lun endured.  Li Lun really worked SO hard to accomplish what his father asked of him; and that was a great example for our children.  Too bad the parents were such bad examples!!

Mission to Cathay by Madeleine Polland and Peter Landa

Mission to Cathay

( Purple link goes to Sonlight--Blue Link to Amazon.)
Sonlight's Website says:"A fictional story of Matteo Ricci, the first Roman Catholic ambassador to enter China.

Full of cultural detail and adventure. Presents an astonishingly realistic look at many of the difficulties facing Christian ambassadors to unreached peoples."





As a parent, I don't remember anything strikingly "dramatic" or "scary" in this book.  The heart issue that you are wondering about all through the book, is that there is a little beggar boy (who has no memory of his childhood, or who he is, or what his name was) that the priests take in; that you are sure belongs to someone in the royal family...and you really do have to wait until the FINAL chapter to find out if he does or does not belong.  It is in the second to last chapter that they want to behead the boy; but the anticipation for that isn't very long and you just know they aren't going to behead your main character...the one that the author has given you foreshadowing about all along belonging to the royal family!!!  So, it isn't really scary; it just makes you not want to read every word; but skip over words to find out how it turns out---which isn't like me!

As I said, the author gives a LOT of foreshadowing about the young boy.  This young boy has 2 special features; light brown hair (which is unusual) and a charm on his necklace that has his birth date engraved in the gold rectangle box.  He has never taken this necklace off his whole life.

He was a proud beggar on the streets when he meets the priests; practically starving to death.  The priests are not learning Mandarin; which is the specific language of the upper class.  They learn that this boy does speak Mandarin and it works itself out that he will teach him in exchange for staying with them.  Speaking Mandarin would help there efforts in communicating with the people they are trying to win favor from; until now they have been getting laughed at.  Even this young boy laughed at their Chinese; which was a poor, uneducated, childish version.  They have spent years learning the wrong version of the language.

They take him ironically back to the very town where his mother and sister are living with his uncle; who all think he is either missing or dead.  Then things just start connecting together when he befriends his sister; who is disguised as a common boy.  They two "boys" just click; as if they were meant to be together.  This friendship turns out to be what brings about the missing boy back into his family.

Culturally- this book focuses more on the story between the boy and his interactions than on sharing information about the culture of China.  But, we do a lot the expectations for the girl in the story.  She has a lot of situations throughout the book that we see--her feet; which aren't bound like the others; her being forced into marriage, who controls her life, life in the palace...  Wang P'an's perspective is also shared with the reader; from the good things to being in charge to the parts that he has absolutely no control over some area's (like his favorite niece, that he would love to help; but can't).

We did get a good view into China from this book.

Homesick (Puffin Modern Classics) by Jean Fritz

Homesick by Jean Fritz

This was a good Reader; but had a few things that were a little 'touchy' for parents who are very careful about what their children may read.  I know of a few people who probably would not be too thrilled with 100% of the content.  For example, there is another American family- The Hulls, that Jean's family socialize with while they are in China.  Maybe I should give you the quick background of the story--this is basically an autobiography of Jean Fritz; but since she couldn't remember every detail to perfection, she labeled it "fiction"; but prefaced it as being very close to non-fiction.  Do you all know Jean Fritz's wonderful children's history books?  Our family LOVE her books, and have cherished her as an author.  It was so interesting to us to find out she wasn't born in the U.S.; but in China.  Her father worked for the YMCA there and was very much into helping others; and sounded like a wonderful guy. 

Back to the items that some parents may have a problem with---the other American family--the Hulls, apparently 'walked around nude...', and discussed EVERYTHING with their children---there was no distinction between adult talk and what you'd talk about with children.  They talked about where babies came from; and the daughter told Jean, and Jean asked her mom if that was true---and it was!  Nothing was said with any detail, and I didn't have a problem with just that other families talked about these topics----but perhaps others wouldn't like these things being brought up???  Just thought I'd mention it.

Jean's mother gets pregnant and then after the baby is born and mother and child are staying at the hospital; the baby dies---at 3 weeks of age.  It was a sad part of the book.  It was sadder all the more b/c no one was willing to talk to Jean about it really; especially her mother.

This book also brings up FOOT BINDING.  This is a big deal; and a topic that I hope everyone really looks up and discusses with their children.  It wasn't until college that I really had someone explain it to me and then I was totally floored that I hadn't ever had anyone explain it to me before.  This was a horrible thing done to the women of this culture; and for horrible reasons.  I don't know how much you know--but I grew up totally ignorant of the details of this imprisonment.  There was one seen where her nanny had to run home on her bound feet and it showed that she had been crying and her feet were in a tub of water.  Trying to imagine the horrible pain and agony she must have had to go through; walking or running any distance with bound feet would really make a huge difference if you understood what it means to have bound feet.

My complaint about Homesick---- okay, I am getting old and must be an old crumudgin'  because in the last chapter, Jean has moved to PA. and gone to 8th grade, and had bad thing after bad thing happen.  BUT, then a boy is nice to her and so everything is great....puke.  I had to say that really bummed me out.  Jean had been so independent and brave and strong---and "not good" and not caring about if she were "pretty" and then it all ends happily because some boy is nice to her.  I just thought that was an awful way to end the book.  Jean could have or should have ended it with her being with her grandmother---because all through her book she had been exchanging letters with her.  Her mother always wanted her to be good; but her grandmother "loved her just the way she was" period. end. of. story. The. End.  not end it on some boy liking her...ugh.  just my opinion; of course!!!!

The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck

 The Big Wave






Born in the Year of Courage
  

This was a short, little Reader that was quite captivating.  I was able to put it down during the first few pages; but after I returned to book I couldn't put it down.  There are no chapters; so that didn't help me to find a stopping point either!  But, the story is based on two boys--one boy, Kino, lives up on a terraced mountain in Japan (a farmer) and the other, Jiya,  lives below him on the beach ( a fisher).  Then one day a tsunami comes and Jiya barely escapes the wave by climbing up the mountain to Kino's family; while everyone else below is swept out to sea.  The concept is beyond dreadful; but the telling of it is done so well that it isn't "dramatic".  The author, Pearl Buck did a really good job having Jiya deal with the devastation of losing his family in a way that took the loss away from the reader--if that makes sense.  He was so utterly broken by the loss of his family all he could do was sleep.  And Kino's father kept talking about the grieving process to his son; but also, in a way, to us- the reader.  Even though the content was very sad; the way it was dealt with was so careful and considerate that many of the most cautious parents would want to share this book with their children--just not perhaps before bed.  I can see the 'big wave' being scary during dream time.  

One other thing I really appreciated in this book---Jiya was invited by a local wealthy, wise man to come live with him and be his son, now that he was an orphan and he had to make this decision by himself.  He asked if the other orphans were also invited; which they were not, and then, why not.  When he found out that he was invited because he was the most attractive to look at physically he realized he did not want to accept this arrangement, even though he wouldn't be rich.  Kino and his family were very poor farmers, and this old, wise man was extremely wealthy and offered him an incredible education too--but he didn't choose the money and education.  Jiya chose the family and the love.  I really liked that decision; and was glad that it was in the book.

Born in the Year of Courage by Emily Crofford

A poor 15 year old boy is in a rush and doesn't go say goodbye to his father's grave; as is the custom in Japan; and he regrets it immediately; but he has older men waiting on him.  He is joining 3 adult men and one other teen for a fishing trip.  The trip goes badly as a storm comes in and the group is lucky to make it to a very small island---barely a rock.  They share the rock with 3 skeletons that are a warning for them.

From the first pages; we are warned that our main character, Manjiro has been criticized numerously for doing something VERY un-Japanese; and VERY bad--thinking of doing things in NEW ways.  In his culture, they are taught to do things just like everyone else; and never try to improve things or do things differently.  But, you have to hope that his natural tendency to problem solve will help him on this desolate island.  The other thing to over come is that in the Japanese culture the oldest men are in charge; and that is an obstacle as well for Manjiro.  But, it doesn't take long for all the others to see that Manjiro is the REAL leader on the island and he is taking care of them; and without him they would have starved to death very quickly---oh, did I mention this is a true story????  It is!!  That makes it even more amazing.  He figures out how to kill and eat the albatross birds, the turtles, anything he can swallow in order to keep him and his friends alive.

After over 6 months on this small island an American whaling ship just happen to come to the island to look for turtles to eat; and are surprised to find the 5 survivors.  It is Sunday; and the captain of the ship later gives all the credit to the discovery of the men to the Lord; as he is a Christian.  The men are taken on ship and rescued.  Japan had a policy/rule that once a Japanese person leaves their country; they are never allowed back to Japan--or they will be killed.  Once on the ship Manjiro again proves his character as being super bright and intelligent; and the captain can't help but see his shine.  The whole crew take him under their wing; and give him the nickname John **** (I can't remember his last name as I type--oops!).  The captain tells him he thinks of him as his son; and invites him to come home with him to Massachusetts.  

Manjiro; now John--now begin new adventures--going to MA. then to school, and he gets an education.  He goes back out on the sea, as second in command; and faces serious obstacles.  Then he goes to CA. to mine for GOLD!  He has been planning and planning how to figure out a way to get him; and his other friends from the shipwreck back allowed in Japan....  I won't give away the ending.  It was great seeing how he continued to be a bright person that kept thinking outside the box; and always wanted to learn.  There was this one time on the ship when a man offered him and another young man, to teach them how to read and write English.  Manjiro jumped at the opportunity; and the other young man thought of the offer as an insult.  I liked how Manjiro went out of his way to always learn in every situation he encountered.  One time when his ship was in the process of butchering a whale, he stayed up for days to watch the whole process, so he could take the knowledge back home to his community (he didn't know that he couldn't just return at that time).

*As a parent---I didn't read anything that was concerning.  He did throw stones at birds to eat while he was starving to death on the island; but there was NO details.  Even with the whaling--there were no details, at all. This seems like a safe bet on learning about Japanese culture; and a positive was that God was mentioned a few times in a positive light (and that is always a welcome thing in my book!)




The Cat who went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

This is just a very sweet story; I've read it twice now.  There are no parental worries that I can think of.  It is the story of an artist and his housekeeper that have their fortunes changed by the arrival of a cat.  It is set in Japan, and the concept behind the changes are Buddist.  The reader a little bit about Buddism from this book; but it is really more about being a good story.

 The artist is so poor and starving, and he sends his housekeeper to get some food and she comes home with a cat.  At first he is very upset to learn not only did he not get any food; but instead got another mouth to feed.  But, then the cat begins to show itself as being a superior cat....almost above being a cat.  There is some myth about all the animals, except the cat, that are blessed by the Buddha at their deaths--but the cat is excluded about this blessing--until now.  The cat shows itself to the artist to not be only selfish; but to sit under the Buddha pray.

.

SL Core F * Week 4 * Oct. 14-18, 2013

SL Core F *

Week 4  *

Oct. 14-18, 2013

Before I begin with our week---last weekend we went shopping, and I bought something *new* for myself---which I rarely do....but, this was so spectacular, that I just couldn't leave it behind!  I just thought I'd share my purchase with you all.  Some of you might know how I enjoy my tea---now I have my first cup and saucer that I bought new, not used, from a yard sale (although I love my yard sale sets).  It might look expensive--but it really wasn't--I just LOVE red poppy flowers---and here is a tea set with red poppy flowers---my favorite!  I actually almost cried!  I'm so sappy it is embarrassing!

I love red poppy flowers so much---and then to see this red poppy tea cup; I just about fell over!  I've never seen a tea cup like this before.  I held it in my hands and carried it throughout the store instead of putting it in the cart!

We had our special event for Heritage Builders Home Educators (HBHE)this week.  Let me explain; with this large homeschool ("hs" from this point forward) we have to host one event each year as part of our membership for this group.  With our smaller hs group; Lighthouse Home Educators (LHE)--I either teach an Art class or am a Helper for another teacher during her class (I've done both).  SO- this week Uncle Jeff (Dh's oldest brother) did his Civil War presentation--the whole event is posted on the post after this one (see below).

 Besides the Civil War presentation; we were going to go to Swim & Gym---but both Dd and I didn't feel good and so we stayed home hoping we'd feel better soon.  Then on Thursday we had our LHE Co-op classes.  I taught the art drawing class and did a special little side on Frida Kahlo.....

This week we had the problems of not feeling well---especially me, having a ugly bug and low grade fever---and Dd not feeling well either-- and it doesn't seem like I am getting over this bug quickly either.  I just keep feeling worse and worse and not getting better.

I have found 4 praying mantis's--the fourth one this week.  Before I took her in; I thought about it first---and figured that one of my LHE friends might want to have a few days with a praying mantis and that this might be thought of as a kind gesture; so I went ahead and took her.  Sure enough, one of my friends was delighted to have her and took her in!  It is such a joy to share a new experience with a family that might not get to normally.  This family also got interested in butterflies b/c of my sharing information with them.  This summer they took in caterpillars and feed them until they went into their chrysalis's and turned into butterflies---to their absolute delight!  They also did moth's --- just like me!  They really had a great time this summer trying their hand at entomology--I'm so glad!  My family definitely didn't do that with me---no way would my mother EVER let a bug live in our home!! Oh my! No Way!!!  I'm glad that somehow I have become interested in learning about ALL of God's creatures...great and SMALL!!!!  I've enjoyed it so much!

Our lessons:

Bible:

Veritas Press Card 13--Isaac & Rebekah

With our usual resources to help us along with this: 2 identical bible, Believer's Bible Commentary, Journey Through the Bible, Greenleaf History of the Old Testament.

Veritas Bible Genesis through Joshua Homeschool Kit with CD.

 

The books we used along with program are:

Believer's Bible Commentary   [BELIEVERS BIBLE COMMENTARY -SS] [Hardcover] by W.(Author) ; MacDonald, William(Author); Farstad, Arthur L.

The Greenleaf Guide To Old Testament History by Rob G. Shearer and Cyndy A. Shearer

David C. Cook Journey through the Bible by V. Gilbert Beers

Artist of the Week:

Frida Kahlo (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) by Mike Venezia

Frida Kahlo

Getting to Know the Greatest Artists of the World: Frida Kahlo by Mike Venezia

Language Arts: (We had more of a science week)

All About Spelling: Level 5: Step 13: passed

I somehow turned the pages past Step 14, and taught Step 15, so we worked on Step 15 all week and will continue to work on Step 15 and then go back to Step 14 after we have passed Step 15.

First Language Lessons 4: Lesson 80--it is a big review; so we only got half of it done, and didn't get back to it.

Math:

Math U See: Zeta: 4 A,B,C,D,E,F

Skip Counting Family--8's

We worked on memorizing:

Kilogram: Kg: 1,000  Hectogram: 100: hg  dekagram: 10: dag

Science:

The Mystery of the Periodic Table (Living History Library) by Benjamin D. Wiker

The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker

Ch. 7-12

Khan Academy:

Elements & Atoms--video's on elements & the periodic table

 www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/periodic-table-trends-bonding/v/groups-of-the-periodic-table

Periodic Table of Video's-=--I misplaced the page that I wrote down which video's we watched this week.  This is a great site!!!

 http://www.periodicvideos.com/videos/074.htm

Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction by Simon Basher and Dan Green

Chemistry:Getting A Big Reaction by Dan Green pg 4-9

Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day -- Young Explorers Series (Young Explorer... by Jeannie Fulbright

Apologia: Zoology 1: Flying Creatures: Beetles: 183-190

**We watched some beetle & bug video's on youtube.com --especially Dung beetles; which were so cool!

Rosetta Stone: French:  2x this week

Core F materials:

Best-Loved Folktales of the World (The Anchor folktale library) by Joanna Cole

We were suppose to have started Best Loved Folktales of the World when we started Core F; but I had somehow forgot to order it--so, we finally got it last week and got caught up this week. 

Reader:

Homesick My Own Story Homesick by Fritz,

Homesick by Jean Fritz---completed

I gave away a praying mantis just like this one to one of our friends this week--we kept this one for a few more days...

Read Aloud's:

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis and William Low

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze- I've found a very old copy--1934 printed copy, with GREAT illustrations inside; we are really enjoying this copy.  We started a first few chapters with a newer version, and quickly changed to the oldest copy we own....and are loving it!  Dd is really loving this book a lot and is always asking for "just one more chapter..."

Mission to Cathay by Madeleine Polland and Peter Landa

Mission to Cathay--I am really liking this book; it is slower to warm up for Dd.

etc. , etc.

This is the smallest, skinniest mantis we have--- It seems like it is a male.

Fun Stuff:

This has been a LEGO and PIANO week!! Yay!

The Castle has 2 stories--it is very cool!

 Audio's:

 

The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, Book 1) by Rick Riordan

Lost Hero-Rick Riordan

The Quest Begins (Seekers #1) by Erin Hunter

 The Quest Begins---(The Seekers)

Lamplighter Audio's:

The White Gypsy Dramatic Audio (Lamplighter Theatre) by Annette Lyster and John Rhys-Davies 

 * Chelle---you asked for a review on The White Gypsy, it is another fine example of Lamplighter making me cry!!!!!!  Very good!  Dd has already listened to it TWICE!  I've listened to the second disc twice too--

Buried in the Snow Dramatic Audio (Lamplighter Theatre) by Franz Hoffman and John Rhys-Davies

(This is the second time -at least- that she has listened to this)

 

 

Teddy's Button Dramatic Audio (Lamplighter Theatre) by John Rhys-Davies 

 (This is the second time -at least- that she has listened to this)

 

The Unexpected Return : Lamplighter Theatre (Dramatic Audio) by Christoph Von Schmid and John Rhys-Davies (2010)

(This is the second time -at least- that she has listened to this)

 

 

Fun Books:

Thea Stilton and the Prince's Emerald

Big Trouble in the Big Apple

The Cloud Searchers

Fun Movie's:

Soul Surfer Starring AnnaSophia Robb and Dennis Quaid

Soul Surfer

Outside:

Catching crickets and grasshoppers for our praying mantis's---she has helped me out some--but it is hard work considering our weather has been awful this week.

Dd has taken a big, red pepper that we grew and turned it into her bulls-eye for her Archery target--she had a lot of fun doing Archery with Pappa this weekend.

Meet Civil War Soldier Pvt. Sam Watkins Oct. 16, 2013 (a.k.a.: Mr. I)

Uncle Jeff gave a hour long presentation to about 50 homeschoolers, and some parents.  The kids all got a chance to hold his musket and pretend to aim and fire.  They also got to hold minie balls, and other artifacts - they seemed to enjoy getting to touch and hold everything. It was a great presentation-- I only wish I would have held it in a bigger room and offered for more people to attend.

Dd and her Uncle Jeff---as Pvt. Sam Watkins!!  He gave a great performance as a civil war soldier to our HBHE (our larger homeschool group that we belong to) at our library.  He isn't carrying his gun in this picture; but he had his musket and everything---really a great event!!

Meet Civil War Soldier Pvt. Sam Watkins If you are interested in learning about the Civil War, have I got the man for you, Mr. I!!!!  This man is a walking encyclopedia!   He goes to all the battlefields for fun on his vacation time.  During the school year he is a history teacher, as history is his passion.  Mr. I will come in his full Confederate uniform ready to educate and probably surprise you with lots of information about the Civil War. Mr. I is re-enacting a real soldier from the past. If you would like to research the soldier before the event just Google "Sam Watkins, Confederate, Civil War" and you can be prepared.  Or you can just arrive at the Brownsburg Public Library and have Mr. Isom tell you all about him instead!  This should be a really great event!  But be prepared that we are talking about the Civil War and there will be some material that is not for the faint of heart. Mr. I’s introduction is: “ Pvt. Sam Watkins, the author of  "Company Aytch, Sideshow to the big show," was a Confederate soldier in the 1st TN volunteer infantry, 1861-1865.  His memoirs are considered the finest firsthand account of life in the Army of Tennessee.  Watkins fought in every major battle of the war in the west.  Of the over 1,200 men in the 1st TN, only 62 were still present at the surrender in Durham NC.  Watkins vividly discusses daily life in the army, equipment, leaders, food and loss.  The presentation involves pass around items such as minie balls, shell fragments and equipment made to the exact standards of the Civil War.  The presentation lasts about 45 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes for questions.”  This can be a drop and go event.  Or feel free to sign up to stay and listen if you can!

Where: Brownsburg Public Library 450 Jefferson St. Brownsburg, IN 46112 US Room A