Thursday, December 5, 2013

Core F Week 9 Dec 2-9, 2013 In Process

Core F 
*Studying Japan!*
Week 9 
Dec 2-9, 2013 

Now, we have 4 butterflies!!!!


In Process

We found a new source for science fun; we have only tried a few video's so far, but they were good.  Go to youtube.com and type in: "It's okay to be smart" and you will see some video's made by a real scientist...kind of like Khan Academy.  It's done by PBS digital studios. 
I'm not sure how/where this man stands--I don't know where he stands as far as Christianity, Darwinism/young earth/etc.etc.--and all the things we stand for and against--just some cool science things; so pick and choose what interests you.  I saw a video was offered on evolution; but I haven't watched it--he is probably mainstream evolutionary type of scientist; but those aren't the video's we are looking for--there are a lot of other interesting science video's that are there that we have been watching this week.  Anyway, I just found it--and thought I'd share the new thing, in case anyone else wanted to look into too.  Maybe I should look into before bringing it up here????!!!

This week we watched:

1) The Unfixed Brain---super cool, it was a doctor showing us a brain that was just removed from a person; that hadn't been put in any chemicals yet.  Usually when you see a brain it has been in chemicals so it will last for years; which make it hard; sort of like the difference between a raw egg and a hard boiled egg--but not THAT drastic--but close.  This video really stuck with me.  She showed all the parts of the brain, and have a great demonstration.

2)Why is the sky any color--this was an 'okay' video; but didn't explain it to me completely.

3)The Auroras (Boralias--the Northern Lights)

4)Why do things sound scary










This kit was bought by Giz at a yard sale (it was just a bin of LEGO pieces and ONE book, she had to look up the instructions online to put it together), and it had most of the pieces, but not all--you can see the two small ships are yellow, green, and red pieces b/c Dd had to make those ships out of our own pieces.  I was surprised at how much of the ship was actually there; usually when you get a kit at a yard sale they are missing more than the accessories. Giz thought it was complete; and thought all the instructions were there--but I guess the woman selling it wasn't up for telling her it wasn't complete!  It was still a great buy and it made it more of a challenge this way!!

Dd made a fight scene for the picture taking!!!  The day before she had all her LOTR (Lord of the Rings) characters all set up with guns and standing on, in, and around the ship and it looked really cool---but, we didn't think to get any pictures of that set-up--but it was a really fun scenario!






Our week-- we didn't have any activities this week; which is probably a good thing.  It seems that whenever we travel too much and get off our routine we have such difficulties (understatement).  So, I was thankful for a quiet week to work on our lessons and on us.  You know, I spent the week trying to get our work done...and Dd was spending her time trying NOT to get her work done.  She kept wanting to hug, and cuddle and I was trying to be productive.  It took me the whole week to realize she probably needed some cuddle time; where we just snuggle up and read "fun" books.  She is changing into a 'young woman' and I remember how emotional I felt at her stage---of course I was a lot older when I was emotional; but I still wasn't prepared for all the feelings I was going through.  I just had a big epiphany at the end of the week that I probably had not been doing a great job of helping her during her transition time and she was really asking for it--and I still wasn't meeting her needs.  So, I am going to try harder.  I've gone through all my bookshelves and started pulling out all my Christmas books to read to her; in snuggle fashion, the next few weeks---and hopefully I can fill her void.  I'm just glad it didn't take me too long to realize why she was having such a bad attitude!  But, so sorry that I need to be reminded to not push.  Every year we read our same set of books, and I think I enjoy it as much as she does---I hope we can keep this tradition up for a long, long time!


Now that the weather (and roads) has turned so AWFUL; I am beginning to think I should have gone shopping while the roads were drivable!!!

Dd did manage to get outside to play hours in the snow!  That is a bonus!

Here is the wrap up for our week; we did our normal Core F items; but here is our extra's that we added in--

Our lessons:

Bible:
 http://www.rainbowresource.com/products/vbgjcd.jpg
We are still working on the same lesson from last week (Card 19- Plagues of Egypt) and still haven't made our way through all of it.  We are to read Exodus 3-12 for this card; which seems like a simple reading; but when you have to read it and answer questions for the Veritas Press (VP) worksheets, then the Greenleaf questions a different day--you end up re-reading the material atleast twice; which I guess is a good thing.  Then we read the Believer's Bible Commentary for each section, and the Journey Through the Bible pages as well.  We worked really hard this week on bible; but this is a lot of material to process which meant a lot of re-reading.  This week we went through Exodus 5-9
Believer's Bible Commentary Exodus 5-9
Journey Through the Bible pg's: 56-61
Greenleaf Guide to the Old Testament-Lesson 37-42 (lots of pages of this for one week!)
VP Worksheet pages--in student workbook


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


Believer's Bible Commentary

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

Greenleaf Old Testament
Veritas Press Worksheets completed



Language Arts:


First Language Lessons: 4: Finished Book!!!!!
End Unit:Contractions, Writing Letters: Lesson 1,2,3,4, wrote Thank You letter to Giz

All About Spelling 5:
Step 20 passed
Step 21 passed plus reviews back to step 12

Painless Grammar (Barron's Painless) by Elliott Ph.D., Rebecca

Painless Grammar: Adj. and Adverbs Pointers

IEW:
Fix-It: Tom Sawyer: Week 25: Completed


Math:
Math U See: Zeta: 10 A, B, C, D, E



Apologia:Zoology 2 : Swimming Creatures of the Earth:Lesson 2: Whales: pg. 17-24
We did a good job on Dd's notebook--did drawings of the anatomy of whales, etc.

Dd made a pine cone, peanut butter, bird seed thing-y for the birds from her Zoology 1 kit


The Usborne Complete Book of the Microscope: Internet-Linked by Kirsteen Rogers, Paul Dowswell and Laura Fearn

We are working on our Core E Sonlight Science pages too---this week we started the worksheets that went with The Usborne Complete Book of the Microscope.

Books!

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth and Lynd Ward

Reader 1: The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth: Completed



Giant Killer, The
Reader 2: Lamplighter book: The Giant Killer by A.L.O.E.: in process

Lamplighter description: The battle continues to rage, day by day and moment by moment. But must we meet the enemy blindfolded? In order to subdue, we must see the real foe; in order to conquer, we must face the true enemy. Through this allegorical tale, we will be better . . .
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By James Peabody on June 9, 2007
Amazon review: The Giant Killer takes the reader back to a time before auto-mobiles. It is a time of horse drawn carriages and Church every Sunday. The story is about a family which must adjust to the new arival of two spoilt boys, who arrive at the outset of the tale. The mother of the house reads to the children the tale of "The Giant Killer" over a couple of weeks. In-between readings the children are inspired to inspect their responsiblities to family, community and God; and how to get along with each other. This is a great book to start introducing children to Biblical values and wisdom.

Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun by Rhoda Blumberg

Read Aloud 1: Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun by Rhonda Blumberg: in process

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (Puffin Modern Classics) by Eleanor Coerr

Read Aloud 2: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr: Completed
 Curious, competent, and courageous Tabitha is the daughter of a shepherd who is taking his family on caravan to his birthplace. Along the way, she meets and becomes friends with Jotham and Bartholomew, watches as Romans take her father prisoner, spends time with Zechariah and Elizabeth, helps Mary and Joseph just before Christ’s birth, and ends her travels at the stable in Bethlehem.
Read Aloud 3: Tabitha's Travels by Arnold Ytreeide : in process

Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan, John

Read Aloud 4: The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan-Penguin Classics: in process


1) Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan: in process
2) Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling: in process



Lego Week!!!  Dd had a great week of playing lots of Lego, Lego, Lego! K'nex, and sewing--fun sewing!



....

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Core F Week 8 "LOW" Nov. 25-29th, 2013

Core F
Week 8 "LOW"
Nov. 25-29th, 2013




In Process
It was time for a "LOW" ("left-overs") week to get caught up and with it being Thanksgiving we wouldn't be able to get far into a regular week anyway; so we might as well get caught up on our Sonlight stuff.  Boy, that EHN/Worldbook/Researching worksheets are a lot of work!  I can't imagine what they must have been like a few years ago when they were "really" hard!  We find these modified sheets to be plenty time consuming!  But, I do like what we are learning about each of the countries we have "visited" so far.  This week we are in JAPAN.

Our fun activities---Tuesday, Dd was invited to go to the movies with a friend who won free tickets (and 2 free popcorn's, and 2 free soda's) from our library--so I was happy to chaperone as they chose to see Thor II: The Dark World.  It was a lot of fun to go to the movies in the middle of the day!  There were only about 8 other adults in the whole theatre!!!







 Sat. morning we did MY favorite thing in the world---HIKE!  And my favorite, most-often hiked trail (besides our own woods) "Trail 3" (3 miles of Happiness) at Spring Mill Park!  I just love that trail!!!  I hiked that with Dh before we had Dd a lot, then when I got pregnant, and then when I went into labor, I had the totally idiotic idea to that if I hiked that "RUGGED" trail, it would help me deliver faster....such a bad, bad idea!  (3 days later I had a c-section!!)  And then 3 weeks after we brought Dd home, we had to decide where we would bring our precious baby to first--where would be her first outing??  It seemed only fitting that we bring her to Spring Mill FIRST!  And that is what we did!  And since then we have brought her there as many times as possible, and to Trail 3 (in a Baby Bjorn baby holder, in our special hiking stroller with the big bicycle wheels, and finally on her own 2 feet!) especially. 










I love that quote: "Donaldson did not allow a snake to be killed, a butterfly caught or a twig broken."  This park is like that---the trees are left where they fall; and if they fall on a trail they are moved out of the way; but left to decompose at the park and stay part of the ecosystem.





On Sun. we went to southern Indiana (Dh's home) and Dd and Dh went hunting together for the first time.  Dd lasted about 30 min. before she didn't feel good and wanted to come in.  We had spent the day (Sat. afternoon) before buying camo for her first adventure--I think that was more fun--shopping the Army Surplus, and Goodwill for camo clothes with her Giz (grandmother; Dh's mom) and me.








Bible: Veritas Press=VP Exodus=Ex.
Veritas Press: Card 18: Moses' Birth: Exodus 1-2:completed
Bible: Exodus 1-2
Journey Through The Bible: 51-53
Believer's Bible Commentary: Exodus 1-2
Greenleaf Guide to the Old Testament: Lesson 36
Veritas Press Worksheets

VP: Card 19: Plagues in Egypt: Ex. 3-12: in process
Bible: Ex. 3-7
Bible Commentary: Ex. 3& 4
Journey Through The Bible: pages 56-59
VP worksheets




Language Arts:
All About Spelling: Step 19 completed




Math:
Math U See:Zeta: 9 A, B,C,D

This is a entry into Hamer cave


Science:
(Periodic Table of Elements)
University of Nottingham: Video's on:
Sr Strontium
Ba  Barium
Ra Radium





The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Audio: Completed
The Call of the Wild


*Parent alert--this really is a very tough book, and not really a "kid's book"; more like a teens book.  I had totally forgot how harsh this book was in the years that have gone by since I read this last.  I don't recommend this for sensitive people----*I* had such a tough time with it, but it was a really good story.  The other thing I had forgotten was that twice during the book the narrator talks about the dog remembering back to ancient times, and here it gets iffy--something like cave man or neanderthal man and the first dogs that lived with him.






Born in the Year of Courage by Emily Crofford

Reader: Completed
Born in the Year of Courage
Dd's review:
It was a great book about how John got to go to America and she how other cultures lived.  He learned about how other people did so he could show his country and start a trading post there.  On his whaling boat he learned how to fare on the seas and get through and do all that they did.  I liked the book because John worked hard to try to get home and to help others.






The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson and Haru Wells

Read Aloud: Completed
The Master Puppeteer



Core F Stuff:

Completed the EHN pages for JAPAN
The lichen were like little ferns--so cool!



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

Best-Loved Folktales of the World: The Juniper Tree


The past two weeks Dd has been working on making a fort in our backyard.  Dh did bring home some sticks for Dd to use!





LEGO WEEK GALORE!
Giz found a Lego kit at a yard sale--and we have been working on getting it together.  It only had part of one of the two instruction booklets; so it has been a challenge.  It is a big kit with thousands of pieces (1,330 pieces)--a Star Wars Trade Federation Ship MTT # 7662.  She is over half way complete!

Lego-Trade Federation

More Pictures from Spring Mill Park:


 
 Check out how wide these trunks are!




 











Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving 2013





 I had 3 Black Swallowtails hatch within 24 hours of Thanksgiving...they are doing great!


We had Thanksgiving with Dh's parents.


Dd having my favorite--pumpkin pie!


Then after we ate, Giz (Dh's mom) gave Dd a Star Wars Lego kit she found at a yard sale.  It is a Star Wars Federation # 7662 kit.  It had part of one of the two booklets with it, but we can look up the other booklet online.  Grampy even helped out with starting it!




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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Three Butterflies for Thanksgiving??!!



Tuesday we had one butterfly; then on Wednesday we had two new hatchlings!  What a surprise and in time for Thanksgiving too!








 

 And one picture of the Praying Mantis...she doesn't seem to be doing well--even though she was eating yesterday.  I bought 12 new crickets yesterday to keep her company (and provide protein---whichever she preferred!).
Update--do you know, my little friend here died the next day.  I so enjoyed her company for months -- thankful that I got to share so much time together.
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