Skyzone field trip April 11, 2014

Skyzone field trip

April 11, 2014

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Birthday Party 2014

Birthday Party 2014

The party went really well!  I am glad!  What a relief!  Dd said "That was my best party ever!" or 'her favorite birthday party ever'---something along those lines!!!!  If that tells you anything!  We had Lasagna (Gluten Free) and Stuffed Shells, veggie platter, peanuts, cashews, Pirates Booty, Gluten Free chips & cheese, Crackers & Cheese, dried apricots & dried cherries, "punch", and Gluten Free chocolate cake.

We played Pin the Eye on the Cyclops, Hacky-Sack with blue balloons, had a cool painting craft--where we painted cardboard cut outs.  The day before, I'd cut out cardboard in the shape of bird houses, and then I'd gesso'd the cardboard (painted the cardboard with a white paint so their colored paint), then gave each child a palette of paints to paint 1 or 2 of the birdhouses, Capture the Greek God's Flag (Capture the Flag, but with flags that Dd made representing 13 different Gods & Goddess of Greek times), Archery (this was a repeat event), opening presents given to Dd, opening presents given to guests, a big Scavenger hunt where the items were either plus OR minus points (one child earned 32 points, while another got -15 points!!!), basketball in the driveway, play the piano & keyboard taking turns, and play with Lego's time...a great time was had by all!

Gifts the "L" family made for Dd:

"L" made this wonderful card!

"J" made the drawing, and framed it, and then also gave this cross-stitched sword!

"A" made a tin full of chocolate--it tasted like chocolate fudge.  The chocolate was cut into animal shapes---so YUMMY!

"R" made this--the inside has crochet needles inside-(see pix below)-way awesome!

"D" made the bracelet

Cake Time!

They drew on the paper by the end of the party--thanks Michelle for the idea!




Son of Poseidon's cake--a Percy Jackson cake!



The Craft project:


I got this idea from Pinterest - cut out cardboard in the shape of birdhouses, then have each child paint however they want to--

"A" made this one with a bird on top---- I just love it!



Pin the Eye on the Cyclops!




 
The gifts Dd made for the "L" family that came to the party, plus a little extra bag full of goodies that were not made by her.

Dd's crocheted these.

For "J", "L", and "D"

For "J", "L", and "D"

For "A"

For "R"

We gave out gift bags to our friends for coming---things that we thought they would especially like.

My friend gave me some tea!!!   
What a wonderful surprise!

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Sonlight Core F Week 22 March 31-April 4th, 2014

Sonlight Core F 

Week 22 

March 31-April 4th, 2014

Underside of the moth that Dd found in the window sill---isn't it very pretty!?!!

Front of this moth, that Dd found in our window sill

Last Saturday while I was at the Indiana Homeschool Convention, Dh took Dd to the MOVIES!  They saw the LEGO MOVIE together!!!  They thought it was pretty good.  Then they went out to eat together too!  They had a really nice day together!

We got to go for a HIKE this week!!!!! Yay! I borrowed three "L" family boys, who knew where to park, and which trail to hike, and which turns to take!  You can see the pictures on my post below this one.  

Besides the wonderful hike, we did our normal things like the library, but we also had to do some unusual things like grocery shopping and trying to clean up our cluttery, cluttery, house for next week----when we will host the "L" family for Dd's birthday party!!!  Boy, do we have little piles of books, kits, and this and that all over!  

Home Economics this week for Dd has been really good.  She made dinner one night; and has done a lot of extra chores.  She took over washing all the sheets and blankets on her bedding.  She has really improved on all her chores.  She even did the dog 'stuff' in the back yard without me asking!  I know a lot of this weeks progress is because she is excited to get the house cleaned up for the party next week; but it still makes me happy to see that she can do all these things on her own now. 

We had nice weather on Mon., Tues., and Wed. so Dd has been "training" our dog in our backyard.  She set up a circuit for them to run around, to jump and climb, and go under....she is having a great time with this!  Poor Sophie, is NOT!  Poor doggy!   But, Sophie did need the exercise....

In preparation for the her birthday party, Dd is making all sorts of things for games--like 13 flags, 60 blue lightning bolts, and a "Welcome Sign".  She has been working, and working trying to get her accessories for her games!!!

Our lessons this week---clearly not a very productive week; but we moved forward....just not with a lot of academic accomplishments under our belt; but we did lots of 'other' things instead!

Bible:
Veritas Press: Joshua Through Judges
Card 49: 1 Samuel 31
We read this section with our bible and Believer's Bible Commentary
The Greenleaf Guide to the Old Testament:
Lesson 101-103
Journey Through the Bible: pg. 116-119

Archeological Study Bible: articles:
The Ekron Inscription of Akhayus
Bywords and Insults in the Ancient World
Ancient Necromancy
The Beth-shan Temples
"Intro to II Samuel"

Card 50: Davidic Kingdom: 1 & II Samuel, 1 Chronicles
I Samuel 2 & 3 (read with bible & Believer's Bible Commentary)
The Greenleaf Guide to the Old Testament:Lessons: 105 & 106
Journey Through the Bible:pg. 120-125
II Samuel: 1-6 (read with bible & Believer's Bible Commentary)
**This card #50 has a LOT of work on it; I think we will be on it for at least another week or more!

Math:
Math U See: Zeta: 24 A-E
no skip-counting this week

Our dry-erase board from our week on FISH.  I drew it here, then had Dd draw it in her notebooking book.

Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day (Young Explorer Series) (Young Explorer... by Jeannie Fulbright

Science:
Apologia: Swimming Creatures/Zoology 2
Lesson 8: Crustaceans:pg.121-128
notebooking and drawing a crustation

Inside Access: Sharks by Stephen P. Savage

(FUN)Added in book:
Inside Access: SHARKS by Stephen Savage

Jacob Lawrence (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) by Mike Venezia

Artist of the Week:
Jacob Lawrence
Meet the Greatest Artist of the World by Mike Venezia



I didn't get a photo of the hair scrunchy Dd crocheted 2 weeks ago.  She put an elastic inside it, and it works very nicely.

Meet the Great Composers: Book 2 (Learning Link) by Maurice

Composer of the Week:
Enrique Granados
*Dd actually talked about how she like this Romantic, pianist from Spain.  She liked his music a lot.  It is interesting to me to hear which musicians she responds to.



Language Arts:


We added in this book:

How to Write a Book Report (Language Arts Explorer Junior) by Cecilia Minden

How to Write a Book Report by Cecila Minden (from the public library):completed

AAS 6:
Step 5 (1x this week)

 

The Grammar Ace: Student Workbook by Duane Bolin

The Grammar Ace:
Lesson 21: Paragraphs
Lesson 22: Expository Paragraphs
 Lesson 23: Persuasive Paragraphs

(What I liked about this weeks lessons is that Dd had to make up paragraphs for each of these types of paragraphs.  She could have picked one of their given 'topics', but she chose to use her own imagination and was bummed that she might have to write using theirs!  She has been reading Calvin and Hobbs for every night for 2-3 weeks now, and her writing clearly shows it!)

SL LA: 1/2 of Week 13

Daily Grams: Grade 7 - Student Book by Wanda C. Phillips

Daily Grams 7: pg. 55-59

Audio 1:

The Mistmantle Chronicles, Book One: The Urchin of the Riding Stars by McAllister, M.I.

*In Process*
We started a new audio that we are really enjoying! (Although I am having a hard time with it b/c the INJUSTICE in it makes me want to scream! and I want the bad guy to be outed right away!) Our other audio (House of Hades) is due back at the library in a few days, so we have to really hurry and finish it, but I have actually been tempted to put our lessons to the side and listen to this audio and do some knitting and crocheting!!!  It is that good!  I really want to know what happens next!  So far we have been listening to it in our van, and that is taking a lot of patience on our part.  I found a good review on Amazon that a normal person entered, that I want to share in case anyone is curious about this audio:

By Erika Sorocco

Format:Hardcover

On a cold night, a night of riding stars, a newborn squirrel is found all by his lonesome on a distant beach, shivering, and close to death. His mother is nowhere to be found, so he is adopted and raised by a kind squirrel, in the land of Mistmantle. The young squirrel is given the name Urchin. And, given the mysterious story of his life, young Urchin is unaware of the powerful destiny that awaits him, and will influence the entire island of Mistmantle. When Urchin is old enough, he takes on a position in the Castle, where the good King Brushen and Queen Spindle are having their positions threatened by an evil plot that has already taken the life of their son, Prince Tumble. Captain Crispin, a good friend of Urchin, is blamed for the death, and sent off to a faraway land, while the real culprits, Lord Husk and Lady Aspen, work to take control of the Castle, and disgrace King Brushen. Little do they know, the islanders and ancient prophecies are watching over Mistmantle, and with the help of Urchin of the Riding Stars, victory may not truly be theirs.

I have a confession to make, there was something about the cover illustration of URCHIN OF THE RIDING STARS, that made me purchase it on sight, before I had even read the inside flap. The only thing I knew of the story, was that it was an adventure about an island inhabited by animals. Well, I couldn't be happier that the purchase was made. URCHIN OF THE RIDING STARS is one of the best adventure novels that I have read over the course of 2005. Urchin is the sweetest character, who is brave, and wise beyond his years. His friends, Padra, Captain Crispin, Needle, and many more are intriguing, and each bring their own personality to the story. Those who enjoy books such as Brian Jacques' REDWALL series, will adore URCHIN OF THE RIDING STARS, and will find themselves gripping their seats in anticipation for what will happen next. A marvelous addition to the science fiction/fantasy genre.

Audio 2: In Process

This one isn't a real "audio", it is Dd's "Play Away" a book that comes in a little plastic box, the size of an Altoids tin, and you plug in your own earphones and listen.  Dd is listening to:

Nancy Drew Girl Detective(TM): Dressed to Steal (Nancy Drew: Girl Detective (Blackstone Audio)) by Carolyn Keene

The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus, Book 4) by Rick Riordan

 Audio 3: In Process
House of Hades by Rick Riordan
This book has 12 discs, so it is taking a while to work our way through.


Read Aloud's:

Shadow Spinner (A Jean Karl Book) by Susan Fletcher

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher...I am having such a hard time putting this book down!  *I* really want to just keep reading it!  Such a page turner!

From Kirkus Reviews

A young girl, Marjan, rescues the fabled Shahrazad from the Sultan's wrath in this exciting and thought-provoking novel from Fletcher (Flight of the Dragon Kyn, 1993, etc.). With her crippled foot, Marjan never expects to be dragged off to the palace, but that is what happens after a chance meeting with Shahrazadthe storyteller who wins her life each night with cliffhanging stories for the sultan, and who obtains a story from Marjan. Heartbroken at leaving her Aunt Chava and her Uncle Eli, Marjan confronts cruelty within the palace's lush interior, where wives and concubines can be executed at the sultan's whim, and where the Khatun, the sultan's mother, spies on everyone. Dispatched by Shahrazad to find more stories, Marjan sneaks out into the marketplace, where she eventually finds an old storyteller who tells her the end of a story of which the sultan has become fond. Beaten and imprisoned by the Khatun, Marjan escapes the palace, only to return and tell the sultan an allegory that enables him to realize his love for Shahrazad, and to spare her life. Despite the licenses Fletcher takes with the story of Shahrazad, the novel may entice readers into the pages of Richard Burton's far richer work; they will appreciate the power of story telling that it may expand the soul of even the most hardened listener.

 We are studying the Middle East now!

SL Core F Read Aloud's:

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

(Yiddish stories this week---)

Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window by YWAM Publishing,

(Saudia Arabia area)

Reader:

Ali and the Golden Eagle by Wayne Grover

Ali and the Golden Eagle
An American working in Saudi Arabia befriends a boy from a remote village and helps him train an eagle to hunt.

Fencing for Fun! (For Fun!: Sports) by Suzanne Slade,

Fun Book- Fencing For Fun- plus we watched a bunch of Sword Fighting Video's to improve Dd's sword fighting skills!  Your daughter wants to improve her sword fighting skills too; doesn't she??!!!  This is a normal stage of growing up, right?!~  Ha! I'm just kidding!  She has always liked Star Wars and Percy Jackson, so of course she wants to improve her skills! 

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Calvin and Hobbs--we own a lot of these paperbacks...I'll just post one example, but she is reading all we own, and SO enjoying it!  If you know Calvin, then you will appreciate one of Dd's stories from this week that has a very "Calvin and Hobbes" feel:

    "Racing through the sky at the speed of light- The XJ-9! The pilot Spaceman Spiff is at the wheel!  The XJ-9 is a hydro-craft who runs on light from the sun and trash!  It's lightweight and durable made from a re-creation of the metal from Captain America's shield!  With lazer blasters at the ready, the XJ-9 is ready for a day of protecting Earth!"

Crocheting:
She is working on a hat....pictures will come soon!
...