"A a" is for "antlers" (craft project)...

 

 

Theme of the lesson:  "A a" is for "antlers" (Phonics - short "a" sound)

 

Animals having antlers:  deer, caribou (and their habitats - forests, the Arctic tundra); differences between deer and caribou; the difference between antlers and horns - and some animals with horns such as the musk ox and bulls (Science)

 

The Appalachian Mountains, Alaska, Northern Canada - find on a globe and discuss the climate (Geography)

 

My almost 4 year old grandson observed that antlers "look like a tree" without leaves, so we went out to our back yard and found some branches to use for our deer craft project.  For the background, we used the cardboard tray from a 24 pk. case of bottled water (recycling).

 

This project is now hanging on our classroom wall.

 



Beatrix Potter...

"Hands On" Educational Field Trip at one of our state parks...

At the mastodon exhibit which included fossils.

Handling animal pelts which included bear, beaver, fox, dear, coyote, and raccoon.

Assisting the "colonial life" actor crush the flax to expose the fibers for making linen.

Learning about the water cycle.

Playing the fiddle.

An outdoor oven.

Inside a "blockhouse" where weary travelers of the 18th century would stay.

My grandson also was able to grind corn using a hand-held grinding stone, and see a live vulture up close while its handler educated the public about its habitat, diet, etc.

Homeschooling is a way of life; a culture all its own...

My Home...

There's no better place to live than where I live right now!

The great Appalachian Mountains / The mountains of Appalachia

(proper pronunciation:  ap-uh-lat-chuh)  Say it fast, and you've got it.  No long "a" sound and no "sh" sound! (No matter what tv news broadcasters say!  I  was born and raised here, so seeing as how I'm a native, I ought to know!  lol!)

September / Back-to-School Bulletin Board

The leaves are some that we gathered from our neighborhood last fall and then laminated.

The pictures of children doing the various activities and the "fall" picture are from the internet.

The "September" visual aid is from Answers in Genesis Preschool Curriculum (I think!)

Praying Mantis...

We (I) caught this live praying mantis for my grandson to study.  He thought it was awesome!  Last year, we caught a live bumble bee and a live katydid.

(Public) School is NOT Life in the "Real World"...

...It is the institutionalization of our children!

Sir Walter Scott...

First Day of (Second Year) Pre-school, 2012...

Science, Geography, Alphabet/Phonics, Colors:  animal habitats/jungle, Aa for anteater/ants, Central & South America on a globe, brown/white makes tan.

The anteater wall decoration was made from 3-piece puzzle pages which I got from the book "Mix and Match Zoo Animals" (a Dover Coloring Book) by: Stephanie Laberis

 

 

Thumb Print Ants (paint)

 



 

We began our day by praying together. (I just realized that I forgot to add a Bible Memory Verse to our schedule.  Oooops!  I'll have to do better next time!!!)

 

We read the book "A House is a House for Me" by: Mary Ann Hoberman, as well as parts of the book "My Creation Bible" by: Ken Ham.   We discussed that God created the world to be a habitat/home for both people and animals. 

 

We discussed the climate in a jungle, and the various animals that live there.

 

We colored the anteater wall decoration and painted the ant figures (pictured above).

 



We watched a National Geographic video on the internet about anteaters.

 

We searched for pictures of ants and an anteater in the book "Picture My World - Animals"  by: Hyperion Books for Children.

 

We talked about the four seasons and the weather typical of each one.  We noted that our current season is still summer, and the month is September.  We discussed summer activities and colored a picture of these activities.

 

We also reviewed the circle/round shape, as well as the numbers 0 & 1.  We focused on the short "a" sound and practiced writing letter A, a.   We talked about the meaning of the numbers 0 & 1 and practiced writing them.

 

We practiced "sewing" with our lace-up shape boards/cards. 

 

We practiced cutting along a straight, printed line.

 

We worked on a page from the activity book "What's Wrong" by: Anna Pomaska.  The page depicted two children having a picnic.  There were 6 things in the picture that were "wrong" and the student was directed to find these things. 

 

We ended the day by playing with playdough, a favorite activity of my grandson. 

 

We spent approximately 4 hours (including our lunch break) in school today.  The playdough was an added "extra" privilege, as it was not scheduled for today. 

 

Back to School Bash - 2012

My homeschool group had their "Back to School Bash" today at one of our local parks.  We had a potluck picnic.  The kids played while the adults discussed business and upcoming field trips.  Games were scheduled, though my bunch left before that began.  My grandson and granddaughter had a blast!
Our homeschool classes begin Monday, Sept. 17.   My grandson is looking forward to "having school".
Throughout the summer, he has frequently asked me, "Are we having school today?"  He can hardly wait!

What does it take to "build self-esteem" in our children? The answer may surprise you!

"We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem."  - Rev. Billy Graham

Myth of the Teenager (by: Dr. Michael Platt)

http://www.home-school.com/Articles/myth-of-the-teenager.php

Dish Drain File & Storage Idea...

Idea from pinrest.com